DS Instruments

DS Instruments – RF Signal Sources, Attenuators, Switches, Phase Shifters, Mixers & Test Systems

DS Instruments design and manufacture unique RF Test Equipment including Signal Generators, Digital Attenuators, Mixers, RF Switches, Tracking Generators, Phase Shifters and Frequency Counters. The products are compact, affordable and reliable, making them attractive to engineers and technicians in aerospace, education, military, communications, and laboratories. The instruments are completely powered by and controllable via USB with a PC GUI, automated SCPI COM port commands, and front panel push-buttons making them some of the most flexible devices on the market. Custom applications can also be written using the Windows .NET environment. All the products are designed and made in Nevada, USA.

SG600L RF Signal Generator

Stand-alone and USB remote operation
Up to 6GHz output frequency
Adjustable output power (Step & Variable)
Industry-standard SCPI command support
Internal ±2.5PPM TCXO 10MHz reference
Front user frequency step buttons
Frequency-sweeping support
Front-mounted bright OLED display
Sturdy black all-aluminum enclosure
Simple Windows control GUI
Powered from standard micro-USB like a smartphone
Easy interface to software packages (Matlab, Python, Android, Linux, IOS…)

Digital Attenuators DAT64L & DAT64H

Stand-alone and USB remote operation
Max input power: +25.0dBm
Attenuation: 0-63dB
Step Size: 0.5dB
DAT64L Frequency: 1MHz – 6GHz
DAT64H Frequency: 100MHz – 12GHz
SCPI command support via USB COM port
Front buttons and convenient OLED display
Power: 5v standard USB
Standard SMA RF connectors
Dimensions: 2.75″ x 1.24″ x 2″

MX6000L Hybrid Mixer & Local Oscillator

RF Mixer Features
Micro-USB powered from Laptop, battery-pack, Smartphone Charger, PC…
Compact, Rugged All-Metal Enclosure
Bright and efficient OLED display
Simple and effective control interface
Industry standard Virtual COM Port serial commands
50 Ohm gold SMA ports
Internal ±2.5ppm LO reference frequency

MX6000L Rear Panel

RF Downconverter Specs
Integrated 25 – 6000 MHz programmable local oscillator
IF output range: LF to 600 MHz
RF input range: 10 – 6000 MHz
High RF input P1dB > +12 dBm
Low LO leakage:< -30 dB typical
LO phase noise at 6GHz < 72 dBc
Very low conversion loss
Return loss > 10 dB
Typical noise figure: 9.75 dB

TT7000 RF Power Meter, Counter & Signal Generator

Device Modes
Calibrated Power Meter (-50 to +5 dBm) (100MHz – 7GHz)
RF Frequency Counter (100MHz – 7GHz)
RF Signal Generator (300MHz – 9600MHz) (10Hz Step)
High-power RF Divider (1X, 2X, 4X, 8X)

TT7000 Rear Panel

TT7000 Features
Crisp OLED Front Display
Front control buttons & status LEDs
USB powered and virtual COM port SCPI control
All-Aluminum black compact enclosure (2.75″ wide)
Internal precision 10MHz +/-280PPB reference frequency
Automatic power meter calibration using internal RF frequency counter
Adjustable power output in 0.5dB steps
Premium 18GHz microwave SMA jacks
Very low signal generator phase noise

SCPI Commands

The Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments (SCPI; often pronounced “skippy”) defines a standard for syntax and commands to use in controlling programmable test and measurement devices. DS Instruments products make use of SCPI commands OR front panel push buttons to control their functions.

Control Software

Each of the DS Instruments products has a software application that can be freely downloaded. The software is based on the Microsoft .NET environment for running on Windows platforms. Many users ‘roll their own’ software using Microsoft Visual Basic from an Office application such as Excel.

By using SCPI commands over USB it possible to control the instruments from virtually any USB enabled computer.