MoRFeus
MoRFeus is a 30 MHz–6 GHz field-configurable Fractional-N wideband frequency converter and signal generator. Its LCD display and button interface enable dynamic field-level configuration - from switching between signal generator and other modes, to setting the local oscillator frequency and more. It was designed for wideband frequency up- and down-conversion - with an LO frequency range of 85 MHz–5.4 GHz and input/output frequency range of 30 MHz–6 GHz
MoRFeus is small, lightweight, and functional. It was designed for low spurious emissions and is packaged in a precision-milled aluminum enclosure.
Use cases for moRFeus are many
- Wideband radios
- Distributed antenna systems
- Diversity receivers
- Software-defined radios
- Frequency band shifters
- Point-to-point radios
- WiMax/LTE infrastructure
- Satellite communications
- Wideband jammers
- Remote radio heads
- Frequency up/down conversion
- Automated test equipment (ATE)
- Wireless communication systems
How it works
MoRFeus integrates into popular RF environments using SMA connectors and is powered using an external micro-USB 5 V supply. The LCD display and button interface provide a dynamic way to program the mixer LO frequency in the field with a step size of 1.5–3 Hz*. Dynamic toggling between mixer and generator modes adds to field-level functionality. An optional bias voltage of 5 V is available via RF choke to the mixer input to supply active antenna systems. The device is also USB HID programmable, enabling automatic operation from a PC running Windows or Linux.
Features
- RF input frequency: 30 MHz–6 GHz
- RF output frequency: 30 MHz–6 GHz
- LO frequency: 85 MHz–5400 MHz
- Fractional-N synthesizer
- LO step size: 1.5–3 Hz*
- USB programmable (Windows or Linux)
- Generator/mixer function toggle
- Small, portable form factor
- Adjustable mixer bias current
- LCD display With backlight
- Button control interface
General Specifications
- Input voltage: 5 V
- ESD protection (RF IN and OUT ports): IEC 61000-4-2 contact discharge, 8 KV
- Bias voltage: 5 V
- Active bias current protection: 425 mA
- Mixer input/output isolation: see mixer performance
- Input IP3: +23 dBm
- RF/IF input absolute maximum power: +15 dBm
- Operating temperature -40 to +85
- Storage temperature range -65 to +150
- Dimensions: 88 mm x 38 mm x 68 mm
- Weight: 7.4 oz
*Step size is frequency-dependent. Lower step sizes (1-2 Hz) are characteristic of lower frequency domains and higher step sizes (2-3 Hz) of higher domains.
Synthesizer
| LO | Phase Noise (dBc/Hz) | Offset |
|---|---|---|
| 1 GHz | -108 | 10 kHz |
| 1 GHz | -107 | 100 kHz |
| 1 GHz | -135 | 1 MHz |
| 2 GHz | -102 | 10 kHz |
| 2 GHz | -101 | 100 kHz |
| 2 GHz | -130 | 1 MHz |
| 3 GHz | -98 | 10 kHz |
| 3 GHz | -98 | 100 kHz |
| 3 GHz | -125 | 1 MHz |
| 4 GHz | -96 | 10 kHz |
| 4 GHz | -95 | 100 kHz |
| 4 GHz | -124 | 1 MHz |
Mixer Performance
| LO | Input Power | Input Frequency | Output Frequency | Output Power | Conversion Gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | 2.47 | 500 | 100 | -8.95 | -11.42 |
| 400 | -1.894 | 1000 | 600 | -10 | -8.106 |
| 400 | -9.65 | 1500 | 1100 | -25 | -15.35 |
| 400 | -10.27 | 2000 | 1600 | -28.1 | -17.83 |
| 400 | -11.112 | 2500 | 2900 | -28.4 | -17.288 |
| 850 | -.073 | 900 | 50 | -12.04 | -11.31 |
| 1500 | -10.757 | 2400 | 900 | -20.24 | -9.483 |
| 2400 | -9.65 | 1500 | 900 | -25.5 | -15.85 |
| 4000 | -1.894 | 1000 | 3000 | -21.3 | -19.406 |
| 4000 | -15.4 | 5400 | 1400 | -37.3 | -21.9 |
Mixer Current
moRFeus offers an optional mixer current control which impacts the linearity of the output signal. The controls are exposed for advanced users to experiment and fine tune mixer performance.
Generator Mode
In generator mode, the output port of moRFeus is set to the LO frequency. It has a range limited by the internal LO which is 85 Mhz to 5.4 GHz (it should be noted that the mixer input handles frequencies up to 6G Hz). Generator mode can be used to generate arbitrary CW signals for testing or mixing purposes.
A plot of Output Power versus Mixer Current Setting
In generator mode, output power changes relative to the mixer current setting. When the mixer current is set to 0, output power is relatively low. For settings 1-7, output power is stronger. This chart plots output power relative to the mixer current setting.
Output Power vs Mixer Current setting (generator mode)
Device Information
Comparisons
| Outernet moRFeus | Signal Hound VSG25A Vector Signal Generator | RF Explorer Signal Generator (RFE8GEN) | Mini-circuits ZX05-63H-S+ (Mixer) | Windfreak MixNV (Mixer + Signal Generator) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RF Input Frequency Range | 30 MHz-6 GHz | N/A | N/A | 750 MHz-6 GHz | 1 MHz-6 GHz | |
| RF Output Frequecy Range | 30 MHz-6 GHz | 100 MHz-2.5 GHz | 24 MHz-6 GHz | DC-1 GHz | 1 MHz-6 GHz | |
| LO Frequency Range | 85 MHz-5.4 GHz | N/A | N/A | 750 MHz-6 GHz | 85 MHz-5 GHz | |
| Frequency Resolution | 1.5–3 Hz¹ | < 1 Hz | 1 KHz | N/A | 1 Hz | |
| Phase noise at 1 GHz and 10 kHZ offset | -108 dBc/Hz | -88 dBc/Hz | N/A | N/A | -108 dBc/Hz | |
| Frequency up/down Converter | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Signal Generator | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| Field-configurable | Yes | No | Somewhat | No | No | |
| User Interface | Button/LCD display and software-programmable | Windows PC VSG25A software required | LCD Display and RF Explorer for Windows PC client | N/A | Software-programmable, Windfreak software w/ Labview GUI | |
| Bias Current Available | Yes | No | No | No | No | |
| RF In/Out Connectors | Yes, SMA | Out, SMA | Out, SMA | Yes, SMA | Yes, SMA | |
| Power Input Connector | micro-USB | USB Type B | mini-USB | N/A | mini-USB | |
| Stand-alone Signal Generator | Yes ² | No ³ | Yes | No | No ³ | |
| Stand-alone Frequency Converter | Yes | No ⁴ | No ⁵ | No ⁶ | No ³ | |
| Price | $149 | $495 | $189 | $53 | $499 |