Compliance Testing Laboratory

For information on our antenna or RF transmitter testing, please see this page ...  Wireless Services.

To enable efficient engineering development and problem solving, RTCE maintains a well equipped RF design and EMC pre-compliance laboratory. Rivaling the capabilities of many large companies, RTCE's clients enjoy continuous access to this invaluable resource. Without spending hundreds of thousands of dollars and maintaining a full time staff position, even smaller companies can have the benefits of a subject matter expert and "in-house" laboratory. Contact us to stop by for a tour, and see for yourself how your projects will be accelerated. [Click photo to enlarge.] Please see the photos page for many views of the lab		  

Laboratory Highlights...

Equipment

  • 3 Meter fully anechoic chamber lined with 10,000 pounds of ferrite tile and pyramidal microwave absorber, fully anechoic from 30 MHz to 40 GHz, and shielded from "DC to daylight"
  • Antenna and live transmitter testing, please see the wireless testing page
  • Inside the chamber: Enjoy a 5 foot wide color screen displaying real-time emissions or other RF results, 1 degree resolution turntable, and variable polarization antenna mast - radiated emissions scans in only 5 minutes !
  • EMC spectrum analyzer, antenna sets, LISNs, TLISNs, and current probes allow for complete radiated and conducted emissions pre-screening, trouble shooting, or antenna patterning from 10 kHz to 18 GHz (40 GHz coming soon!)
  • RF sources and broadband high power amplifiers (up to 500 Watts) allow for both radiated and conducted immunity evaluation
  • ESD simulators for multiple waveforms and standards
  • EFT generators for multiple test standards
  • Lightning surge generators allow testing with many different wave forms on multiple simultaneous outputs, even on live AC/DC power lines
  • Power-fault source generates the power cross stresses required by many UL safety and Telcordia standards
  • DPO oscilloscope, a wide range of meters, and high voltage/current probes for solving tough problems
  • Extensive RF equipment: vector network analyzer from 10MHz to 40 GHz, spectrum analyzer from 9kHz to 40GHz,  TIA "modulation-domain" analyzer to 2 GHz, rubidium-locked Stratum-1 PRS laboratory reference clock, time domain reflectometer to 20 GHz
  • Other professional tools allow for in-depth product prototyping and modification: through-hole / SMT rework, Mantis stereo microscope, video microscope, and extensive parts inventory

Product Support

  • DC power to +120 VDC and -48VDC
  • AC power from 0-270 VAC, 16-500 Hz, 1000 VA for global AC power testing
  • Thermal chamber from -60 to +150 degrees C

RTCE clients enjoy access to our laboratory for pre-compliance tasks, as their virtual in-house laboratory. Quick system tests or critical component evaluations can be accommodated as product designs evolve, while compliance strategies are optimized for first pass success. Successful companies keep their development projects on track with our combination of expert design involvement and continued prototype evaluation. Quickly evaluate high risk tests with early prototypes, long before the official product approvals on your finished goods. Optimize approvals strategies and minimize compliance costs during product development, while your competition scrambles to "band-aid" their last minute regulatory failures!

RTCE does not sell formal approvals services or certify products. Formal approvals on completed products are best handled by local Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories. Their international laboratory accreditation may be required for some markets or end customers. Please see our Compliance Links page for more information about local laboratories.

Lab Summary

  • 3m fully anechoic chamber
  • RF test equipment DC to 40 GHz
  • Scalar, vector, frequency and modulation-domain analyzers
  • DPO scope, function generators, meters
  • RF power amplifiers
  • Field probes
  • Extensive test antennas
  • Surge, EFT, and ESD generators
  • Power fault generator
  • Hipot & HV testers
  • Telecom TIMS &call gen
  • AC / DC power supplies
  • SMT rework station, microscopes
  • Extensive prototyping parts inventory