June 2008

View our June 2008 Newsletter

2008 IEEE EMC SYMPOSIUM.  Come see Liberty Labs, Inc. and World Cal, Inc. at the 2008 IEEE EMC SYMPOSIUM on July 8-13 in Detroit, MI. Our booth numbers are 425 and 427. We look forward to seeing you in Detroit.

January 2006

Accreditation. To provide for a requirement many of our customers have, we were reassessed for accreditation by A2LA in fall of 2005. Our new scope of accreditation is now valid until October 31, 2007. Speaking of our scope, we are currently looking at expanding our measurement parameters to accommodate your testing needs, by including "parameter based" antenna calibration services versus a "standards based" support platform. This will mean you could receive accredited calibrations for calibrations distances and polarizations not covered in the standards, but used by your engineers during testing.

Dual Mast antenna tower. As mentioned in our newsletter, we have incorporated the use of a dual mast antenna tower. This design allows for a smoother scan from 1 - 4 meters. This also reduces the effects of "antenna sag" and virtually eliminated scan jitter, caused by the weight of the antenna on the mounting beam as it traveled up and down the mast (cosine error).

Enhanced Antenna Pattern Testing capability. We have upgraded our software to provide greater detail to our antenna patterns tests. This new software will provide a 3 dimensional graphical representation of the antenna under test plotted in Azimuth over Elevation. The frequency range available for this testing is 10 MHz to 18 GHz.

SAE calibration issues. SAE calibrations have long been controversial when comparing testing methodology to actual application. As mentioned in our "Accreditation" update, we are in the process of petitioning our accreditation body to accept a test method which more closely conforms to actual customer use and application. This would mean the antenna factors attained during calibration would more accurately reflect the antenna factors during use.

Liberty Labs, in effort to provide you with calibration services which are compliment your testing needs, has sought the advice of internationally respected engineers to look more closely at the SAE methodology of antenna calibrations compared to their use actual use in test environments.

As a result of this an SAE amendment committee was organized to address the practicality of the methods applied and research as well as recommend methods which are more complimentary to practical use.

Software. With equipment becoming more and more sophisticated, reliance on computer programs to perform measurement system configurations and data collection is a necessity. We are constantly reviewing our software to find ways we can increase the efficiency of our services while not sacrificing quality.

Software updates included our Isotropic Probes calibration section which began using a program designed to capture, process, and store data produced from channel match calibrations on probes. This reduced, on average, the calibration time by nearly 55%!! The most significant benefit of this update incorporation is its contribution to the reduction of turn around time for this area of the laboratory.

Our software modifications and updates also extended to our antenna calibration sections. The update provided better data file management as well as increasing our ability to more precisely capture the antenna scan "maximized signal" at the tested frequency ranges.

Equipment Upgrades. Along with software upgrades to increase accuracy of measurements and ease the transference of calibration data, we continually review equipment applications to ensure we are using the most practical and accurate testing instrumentation on your equipment. We have currently added an Advantest Network Analyzer to our "arsenal of accuracy" inventory.

Equipment upgrades do not only apply to major components, but to the ancillary and accessories used during calibrations as well.

For instance, Current Probe calibrations were reviewed and it was determined that the adaptors could be improved. The modifications to the adaptors allow for more repeatable measurements due to uniform and consistent probe placement around signal conductor.

Austrian Research Centers Gmbh - ARC Distributor. Since quality is at the heart of all we do, it was only natural for us to team up with Austrian Research Centers Gmbh - ARC. The two products we distribute are the Precision Reference Dipoles (based on the Fitzgerald Dipole) and their new RefRad Model 3000, which is a precision test set up verification kit. Its ease of use and precision will make this "kit" a laboratory must have. We also distribute the complete line of Schwarzbeck products.

Finally, we are most excited about our EMC to Waikiki promotion. Knowing that the 2007 EMC show is to be held in Honolulu (Waikiki) Hawaii, we came up with a way to help companies "make room" for one more employee, by offering to pay for lodging and airfare should they win the drawing.  Check out our website for details into this great opportunity.

You can see our commitment to you does not rest on our profit margin. We spend money on software and equipment upgrades to ensure you receive the best possible service with the industries latest, most accurate equipment and methods.

As always, we will continue to provide quick turn around calibration services for a wide range of antennas, LISNs, CDN's, Clamps, Absorbers, Isotropic Probes, (and much more) at extremely reasonable rates.

You ARE truly #1 here at Liberty Labs, Inc. We are looking forward to the opportunities to serve you in the up-coming year. So, let us know if there are other ways we can better support you and you company's mission by sending us your comments and input. Give us a call or send us an email, and let us prove it to you.