Specifications

Introduction and Specifications
RVP8 User’s Manual
March 2006
1–14
be precise or repeatable. In contrast, the RVP8/Tx can perform precise phase modulation to any
desired angle, without requiring the use of external phase shifting hardware.
S Pulse Compression- There is increasing demand for siting radars in urban areas that also
happen to have strict regulations on transmit emissions. Often the peak transmit power is
limited in these areas; so the job for the weather radar is to somehow illuminate its
targets using longer pulses at lower power. The problem, of course, is that a simple long
pulse lacks the ability (bandwidth) to discern targets in range. The remedy is to increase
the Tx bandwidth by modulating the overall pulse envelope, so that a reasonable range
resolution is restored. The exceptional fidelity of the RVP8/Tx waveform can accomplish
this without introducing any of the spurious modulation components that often occur
when external phase modulation hardware is used.
S Frequency Agility- This has been well studied within the research community, but has
remained out of the reach of practical weather radars. The RVP8/Tx changes all of this,
because frequency agility is as simple as changing the center frequency of the
synthesized IF waveform. Many new Range/Doppler unfolding algorithms become
possible when multiple transmit frequencies can coexist. Frequency agility can also be
combined with pulse compression to remedy the blind spot at close ranges while the long
pulse is being transmitted.
S COHO synthesis- The RVP8/Tx output waveform can be programmed to be a simple
CW sine wave. It can be synthesized at any desired frequency and amplitude, and its
phase is locked to the other system clocks. If you need a dedicated oscillator at some
random frequency in the IF band, this is a simple way to get it.