R. A. Wood Associates QuickNews

R. A. Wood Associates Top Level Catalog

R. A. Wood Associates has developed many RF/microwave components to support our higher level assemblies. These have been designed, built, tested and integrated into our delivered products. Since most of our products support EW missions, the parts are inherently wideband, and can be used in wideband or narrowband applications. We've created a Top Level Catalog of these components that can be downloaded.

The components include:

• RF/Microwave Equalizers
• RCT0050 Wideband Amplifier
• RCT0067 Digital Attenuator
• RCT0061 Wideband Amp/Digital Attenuator
• RCT0075 HDR (High Dynamic Range) Gain Block
• RCT0070 Mixer/LO Amp
• RCT0080 EW CFM (Configurable Filter Module)
• Wideband Power Dividers, 8 Way and 12 Way
• SP2T Wideband Switches
• Extreme BW RF Amplifiers

Let us know if you would like more information about any of these products!

New Equalizers added to our Website!

Hi Everyone!

We've just updated our Website with our new equalizer designs. We now have over 322 unique, high performance designs covering up to 20GHz. These designs have many different slopes and the lowest loss, best slope and return loss performance of any equalizers on the market today. We also have 4 new negative slope designs, based on customer requests. We will very soon be adding custom filtering to the Website to make it easier to find the parts you need. If you don't see a part that fits your need, just contact us at rawood-at-rawood-dot-com and let us know what you are looking for.

6U VPX Microwave Module with State of the Art Residual Phase Noise Designed and Tested

9X8 Switch Matrix / Up Converter SN40 Delivered!

We've delivered our 40th 9X8 Switch Matrix / Up Converter. We designed and started producing these in 2018, and have made on-time deliveries on each one since then. Congrats to the team on getting these products completed on time!

14 X 12 Switch Matrix / Up Converter SN22 Delivered!

We just delivered SN022 of RCT0064. This unit allows 14 microwave inputs to be switched to any of 12 Microwave outputs. This was an extremely challenging design, with custom-designed 12-Way power dividers, our own RCT0050 WB Amplifiers, custom designed SP2T Switches, 3 internal switch matrix "cubes" (2X12, 6X12, and 6X12) with blind mate interconnections, and custom designed WB Digital Attenuator/Amplifiers, all in a 3U height rack mount package.

New Design and Product Delivered: FSSDU

We've just designed and delivered a new product: First Stage Signal Distribution Unit (FSSDU). This 3U unit provides many functions, including: Amplification and equalization of extremely wide RF and Microwave frequency bands Distibution of bands to support many receivers and carry-on equipment Combining of frequency bands to create a broad spectrum output for wideband analysis Low noise figure, high dynamic range amplification to maintain the system RF signal path performance This unit replaces an older unit with new hardware and expanded capability Ethernet Interface

New Product Designed and Delivered: BIT / DVA Assembly

We've recently designed and delivered a new 1U Height BIT (Built-in-Test) / DVA (Digital Variable Attenuators) Assembly. This unit provides: Wide Microwave Frequency Band coverage across 8 inputs The capability to inject BIT Signals into each microwave input to support system health testing and grooming Gain Adjust and high dynamic range Amplification using our RCT0061 Wide-Band Digital Attenuator Amplifier Equalization to correct negative slope across the frequency band Creation of mmW BIT signals using frequency doublers Ethernet Interface This part can be used anywhere in a system to inject Built in Test signals, while still maintaining the RF path dynamic range and noise figure. It's small 1U height allows it to fit in many locations in a system.

8X8 Backfit Switch Matrix / Up Converter SN 33 to be delivered

We've delivered Serial Number 25 of our 8X8 Switch Matrix / Up Converters, and are working on new orders of SN's 26-33. This is a 3U direct form, fit, and function replacement for a 6U LRU, giving the customer a modern upgrade and space savings at the same time. All deliveries have been on schedule!

The Millennium Edition HPOI Tuner Y2K Compliant!

Our 2000th HPOI Microwave Tuner was delivered! In honor of the Y2K scare that was supposed to cause major world chaos on 12:00 AM, Jan 1, 2000, we have named this Tuner the "Millennium Edition", and have certified that it is Y2K complaint!

Solar Panels on Building 3 Helping to Make us Greener!

We have the 2nd set of solar panels installed on the roof of our 3rd building. These panels more than double the capacity of the first set of ground mounted panels. In some months, the solar panels have almost offset our entire electric bill!

SN 1969, the Woodstock Edition of our Microwave Tuner is ready to ship!

Serial Number 1969 of our microwave tuners has been readied for shipment. In honor of the iconic year of 1969, a great moment in our history where 400,000 people attended a 4 day music festival called Woodstock with 34 of the greatest artists of the time, we are naming SN1969 the Woodstock Edition Microwave Tuner!

R. A. Wood Associates is Re-Certified for AS9100D / ISO 9001:2015 Quality System

R. A. Wood Associates becomes certified for AS9100D and ISO9001:2015 Quality Management System!

R. A. Wood Associates is now certified for AS9100D and ISO9001:2015 Quality Management for "Design and Manufacture of RF and Microwave Products". This was a huge effort undertaken by everyone in the organization. Thanks to everyone who worked tirelessly to help us get to this point!

Our 2nd Facility Expansion is Almost Complete!

Our 2nd Addition (225' X 60', 13,500 Sq Ft) to our building is almost complete. This will give us a total of 31,000 Sq Ft of engineerring and manufacturing space, allowing us to design, manufacture, and deliver more microwave products to our customers!

Front View (addition added to the rear of the building)

Rear View and Solar Panels

R. A. Wood Associates Receives Order for 268 Microwave Tuners for FY20

We received orders for QTY 268 Microwave Tuners for FY20. This is the result of our committment to keep our costs under control, and continuing to deliver quality products to our customer and ultimately for the US military.

Microwave Tuner Serial # 1500 in process!

Hi Everyone! We are marking the 1500th Microwave Tuner in production, showing Serial Number 1500 here. Congrats to our great team for working hard to get us to this amazing milestone! We are still going strong manufacturing and shipping these now and for the forseeable future.

RF Receiver Simulator RCT0053

We designed and built an RF Receiver Sumiulator RCT0053, designed to simulate the front end characteristics of an EW system, from the antennas to the downstream rack equipment. We used our customer designed RCT0050 WB amplifiers in many of the 6 microwave channels.

Our Team gets IPC J-STD-001 Solder Training!

We had 20 people go through IPC J-STD-001 Specialist Certification Training and 9 people take J-STD-001 Hand Soldering Certification (3 days). Thanks to EPTAC, the training company, for coming into our facility to train everyone! Thank you to our great employees who took the time and effort to complete the training!

FY18 Tuners+ Celebration

We had a great time celebrating successful deliveries of 172 FY18 Microwave Tuners, plus: 1,175 equalizers 7 amplifiers 8 RPL0103 Low Band Modules RPL0225 Up Converters 8 RPL0166 Up Converters 5 9X8 Switch Matrices 5 8X8 Switch Matrices We had Dinasaur BBQ bring in the food, and the Swamp Drivers Band playing live. Thank you everyone for helping us make on-time deliveries with quality products!

More Microwave Switch Matrices / Up Converters!

R. A. Wood Associates has received more orders for non-blocking microwave switch matrices for Naval applications. We have orders and are executing on QTY 21 9X8 Switch Matrices/Up Converters and QTY 20 8X8 Switch Matrices/Up Converters. Each of these matrices uses our own wideband power divider designs (8/9 each). The 9X8 design uses our own surface mount switches and ultra wideband (0.5 to 18 GHz) surface mount amplifier designs. Both of these products are packed into a 2U rack mount chassis design.

268 Microwave Tuners ordered for FY19!

R. A. Wood Associates received an order for 268 Microwave Tuners for FY19. This will bring our total orders to over 1500 Microwave Tuners, resulting in over 3000 digital/signal conditioning boards, and over 12,000 packaged microwave assemblies being assembled and tested at our facility, all with on-time delivery and keeping costs under control.

New Ultra-Wideband Microwave Amplifier Available!

We've developed a new Ultra-Wideband Microwave Amplifier, the RCT0050, covering the frequency band of 0.5 to 18 GHz. This amplifier is built using surface mount technology, resulting in a lower production cost than traditional MIC amplifiers, with faster delivery times. Typical amplifier characteristics are: ~19 dB Average Gain <3.0 dB P-P Flatness 22 dBm Average Pout 1 dB Noise Figure ranging from <2 dB to 5.0 dB. ~200 mA Current Draw from +12 V This is a great overall amplifier for low noise, high dynamic range, wideband EW applications, or narrowband applications. More information is available from this link. Let us know if you are interested in this product!

30 New Equalizers on our Equalizer WWW page!

If you haven't visited our Equalizer WWW page in a while, you'll notice we have about 30 new equalizer designs, covering different slopes and frequency bands. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!

We've built our 1000th Microwave Tuner!

We are excited to anounce that our 1000th Microwave Tuner is in burn-in and getting ready to be shipped! What a great accomplishment for our amazing team! We've shown our customers that we can deliver a quality product at production rates, and meet their delivery schedules. I'd like to personally thank them for giving us the opportunity to meet their expectations. Thank You! Bob Wood

R. A. Wood receives order for QTY 9 8X8 Microwave Switch Matrices/Up Converters!

We just received an order for 9 RCT0043 Switch Matrix/Up Converters, to be used in Navy Vessels. These products allow 8 RF/microwave inputs to be routed to any of 8 RF/microwave output ports, The switch matrix is non-blocking. The design includes: Custom designed 8-way power dividers (covering a 4:1 bandwidth) A low band Up Converter An internal power supply High Speed LVDS interface High Dynamic Range RF amplifiers on inputs and outputs Custom designed equalizers for slope correction, and FPGA board for control and status (Built in Test) monitoring The entire assembly is housed in a 2U rack mount assembly, saving precious rack space. The full frequency coverage is 0.5 to 18 GHz.

Solar Arrays Up and Running

The new Solar Array is up and running, creating electricity to support our use. The Solar Array was installed to help us transition to using solar energy for all our electricity needs. This reduces our operating expenses and lowers our ecological footprint. On a good day we can create ~450 kWhours of electricity. It goes onto the power grid to credit our account if we produce more than we use. Pretty exciting!

The New Building Extension is Complete

The new building extension is complete and we are making good use of the additional space. We increased our capacity by ~8800 sq ft.

We received an order for 167 Microwave Tuners!

More exciting news that shows our continued comittment to our customers and the critical program these tuners are being used on.

R. A. Wood Associates Receives an Order for 212 Microwave Tuners!

After a difficult negotiation to make significant cost reductions, we received an order for 212 microwave tuners. We will be delivering these at an increased rate of 24 per month. The 2 slot VME wide band microwave tuner is shown here being tested in our portable microwave test station.

24 more Microwave Tuners ready to ship!

New Equalizer designs now available!

We keep working on new designs for our customers, and improving on our earlier designs. We now have over 231 equalizer designs available, more than any other manufacturer. Various slopes over frequency ranges from DC to 28 GHz are available. You can go to our Equalizer WWW page to see what we have. Actual plots are shown for each design. If you don't see what you need, let us know, and we'll see if we can help you out.

New Capability to provide tight tolerance surface mount capacitors

8X8 Switch Matrix / Up Converter Delivered

We delivered a new design to one of our customers: An 8X8 Microwave Switch Matrix /Up Converter. The unit allows 8 RF/microwave inputs to be routed to any of 8 RF/microwave output ports. The design includes: Custom designed 8-way power dividers (covering a 4:1 bandwidth) A low band Up Converter An AC/DC power supply High Speed LVDS interface High Dynamic Range RF amplifiers on inputs and outputs Custom designed equalizers for slope correction, and FPGA board for control and status (Built in Test) monitoring The entire assembly is housed in a 2U rack mount assembly, saving precious rack space. The full frequency coverage is 0.5 to 18 GHz.

We've moved to a new location!

We've moved to a new and better location. Our new address is: R. A. Wood Associates, LLC 164 Industrial Park Drive Frankfort, NY 13340 We are very excited about this move to larger space, more efficient manufacturing work flow, and easier access for our customers and employees.

R. A. Wood Associates receives a new production order for 168 wideband Microwave Tuners

We've received another production order for wideband Microwave Tuners. We will be delivering these at a rate of 17/month.