Applications for Avionics & Navigation

This Application Note describes the basic operating principles of distance measurement equipment (DME) and tactical air navigation (TACAN) for distance and bearing measurements in aviation along with diverse test possibilities for maintenance of DME/TACAN ground stations.

Some tests are performed on the ground (on the RF port of the DME or TACAN station or in the field via antenna) while others require flight inspection.

The R&S®EDS300 DME/pulse analyzer is the specialist for flight inspection and simultaneous measurement of up to 10 different DME’s and can also be used for monitoring tasks on ground (e.g. far field monitoring of all DME’s of an airport).

The R&S®EDST300 TACAN/DME analyzer focusses on commissioning and regular maintenance checking of TACAN and DME ground stations and battery operated field measurements in the immediate environment of the station.

This Application Note describes the operating principle of DME (Distance Measurement Equipment) that is used for distance measurement in aviation. It also describes various test scenarios for the maintenance of a DME transponder. These tests require an R&S^®SMA100A signal generator with R&S^®SMA-K26 DME modulation option, and an R&S^®NRP-Z81 wideband power sensor.

This application note highlights various aeronautical radio navigation signals such as VHF omnidirectional radio range (VOR), instrument landing system (ILS) for glide slope (GS) and localizer (LLZ), as well as marker beacon (MB). Rohde & Schwarz test and measurement solutions for avionics navigation equipment are introduced based on application scenarios, including calibration, research and development, field tests, and transceiver testing.

This application note describes the suitability of the R&S^®ZVM and R&S^®ZVK as multichannel microwave receivers for antenna measurements and RCS measurements including measurements on pulsed signals. Application examples describe the measurement possibilities on pulsed signals using the R&S^®ZVM/ZVK as stand-alone units. In addition, various R&S^®ZVM/ZVK-based antenna measurement systems of the March Microwave company are presented in detail.

Rohde & Schwarz offers unique one-box solutions for reliable testing of air navigation systems such as ILS, VOR and DME.

Replace extensive field tests on fast frequency hopping radios by simulating real-world radio link conditions in the lab