RF Converters

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Amphenol Military & Aerospace RF Converters integrate advanced microwave frequency‑translation technology for satellite ground terminals and other high‑reliability communication systems. They include both upconverter and downconverter architectures derived from Narda‑MITEQ designs supporting L‑ through Ka‑band operation.

Architecture and Performance

Each converter employs a dual‑conversion architecture with a fixed 70 MHz or optional 140 MHz intermediate frequency. This topology eliminates spectral inversion and maintains signal fidelity across wide tuning ranges. Integrated synthesized local oscillators provide 1 kHz frequency resolution and ultra‑low phase‑noise options meeting INTELSAT IESS‑308/309 requirements.

Control and System Integration

• Remote management via SNMP 1.0, HTTP interface, Telnet, and RS‑485 / RS‑422 links.
• Alarm monitoring, event logging, and 1:1 redundant switching compatibility for continuous operation.
• External 5 MHz / 10 MHz reference input with automatic switchover to internal reference if needed.

Mechanical and Environmental Design

Outdoor‑rated housings operate from ‑40 °C to +60 °C and support mild pressurization for antenna‑mount applications. Enclosures incorporate rugged RF and IF connectors such as SMA, waveguide flanges, and N‑type interfaces. Typical configurations consume ~60 W from 100–240 VAC mains.

Typical Variants

• Standalone RF Upconverters and Downconverters – Compact single‑band units for ground‑station integration.
• Multi‑Channel and Multi‑Band Converters – Parallel channel options for multi‑carrier links.
• VITA / OpenVPX / SOSA‑Aligned Modules – Embedded formats for open‑architecture payloads.
• Rack‑Mount and SATCOM Outdoor Configurations – Factory‑sealed housings for antenna feed installations.

Applications

Designed for fixed and transportable satellite earth stations, telemetry (TT&C) systems, radar back‑ends, and communication uplinks requiring low phase noise, stable conversion gain, and environmental ruggedness. They complement Amphenol RF Amplifiers, Synthesizers, and Tuners as part of a complete microwave front‑end architecture.