en.Wedoany.com Reported - Copper Mountain Technologies showcased its new BFx-02 frequency extension base at IMS 2026, a platform designed to extend the measurement capabilities of vector network analyzers (VNAs) into the millimeter-wave and terahertz frequency ranges.

The BFx-02 does not perform measurements itself but interfaces with external frequency extenders, enabling engineers to operate within the frequency range supported by the extender. In the demonstration, the unit showcased measurement capabilities up to 1.08 THz and can deliver up to 20 dBm of output power to drive RF and local oscillator (LLO) signals, with its fundamental frequency range extended to 20 GHz. The platform is designed to support widely available frequency extenders on the market.

The BFx-02 is a patent-pending frequency extension platform aimed at simplifying and reducing the cost of millimeter-wave S-parameter measurements. Instead of relying on the frequency extension architecture of a full-featured VNA, it serves as a dedicated frequency extension base, providing the RF and LO signals needed to drive external frequency extenders while processing the returned IF signals. This architecture reduces system complexity, minimizes potential failure points, and enables a more streamlined measurement setup. Compatible with third-party frequency extenders, the BFx-02 can be used in applications such as automotive radar testing, 5G beamforming, satellite communications, telecommunications infrastructure, aerospace and defense systems, and semiconductor device characterization.

The BFx-02 base unit operates over a frequency range of 4 to 20 GHz and provides up to 20 dBm of RF and LO output power to drive long cables and frequency extender systems. The platform includes Copper Mountain Technologies' S2VNA software, supporting linear and logarithmic sweeps, multiple trace formats, marker functions, limit testing, and test automation via environments such as Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, and .NET. By decoupling millimeter-wave measurements from traditional VNA architectures, the company positions the BFx-02 as an economically scalable solution suitable for high-frequency R&D, automated test equipment (ATE), OEM integration, and production test environments.