IEEE 1641 signal modelling as a learning aid

A requirement arose to specify test facilities for a complex radar system. For the digital and low frequency analogue parts of the system, there was no problem. However, the radar knowledge possessed by the engineer undertaking the assessment, one of the authors of this paper, was some 20 years out of date and gained when he was a maintainer rather than an engineer. What was needed was a better understanding of the nature and characteristics of a radar signal. This paper shows how a modeling tool for IEEE Std. 1641 (Signal & Test Definition) m was able to assist the engineer to gain the necessary knowledge to make a valid assessment.