Tektronix Appoints Ray Merckling to Lead Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer Sales

Tektronix Veteran Will Set Sales Direction for Growing Product Line

BEAVERTON, Ore., September 05, 2006 - Tektronix, Inc. (NYSE: TEK), a leading worldwide provider of test, measurement and monitoring instrumentation, announced a new high-end RSA6100A Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer series (see separate release) and the appointment of Ray Merckling to lead the worldwide sales effort for the spectrum analyzer family of products. Tektronix’ Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers are the only spectrum analyzers in the market designed to meet the needs of engineers and technicians who design and test digital RF technologies and applications. The appointment of Mr. Merckling will help direct the sales force to more effectively meet the rapidly growing market demand for Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers.

Computing technologies have arrived in the radio world which has led to the replacement of analog filters and processors with digital technologies or what is often termed “Digital RF,” where much of the design is implemented in software through the extensive use of DSP. Most digital RF technologies enable time varying techniques to more efficiently use available spectrum, avoid interference and ensure seamless operation. With these digital RF technologies, it’s possible to change frequency and modulation types in microseconds, sometimes full seconds, minutes or even longer. For example, Bluetooth uses frequency-hopping whereas RFID employs momentary communication links.

“Tektronix recognized several years ago that the emergence of digital RF would help drive the ’wireless everywhere’ phenomenon and create market opportunities,” said Rick King, Vice President, Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers, Tektronix. “With digital RF, time domain issues are now very relevant for RF engineers so time cannot be ignored in the RF world. It was clear then as now that the traditional test tools for RF are not sufficient as digital RF creates the need for test tools whose capabilities mirror the time-varying nature of today’s signals. This was a driving reason behind our investment in this technology even during the high-tech downturn and led to the eventual purchase of the Sony/Tektronix joint venture in 2004 where the initial work on Real-Time spectrum analysis was taking place. With several iterations of this technology, we are now taking the next steps including the release of the RSA6100A, an entirely new platform with transformational features, and the creation of a dedicated sales force to help our customers solve digital RF design and test challenges using our Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers.”

Modern digital RF devices generate signals that are present one moment, absent the next, and variable over time. The dynamic generation of RF waveforms through DSP and the integration of digital and RF circuits, often on the same IC, create issues not seen in traditional RF transceiver designs. RF engineers need real-time instruments that can trigger on intermittent events, capture these seamlessly and analyze accumulated data representing the passage of time. Traditional swept spectrum analyzers and vector signal analyzers (VSA) are generally not up to the task for digital RF technologies and devices. Tektronix Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers (RTSA) are the only analyzers in the world that are designed to specifically solve digital RF problems.

Increased Sales Focus
Ray Merckling has been with Tektronix for 18 years in various sales and sales management capacities. Most recently, he has led the North American Design & Manufacturing Sales Channel. Previously, Mr. Merckling led the U.S. Distribution Sales Organization He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and has attended executive development programs at the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina, University of Pennsylvania, and the Center for Creative Leadership.

“The change to digital RF is a potentially market changing event,” said Bart Freedman, Vice President, Instruments Business Sales, Tektronix. “We recognized some time ago that digital technologies applied to RF applications would open up new market opportunities. With our award-winning Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer families, Tektronix is well positioned to gain share in this space. Ray Merckling is a seasoned sales and sales management professional with long experience with Tektronix and deep knowledge of our customer needs for spectrum analyzers. The appointment of Ray Merckling will help our sales teams to more thoroughly address the increasing demand for Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers.”

“We’ve made significant R&D investments in our Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer program,” said King. "The results are now becoming visible with significant growth generated from our existing products and a strong pipeline of new products. We believe the spectrum analyzer market is a significant growth opportunity for Tektronix. We’ve strengthened our ability to execute with the appointment of Ray Merckling to lead our field sales activities.

About Tektronix
Tektronix, Inc. is a leading test, measurement, and monitoring company providing measurement solutions to the communications, computer, and semiconductor industries worldwide. With over 60 years of experience, Tektronix provides general purpose test and measurement, video test and monitoring and communications network management and diagnostic products that enable its customers to design, build, deploy, and manage next-generation global communications networks and advanced technologies. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix has operations in 19 countries worldwide. Tektronix’ Web address is www.tektronix.com

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