Wavetek was an electronic test equipment manufacturer that made

function generator In electrical engineering, a function generator is usually a piece of electronic test equipment or software used to generate different types of electrical waveforms over a wide range of frequencies. Some of the most common waveforms produced ...

signal generator A signal generator is one of a class of electronic devices that generates electrical signals with set properties of amplitude, frequency, and wave shape. These generated signals are used as a stimulus for electronic measurements, typically used i ...

s and service monitors. Although Wavetek did not invent the function generator, it made them commercially popular. The company's swept RF/microwave signal generators of early 1980's were virtually unmatched in component quality and had user interface features that included a birdy marker system for frequency counting, automatic level control, remote interface port, and front panel designed for quick and simple user control. Following obsolescence, the company technology eventually devolved into lower cost digital instrumentation.

History

Before Terrence Gooding, president and CEO of Wavetek, took Wavetek private in 1991, the company had 800 employees, 260 of whom worked in San Diego. The company had plants in the US states California, Florida, Indiana, and New York. It had overseas locations in Germany, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. In 1998, Wandel & Goltermann purchased Wavetek, and changed its name to Wavetek, Wandel & Goltermann (WWG). In January 2000, test equipment manufacturer

Fluke Corporation Fluke Corporation is a manufacturer of industrial test, measurement, and diagnostic equipment including electronic test equipment. It was started in 1948 by John Fluke while he was employed at General Electric. History Fluke Corporation wa ...

acquired Wavetek's Precision Management Division, and announced their intention to keep the Wavetek name for existing products. WWG kept Wavetek's LAN business unit, cable networks, fiber optics and wireless test gear.

Merging

In May 2000, WWG merged with hand-held test equipment developer TTC to form Acterna. In 2003, Acterna's LAN tester division which developed LANTech Ethernet test instruments was acquired by Ideal Industries.

Acquisition

On August 3, 2005, optical communications company

JDSU JDS Uniphase Corporation (JDSU) was an American company that designed and manufactured products for optical communications networks, communications test and measurement equipment, lasers, optical solutions for authentication and decorative applica ...

acquired Acterna for $760 million, which became part of JDSU's Test and Measurement Group.

References

External links

Archived website of Wavetek
at the

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

Electronics companies of the United States Electronic test equipment manufacturers Manufacturing companies based in San Diego {{US-manufacturing-company-stub