everything RF recently interviewed Harvey Xiao, the General Manager of Uni-Trend Technology US. He has over 20 years of progressive experience in the test and measurement, RF, microwave, and telecommunications industries. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at RIGOL, Spirent Communications, and Agilent Technologies, driving business growth, product development, and sales expansion across North America and APAC. A proven leader in 5G, wireless test solutions, and channel development, he specializes in scaling operations, building distribution partnerships, and delivering measurable business results in global tech markets.
Q. Could you briefly introduce UNI-T? When was the company founded, and how has it evolved in the global test and measurement industry?
Harvey Xiao: UNI-T's predecessor, Junyi Electronics Factory, was founded in 1988. The UNI-T brand was officially established in 1997, and UNI-T Technology Co., Ltd. was founded in 2003, marking the start of standardized operations. Since then, the company has continuously expanded its product portfolio, from basic multimeters and clamp meters to power test, measurement, and environmental monitoring instruments, while accelerating global expansion with subsidiaries in Germany and the United States. A major milestone came in 2021, when UNI-T was successfully listed on the STAR Market. Today, the company is focused on developing high-end instruments such as oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers, with the goal of growing from a well-known Asian brand into a globally recognized leader in test and measurement.
Q. What strategic vision drove UNI-T to expand into RF and microwave test instruments? When did you enter this segment?
Harvey Xiao: UNI-T's move into RF and microwave is part of our transition from general-purpose instruments to high-end equipment. This segment has high technical barriers and has historically been dominated by a small number of established suppliers. Our goal is to give customers credible alternatives by mastering the underlying technologies and serving fast-growing sectors, including 5G communications, new energy vehicles, and semiconductor development.
We launched our first RF products as early as 2013, but 2021 marked the official strategic focus on RF as a core product line, with a dedicated R&D team established in Chengdu. By the end of 2024, that strategy delivered our flagship high-end products: the USG5000V Series RF Vector Signal Generator (up to 22 GHz) and the UTS7000A Series Signal Analyzer.
Q. Could you outline your core RF and microwave product portfolio, including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and related instruments?
Harvey Xiao: Our spectrum analyzers cover entry-level to flagship models:
- UTS1000B: for education and maintenance
- UTS3000B: portable for field testing
- UTS3000A: with real-time analysis for R&D
- UTS5000A: up to 26.5 GHz for communications R&D
- UTS7000A: flagship, up to 40 GHz, for high-end 5G and aerospace applications
UTS7000A Series Spectrum Analyzer from UNI-T
Our signal generators fall into two categories:
- V Series (vector signals): e.g., USG5000V (up to 22 GHz, 150 MHz modulation bandwidth) for complex digital communication simulation
- M Series (analog signals): e.g., USG5000M (ultra-low phase noise) for local oscillator and CW testing
The 3000 Series V and M models are general-purpose instruments at a slightly lower tier.
Q. What is the maximum frequency range supported by your current RF product line? How do you expect this capability to evolve in the next few years?
Harvey Xiao: Our current maximum frequency is 40 GHz, and we will continue to push higher in the coming years:
This will cover high-frequency applications such as satellite communications and radar testing.
Beyond higher frequencies, key performance indicators, including phase noise, bandwidth, and signal purity, will be significantly improved. Software will be enhanced with more advanced signal analysis and generation functions to fully unlock the hardware's capabilities. In short, we will continue deepening our presence in the high-end market.
Q. In a market with established test and measurement brands, how do UNI-T's RF instruments perform against existing solutions in key specifications such as phase noise, dynamic range, DANL, and frequency stability? What are your differentiating advantages in performance, cost-effectiveness, and overall user experience?
Harvey Xiao: We're candid about where we stand: there are still gaps between UNI-T and the very top brands, such as Keysight and Rohde & Schwarz, at the ultra-high end of the specification range. UNI-T's strategy is to deliver strong, professional-grade performance at mainstream price points.
For example:
- Flagship UTS7000A Series: 40 GHz, DANL of −167 dBm, phase noise of −110 dBc/Hz, 255 MHz analysis bandwidth - fully capable of high-end 5G and aerospace testing
- High-end USG5000V Vector Signal Generator: 22 GHz with 150 MHz modulation bandwidth, stable for complex digital modulation signals
USG5000V Series Signal Generator from UNI-T
Our three core differentiators are:
- Outstanding cost-performance: Customers get more capable equipment for the same budget compared to entry-level instruments from incumbent suppliers.
- User-friendly experience: Standard large touchscreens and intuitive operation across the product line.
- All functions included as standard: Unlike some competitors who charge separately for every measurement function, demodulation standard, or analysis mode, our instruments ship with all measurement capabilities included. Engineers don't have to budget for option keys or wait on procurement to unlock features they need mid-project.
Simply put, we help engineers get the job done well with less investment and less friction.
Q. Which industry sectors are you currently focused on - education, industrial electronics, communications, automotive, or others? Where are you seeing the strongest demand?
Harvey Xiao: We serve a wide range of industries: education, industrial electronics, communications, automotive electronics, and semiconductors. The strongest demand currently comes from two areas:
- Communications and R&D: Research institutes and engineering teams are looking for high-performance alternatives to established suppliers, and our flagship products deliver the specifications they need at a more accessible price point.
- Automotive electronics and semiconductors: The rapid growth of new energy vehicles and continued investment in semiconductor development are driving strong demand for RF and general-purpose test equipment.
These two sectors are our fastest-growing markets globally.
Q. Your education solutions are gaining attention. How does UNI-T support universities and technical colleges in RF and electronics training?
Harvey Xiao: UNI-T supports education with a practical, integrated approach, not just selling equipment, but building complete training systems that combine hardware, software, and teaching resources.
- Hardware: SaturnLab power electronics training system, NeptuneLab experiment platform, and other hands-on project equipment
- Software and resources: Co-developed curricula, textbooks, and lab exercises, plus faculty training and lab construction support
NeptuneLab Intelligent Teaching System
We aim to give students hands-on experience with industry-standard tools, not just textbook theory.
Q. Where are your R&D and manufacturing bases located? How do you ensure product quality and consistent calibration standards for the global market?
Harvey Xiao: Our R&D centers are located in Dongguan, Chengdu, and Changzhou, with high-end RF products developed primarily by the Chengdu team. Our manufacturing bases are in Dongguan, Heyuan, and Vietnam, with the Vietnam facility supporting global supply.
Quality assurance relies on standardized processes:
- Automated SMT and assembly lines to minimize variability
- Strict calibration and testing in accredited labs before shipment
This ensures that every instrument—spectrum analyzer, signal generator, or otherwise—delivers consistent measurement results for customers worldwide.
Q. Test and measurement equipment typically requires strong technical support. How has UNI-T built its global sales, distribution, and after-sales support network?
Harvey Xiao: UNI-T operates on a B2B2C model, working with channel partners who provide local technical support and after-sales service. As our product portfolio has expanded into higher-end instruments, we've invested in direct local presence to support customers more effectively.
We've established subsidiaries in the United States, Europe, and South America. In North America, we operate from our facility in Fort Worth, Texas, which serves as the hub for US sales, technical support, and customer service. This local presence allows us to respond quickly to customer needs, provide hands-on product demonstrations, and support customers in their own time zone and language.
We also continue to train and certify our distributor network to extend service capacity, and we're planning regional service and calibration centers to support the growing installed base of UNI-T instruments worldwide.
Q. Looking ahead, which RF and wireless technology trends - 5G/6G, millimeter wave, IoT, EMC compliance -are shaping your product roadmap? Do you plan to expand into new RF or test and measurement categories?
Harvey Xiao: All of those trends are key focus areas for us. Emerging applications, including 6G, satellite internet, intelligent driving, and robotics, demand higher-performance test equipment, and vector network analyzers (VNAs) are essential for passive component, antenna, and material characterization.
We are actively developing vector network analyzers with three clear goals:
- Extend to higher frequencies, covering millimeter wave and eventually terahertz bands for 6G and satellite communications
- Add multi-port and multi-function integration to support complex test scenarios in intelligent driving and robotics
- Enhance software and automation to improve test efficiency and reduce setup time
Beyond VNAs, we'll continue investing across our spectrum analyzer and signal generator lines to bring high-end capability to a broader range of engineers and applications.
About the Company:
Uni-Trend Technology Co., Ltd. is a test and measurement solutions provider in Asia. With R&D centers in Dongguan, Chengdu, and Changzhou, Uni-Trend manufactures a wide range of T&M products. They have global office locations for sales and support in Europe (Germany) and the US. Products available in these regions can be purchased from local distributors or directly from our websites. UNI-T makes instruments including Continuous Wave Arbitrary Function Generators, Spectrum Analyzers to 8.4 GHz, Signal Analyzers to 40 GHz, VNAs to 9 GHz, and RF Generators to 22 GHz. We also make Oscilloscopes, Power Supplies, Multimeters, and many other instruments to round out your test system.
