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Wavetek

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wavetek
IndustryTest & Measurement
Founded1963[1]
SuccessorWavetek, Wandel & Goltermann
HeadquartersSan Diego, California[1]
Websitewww.wavetek.com

Wavetek was an electronic test equipment manufacturer that made function generators, signal generators and service monitors.[2] Although Wavetek did not invent the function generator, it made them commercially popular. The company faced a decline starting in the late 1970s, which eventually resulted in their sale to Torrey Investments in 1991. Since then, they have continued to produce low-cost digital instrumentation.[3]

History

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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.[4] The company had plants in the US states California, Florida, Indiana, and New York.[5] It had overseas locations in Germany, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.[5]

In 1998, Wandel & Goltermann purchased Wavetek, and changed its name to Wavetek, Wandel & Goltermann (WWG).[6]

In January 2000, test equipment manufacturer Fluke Corporation 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.[6]

Merging

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In February 2000, WWG merged with hand-held test equipment developer TTC.[7]

In 2001, Wavetek's LAN tester division which developed the LanTEK series Ethernet test instruments was acquired by IDEAL Industries.[8][9]

Acquisition

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On August 3, 2005, optical communications company JDSU acquired Acterna for $760 million, which became part of JDSU's Test and Measurement Group.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b California Secretary of State records for Wavetek, entity C0446337
  2. ^ Riggs, Rod (1993-12-22). "Wavetek on Crest of Success". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2010-10-03.[dead link]
  3. ^ Rostky, George (March 13, 2001), Design classics: the function generator, EE Times, retrieved March 31, 2012. History of the function generator.
  4. ^ Rose, Craig D. (1994-10-12). "Wavetek becomes even less 'defensive'". The San Diego Union-Tribune.[dead link]
  5. ^ a b "Wavetek's Sale is Agreed to". Los Angeles Times. 1991-02-26. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
  6. ^ a b "Fluke acquires Wavetek product lines". eetimes.com. 2000-01-06. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  7. ^ Wirbel, Loring (2000-02-15). "Wandel Goltermann to merge with TTC". edn.com. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  8. ^ "Ideal to buy LAN division of Wavetek". cablinginstall.com/. 2001-04-09. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  9. ^ "Our History". Retrieved 2024-05-08.
  10. ^ "JDS Uniphase jumps into triple-play testing with Acterna acquisition". lightwaveonline.com. 2005-05-24. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
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