1 EXHIBIT 12.1 PHASE METRICS, INC. STATEMENT REGARDING COMPUTATION OF RATIOS (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS) RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ------------------------------------------------ 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 ---- ------ ------- -------- ------- Earnings: Income (loss) before income taxes and extraordinary items.................. $361 $ 943 $ 6,193 $(19,842) $(9,812) Fixed charges: Interest expense..................... -- 651 5,625 8,448 11,573 Rental expense interest factor(1).... 35 60 178 1,133 1,700 ---- ------ ------- -------- ------- Total fixed charges............. 35 711 5,803 9,581 13,273 ---- ------ ------- -------- ------- Earnings (loss) available to cover fixed charges................................. $396 $1,654 $11,996 $(10,261) $ 3,461 ==== ====== ======= ======== ======= Combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements................... $ 35 $1,023 $ 8,803 $ 12,581 $16,196 ==== ====== ======= ======== ======= Ratio of earnings (loss) to fixed charges(2).............................. 11.3x 1.6x 1.4x -- 0.2x ==== ====== ======= ======== ======= - --------------- (1) The portion of operating lease rental expense that is representative of the interest factor is deemed to be one-third of total operating lease rental expense. (2) For the year ended December 31, 1996, earnings were inadequate to cover Fixed Charges by $22.8 million.