Test & Measurement

To accelerate the design cycle, Keysight Technologies has introduced a digital wideband transceiver test system, which it claims unveils true radio frequency (RF) performance characteristics of mixed-digital RF devices.

Defense radars and satellite communications and 5G employ phased-array antennas (PAA) to meet performance and versatility requirements to millimeter wave frequencies. Digital signals are highly integrated into the RF front-end architecture of modern antennas used in defence radar, satellite communications and 5G. As a result, the antennas need a new measurement methodology for stimulus and response measurements, says Keysight.

Its digital wideband transceiver test comprises a vector network analyser, device measurement software and transceiver analysis software to compare digital and RF signals between device input and output and measures the transmitter and receiver responses independently from other test instrumentation. 

The test system uses Keysight’s N52xxB PNA/PNA-X vector network analyser. This is an integrated, flexible microwave test engine for measuring active devices, such as amplifiers, mixers and frequency converters. It also includes S94601B device measurement eXpert software, a configuration assistant that enables users to set up complex measurements for various types of devices. There is also S94610B digital wideband transceiver analysis software. This test waveform creator and configuration assistant enables users to set up mixed-digital RF devices.

Wideband stimulus waveforms are generated by Keysight’s VXG vector signal generator (M938xB) and the PNA-X device measurement eXpert software enables device characterisation and a control interface. The RF test equipment’s measurement and signal fidelity tests new mixed-digital RF devices, and is claimed to minimising errors to yield highest possible performance characteristics.

According to Dan Dunn, vice president of Keysight’s Aerospace & Defense Government Solutions: “Keysight’s digital wideband transceiver test solution enables true RF performance characterisation, while speeding measurements and data analysis that ultimately accelerate the entire design cycle.”

Keysight says the digital wideband transceiver test solution reduces weeks of in-house measurement and data analysis effort to a few minutes. It can be leveraged to component level, such as ADCs, DACs and transceiver ICs as well as sub-system level such as radar / electronic warfare transmit and receive modules, satellite communications transmitters / receivers. For system level, it addresses whole signal paths of 5G PAAs (phased array antennas) using massive multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) technology.

The system maintains high measurement accuracy of GHz bandwidth in mm wave frequencies and adapts to proprietary digital designs.

http://www.keysight.com

Error vector magnitude (EVM) measurement for wideband modulated signals in the mmWave range distinguish the R&S FSW signal and spectrum analyser from Rohde & Schwarz. The company has enhanced the dynamic front end of the instrument which is suitable for testing communication components or systems, including 5G NR (new radio) FR2 or IEEE 802.11ay / ad chipsets, amplifiers, user equipment and base

stations.

The enhanced dynamic front end of the R&S FSW meet demands for EVM measurements for 5G base station and component development at FR2 frequencies as well as for high frequency satellite applications. Accuracy is achieved with the latest enhancements to the modified front end of the R&S FSW, as well as the microwave hardware optimised for frequencies above 26 GHz, says Rohde & Schwarz.

The signal and spectrum analyser has a wide internal analysis bandwidth which allows the characterisation of wideband components and communications systems. Its measurement applications simplify and speed up in-depth analysis of the physical layer, allowing testing at higher frequencies and wider measurement bandwidths to cover all the physical layer options specified in the standard, says Rohde & Schwarz.

Newly produced R&S FSW43, R&S FSW50 and R&S FSW67 models now ship with the enhancements as standard. The R&S FSW-B24U can also be ordered as an upgrade to many R&S FSW signal and spectrum analysers already in use.

The Rohde & Schwarz technology group specialises in test and measurement, technology systems and networks and cybersecurity.

Founded more than 85 years ago, the group is a partner for industry and government customers around the globe. 

Rohde & Schwarz is headquartered in Munich, Germany.

http://www.rohde-schwarz.com

Over the air (OTA) test system developer, Emite, has collaborated with Anritsu for testing the compatibility of different connection technologies such as LTE, WLAN and Bluetooth wireless technology. 

The Anritsu wireless connectivity test set MT8862A, radio communication analyser MT8821C and Bluetooth test set MT8852B have been integrated with the Emite E600 reverberation chamber. The combination allows the testing of OTA / TRP (total radiated power) / TIS (total isotropic sensitivity) / TPUT (throughput) performance in a repeatable environment. With integral communications protocols and optimised performance for testing, the reverberation chamber and Anritsu platforms can reliably characterise the different co-existence scenarios of the latest devices.

In tests of co-existence scenarios of WLAN with LTE and Bluetooth technology, and LTE with WLAN and Bluetooth technology, the integration has been able to measure TRP, TIS and physical TPUT OTA performance indicators in commercially available devices. 

“New features have been implemented based on market needs and working closely with our customers. Some of the leading companies in the telecommunication sector worldwide have shown interest in this solution for their OTA platforms,” said Javier Paredes, CSO of Emite.

Shinji Hoshino, Director, IoT Test Solutions Div., Anritsu Corporation, said, “IoT use cases combining several technologies are increasing, and the market requires an efficient test platform. . .  . Anritsu’s long experience in bringing test solutions to the communications market will bring these benefits to the IoT test market too.”

Emite Ingeniería is a spin‐out company from the Technical University of Cartagena in Spain. It  designs, develops, manufactures and commercialises OTA test systems for performance, compliance and pre‐compliance testing of any 2G to 5G standards and pre‐standards worldwide, including 5G, LTE‐A and Wi-Fi (up to 6E). 

Headquartered at the Fuente Álamo High Tech Park in the Region of Murcia, Spain, it has distributors in 25 countries, test house show rooms in America, Asia and Europe. Emite OTA test systems are used by carriers, OEMs, test labs, regulatory authorities and others around the wireless ecosystem. Its MIMO OTA test systems were selected by 3GPP and CTIA as candidate methodology for the study and work items through standardisation of LTE MIMO OTA test methods. 

Anritsu provides communications test and measurement products to develop wireless, optical, microwave / RF and digital solutions for R&D, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance applications, as well as multi-dimensional service assurance solutions for network monitoring and optimisation. 

Anritsu also provides precision microwave / RF components, optical devices, and high-speed electrical devices for communication products and systems. The company develops solutions for 5G, M2M, IoT, as well as other emerging and legacy wireline and wireless communication markets. 

http://www.emite-ing.com

http://www.anritsu.com