This application note describes Methods of Implementation (MOI) for precise, fast, and error-free compliance testing of USB Type-C to Type-C cable assemblies supporting USB4 Gen3, USB4 Gen2, USB 3.2 Gen2, USB3.2 Gen1, and USB2.0.

30-Nov-2023 | AN-No. 1SL405

How I/Q noise cancellation can help significantly improve the EVM performance of your signal and spectrum analyzer.

16-Nov-2023

This application note describes Methods of Implementation (MOI) for precise, fast, and error-free compliance testing of USB 3.2 Legacy Cable Testing for USB Type A, Type B, and Micro family connector types. Based on 5 Gbps and 10 Gbps signaling per lane with vector network analyzers from Rohde & Schwarz.

09-Nov-2023 | AN-No. 1SL408

Stable operation in all circumstances is essential for power converters. Different working conditions, such as load steps, startup/shutdown sequences and input voltage variation, apply to most converter types. In addition to the standard feedback control loop, integrated pulse width modulation (PWM) controllers provide extended functions, such as line feed-forward loop control and soft-start control. These extended control functions improve regulation for specific conditions. Such complex regulation systems require smart methods to ensure proper operation of the converter in all modes. For this task, extensive expertise and the right measurement tools are essential for identifying and locating unexpected events in the system.

11-Oct-2023

Automotive radar sensors can be well hidden behind bumpers, but require to be transmissible in the respective frequency domain. To effectively hide the sensors, the radar-transparent areas are usually required to have the exact same shade of color as the rest of the vehicle. To select proper colors and coatings for such bumpers, the respective material properties must be known. In the past, either quasioptical or waveguide based setups, both using vector network analyzers (VNA), have been used. This application card demonstrates a simplified method for material characterization in the automotive radar frequency domain (76 GHz to 81 GHz) based on the R&S®QAR50 automotive radome tester.

04-Oct-2023

Spectrum scans are beneficial for many use-cases such as troubleshooting, interference detection and interference hunting, or verification tasks like scheduler verification or other engineering tasks. A time-gated spectrum scan, which is a power spectrum scan which applies a time gate on uplink/downlink slots/symbols and/or the guard period reveals even more details in uplink/downlink or guard period power spectrum. This allows to focus on the uplink / downlink or guard period power spectrum in 5G NR TDD networks. This educational note explains use cases for spectrum measurements, the complexity in 5G TDD and its technology basics, and which problems can be solved with the described solution. The software used is R&S®ROMES4 together with a R&S®TSMx6 drive and walk test scanner.

21-Sep-2023 | AN-No. 8NT08

The R&S®CMW wideband radio communication tester platform (R&S®CMW500, R&S®CMW270) uses high accuracy distance measurements (HADM) with phase‑based ranging (PBR) to provide a comprehensive and fully automated test solution to verify Bluetooth® Low Energy physical layer functionality.

06-Sep-2023

This application note addresses the diverse possibilities of interoperability between Rohde & Schwarz power sensors and Rohde & Schwarz signal generators. All current and many legacy Rohde & Schwarz signal generators offer the capability of directly connecting power sensors. This enables power measurements without the need of a base unit or separate PC to display the readings. Furthermore, sensors can be used for special tasks like filling a user correction table or continuously controlling levels at crucial points in the measurement configuration.

31-Aug-2023 | AN-No. 1GP141

The scope of this application note is to give a comprehensive guide on how the R&S®FSW signal and spectrum analyzer with the option R&S®FSW-K18 may be used to create a Hammerstein model for the R&S®SMW200A vector signal generator’s output stage. This model can then be applied to counteract inherent non-linearities and memory effects and improve the Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) at high output powers of the R&S®SMW200A vector signal generator.

28-Aug-2023 | AN-No. 1GP139

Modern societies worldwide depend on the performance, reliability and security of critical infrastructures and networks. There is a plethora of “new verticals” such as manufacturing, warehouse, mining, ports or other critical infrastructure, just to name a few. These “new vertical” use cases all have one common requirement: the mobile network needs to provide a superior performance compared to a commercial mobile network. In such environments 5G brings new capabilities to build fast and secure campus or private networks tuned to higher performance, which can increase productivity and efficiency. To be successful in these business-critical use cases, the wireless networks need to be as reliable as the wired ones. This educational note describes the different test methods to be able to verify the superior network performance and to help finding root causes of potential problems limiting the performance. We distinguish between passive tests and active tests.

11-Aug-2023 | AN-No. 8NT09

VCS-4G, secure Communications, VoIP, air traffic contro, EUROCAE, ED‑137, ATC, CERTIUM, CERTIUM VCS test system Rohde & Schwarz solution CERTIUM VCS CERTIUM VCS test system for aircraft manufacturers VCS-4G, secure Communications, VoIP, air traffic contro, EUROCAE, ED‑137, ATC, CERTIUM, CERTIUM VCS test system Rohde & Schwarz solution CERTIUM VCS CERTIUM VCS test system for aircraft manufacturers VCS

01-Aug-2023

This application note is about creating your own battery model for the R&S®NGM200 or R&S®NGU201, beyond the standard models provided within the battery simulation option NGM-K106. The main purpose is to gradually discharge a battery or a rechargeable battery using the internal QuickArb function. The discharge of the battery can then be recorded using the fast data logging functionality FastLog. The recorded data are stored in a .CSV file. This file can then be adapted to be used as a battery model in the battery simulation mode of the R&S®NGM200. For this purpose, Rohde & Schwarz provides a tool for developers to make their work easier. This tool calculates all the data required for a battery model.Note: More advanced tools are available with application notes 1GP130 (Battery Cycle Tool) and 1GP136 (Battery Simulation).

26-Jul-2023 | AN-No. 1GP128

Test Solutions Based on R&S®CMX500 Platform

The evolution of mobile communication enters 5G New Radio (NR) era with pivotal features. Voice call service is however still considered as an indispensable element for mobile devices and worldwide network operators continue to maintain the voice service for their subscribers. In comparison to other Over-the-Top (OTT) voice services, such as WhatsApp©, Teams© etc., Voice over NR (VoNR) and Voice over LTE (VoLTE) maintain QoS, support well established handover mechanism and emergency call, and do not require to pre-install OTT app on the phone.In order to provide premium voice service and enhance the superb user experience, audio tests on mobile devices are essential before the product launch. Different audio test aspects among which acoustic, functional, performance and field tests need to be considered.This application note describes the performance test with focus on VoNR audio quality measurement via electrical interface of the mobile device. The test solution is based on R&S®CMX500 with its integrated POLQA algorithm.

26-Jul-2023 | AN-No. 1SL401

VSC4G, VCS-G4, VSC, CERTIUM Rohde & Schwarz solution CERTIUM VCS CERTIUM VCS for VoIP radio interconnection with traditional VCS for step-by-step transition to VoIP VSC4G, VCS-G4, VSC, CERTIUM Rohde & Schwarz solution CERTIUM VCS CERTIUM VCS for VoIP radio interconnection with traditional VCS for step-by-step transition to VoIP VSC4G, VCS-G4, VSC, CERTIUM Rohde & Schwarz solution CERTIUM VCS Related

24-Jul-2023

VCS-4G, secure Communications, VoIP, air traffic contro, EUROCAE, ED‑137, ATC, CERTIUM VCS Rohde & Schwarz solution CERTIUM VCS CERTIUM VCS for remote tower applications VCS-4G, secure Communications, VoIP, air traffic contro, EUROCAE, ED‑137, ATC, CERTIUM VCS Rohde & Schwarz solution CERTIUM VCS CERTIUM VCS for remote tower applications VCS-4G, secure Communications, VoIP, air traffic contro, EUROCAE

24-Jul-2023

Active, high-impedance probes can be connected to spectrum analyzers, providing a practical and highly precise measurement solution to overcome an otherwise cumbersome RF testing issue. This application note provides information on how to use oscilloscope probes in RF measurements using spectrum analyzers.

04-Jul-2023 | AN-No. 1EF116

World’s first fully electronically steerable antenna array.

27-Jun-2023

Comprehensive test solutions guide for production and R&D

Small cell is a compact base station with smaller form factor and lower transmission power in comparison to the conventional macro base station. It covers relatively small area and serves less users. Usually, small cell can be integrated into the existing mobile network. By the evolution of radio access technology, the role of small cell has been changing through the evolution path. In the 2G/3G time, its role was to provide coverage in corner cases. Later during LTE, networks are not just providing coverage but capacity too. Small cells were then used to provide the addition capacity where required without adding additional spectrum. Now in 5G era, network operators use densification as an important strategy to provide seamless 5G services which demand coverage, capacity and performance too. With use cases requiring the 5G millimeter wave (mmW) rollouts, it makes sense to use small cells for densification due to the propagation characteristics of mmW.In this application note, we will shed light on the testing aspects of a small cell throughout the product life cycle with particular focus on the production test solution for the small cell device under test (DUT) in FR2 (frequency range 2, mmW frequency band) in Over the Air (OTA) environment for option 6 split based on radio communication tester R&S®CMP200 and OTA chamber R&S®CMQ200. The document is complemented with more insights into test solutions used in typical R&D test applications towards the second half of the application note.

19-Jun-2023 | AN-No. 1SL395

Automotive radar is vital to the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that will help achieve Net Zero (zero accidents, zero fatalities) targets in the automobile industry. In a driving environment, radar sensors must detect real objects even when there is interference. The R&S®AREG800A automotive radar echo generator is essential to any solution that tests radar sensor immunity to interference.

15-Jun-2023

CERTIUM VCS is a purely IP based communications infrastructure that can be used to address shelter scenario challenges.

14-Jun-2023

In high-speed digital measurement applications, test fixtures are commonly used to connect devices under test to measurement equipment. Characterization, and analysis in the time and frequency domains that accounts for various constraints helps to remove the influence of these fixtures.

23-May-2023 | AN-No. 1SL393

Next generation technologies in radar and satellite communication with high data rates call for innovative testing solutions to develop and manufacture RF components like voltage controlled oscillators (VCO). The R&S®FSPN phase noise analyzer increases efficiency and reproducibility of VCO characterization and phase noise measurements from lab to production.Voltage controlled oscillators are oscillators whose output frequency is controlled by means of an external tuning voltage, and they are used in a wide variety of electronic and RF applications like function generators, phase-locked loops including frequency synthesizers used in communication equipment. Different VCO design approaches yield different parameters and performance, and therefore it is important to measure or characterize VCOs under different conditions. This application note provides a short technical introduction to voltage controlled oscillators and explains the most common and the most important measurements made during the VCO characterization process.

17-May-2023 | AN-No. 1SL386

The R&S®SK4105 HF high-power transmitter is ideal for air traffic service under harsh conditions such as those in Greenland

17-May-2023

This application note is about measurement accuracy of the LCR-Meters R&S®LCX100 and R&S®LCX200. On the R&S®LCX100 and R&S®LCX200, the accuracy is calculated in real time, depending on the instrument settings and on the measured impedance. It is displayed on the lower part of the instrument display. If no test instrument is available, or information about the measurement accuracy at a certain measured impedance is sought without having a DUT at hand, this accuracy calculation tool provides the desired values.The document explains the background of the calculation and the prerequisites for installing and running the program. The installer provided installs the program on your PC.

11-May-2023 | AN-No. 1GP138

Validating switching converter stability is vital for any power supply design. Frequency loop and load transient responses are often used to ensure switching converter stability. Even as frequency loop response becomes more important to design validation, load transient response is still commonly used. Load transient response can also be enhanced by visualizing the positive duty cycle for pulse width modulation (PWM) signals over time. A modern oscilloscope can do this, while also helping identify unknown converter effects.

09-May-2023

Using R&S®ELEKTRA Migration Tool

The R&S®ELEKTRA EMC test software is the successor of the R&S®EMC32 EMC measurement software. Like the R&S®EMC32 EMC measurement software, the R&S®ELEKTRA offers a solution that controls complete EMC systems and automates measurements on equipment under test (EUT) that is being tested for emissions (EMI) and immunity (EMS) compliance. It has more features and test types compared to R&S®EMC32.As both software platforms use different file formats, R&S®EMC32 users who upgrade their existing software to the R&S®ELEKTRA platform need to perform a file conversion before migrating their data to the R&S®ELEKTRA platform. This is done by using the R&S®ELEKTRA Migration Tool, which is installed automatically with each R&S®ELEKTRA installation.This Application Note describes how to use the R&S®ELEKTRA Migration Tool (version 4.4 onwards) for converting the backup data into the XML format that can be interpreted by the R&S®ELEKTRA software. It also provides recommended conversion steps (Chapter 5) and troubleshooting tips (Chapter 6). For instructions on migrating the data using R&S®ELEKTRA Migration Tool below version 4.4, refer to the R&S®ELEKTRA user manual. For better user experience, we recommend using the latest software version for migration.This Application Note does not describe the steps to backup data using the R&S®EMC32 or R&S®ES-SCAN software. For procedures on how to do so, refer to their respective manuals.

04-May-2023 | AN-No. 1SL396

How to configure generic devices in R&S®ELEKTRA

R&S®ELEKTRA is able to communicate with many devices. Still, it is impossible to integrate drivers for all devices. Hence, R&S®ELEKTRA offers the possibility to integrate any device by configuring a generic driver. The configuration file contains commands that translate the language of the device for R&S®ELEKTRA and vice versa.

04-May-2023 | AN-No. 1SL398

In this document we will describe in detail how to configure and perform path calibrations with AMS32-K81 in an ATS1500C, using an AREG800A.

03-May-2023 | AN-No. 1SL399

The sweep tool has several R&S®NGU source measure unit functions for characterizing semiconductors.

02-May-2023

Sporadic events and errors may occur when developing new measurement instruments and need to be taken into account in all design stages and analyses. The Rohde & Schwarz power supplies can precisely capture such sporadic events and errors.

02-May-2023