Test complex device performance and in-device coexistence
Improve the user experience with wireless coexistence testing
Regardless of the technology, wireless coexistence testing aims to maximize receiving system performance in complex electromagnetic environments. Typically, performance quality is defined using data link physical layer parameters, such as packet error rate (PER), bit error rate (BER), block error rate (BLER) or data throughput.
In order to assess the performance of the overall system, application layer performance indicators such as audio and video quality need to be considered along with the physical layer. Receiver desensitization or blocking, for example, caused by adjacent channel interference is a common problem that degrades system performance and user experience. Wireless coexistence tests are performed in an electromagnetic environment that is similar to the environment in which a receiver operates to detect vulnerabilities in the design.
In the past, the introduction of regulations was very ad hoc, particularly for coexistence issues between devices sharing unlicensed frequencies or devices with applications that appear to have little to do with each other. In recent years, increasing coexistence issues have led to greater harmonization of wireless coexistence regulations at both the national and international level.
The European Radio Emission Directive RED 2014/53/EU (RED) sets minimum performance requirements for transmitter and receivers such as broadcast digital TV and radio receivers, mobile phones, satellite receivers and any equipment that uses Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® or ZigBee. Another example is the American National Standard for Evaluation of Wireless Coexistence (ANSI C63.27) for wireless medical devices.
Rohde & Schwarz implements these regulations, plus custom test methodologies for radio combinations where standards are still undefined to make sure that any device tested with Rohde & Schwarz EMC test equipment meets the appropriate coexistence regulations."
