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Learn how to configure Rohde & Schwarz products to fit your application. Search our database by product, technology, or application to find relevant technical documents.
Search Application Notes & Cards
Learn how to configure Rohde & Schwarz products to fit your application. Search our database by product, technology, or application to find relevant technical documents.
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TDMA communications systems like GSM, DCS 1800 or PCS 1900 make effective use of the frequency spectrum by assigning several subscribers to the same frequency channel. Each subscriber has access to one predefined time slot for transmitting information. With GSM eight subscribers share one frequency channel with a bandwidth of 200 kHz. In order not to disturb the other users of the 200-kHz channel it has to be ensured that, for instance, a mobile sends in the assigned time slot only and that no power is emitted by the transmitter at other times. For this reason the transmitter power is practically switched off in the transmission intervals.
16-Jan-2002 | AN-No. 1EF18
radiated conformance testing according to TS 38.141-2, Rel. 16
3GPP defines the Radio Frequency (RF) conformance test methods and requirements for 5G NR Base Stations (BS) in the technical specifications TS 38.141. This application note describes all mandatory radiated RF transmitter tests (TS 38.141-2, chapter 6), according to Release 16.Furthermore, this document provides a brief introduction about the different R&S OTA antenna test solutions and how they are applicable for base station conformance testing. Rohde & Schwarz offers solutions for any test case that is mentioned in this application note.
20-Dec-2019 | AN-No. GFM324
Keeping an ATSC (or ATSC Mobile DTV) single-frequency network (SFN) running smoothly not only requires that every single TV transmitter functions properly – the RF performance criteria echo pattern and frequency deviation also have to be strictly complied with. The R&S®ETL TV analyzer enables operators to check these crucial RF parameters at a glance with unmatched precision. The patented implementation achieves an echo delay resolution of one nanosecond, which is nearly a hundred times higher than in conventional approaches. This allows more precise control and adjustments of the several transmitters within the ATSC (or ATSC Mobile DTV) SFN and thus helps to ensure excellent coverage for the receivers.
21-Apr-2010 | AN-No. 7BM75
This Application Note describes the HSDPA uplink channel structure. Challenges for UE power amplifier design are outlined, and guidelines how to use R&S measurement equipment for testing UE power amplifiers are provided. An outlook on High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) and the impact of HSUPA on the uplink channel structure is given.
11-Jul-2011 | AN-No. 1MA84
The SGMA products from Rohde & Schwarz are optimized for use in production and automated applications. Their key characteristics are high speed and a compact design. The instruments are also an ideal enhancement for the R&S®SMW200A in MIMO applications. They can interface to the high-end vector signal generator and serve as additional RF outputs. This application note explains how to connect and interface with the SGMA instruments and gives some recommendations and hints about their use. It helps the user to get started and to understand how the instruments interact.
15-Oct-2015 | AN-No. 1GP103
Digital pre-distortion (DPD) is a common method to linearize the output signal of a power amplifier (PA), which is being operated in its non-linear operating range.The R&S K18D application family offers a very easy-to-use method to pre-distort amplifiers without modelling the DUT.However, many engineers in PA design request a simple and easy-to-use tool that delivers a DPD model applicable to any real-world signal.This application note with the accompanying software tool allows engineers without in-depth knowledge of DPD or remote programming to generate a DPD model and verify it against the DUT, based on the results of the K18D application.
25-Mar-2019 | AN-No. 1EF105
Multiple antenna systems, known as MIMO systems, form an essential part of today’s wireless communications standards. This multi-antenna technology efficiently boosts the data throughput without requiring additional bandwidth, and has thus become a key technology. Rohde & Schwarz offers high-performance MIMO test solutions which provide static conditions without fading as well as simulation of complex fading scenarios.This application note explains how to set up 4x4 and 8x8 MIMO systems using the R&S®SMBV100A signal generator for measurements under static conditions without fading.For simulation of complex fading scenarios please refer to application note 1GP97.
10-Mar-2010 | AN-No. 1GP50
Measuring the spurious emissions of transmitters used in GSM, DCS 1800 and PCS 1900 networks requires highly complex test setups since con-ventional spectrum analyzers do not have the necessary dynamic range. To obtain this range, notch filters are used to suppress the useful sig-nal. The spectrum analyzers of the FSE family make it possible for the first time to verify com-pliance with stipulated limit values for spurious emissions within the transmission band and out-side the reception band without the use of notch filters. The measurement problem and its solution by means of FSE are described in the following by way of the example of a GSM base station.
16-Jan-2002 | AN-No. 1EF17
Vector Network Analyzers (VNA) are gaining popularity in the Signal Integrity community as time domain measurement and analysis tools. VNAs with 8 ports or more can provide significant decreases in test time by migrating from a 4-port measurement system to an 8-port measurement system. For tight tolerance DUTs that are barely within the test limit lines, small increases in accuracy can be realized by testing all of the test parameters at once, because the entire test setup is at the same temperature. This application note discusses the thermal advantages of testing an 8-port DUT with the R&S ZNBT VNA. The use of the ZNBT to assess and debug two differential pairs in a 20-inch backplane is presented.
18-Mar-2020 | AN-No. 1EZ83_0E
This application note helps the user to configure a Rohde & Schwarz vector signal generator for LTE FDD repeater conformance testing. It explains step by step how to set up the baseband signal for the various test cases defined in the 3GPP Technical Specification 36.143.The R&S®SMx vector signal generators provide predefined, LTE-conform test models and are therefore ideal for LTE repeater conformance testing. The test cases in TS 36.143 can be set up with a single instrument which provides all necessary test signals including the four specified repeater stimulus signals.
26-Apr-2013 | AN-No. 1GP85
Nearly all analog NTSC broadcasting has ended in the US, Canada and South Korea. The digital switchover to ATSC in Mexico is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. ATSC receivers must fulfill the recommendations described in “ATSC Recommended Practice: Receiver Performance Guidelines” (document A/74:2010) before they can be sold freely in the markets that have adopted the standard. In addition, Recommendation ITU-R BT.2036-1 (07/2016), titled “Characteristics of a reference receiving system for frequency planning of digital terrestrial television systems”, includes the planning factors for an ATSC reception system, with a reference to ATSC Recommended Practice A/74:2010, because operation is in a more dynamic environment.
29-Sep-2016 | AN-No. 1GP111
DVB-T can be used for stationary, portable and – using the diversity technique – also mobile reception. Stationary reception via a Gaussian channel and a fixed Yagi antenna on the roof usually poses no problems. This is different with portable reception, for example on a park bench, if there are moving objects in the vicinity of the receiver that has been put up for optimal reception. These may be persons or any kind of vehicles that – while passing by the receiver - generate different types of reflections. With mobile reception, for example when driving on a motorway, poor receiving conditions have the most detrimental effect. Receiving conditions can be considerably improved by employing several antennas, a technique that is referred to as antenna diversity. This application note discusses the improvements that can be achieved with antenna diversity and explains how to simulate a DVB-T channel with the required characteristics by means of TV Test Transmitter R&S SFQ.
31-Jul-2003 | AN-No. 7BM06
IQWizard is a tool for loading IQ signal files in various formats and measuring IQ signals with a FSx spectrum analyzer or ESx Receiver. The obtained IQ data in memory can be stored in various formats or be transmitted to an R&S® vector signal generator with WinIQSIM™ or WinIQSIM2™.
26-Apr-2013 | AN-No. 1MA028
Multiple antenna systems, known as MIMO systems, form an essential part of today’s wireless communications standards. The multi-antenna technology efficiently boosts the data throughput without requiring additional bandwidth or transmit power and has thus become a key technology. Rohde & Schwarz offers compact and versatile MIMO test solutions with realtime fading including simulation of channel correlations.This application note explains how to set up Rohde & Schwarz signal generators for 2x2, 4x2 and 2x4 MIMO tests with a focus on signal routing, synchronization of the generators, and leveling. Please note that there is a successor application note available: 1GP97. It explains how to use the R&S®SMW200A vector signal generator for testing higher order MIMO systems such as 3x3 and 4x4.
14-Oct-2009 | AN-No. 1GP51
Welcome to our short video tutorials on how to test radars using Rohde & Schwarz test equipment. Access to most information about radar is pretty restricted, as many radar applications are military or secretive industrial research. To show you some basic Radar tests we have created RADAR demo tools, which functions at a frequency of 2.45 GHz, which is in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical band. So we can even perform our tests in unshielded rooms. The frequencies are also used by radar operating in the ITU "S"-band from 2.3 to 2.5 GHz for air traffic control, weather and marine radar. The videos are suitable for 'from-the-scratch' introduction of R&S RADAR test equipment. They can also be used for plain introduction to the RADAR principle.
03-Feb-2014 | AN-No. 1MA209
More and more mobile radio networks implement remote radio equipment (RE) that is connected to the base station main unit via a digital interface using standardized transmission protocols such as CPRI. For testing RE devices Rohde & Schwarz offers a complete test solution based on the R&S®EX-IQ-BOX [Model K04]. This key component is a configurable digital interface module that is used to connect Rohde & Schwarz test equipment to a RE under test using CPRI data transmission. This application note explains in detail the instrument setup and configuration needed to successfully test your remote radio head.
05-Aug-2013 | AN-No. 1GP78
A step by step HOW TO guide to perform manual and automated wireless coexistence testing
At the end of the year 2020, there were over 20 Billion internet of things (IoT) products in the world operating using the licensed and unlicensed frequency bands. This growth trend is projected to keep steady over the coming years as more and more people adopt to a smarter and more connected lifestyle. This will result in a much busier and challenging RF environment than the one we have today. In order to understand the complexity of the RF spectrum, a white paper was published in 2021 from Rohde & Schwarz, which featured RF spectrum activity at multiple locations observed at different times of the day. The locations were selected based on population densities and the amount of known RF transmitters & their frequencies at those locations. It was also concluded that the ISM bands on average have higher channel utilization since most IoT devices take advantage of the unlicensed spectrum. The paper recommended, that while performing wireless coexistence testing, the test conditions should reflect the operational RF environment that the device is intended to operate in. Otherwise, the characterization of RF performance would only reflect ideal case which doesn’t exist in real world operation. Since it is not always possible to test all devices in the real world, relevant test methodologies need to be setup to replicate the real world as much as possible.This will help us get a better understanding of how the receiver of the RF device will behave under different RF conditions. It is also recommended to perform measurements in order to understand the behavior of the device in the future when the spectrum will get even more challenging. Therefore, a through characterization of the capability of the RF receiver to handle in-band and out-of-band interference signals in also of interest.In terms of regulatory compliance requirements for ensuring wireless coexistence performance, the ANSI C63.27 is currently the only published test standard that provides guidance on how to perform coexistence testing on devices. The test complexity is based up on risk imposed on the user’s health in the event of a failure caused by an or a plurality of interference signal. The standard also gives device manufacturers guidance regarding test setups, measurement environments, interference signal types and strategy, performance quality measurement parameters for physical layer using key performance indicator (KPI) and application layer parameters for end-to-end functional wireless performance (FWP).In this application note, the guidance provided by the ANSI C63.27-2021 version regarding test setup, measurement parameter and interference signal have been followed. It will give the reader a clear idea on how to configure standardized test instruments from R&S in order to generate the wanted signal as well as unintended interference signals and conduct measurement to monitor device performance in terms of PER, ping latency and data throughput.This application note provides step-by-step instruction on how to perform measurements using conducted and radiated methodology. Both manual and automated instrument configuration approach is explained in this document.The automation scripts are written using python scripting language and are available for download with this application note, free of charge. Official required to run the scripts are available on the PYPI database.
10-Nov-2022 | AN-No. 1SL392
After a communications satellite is on its target orbit, several routines need to be performed in order to ensure proper performance from the transponders in the payload. The on-orbit measurements are a vital part of the maintenance of a live satellite as well. Operating a satellite channel for an on-orbit measurement rather than the intended application comes with significant opportunity cost and hence test duration needs to be minimized as much as possible. Rohde & Schwarz test and measurement equipment recommended in this paper is market leading not only in terms of measurement accuracy but also offers unparalleled speed of measurement. This application note focuses on satellite post-launch or on-orbit measurement and monitoring strategies used for satellite functionality checks when running maintenance routines. A complementary paper treats pre-launch payload measurements.
25-Nov-2016 | AN-No. 1MA263
The Doherty Amplifier continues to be rolled out in an increasing number of TxFE (Transmit Frontend) applications, as the quasi-linear amplifier architecture of choice.The advent of 5G, with its inevitable microwave or millimeter wave air interface, increase the design challenges associated with its construction; not least of all because of the potential for increased dispersion in the constituent amplifiers and combiners.This application note describes a measurement-based development methodology by which the Doherty Amplifier may be enhanced, increasing performance and/or performance bandwidth. This methodology is supported with a working example.The methodology may also be extended to balanced, spatially combined and anti-phase (so called "pushpull" or "differential") amplifiers, the latter often itself nested in Doherty configurations.The R&S®Quickstep sequencing software may be downloaded from:
26-Sep-2016 | AN-No. 1MA279
With advances in digital signal processing techniques modern wireless communications systems and radar systems have become increasingly digital and more constraints have been placed on packing more information into less and less bandwidth. On the wireless side, modulation formats have become more complicated with less margin for symbol error. On the radar side, modern radar systems are trying to extract more information about the targets they track and provide the ability to track slow moving targets such as automobiles and personnel in the presence of clutter.For both communications and radar systems one of the key RF parameters that limits system performance is phase noise. As systems engineers develop new and more advanced RF systems, phase noise of oscillators and transmitters can no longer be overlooked.This application note will focus on phase noise measurements for pulsed RF carriers such as those used for radar systems. We will address some of the physical limitations relating to pulsed phase noise measurement and introduce the capabilities of the new Rohde & Schwarz FSWP phase noise analyzer.
18-May-2016 | AN-No. 1EF94
This application note provides an introduction to the DDR memory technology and explains common challenges, related to the specific nature of DDR data, command / address and control buses and describes the typical measurements to verify and debug DDR system designs.The paper explains the recommended test points and the connection of oscilloscope probes as well as the compensation of effects from DDR interposers via deembedding. The document describes efficient Signal Integrity verification with eye diagram measurements, advanced triggering and TDR/TDT functionality. Given the high number of signal lines and the dynamic bus termination, SSN (simultaneous switching noise) has a significant effect in DDR memory designs and Signal Integrity as well as Power Integrity is highly pattern dependent. We introduce techniques to achieve high acquisition rates and help to efficiently detect worst case scenarios, affecting the performance of the overall memory design. The document also includes a close look on Power Integrity.Providing best practice examples in the design verification and debugging process, the document addresses all system designers and test engineers, working on DDR memory designs.
30-Oct-2020 | AN-No. GFM340
Designing and implementing an active phased array antenna requires precise characterization of individual components and the integrated performance of the array. To ensure an accurate test of the intended adaptive nature of the active phased array antenna, the embedded algorithms need to be tested as well.This application note aims to explain test procedures and give recommendations towards characterization of the relevant parameters for active phased array antennas and their passive subsystem, as often used in applications for Mobile Communication and RADAR. This application note describes transmit signal quality testing, multi-element amplitude and phase measurement techniques both in receive and transmit cases and introduces a new automated test methodology antenna radiation pattern measurement over frequency. This paper also describes the test system used for transmit and receive module (TRM) characterization in active array antennas.
04-Jul-2016 | AN-No. 1MA248
TETRA, the TErrestrial Trunked RAdio, is the professional mobile radio standard (PMR) used world wide by governmental safety and security authorities and organizations, as well as by private utilities from energy suppliers through to transport. Rohde & Schwarz provide test instruments idealy suited for both the development and production of TETRA base stations and user equipment, as well as for network planning, network coverage and quality of service, network monitoring and optimization, maintenance, and service. This Application Note shows examples for measurements with R&S instruments covering the entire range of TETRA test requirements.
26-Apr-2013 | AN-No. 1MA189
The topic of this application note is mobile phone measurements – in theory and in practice. It discusses measurements according to the most common standard in use today, GSM.The first, theoretical portion of this application note covers digital modulation and access methods in general. This is followed by an overview of the specific characteristics of the GSM standard as well as a summary of the most important mobile radio measurements.The second, practical portion of this application note covers some of these measurements in detail and runs through them step by step. These measurements can be performed by small groups in labs.The measurements and analysis of the results are intended to illustrate the theoretical portion of the application note and to deepen the reader's understanding.All measurements are performed using the R&S®CMW500 wideband radio communication tester and an off the shelf mobile phone.
22-Aug-2014 | AN-No. 1MA231
Calibration and Verification Solution
The UWB (Ultra-Wideband) technology is a short range wide-band radio technology specified for device to device communication operating in unlicensed spectrum. It is an RF positioning technology that enables accurate and secure peer-to-peer ranging between mobile devices with robust resistance to interference while consuming very low energy and coexisting well with other radio communication systems. UWB is used for a variety of different applications, such as asset tracking, secure payment, personal tracker, real time location services and keyless access and start of a vehicle etc. According to ABI Research forecasts, there will be well over 1 billion UWB annual device shipments by 2026. Almost every smart phone shipped in 2026 will support UWB services.Talking about testing aspect of a UWB device, in general two test methodologies can be adopted as other wireless products, either the traditional testing mode (so-called conducted test mode) with wired RF connection between the test measurement equipment and device under test (DUT) or over the air (OTA) test mode in an OTA anechoic chamber. Sometimes, it is not always possible or necessary to perform the tests under conducted mode due to the limiting factors, e.g. cost, space, complexity and direct access to the RF connectors of the product. In this case, OTA testing is then becoming a non-evitable approach. Moreover, OTA testing reflects the usage of DUT in a real condition.In this application note, R&S® OTA test solution covering transmitter (Tx), receiver (Rx) and Time of Flight (ToF) testing in Wireless Automated Testing (WMT) environment is described. The measurement results throughout the whole document are based on NXP Trimension™ NCJ29D5 UWB automotive IC.
12-Apr-2023 | AN-No. 1SL394
The use of Rohde & Schwarz device drivers under VEE software is not complicated. However, a number of factors are involved, the errors that occur are often difficult to diagnose. This application provides easy and detailed support for installation and troubleshooting using National Instruments or Agilent GPIB boards.
20-Dec-2012 | AN-No. 1MA035
Solutions and Tipps for NR FR1 in TDD Downlink Mode
5G New Radio (NR) is a radio technology specified by 3GPP and was first released in 3GPP release 15. It is designed to target three use cases, i.e. enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communication (mMTC) and ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC). Among these three use cases, eMBB represents actually a further evolution of mobile broadband communication from LTE standard. According to the technical performance requirement defined by IMT-2020, by deploying 5G technology, peak data rates of eMBB application are expected to reach 20 Gbps in downlink (DL) and 10 Gbps in uplink (UL) direction, respectively. Typical use cases of eMBB are data hungry applications, such as high resolution 8K video streaming, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) etc.Verification of a 5G capable user equipment (UE) with respect to its achievable maximum data throughput under controllable and deterministic test conditions is an essential process during the design phase of the product. Performance centric verification through identification of the data throughput bottleneck, product benchmarking against a golden device enhances tremendously the user experience in the end.This document focuses on 5G NR frequency range 1 (FR1) with TDD duplex mode in E-UTRAN New-radio Dual Connectivity (ENDC) operating mode. As 5G NR physical layer offers a plethora of flexibility, the motivation here is to provide a kind of guideline of relevant parameter settings to stimulate device under test (DUT)'s max throughput capacity. The status quo of the R&S solutions at the time when the application note is created are described. Shown feature sets are constantly evolving, so the screenshots used and the parameters shown may change.
07-Jul-2022 | AN-No. 1SL379