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.
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.
272 Results
Useful tips and tricks for your first measurement experience
Resistors, capacitors and inductors are the most basic components in electric circuits. It must be ensured that they work properly and accurately. Therefore, they need to be tested thoroughly during circuit design. This is usually done using LCR meters, which have become indispensable in the lab and in production. This application note looks at how to perform basic capacitor and inductor measurements accurately and reliably.
22-Feb-2024 | AN-No. 1GP142
P25 and FRMCS scanning
Key points: Critical Infrastructure: Learn about mission-critical communication for various agencies who deal with Public Safety such as first responders, police, firefighters, medics and its crucial role in ensuring safety of society.Reliability of Communication: Understand the challenges posed by mission-critical communication, highlighting performance and reliability needs and special requirements such as safe group communications.Technology Migration: Delve into the migration of mission-critical communication from long-standing narrow-band technologies to broadband use cases considering migration timelines.Measurement Techniques: Explore network measurement methods for passive testing of legacy MCX technologies planned to be used in the networks for quite some time (a later release of the document will focus on the broadband successors)
12-Mar-2024 | AN-No. 8NT12
This Application Note introduces HSDPA technology and test and measurement requirements according to 3GPP release 5 specifications. Important HSDPA measurements and example applications are illustrated by means of Rohde & Schwarz products.
01-Feb-2005 | AN-No. 1MA82
The measurement accuracy of vector network analyzers can be tested simply, easily and quickly, with a simple DUT which consists of a common tee-junction with one port, terminated with a resistive load Z, and the T-Check program. The four S-parameters from ports 1 and 2 are measured with the vector network analyzer to be checked and then evaluated by means of the T-Check software.
04-Aug-1998 | AN-No. 1EZ43
Spectrum that was previously reserved for TV broadcasting is being freed up in many countries for use under the new Long Term Evolution (LTE) mobile radio standard (keyword: 'digital dividend'). As a result, numerous coexistence scenarios are possible. So network operators and manufacturers from both the mobile radio and the broadcast sector have a vital interest in avoiding any interference and performing in-depth testing of their products. Rohde & Schwarz offers a wideranging product portfolio for such applications. This Application Note presents Test & Measurement equipment for the broadcast and mobile radio sector and discusses some possible test setups.
08-Dec-2011 | AN-No. 1MA176
Determining the noise figure of a component can be difficult in unshielded lab environments. Measuring small noise figures (less than 3 dB) and reproducing the results is sometimes not possible. These difficulties are caused by interference effects (electric fields) that can occur in any environment. A suitable remedy is a measurement environment able to shield the Device Under Test (DUT) against all interfering fields in the range up to 3 GHz. When used in conjunction with a spectrum analyzer and Noise Measurement Software FS-K3, the Shielded Box ZA-SB10 provides a complete noise measurement system.
16-Oct-2002 | AN-No. RSH01
With recent enhancements in semiconductor technology the microwave frequency range beyond 50 GHz becomes more and more attractive especially for wideband communication applications like 802.11ad, microwave links or automotive RADAR. Low phase noise is essential for these applications to work properly. Accurate measurement of phase noise is needed to improve the performance. However, test setups at these frequencies become difficult, especially when cross correlation of two receive paths is needed to suppress additional phase noise added by the local oscillators or mixer stages. Two external harmonic mixers in combination with a commercially available phase noise tester are used for phase noise analysis. Signal sources with frequencies up to 500 GHz can theoretically be measured with this setup.
05-Feb-2018 | AN-No. 1EF101
The R&S®FSW signal and spectrum analyzer offers fast and easy-to-use transmitter testing for the demanding DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem (CM) and cable modem termination system (CMTS) requirements.
12-Apr-2016
Short test times in conjunction with accurate and repeatable measurement results are essential when testing and calibrating mobile phones at board level. The R&S FSP Spectrum Analyzer offers wide dynamic range, stable and accurate results within shortest sweep time, making it the ideal choice for high-volume production testing. The utilisation of both the list mode feature and the marker list function for the Spectrum Analyzer R&S FSP, with its unsurpassed measurement speed via remote control are demonstrated in this application note.
29-Aug-2003 | AN-No. 1MA65
Play-only devices like CD- or MP3 players cannot be measured as traditional 4-pole devices. Therefore traditional transfer function measurements using the generator part of the audio analyzer are not possible. Those devices are tested with a pre-recorded test signal available as wav or MP3 file. This application note describes a fast test together with a setup and an executable which runs the test and displays the desired results. The test signal is provided as a linear coded wav file. This file can easily be coded into MP3 format using any commercially available or public domain wave editors or ripper programs. The test can also be executed by IEEE control and all results can be read out by IEEE commands.
28-Jun-2007 | AN-No. 1GA46
This Application Note describes the operating principle of DME (Distance Measurement Equipment) that is used for distance measurement in aviation. It also describes various test scenarios for the maintenance of a DME transponder. These tests require an R&S®SMA100A signal generator with R&S®SMA-K26 DME modulation option, and an R&S®NRP-Z81 wideband power sensor.
26-Feb-2009 | AN-No. 1GP74
Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar signals are often used in short range surveillance, altimeters and automotive radars. To ensure proper functionality, signal quality measures such as frequency linearity are of great importance.This application note focuses on fully automated, fast and accurate measurements, of linear FMCW radar signals. It explains the basic signal processing, the impact on radar key performance indicators in case of linearity deviations and explains test and measurement of linear FMCW signals in detail.Measurement of an FMCW radar signal in the 77-81 GHz band with 500 MHz of measurement bandwidth is demonstrated.
25-Apr-2014 | AN-No. 1EF88
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
Despite the now standard digital distribution of video signals, analog video signals are still an integral part of AV terminals in the home. This application note covers the fundamentals of analog component signals and shows how the signal quality can be measured with the measuring equipment from Rohde & Schwarz.
28-May-2015 | AN-No. 7MH107
This application note describes how noise figure and gain of amplifiers or converters in the microwave range from 50 GHz to 67 GHz are measured. For this purpose the R&S FSU67 spectrum analyzer is equipped with application firmware R&S FS-K30 in combination with the Noisecom NC5115-60G, or NC5115-60GT Noise Figure Test Set.
12-May-2009 | AN-No. 1EF64
Acoustic properties like reverberation time and early reflections are important for test rooms as well as for speech intelligibility and music performance in assembly rooms and concert halls. This application note explains the basics behind these properties and offers an application program for their measurement.
10-Jul-2012 | AN-No. 1GA61
This application note discusses the use of the WOOSHCOM® DHEI output interface adapter (model 3010), which converts the transport stream from DHEI format into DVB-ASI. Further processing and analysis of the transport stream signal then becomes available with any of the Rohde & Schwarz Test & Measurement instruments. It also describes how to extract an unencrypted transport streams out of a Motorola IRT.
08-Jun-2004 | AN-No. 7BM40
This application note introduces the reader to the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition project and their special demands for the electrical drive train. Common motor technology like brushless motors and their typical control methods widely used in the industry are also discussed within this document.However, the main focus of this paper is a demonstration of a power measurement method of a three-phase inverter by means of a 4-channel oscilloscope. Not only the theory of the power measurement is presented but also the conducted measurement is presented including tips and tricks to obtain the best measurement results.The measurement solution provided by Rohde & Schwarz was mandatory for the TUM Hyperloop team to overcome challenges in optimization of the electrical drive train used in the SpaceX Hyperloop Pod Competition project.Many thanks to Mr. Johannes Ungar and Faruk Centinkaya (TUM Hyperloop) for contributing significantly to this application note. By combining their expertise in electrical drive trains used in the Hyperloop Project and with a Test & Measurement solution from Rohde & Schwarz, we have achieved synergies that will be beneficial for any design and test engineers in the industry.
31-Mar-2021 | AN-No. GFM360
Power amplifiers in digital TDMA mobile phones are fed with current only during the active slot to save power. Using conventional measuring equipment, the noise figure, an important parameter in power amplifiers, can only be determined with the amplifier in continuous operation. However, continuous operation can lead to amplifier overload and produce distorted results. Now there is a convenient way of determining the noise figure of amplifiers with pulsed power supply: using a Spectrum Analyzer (FSP or FSE or FSIQ or ESI), Noise Measurement Software FS-K3 and a function or pulse generator.
19-Dec-2000 | AN-No. 1MA32
LTE is under continuous development. Release 10 (LTE-Advanced) introduced carrier aggregation (CA) as the primary enhancement. Releases 11 and 12 add several new components to LTE. Some are enhancements to existing features (such as improvements to CA), while others are completely new concepts, such as coordinated multipoint (CoMP).This application note summarizes the Rohde & Schwarz test solutions for LTE-Advanced according to Releases 11 and 12 using vector signal generators, signal and spectrum analyzers and the wideband radio communication tester.
14-Jul-2016 | AN-No. 1MA272
Using VISA (Virtual Instrument Software Architecture) several interfaces allow communication between your computer and instruments. This application note describes the usage of both - R&S® VISA- NI VISA running on Microsoft Windows 10™ with the following connection types: ► USB VCP (Virtual Com Port), also called USB CDC (Communications Device Class) ► USB TMC (Test and Measurement Class)► Ethernet Raw Port Socket► Ethernet in general e.g. VXI11 or HislipAll the examples are shown using the R&S® HMC8042 unless otherwise stated. There may be some difference when integrating other devices. As example some interface types are not available on every unit.This application note does not claim to be complete. All information has been compiled with care. However, errors can’t be ruled out.
28-Oct-2021 | AN-No. 1SL374
Receiver diversity improves reception quality by using multiple antennas with a preferably low correlation factor between each receive path. The result is a much more robust reception, since a deep fade will not affect all received signals at the same time.However, the complex geometry and positioning constraints for antennas of the receiving devices can introduce an unwanted correlation between channels. The popular diversity test setup consisting of several independent transmitters does not serve the needs of a realistic simulation, because radio channel correlation is not simulated.This application note explains a compact and versatile MIMO test solution for any common broadcast standard with real time fading including the simulation of channel correlation for a 1x4 MIMO system.The test setup allows very precisely specified individual multipath profiles.
11-Oct-2017 | AN-No. 1GP114
This application note provides an application program for level alignment, test automation and reporting with PESQ, POLQA and delay measurements on the Audio Analyzer R&S®UPV or R&S®UPV66.
08-May-2013 | AN-No. 1GA62
The need to properly represent the ever changing complexities of the RF environment across communications, surveillance, electronic support measures (ESM) and signal intelligence system (SIGINT) with the advances of signal complexity and bandwidth, requires an enormous test and measurement effort.Extensive field tests are often applied to verify the performance and capabilities under preferably natural but controlled conditions. This is both costly and requires a great deal of time.RF signal environment generation using Test & Measurement equipment brings field tests into the laboratory, where a controlled, cost-effective and reproducible environment exists. The R&S®Pulse Sequencer software is a versatile tool to generate arbitrary and realistic RF signal scenarios ensuringsystem readiness for the real operational world.This application note introduces the R&S®Pulse Sequencer software, explains several examples that are applicable for research, development, before operational and during life-time test in detail, and guides you through the necessary steps, to generate a self-defined, arbitrary real life RF signal environment.
17-Jan-2017 | AN-No. 1MA288
based on SCPI command sequences
MINX – the Measurement Instrument Network eXplorer – is a fast, non-invasive discovery and configuration software from Rohde & Schwarz for LAN and USB T&M instruments.Agnostic of instrument model or manufacturer, MINX provides an intuitive graphical user interface with access to powerful configuration, control, results collection and remote display functions.Test or research engineers can quickly setup a collection of instruments to initialise, measure and download results. Universities can configure and manage many instruments together, copying instruments and saving class setups.Besides these core functions, MINX provides an extension mechanism making even more sophisticated instrument operations available by just the click of a single button. Such extended functions are SCPI-based command sequences which can be added by the user on a per-instrument basis and require no software update.This application note describes the different kind of extendable function groups. It will be pointed out how extended functions can be added or edited and which format the script must comply in order to get directly available in MINX.
12-Jan-2021 | AN-No. GFM344
5G is the fifth generation of wireless communication technology supporting cellular networks. From GSM (2G) through to LTE (4G), each generation addresses technical challenges not overcome by its predecessor. As with previous generations, 5G requires new mobile devices and new base stations (BTS).Unlike previous generations, the use of radio beams in 5G requires completely new approaches with regard to the compliance, coverage, and quality of service testing.The new air interface is called 5G NR ("new radio"). This application note describes the measurement challenges of 5G NR and makes clear the benefits of using a monitoring receiver for measuring 5G signals.Real-world examples explain how to perform various key 5G measurements. The final section covers further 5G measurement possibilities using R&S products. "Over-the-air" (OTA) measurements are essential in 5G. This means staff from regulators and operators must work in unknown radio environments that vary according to location (e.g. urban or suburban) and mission (e.g. 5G BTS compliance testing or interference hunting). Measurement equipment must operate in a wide range of scenarios (close to the mast and far from the mast) and offer user-friendly functionality that enables the required measurements.Considering current global deployment trends, this paper focuses on the FR1 frequency band (sub 6 GHz).
07-Jun-2021 | AN-No. 1SL366
Energy efficiency of RF Frontends (RFFE), especially transmitters, continues to gain greater prominence.Meeting the efficiency challenge is increasingly difficult at higher operating frequencies and bandwidths, such as those proposed for 5G.There is a group of transmitter RFFE architectures whose signal output is constructed from two, or more, efficiently generated components. This signal construction in effect, means that such architectures use predictive, post-correction linearization. Their predictive nature enables distortion to be completely eliminated.The capabilities of multi-channel signal synthesis setups with R&S®SMW200A, in combination with the R&S®FSW analyzer enable measurement, hence development, of these types of transmitters.The document focusses on devices for the 3.5 GHz NR (5G New Radio) candidate band, but its findings are equally applicable to developments and measurements for, for example, K-band satellite applications or mmW NR candidate bands, where efficiency is an even more crucial design target.
01-Aug-2017 | AN-No. 1MA289
More and more everyday items such as household appliances, vehicles, lights, etc. are now connected to the Internet, forming what is known as the "Internet of Things". Even clothing with sewn-in sensors to measure vital functions can now connect to the Internet and transmit data to cloud services. These different things use a variety of wireless technology standards to establish a connection. Due to its popularity, one of the most important standards is Bluetooth (or Bluetooth Low Energy). Before a new product with Bluetooth functionality can be launched, the qualification process defined by the Bluetooth SIG must be successfully completed. To save time and money, performance tests need to be performed in the development stage. This application note describes how to use the R&S CMW platform to perform the measurements defined in Bluetooth test specification version 5. As an alternative solution, we also cover how to perform almost all of the measurements with a spectrum analyzer and signal generator.The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Rohde & Schwarz is under license.
19-Jun-2017 | AN-No. 1MA282
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