Load pull is a powerful method for characterizing RF power amplifiers through impedance variation. Load pull enables model extraction and validation as well as performance, ruggedness and efficiency testing.

02-Sep-2020

Applications requiring higher voltages or currents, or a stack of voltage sources with taps in-between, demand the combination of several DC power supply channels in series or in parallel.All channels of DC power supplies R&S®NGL200 and R&S®NGM200 are isolated against the grounding equipment conductor and against the digital ground of the instrument. Therefore, channels can be connected in parallel for increasing the current capability, or in series for achieving higher voltages or dual-voltage supplies.When a large number of power supply channels is used, it is desirable to have a tool for configuring all instruments and channels from one user interface, and for keeping an overview over the states and measurement values from all channels.The application program of this application note provides such a tool. The document contains background information and user manual for the software.

27-Aug-2020 | AN-No. 1GP127

Testing radar warning equipment in realistic scenarios is crucial to reliable field performance. This typically involved dedicated instruments or test systems. Commercial vector signal generators (VSG) such as the R&S®SMW200A from Rohde & Schwarz have become a very attractive alternative thanks to their increased available bandwidth and processing power.

13-Aug-2020

Power converter and inverter designs for higher power levels are usually based on hard switching half bridge configurations. In such setups, users must pay particular attention to proper switching operations to prevent shoot-through events. Setting up complex real-time trigger conditions using the R&S®RTE and R&S®RTO oscilloscopes increases the test coverage and robustness of converter and inverter systems.

10-Aug-2020

This application note describes how to detect even small fails in dynamic turn indicators with R&S®AdVISE.

30-Jul-2020 | AN-No. 1S006

Vector Network Analyzers of t ZNA and ZNB family are able to measure magnitude and phase of complex S-parameters of a device under test (DUT) in the frequency domain. By means of the inverse Fourier transform the measurement results can be transformed to the time domain. Thus, the impulse or step response of the DUT is obtained, which gives an especially clear form of representation of its characteristics. For instance, faults in cables can thus be directly localized. Moreover, special time domain filters, so-called gates, are used to suppress unwanted signal components such as multireflections. The measured data "gated" in the time domain are then transformed back to the frequency domain and an Sparameter representation without the unwanted signal components is obtained as a function of frequency. As usual, other complex or scalar parameters such as impedance or attenuation can then be calculated and displayed.

30-Jul-2020 | AN-No. 1EP83

This application note shows how to configure the R&S®AdVISE visual inspection software to automate the immunity testing in line with EN 55020 and CISPR 35 on TV sets and monitors.

30-Jul-2020 | AN-No. 1S007

The R&S®ELEKTRA EMC test software is a solution that controls complete EMC systems and automates measurements on equipment under test that is being tested for emissions and immunity compliance. It can be used to remotely control R&S®AdVISE, which is a visual inspection software to monitor up to 32 different Regions of Interest in one video for visible and audible changeThis Application Note describes how to set up R&S®ELEKTRA and R&S®AdVISE for remote testing.

23-Jul-2020 | AN-No. 1S005

The R&S®SMW-K546 software option aids the optimum design of multiple path amplifiers, including Doherty Amplifiers.This application note provides guidance on the use of the software option, both for direct control and programming via the touchscreen, and for remote control using SCPI.The software and associated techniques may similarly be used to develop other quasi-linear, multi-path amplifiers; including Balanced, Anti-Phase (so-called Push-Pull), Distributed, Spatially Combined, Load Modulated Balanced and many more.

13-Jul-2020 | AN-No. GFM345

Make more accurate power rail measurements.

09-Jul-2020

During development of MU-MIMO antenna arrays, the beamforming algorithms undergo steady revision. Whether used in regression testing or verification of newly introduced features, fast beamforming verification helps to speed up R&D for beamforming antennas and improve performance of your product.

07-Jul-2020

Today’s cars are highly integrated and interconnected. Up to 150 embedded electronic control units (ECUs) in a car secure a convenient and safe driving experience. Examples of ECUs include transmission control modules, ECUs for air conditioning systems, and even self-updating 5G-ready telematics control units.

06-Jul-2020

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 RF receiver tests (TS 38.141-2, chapter 7), 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 suitable solutions for any test case that is mentioned in this application note.

30-Jun-2020 | AN-No. GFM325

5G New Radio (NR) FR1 MIMO or beamforming downlink signal analysis especially the phase measurement of each MIMO layer and the determination of the phase difference between the MIMO layers are essential for the 5G base station product design.In this application note, it describes two test solutions from R&S® to cope with the 5G FR1 downlink MIMO signal analysis challenges either using R&S®RTP/RTO oscilloscope or R&S®NRQ6 frequency selective power sensor as RF frontend to capture the signal and together with R&S®VSE as post-processing tool for the IQ analysis.The aim of this application note is to walk the user through the necessary steps on both test solutions to enable the 5G FR1 downlink MIMO signal analysis.It is assumed that the reader has certain pre-knowledge of 5G NR physical layer. In case a refreshment is needed, please refer to the for further reading.

26-Jun-2020 | AN-No. GFM343

Measurements of very high noise figure components are performed for a number of reasons. For instance, in a wide range of applications, devices under test (DUT) are characterized within a complex test setup that includes high losses before or after the low noise DUT. In case of high frequencies, the switch matrix with complex signal routing and cables might have a very high loss. In other cases, the device might be embedded in a test setup where direct access is physically impossible, on-wafer probing is one example for this case. Using conventional measurement equipment, the noise figure measurement of such a device is very unstable if not impossible at all.

24-Jun-2020 | AN-No. 1EF110

This application note describes how to use the advanced interface in R&S®AdVISE for remote operation.

19-Jun-2020 | AN-No. 1S004

This application note describes how to use the generic interface in R&S®AdVISE for remote operation.

19-Jun-2020 | AN-No. 1S002

The R&S®FSW offers a variety of different bandwidth options and makes it possible to combine these with external harmonic mixers to enlarge the analyzer’s frequency range up to 325 GHz. This application card will give some guidance as to the possible combinations of bandwidth options and mixers in conjunction with the needed IF frequencies.

16-Jun-2020

All channels of DC power supplies R&S®NGL200 and R&S®NGM200 are isolated against the grounding equipment conductor and against the digital ground of the instrument. Therefore, channels can be connected in parallel for increasing the current capability, or in series for achieving higher voltages or dual-voltage supplies. In the case of parallel and serial connections it is usually desired to switch all channels simultaneously on and off for protecting the supplied circuitry and for avoiding overcurrent on other power supply channels.This application note describes how to connect and configure DC power supplies R&S®NGL200 and R&S®NGM200 for synchronized on and off switching of all channels across multiple power supplies.

15-Jun-2020 | AN-No. 1GP126

NGM200, NGL200 The R&S®NGL200 and R&S®NGM200 can simulate battery cells when testing battery management systems and replace far more expensive dedicated battery simulators. Testing battery management systems with Rohde & Schwarz power supplies NGM200, NGL200 The R&S®NGL200 and R&S®NGM200 can simulate battery cells when testing battery management systems and replace far more expensive dedicated battery

08-Jun-2020

More frequency bands and larger dynamic ranges increase the number of test points required in characterization and production of the latest RF frontends (RFFE). Actively managing test time and cost while maintaining quality is more important than ever before.

08-Jun-2020

This application note describes different measurement techniques and methods for an automotive lighting module based on a hybrid controller design. Of course, a lighting module in such an environment has to fulfil requirements according to the automotive standard, which is typically a relatively high-level standard compare to the industry standard. The oscilloscope is a perfect tool for this application to verify the set of requirements because time domain signals (analog and digital) are present in the whole design. Furthermore, measurements in the frequency domain have to be performed, which a modern oscilloscope can fulfil. In addition to the oscilloscope, a programmable power supply supports the measurement in several measurements. The set of requirements are the main reason why a hybrid controller from Microchip is a great choice for this design because it provides tremendous analogue and digital capabilities. The hybrid controller provides beside the analogue functions like an operational amplifier digital functions like analog-to-digital converter and interface functions like UART, CAN or LIN to interact with other systems. The programmable software part is hosted in the digital part. The digital part of the controller implements the communication interface and provides status information to the outer system controller. The light source itself has to avoid any flicker and shall be capable to dim to different lighting levels. Wide input voltage variations and efficiency have to be taken into account during the design of a converter dedicated for automotive applications. Nevertheless, the measurement considerations presented with the design are valid and applicable in other professional lighting industries as well.Thanks to Mr. Andreas Reiter and Mr. Milan Marjanovic from Microchip who provided us with hardware and software and their great expertise to create this application note.

08-Jun-2020 | AN-No. GFM339

Joint solutions of R&S® and COMPRION®

The GSMA specified a global standard for remote provisioning and management of the embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC) in the machine-to-machine (M2M) environment as well as the consumer devices via Over the Air (OTA) methodology.This application note describes the eUICC compliance and remote eUICC provisioning test solution based on R&S® CMW500/CMW290 and COMPRION® eUICC Profile Manager software tool with focus on M2M devices. Furthermore, a solution targeting eSIM profile provisioning on consumer devices by adopting COMPRION® eSIM Test Profile Service is also mentioned in this document.

03-Jun-2020 | AN-No. GFM342

Measuring efficiency with highest accuracy

02-Jun-2020

Since June 2017 almost all radio transmitters and receivers sold or put into operation in the European Union have to be tested for immunity against interferers in adjacent frequency bands. ETSI standard EN 303 345 defines the tests to be performed on broadcast sound receivers, and the requirements to be passed.This application note describes the test procedures and provides script files and interferer signals for the Broadcast Test Center R&S®BTC.

29-May-2020 | AN-No. 1GP117

R&S®VISA is a standardized software library that allows fast communications over diverse interfaces with a wide variety of T&M instruments that are detected on the network from PC applications. R&S®VISA also includes a trace tool that simultaneously monitors communications between multiple applications and T&M instruments, and permits targeted analysis with the aid of efficient filters.

26-May-2020 | AN-No. 1DC02

The required bandwidth span for power amplifiers is growing, driven by the latest 5G and satellite enhancements.Ideally, amplifiers support multiple bands. This makes wideband testing more essential than ever before.

19-May-2020

10BASE-T1S Ethernet enables the integration of diverse sensors into an automotive-Ethernet vehicle supply system, for example short-range radar sensors for detecting blind spots or ultrasonic sensors for the parking assistant. For reliable operation of the functions, data transmission over 10BASE‑T1S Ethernet must be assured at all times and in every climatic environment. Functionality must be tested during development and in production. Only 10BASE-T1S Ethernet interfaces that have passed compliance testing in line with IEEE 802.3cg can be deployed in vehicles. Consequently, vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers need measuring equipment that allows them to perform these tests quickly and reliably.

15-May-2020

Wireless coexistence testing

11-May-2020

The R&S® IQ File Cutter can load IQ data from supported IQ file formats and export part of the signal to another file. This is helpful when dealing with long measurement recordings, of which only parts are of interest and should be extracted for further analysis.

11-May-2020 | AN-No. GFM338