Europe : Rohde & Schwarz has just expanded its compact base station tester, the R&S CMU300, by numerous WCDMA options. This makes the R&S CMU300 the first measuring instrument to combine high-precision parameter tests with layer 1 signaling processes. It is now possible to test Node Bs (base stations with UMTS) under realistic, dynamic conditions. The instrument supports all key transmitter and receiver tests of the official 3GPP FDD specification. HSDPA measurements are already feasible.

Because of increasing data throughput rates such as with HSDPA, radio links have to be matched ever more quickly to the available radio channel resources. Time aspects of RF measurements are thus gaining more and more importance. Static tests are currently being performed to find out whether the values of essential transmit parameters (power, modulation, spectrum, code domain) meet specifications. Moreover, it is important to know whether these parameters are also set correctly and at the right time.

To comply with these requirements, the R&S CMU300 now combines RF parameter tests with layer 1 signaling processes. As a result, the Signaling mode now offers measurement functions that were previously impossible to implement or that required significant technical and financial efforts to do so.

By recording the Node B system clock, transmitter measurements can now be started at specific points in time without additional external triggering. Critical system events such as changes in modulation mode can now be thoroughly analyzed. Existing measuring instruments can also benefit from the advantages offered by time-synchronous measurements via a trigger output on the R&S CMU300.

In the past, bit error rate (BER) tests were used to characterize the receive characteristics of a Node B. The realtime receiver in the R&S CMU300 now uses the same method for testing the transmitter unit. The instrument combines a data generator and data evaluator, making it easy to perform dataloop-based BER tests. Moreover, test concepts can now be implemented that check whether the Node B transmitter responds to queries of the mobile terminal correctly and at the right time. Thus, the radio tester features comprehensive test procedures for the random access channel (RACH), including measurement of the acquisition indication channel (AICH). The broadcast channel (BCH) analysis function permits convenient evaluation of the cell system information.

The R&S CMU300 from Rohde & Schwarz is a platform that satisfies all areas in which 2G/3G base station testing is applied: R&D, production, system testing, installation and service. By providing HSDPA measurements and a WCDMA Signaling mode, this platform offers efficient approaches to handling current 3G measurement tasks. The hardware and software options are now available from Rohde & Schwarz. Existing GSM/EDGE instruments can be easily upgraded to WCDMA and HSDPA.

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