Mobile World Congress, Barcelona 2008 — For its signal generators and analyzers, Rohde & Schwarz provides highly flexible solutions for 3GPP LTE by means of software options. Manufacturers of mobile terminals can thus respond very quickly to all new developments of the standard. The first networks are scheduled to be launched in 2010.
The R&S SMx-K55 3GPP LTE option for Rohde & Schwarz signal generators offers downlink and uplink functionalities. The R&S SMU200A, R&S SMJ100A and R&S SMATE200A can thus generate high-quality 3GPP LTE signals for tests on components and receivers of base stations and mobile phones. Channel coding, MIMO precoding for up to four transmission antennas as well as 2x2 MIMO fading in realtime are also available. The software is installed directly on the instruments. Users can call up predefined scenarios or set the parameters of reference symbols as well as control, synchronization and data channels as required. Plus, they can configure subframes independently of one another.
The R&S FSQ and R&S FSG signal analyzers are now capable of analyzing transmitter modules of forthcoming 3GPP LTE mobile phones. For the uplink, the R&S FSQ-K101 option supports all typical measurements on digitally modulated signals by providing displays in graphical or tabular form. Users can thus retrieve measurement results such as EVM, frequency error, I/Q offset, as well as eye patterns and group delay at a keystroke. The R&S FSQ-K100 option can be used to analyze 3GPP LTE signals in the downlink. This option – like the R&S FSQ-K101 – thus makes it possible to check 3GPP LTE signals with all channel bandwidths specified in the standard in the spectral, time and modulation domains. For measuring signals in the baseband – whether balanced or unbalanced – analog (R&S FSQ-B71) and digital (R&S FSQ-B17) baseband inputs are optionally available for the R&S FSQ.
The 3GPP LTE options are initially being implemented as PC software that externally drives the analyzers. This allows the software to be adapted to new versions of the standard on short notice. After final adoption of the standard in 2008, the software is to be integrated into the analyzer firmware.
The solutions for signal analysis and generation are matched to each other and can be used together. Since development of the standard has not yet been completed, Rohde & Schwarz has developed its 3GPP LTE options bearing high flexibility in mind. Software will be updated at regular intervals, ensuring that the signal analyzers and generators will keep pace with current developments, making them future-proof tools in 3GPP LTE development labs.
The R&S FSQ-K101 option for analyzing uplink 3GPP LTE signals, the R&S FSQ-K101 option for analyzing downlink 3GPP LTE signals and the R&S SMx-K55 option for generating downlink and uplink signals are now available from Rohde & Schwarz.