When analyzing the signal integrity performance of DDR interfaces, separating read and write cycles has been a challenging task. Comprehensive trigger capabilities are required – especially when attempting to recreate the eye diagram in realtime.

26-Sep-2018

LTE-M (also known as Cat M1) is a machine type communication (MTC) standard for IoT applications, specified by 3GPP. This application note provides and overview of the technology, the details of the standard and summarizes the R&S®TSMx scanner features for LTE-M measurements.

26-Jul-2019 | AN-No. 8NT04

Simultaneously measure various current levels from μA to A in all phases of IoT device activity – from sleep to receive and transmit mode

01-Oct-2019

With all these new flexibilities introduced with 5G, the radio access has become more complex to understand and analyze. More network interfaces and RAN configuration parameters have to be managed and the RAN and in particular the connection control, mobility and measurement reporting are decisive for the network performance. It will be vital for the system experts and radio engineers to gain knowledge and evolve their methods and tools to facilitate the work to optimize and troubleshoot 5G and 4G RAN performance. Thus, tools are needed that allow for easier understanding of the message flows in the radio protocols. The R&S®ROMES4 KPIs and Smart Events will help doing the work much easier and quicker. They are defined for a key set of LTE, EN-DC and NR RRC connection control and mobility procedures where the performance is crucial to achieve high quality network performance. Trouble shooting problematic cases and optimization of RAN protocols are key drivers to improve the mobile network performance with R&S®ROMES4.

28-Jun-2022 | AN-No. 8NT06

Crucial for proper operation of mobile networks. Part 4 of the series on Cable and Antenna verification

Critical Infrastructure: Mobile base stations rely on a complex interplay of components, including often-overlooked elements like filter combiners, RF splitters and tappers, and cables, to deliver uninterrupted mobile communications.Vulnerability to Environmental Factors: Filter combiners, accessories, and cabling in mobile base stations are susceptible to harsh environmental stressors, which can lead to signal degradation and reduced system availability.Fundamental Properties: The functional integrity of mobile base station components is measured against key RF parameters, including frequency response and insertion loss, to ensure conformance to manufacturer and industry standards (e.g., 3GPP, ETSI).Measurement Techniques: Systematic and comprehensive testing is essential to validate the functional integrity of critical mobile base station components, detect latent defects, and optimize overall system performance.

09-Jan-2025 | AN-No. 8NT20

3GPP TS36.141 defines conformance tests for EUTRA base stations (eNodeB). Release 14 (LTEAdvanced Pro) added several tests, such as those for enhanced Licensed Assisted Access (eLAA).This application note describes how all required performance tests (TS36.141 Chapter 8) can be performed quickly and easily by using vector signal generators from Rohde & Schwarz.Examples illustrate the manual operation. A free software program enables and demonstrates remote operation.The LTE base station transmitter (Tx) tests (TS36.141 Chapter 6) are described in Application Note 1MA154.The LTE base station receiver (Rx) tests (TS36.141 Chapter 7) are described in Application Note 1MA195.

11-May-2016 | AN-No. 1MA162

Mobile network operators worldwide face cost pressures and escalating network complexity. The advent of 5G-NR has ushered in new use cases and flexibility, but it also comes with more stringent performance and availability requirements.Machine Learning can serve as a catalyst for the market to unearth deep insights that would otherwise remain concealed. It can also significantly streamline everyday tasks by fostering a smarter system that guides users through their routine work processes, rather than obliging them to repeat each (manual) step. Rohde & Schwarz Mobile Network Testing has focused its efforts on delivering Machine Learning use cases that distill relevant insights from drive testing data, thereby offering substantial benefits to users.This educational note explains the motivation and reasoning why this kind of approach is needed, what are the benefits of the machine learning offering and it takes a deeper look into how it can be used in various levels of statistical and technical analysis. Finally, this document provides real measurement results and analysis findings based on the Rohde & Schwarz post processing SW suite SmartAnalytics and its machine learning based features Call Stability Score and Network Utilization Rating.

28-Feb-2024 | AN-No. 8NT10

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

Oscilloscopes are the workhorses for power electronics engineers. With powerful and easyto- use FFT analysis capabilities, their application fields extend to EMI debugging – and that saves a lot of time and money. A typical task is verifying the effectiveness of an EMI filter – early in the development phase.

23-Sep-2019

In civil aviation, instrument landing system (ILS) transmitters use antenna arrays to provide guidance to approaching aircraft. ILS performance strongly depends on the precise alignment of the magnitude and phase of each element in an antenna array. The R&S®ZNH handheld vector network analyzer with a built-in source allows fast, convenient on-site measurements on the ILS antenna system.

09-Aug-2021

This application note explains how to detect, characterize, find and document interferers in cellular networks using the R&S®FSH spectrum analyzer.First it explains how to use the spectrum and interference analysis functions during each step of interference hunting. It also illustrates the explanations with a common interferer example. Then it points out the most common interference sources in cellular networks and gives tips on how to identify them.

21-Oct-2014 | AN-No. 1EF89

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

This application note explains how to perform LTE base station measurements over the air (OTA) using the R&S®FSH4/8/13/20 handheld spectrum analyzer. It describes the required measurement setup and explains the results obtained with the different measurement modes.

12-Sep-2013 | AN-No. 1EF87

Spectrum scans are beneficial for many use-cases such as troubleshooting, interference detection and interference hunting, or verification tasks like scheduler verification or other engineering tasks. A time-gated spectrum scan, which is a power spectrum scan which applies a time gate on uplink/downlink slots/symbols and/or the guard period reveals even more details in uplink/downlink or guard period power spectrum. This allows to focus on the uplink / downlink or guard period power spectrum in 5G NR TDD networks. This educational note explains use cases for spectrum measurements, the complexity in 5G TDD and its technology basics, and which problems can be solved with the described solution. The software used is R&S®ROMES4 together with a R&S®TSMx6 drive and walk test scanner.

21-Sep-2023 | AN-No. 8NT08

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

Oscilloscopes are basic everyday instruments for engineers and electricians. Maintenance tasks, however, sometimes require very specific measurements that are not available as standard functionality or are difficult to set up manually. With the R&S®RTH-K38 user scripting option, engineers can now design their own measurement function and a simple user interface. This paper describes how to use this unique feature for railway maintenance work.

06-May-2020

This Application Note provides guidance on using the “Intermodulation Wizard” through an example measurement.

27-Mar-2013 | AN-No. 1EZ63

With continuously increasing data rates, signal inte grity aspects of high-speed digital designs and the components used become more and more challenging. Particularly at higher data rates, vector network analyzers (VNA) are increasingly replacing traditional time domain reflectometry (TDR) setups for testing passive components such as connectors, cables and PCBs. Users benefit from the higher accuracy, speed and ESD robustness of the VNA, making the VNA the instrument of choice in this field.

20-Sep-2016

The R&S®FPS-K18 amplifier measurement option in combination with the R&S®FPS signal and spectrum analyzer and the R&S®SGT100A SGMA vector RF source enables high-speed amplifier characterization.

13-Jun-2016

This application note reviews the measurement uncertainty analysis and traceability for phase noise with the new R&S®FSWP Phase Noise Analyzer.It describes the new approach for measuring phase noise with the R&S®FSWP using direct downconversion with cross correlation and focuses on traceability using a derived primary measurement standard.

05-Jul-2016 | AN-No. 1EF95

This application note shows how to use Rohde & Schwarz signal generators and analyzers for testing early 5G New Radio components, chipsets and devices. Methods for easy creation and analysis of custom OFDM are explained. The solution provides● a single user interface for signal generation and analysis configuration● Flexible OFDM configuration and signal generation incl. flexible pilot and data allocation● User defined modulation schemes including complex scenarios, e.g. 5G NR PSS

23-Oct-2017 | AN-No. 1MA308

EMI compliance is becoming a major concern for advanced power electronics due to increasing switching speeds. Correlated time-frequency measurements help optimize gate driving and minimize electromagnetic emissions early on during development.

27-Apr-2023

CST® Filter Designer 3D, which is part of the CST Studio Suite® simulation software from Dassault Systèmes, is a complete synthesis tool for filters and diplexers. It provides a range of solutions throughout the design process of coupled resonator filters and even beyond with its VNA based tuning capability. CST Filter Designer 3D assists in tuning filter hardware, significantly reducing the time for optimizing a device to meet the expected specifications. An attractive instrument to obtain fast data reading for realtime filter tuning is the R&S®ZNB vector network analyzer from Rohde & Schwarz.

27-Nov-2019

With a Rohde & Schwarz oscilloscope

13-Aug-2024

The R&S®ZNB vector network analyzer simplifies instrument configuration and calibration using the mixer measurement wizard and SMARTerCal.

01-Oct-2013

Its excellent realtime baseband performance in combination with its ability to easily import the scattering parameters of an active/passive twoport interconnection network via s2p-files make the R&S®SMW200A vector signal generator ideal for high-precision RF and microwave tests requiring deembedding of the device under test (DUT).

11-Oct-2017

Analyzing RF pulses is a key aspect of pulsed radar applications, e.g. in air traffic control (ATC), maritime radar or scientific measurements of the ionosphere. It is essential to analyze the pulse envelope in the time domain because it contains important information needed to characterize the application. The R&S®RTO digital oscilloscope is a very useful measurement instrument for analyzing pulse characteristics.

09-Nov-2017

The R&S®ZVA vector network analyzer with the R&S®ZVA-K9 option enables absolute group delay measurements on devices with embedded LO without the need for a calibration mixer

17-May-2013

The constantly decreasing size of components and the available board space form a challenge to place adequate test connections for RF instruments. Recent improvements in the availability and use of high performance differential building blocks in RF circuits intensify the problems of connecting test equipment. Using oscilloscope probes is a possibility to perform measurements by connecting to printed circuit board lines and chip contacts where only a minimal area is required to make contact. This application note provides information on how to use oscilloscope probes in RF measurements using spectrum analyzers, and show the results of differential measurements with a spectrum analyzer.

28-Jun-2013 | AN-No. 1EF84

A new phase noise test instrument covers the frequency range from 1 MHz to 50 GHz with direct down-conversion analog I/Q mixers and baseband signal sampling. The traditional PLL has been replaced by a digital FM demodulator for phase detection and frequency tracking. An additional AM demodulator enables concurrent measurement of phase and amplitude noise. The instrument can measure phase noise as low as -183 dBc/Hz with a 100 MHz carrier frequency and 10 kHz offset within two minutes.

09-May-2016