Increasing data rates in high-speed digital designs and wireless communications require SerDes PLLs and clock synthesizers with low additive phase noise and high jitter attenuation. Modern designs often follow a two-stage architecture, consisting of a jitter-attenuator and a frequency-synthesizer stage. Due to their high phase noise sensitivity, phase noise analyzers are the instruments of choice for these tests. To stimulate the PLL, an additional signal source with ultra low phase noise is required.

01-Aug-2018

Radar technology is essential for state-of-the art and future vehicles on the path to full autonomous driving. Radar sensors deliver critical information about the surrounding traffic environment or monitor the interior of the vehicle. As safety-relevant parts, radar sensors must adhere to specifications and regulations.

12-Dec-2022

There are proposals for broadband measurements on hearing aids, for example the proposed standard ANSI S3.42. Such measurements are intended to simulate more accurately the behaviour of hearing aids under normal hearing conditions also in the presence of ambient noise. Audio Analyzer UPD fitted with High-Speed Option UPD-B3 makes it possible already now to generate the proposed test signal and to perform all the related measurements including coherence and transfer functions. These measurements may become more and more important in the future but have scarcely been performed up to now as they require highly complex test equipment. Audio Analyzer UPD enables the user to measure to tomorrow’s standards even today.

04-Jun-1998 | AN-No. 1GA34

With a Rohde & Schwarz oscilloscope

25-Sep-2019

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

This application note provides information how to perform noise figure measurements under pulsed or bursted conditions with spectrum analyzers and noise sources, and introduce the capabilities of the Rohde & Schwarz FSW signal and spectrum analyzer to perform this measurement.

28-Jun-2018 | AN-No. 1EF103

The converters offered for the R&S® ZVA family extend the vector network analyzers' frequency range to include the millimeter-wave range (EHF band). This Application Note describes the R&S® ZVA-Z110 converters. They cover the W band (75 GHz to 110 GHz). Several measurement examples are included, explaining in detail how to configure a converter-based vector network analyzer system.

09-Oct-2007 | AN-No. 1EZ55

Digital pre-distortion (DPD) is a common method to linearize the output signal of a power amplifier (PA), which is being operated in its non-linear operating range.The R&S K18D application family offers a very easy-to-use method to pre-distort amplifiers without modelling the DUT.However, many engineers in PA design request a simple and easy-to-use tool that delivers a DPD model applicable to any real-world signal.This application note with the accompanying software tool allows engineers without in-depth knowledge of DPD or remote programming to generate a DPD model and verify it against the DUT, based on the results of the K18D application.

25-Mar-2019 | AN-No. 1EF105

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

Rapid and accurate verification of beamforming weights is required for example, for codebook generation or beamforming algorithm development or verification. This document describes the unique application of Rohde & Schwarz VNA (Vector Network Analyzers) to fully characterize the passive part of multi-element antennas intended for beamforming.A range of R&S VNA models are optionally equipped with multiple independent sources, whose relative amplitude and phase may be arbitrarily controlled ("defined coherence mode"), in addition to frequency and true time delay. These sources may be connected to individual elements of a multi-element antenna to derive and verify transmit (Tx) mode beamsteering and beamforming operation.The R&S®ZVA in "Defined Coherence Mode" can electronically be switched to / from the conventional S-parameter mode. Therefore, Sparameter and beamforming measurements may be performed efficiently within a single connection cycle of the antenna.Multiple VNA may be daisy-chained, to extend the concept shown to support an arbitrary number of ports.The R&S®Quickstep sequencing software may be downloaded from:https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/software/quickstep/

20-Mar-2017 | AN-No. 1MA278

The R&S®QPS millimeterwave security scanner delivers the most accurate measurement results in 1.5 to 2.5 s. The instantaneous scan requires only 64 ms, or five times faster than the blink of an eye, virtually eliminating the ambiguous readings that occur due to accidental movement with the longer scan time of other imaging technology.

22-Jan-2019

Automated Solution with High Efficiency

5G New Radio (NR) presents dramatic challenges to the testing of User Equipment (UE) Power Amplifier (PA). Multiple frequency bands, flexible 5G operation mode, multiple PA performance metrics and the MIPI control interface increases the potential PA testing workload significantly. Manually repeating these tests under so many different scenarios can be costly and time consuming. An automated testing solution can help the test engineer to highly improve the testing efficiency.In this application note, it introduces an example of automated testing of 5G UE PA with R&S signal generator, signal and spectrum analyzer, vector signal explorer software, power meter along with power supply.The entire application note is organized with following structure:Chapter 2 outlines the challenges to 5G UE PA testing.Chapter 3 introduces the setup for 5G signal generation and analysis. For 5G signal generation, a batch program of converting *.CSV files with IQ vectors to ARB waveform files is introduced. For 5G signal analysis, the R&S®VSE software is recommended, which enables the separation of RF signal collection and measurement to improve testing efficiency.Chapter 4 provides the informative content about the integration of MIPI control interface for the PA ON/OFF state switching and register configuration.Chapter 5 gives a guide on the implementation of a quick power servo, in which the techniques to speed up the PA power level adjustment are discussed.Chapter 6 summarizes the automated testing procedure.

09-Aug-2021 | AN-No. 1SL365

Embedding and De-Embedding of virtual transformation networks for measuring scattering parameters with a ZVR or ZVC vector network analyzer.

25-Sep-1998 | AN-No. 1EZ45

An operator of a network of terrestrial transmitter stations wants to have the most cost-effective means of monitoring the network's numerous transmitter sites from a main monitoring center. Modern error sensors such as the R&S DVM50/100 and the R&S ETX-T are used for diverse monitoring functions at the individual transmitter sites as well as to transmit monitoring status to the main monitoring center. These error sensors have a function-rich SNMP agent designed specifically for this purpose. Simple network management protocol (SNMP). Despite the 'simple' in the protocol name, some users are still afraid to use it for remote control and monitoring. This Application Note therefore provides a user-friendly and practical look at, for example, how the monitoring functions via SNMP can be used for the R&S DVM. The following sections provide a brief look at the SNMP protocol, the R&S DVM/ETX implementation, and useful tools for working with SNMP. A description of how SNMP can be linked to various development environments (C++, C#, Java) is also provided.

16-Mar-2007 | AN-No. 7BM65

The R&S®CMX500 radio communication tester is ideal for analyzing VoNR and VoLTE voice quality and performance in mobile devices.

21-Feb-2023

This document provides some technical background and guidance on how to optimize the measurement of one of the key performance parameters of WLAN transmitters - the Error Vector Magnitude (EVM).

IEEE 802.11be Extremely High Throughput (EHT), also known as Wi-Fi 7, is the latest amendment of the IEEE 802.11 standard and is still under development. This amendment focuses mainly on improved throughput. To do so, the most notable changes currently implemented are:► New modulation scheme: 4096-QAM (4K-QAM)► Larger bandwidth: 320 MHz► Support for 16x16 MU-MIMO► Enhanced resource allocation in OFDMAThis places special demands on the measurement equipment.

06-Sep-2022 | AN-No. 1EF114

New technologies and applications like 6G communications and sensing extend into sub-THz frequencies in the D band and beyond. New semiconductor technologies and processes need to be commercialized to support these efforts.

12-Dec-2023

In general, most of the existing electronic devices are connected to the AC mains and require a power conversion stage to convert the AC-Voltage to a smaller DC-Voltage. Voltages and frequencies of the power grid differ between different regions. However, different types of AC-DC conversion stages exist to supply the electronic equipment with adequate DC-power.In AC-DC conversion combined with power levels less than 50W, the flyback converter is a commonplace chosen topology because of its simplicity and its low cost. The majority of consumer products make use of this converter type like wall brick power supplies or power adapters for any consumer application and other type of stand-by auxiliary power supply like used in white and brown goods. In AC to DC converter application, an electrical isolation between input and output is mandatory. The flyback topology provides this galvanic barrier.Beside the common advantages of a flyback converter, it has inherently parasitic components, which typically produce ringing waveforms with considerably high voltage spikes. Without suppressing this unwanted ringing, it may have some negative effect on other components like the switching elements. This ringing can also influence the EMI emissions adversely. Therefore, it is an important task to adequate suppress and damp the ringing effect. This damping circuit is known as snubber circuit and provides this functionality. In the flyback converter, different snubber structures can be applied and each of the structure has its advantage and disadvantage.The demand having a snubber circuit in the power supply topology leads to specific verification methods during the design to obtain a proper and reliable design. These verification methods are the main focus of the discussions within this document.

23-Jun-2021 | AN-No. 1SL363

LoRa is one of the most popular low-power wireless sensor network technologies for implementation of the internet of things (IoT), offering long-range communications compared to technologies such as Zigbee. Its name is derived from "long range" and it operates in license-free ISM bands. LoRa is a physical proprietary radio communications technique that is based on spread spectrum modulation techniques derived from chirp spread spectrum (CSS) technology.

12-Dec-2024

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

EN-DC Mode According to 3GPP 38.521-3

5G New Radio (NR) is a radio access technology (RAT) specified by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) in release 15 technical standard which was first published in 2018. It is designed to enhance the spectrum efficiency to meet the diverse needs of wireless communication applications, such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communications (mMTC) and ultra-reliable and low latency communications (URLLC).Two deployment modes are defined for 5G NR technology► non-standalone (NSA) mode involving both E-UTRA (access technology used for LTE) and 5G NR RAT► standalone (SA) mode allows the user equipment (UE) to access 5G core network (5GC) over LTE or 5G NR RATAll 5G NR air interface related core specifications as well as associated test specifications are included in the 3GPP 38 series specifications. In an UE product lifecycle, UE vendor is obliged to go through the device certification process by passing all the required conformance tests which include RF, protocol, performance tests before official launch of the product. RF conformance testing is of course essential for the market access. The conformity of 3GPP specification has to be ensured even in the early product R&D phase.This application note aims to guide the R&D reader through the 5G NR Frequency Range 1 (FR1) NSA RF UE conformance test according to 3GPP38.521-3 based on mobile radio tester R&S®CMX and associated web user interface R&S®CMsquares in interactive operation mode, i.e. manual operation mode, through test configuration examples. After reading this application note, the reader should be able to conduct 3GPP RF conformance tests with proper settings manually and understand measurement results in R&S®CMsquares.

25-Jun-2021 | AN-No. 1SL368

Performing essential RF tests gets your Sigfox device ready for certification and deployment

15-Nov-2018

1EF86 LTE, MIMO, LTE-MIMO, RTO1044, SMU200A, K102, K103, K102PC, K103PC Testing LTE MIMO Signals using a R&S RTO Oscilloscope Testing LTE MIMO Signals using a R&S®RTO Oscilloscope 1EF86 LTE, MIMO, LTE-MIMO, RTO1044, SMU200A, K102, K103, K102PC, K103PC Testing LTE MIMO Signals using a R&S RTO Oscilloscope

24-Apr-2013 | AN-No. 1EF86

The R&S®Pulse Sequencer software together with any Rohde & Schwarz vector signal generator offers an easy and convenient way to generate pulses. For the first time, one package helps you define all the test cases you need in the lab for your entire product development cycle. Test cases extend from simple pulse scenarios for initial component testing to complex 3D radar emitters for acceptance testing of complete systems.

27-Jul-2017

All electronic devices contain capacitive or inductive components that can cause a disproportionately high current while switching on the device.

09-Oct-2018

1SL391 audio, breakthrough, ETSI EN 301 489 Audio Breakthrough Assembly and Test Setup 1SL391 audio, breakthrough, ETSI EN 301 489

11-Oct-2022 | AN-No. 1SL391

Spectrum Rider, FPH, FSH, ZPH, Cable Rider, ZVH, 5G, Interference hunting, Zero span mode, G NR TDD signal Handheld solutions from Rohde & Schwarz support a gated trigger, enabling users to separate uplink and downlink signals in the time domain. 5G NR – interference hunting in the uplink of TDD networks Spectrum Rider, FPH, FSH, ZPH, Cable Rider, ZVH, 5G, Interference hunting, Zero span mode, G NR

09-Apr-2019

This document describes typical measurements that are required to be made on amplifiers and how the measurement can be implemented on the ZVB Vector Network Analyzer. The document describes the concepts and setups required to perform Gain, Isolation, input impedance measurements, then goes on to describe how more uncommon measurements are made with the ZVB like Harmonics, Stability Factor and compression point.

07-Feb-2007 | AN-No. 1EZ54

This application note describes Battery Life Measurements with the R&S®RT-ZVC02/04 Multi-Channel Probe. The measurements are described with the use of an oscilloscope. The R&S®RT-ZVC Multi-Channel Probe can be used with R&S®RTE1000, R&S®RTO2000 or R&S®RTP.

17-Jan-2019 | AN-No. 1TD07

Integrated end-to-end data solution with IP traffic analysis and protocol statistics allows detailed analysis of data traffic generated by IoT and mobile devices.

06-Jun-2017