DIRECTV®, a digital TV broadcast system, makes use of transport packets with a length of 130 bytes rather than the more common 188 bytes used in MPEG TS streams. The inputs on the R&S® SFU do not accept transport streams in the DIRECTV® format. This Application Note introduces R&S® DIRECTV tool and explains how it can be used to convert existing 130-byte-based DIRECTV® transport stream content to 188-byte-based ISO 13818-1 streams that are compatible with the R&S® SFU SPI input or the internal R&S® SFU TRP player. This tool is intended for Rohde & Schwarz customers who are licensed to operate an R&S® SFU-K9 DIRECTV coder or R&S® SFU-K108 AMC coder.

05-Oct-2007 | AN-No. 7BM69

Measuring efficiency with highest accuracy

02-Jun-2020

The R&S®ZNA vector network analyzer with integrated LO output and direct IF input options is a simple, cost-effective solution for 2-port and 4-port measurements using Rohde & Schwarz mmWave converters.

27-Apr-2023

IQWizard is a tool for loading IQ signal files in various formats and measuring IQ signals with a FSx spectrum analyzer or ESx Receiver. The obtained IQ data in memory can be stored in various formats or be transmitted to an R&S® vector signal generator with WinIQSIM™ or WinIQSIM2™.

26-Apr-2013 | AN-No. 1MA028

How to configure generic devices in R&S®ELEKTRA

R&S®ELEKTRA is able to communicate with many devices. Still, it is impossible to integrate drivers for all devices. Hence, R&S®ELEKTRA offers the possibility to integrate any device by configuring a generic driver. The configuration file contains commands that translate the language of the device for R&S®ELEKTRA and vice versa.

04-May-2023 | AN-No. 1SL398

Multiple antenna systems, known as MIMO systems, form an essential part of today’s wireless communications standards. This multi-antenna technology efficiently boosts the data throughput without requiring additional bandwidth, and has thus become a key technology. Rohde & Schwarz offers high-performance MIMO test solutions which provide static conditions without fading as well as simulation of complex fading scenarios.This application note explains how to set up 4x4 and 8x8 MIMO systems using the R&S®SMBV100A signal generator for measurements under static conditions without fading.For simulation of complex fading scenarios please refer to application note 1GP97.

10-Mar-2010 | AN-No. 1GP50

Automotive Infotainment Testing

19-Feb-2018

This application note describes how to test and perform (E)GPRS-related measurements on mobile phones in compliance with the GSM standard using the R&S CMU200 by means of remote-control or manual operation.

07-Sep-2004 | AN-No. 1CM52

Next generation technologies in radar and satellite communication with high data rates call for innovative testing solutions to develop and manufacture RF components like voltage controlled oscillators (VCO). The R&S®FSPN phase noise analyzer increases efficiency and reproducibility of VCO characterization and phase noise measurements from lab to production.Voltage controlled oscillators are oscillators whose output frequency is controlled by means of an external tuning voltage, and they are used in a wide variety of electronic and RF applications like function generators, phase-locked loops including frequency synthesizers used in communication equipment. Different VCO design approaches yield different parameters and performance, and therefore it is important to measure or characterize VCOs under different conditions. This application note provides a short technical introduction to voltage controlled oscillators and explains the most common and the most important measurements made during the VCO characterization process.

17-May-2023 | AN-No. 1SL386

A radar system typically operates 24 hours with minimal downtime. Maintaining the operation of such a system requires fast identification of any defects in the system components. The R&S®ZNH handheld vector network analyzer helps field engineers quickly and reliably maintain radar systems to minimize downtimes.

22-Oct-2020

This Application Note describes the basic operating principles of distance measurement equipment (DME) and tactical air navigation (TACAN) for distance and bearing measurements in aviation along with diverse test possibilities for maintenance of DME/TACAN ground stations.Some tests are performed on the ground (on the RF port of the DME or TACAN station or in the field via antenna) while others require flight inspection.The R&S®EDS300 DME/pulse analyzer is the specialist for flight inspection and simultaneous measurement of up to 10 different DME’s and can also be used for monitoring tasks on ground (e.g. far field monitoring of all DME’s of an airport).The R&S®EDST300 TACAN/DME analyzer focusses on commissioning and regular maintenance checking of TACAN and DME ground stations and battery operated field measurements in the immediate environment of the station.

28-Mar-2017 | AN-No. 1EF91

Automatic functional testing of roof antennas

05-Jul-2007

After a communications satellite is on its target orbit, several routines need to be performed in order to ensure proper performance from the transponders in the payload. The on-orbit measurements are a vital part of the maintenance of a live satellite as well. Operating a satellite channel for an on-orbit measurement rather than the intended application comes with significant opportunity cost and hence test duration needs to be minimized as much as possible. Rohde & Schwarz test and measurement equipment recommended in this paper is market leading not only in terms of measurement accuracy but also offers unparalleled speed of measurement. This application note focuses on satellite post-launch or on-orbit measurement and monitoring strategies used for satellite functionality checks when running maintenance routines. A complementary paper treats pre-launch payload measurements.

25-Nov-2016 | AN-No. 1MA263

More and more everyday items such as household appliances, vehicles, lights, etc. are now connected to the Internet, forming what is known as the "Internet of Things". Even clothing with sewn-in sensors to measure vital functions can now connect to the Internet and transmit data to cloud services. These different things use a variety of wireless technology standards to establish a connection. Due to its popularity, one of the most important standards is Bluetooth (or Bluetooth Low Energy). Before a new product with Bluetooth functionality can be launched, the qualification process defined by the Bluetooth SIG must be successfully completed. To save time and money, performance tests need to be performed in the development stage. This application note describes how to use the R&S CMW platform to perform the measurements defined in Bluetooth test specification version 5. As an alternative solution, we also cover how to perform almost all of the measurements with a spectrum analyzer and signal generator.The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Rohde & Schwarz is under license.

19-Jun-2017 | AN-No. 1MA282

Rohde & Schwarz presents a customizable solution for testing barometric performance to ensure z-axis accuracy in line with FCC regulations.

24-Jun-2021

This application note describes how to set up 3GPP FDD and LTE multicell and multi-UE scenarios with the R&S®SMU200A with a focus on routing and leveling of the baseband signals. Furthermore, it describes in detail how to determine the correct AWGN settings, i.e. how to calculate the required signal-to-noise ratio for the various scenarios.

10-Aug-2011 | AN-No. 1GP80

Rare faults and intermittent signals are difficult to capture. The R&S®RTO Oscilloscope supports the acquisition and the detailed signal analysis of these signals by using the history mode. The history mode allows the user to look back to previous acquisitions and apply the wide set of analysis functions of the RTO. Furthermore it stores the accurate recoding time of the waveforms for subsequent analysis.

03-Jun-2013 | AN-No. 1TD02

This application note provides a guide through the measurements for IEEE 802.11ac WLAN transmitter signals using the general purpose OFDM analysis software R&S FS-K96. Step-by-step instructions for performing the measurements are provided and the different result types available with the FSK96 Software are discussed.

22-Sep-2011 | AN-No. 1EF82

The R&S®ZNA vector network analyzer offers a dynamic range that is unbeatable on the market. This kind of sensitivity unlocks potential applications that previously could not be addressed with a vector network analyzer.

07-Jan-2019

Using R&S®ELEKTRA Migration Tool

The R&S®ELEKTRA EMC test software is the successor of the R&S®EMC32 EMC measurement software. Like the R&S®EMC32 EMC measurement software, the R&S®ELEKTRA offers a solution that controls complete EMC systems and automates measurements on equipment under test (EUT) that is being tested for emissions (EMI) and immunity (EMS) compliance. It has more features and test types compared to R&S®EMC32.As both software platforms use different file formats, R&S®EMC32 users who upgrade their existing software to the R&S®ELEKTRA platform need to perform a file conversion before migrating their data to the R&S®ELEKTRA platform. This is done by using the R&S®ELEKTRA Migration Tool, which is installed automatically with each R&S®ELEKTRA installation.This Application Note describes how to use the R&S®ELEKTRA Migration Tool (version 4.4 onwards) for converting the backup data into the XML format that can be interpreted by the R&S®ELEKTRA software. It also provides recommended conversion steps (Chapter 5) and troubleshooting tips (Chapter 6). For instructions on migrating the data using R&S®ELEKTRA Migration Tool below version 4.4, refer to the R&S®ELEKTRA user manual. For better user experience, we recommend using the latest software version for migration.This Application Note does not describe the steps to backup data using the R&S®EMC32 or R&S®ES-SCAN software. For procedures on how to do so, refer to their respective manuals.

04-May-2023 | AN-No. 1SL396

Three hardware modifications of the option External Measurements ZVR-B25 enable the bidirectional network analyzers of the ZVR-family to carry out 4-port measurements. For the measurements, the four ports PORT 1, PORT 2, INPUT b1 and INPUT b2 at the front panel of the ZVR(E) are utilized. The fifth connector, ie OUTPUT a1, is not required for this purpose. As detailed below, the necessary modifications of the test set of the analyzer are described for the model ZVR. Of course, the modifications can be done in a similar way for the model ZVRE as well.

28-Jul-1998 | AN-No. 1EZ25

This application note describes the noise figure measurement using the R&S Vector Network Analyzers of the ZVA and ZVT series. It explains the concept of measuring noise figure without the need for a characterized noise source. Furthermore, it discusses different measurement applications and the respective setup and implications. Some examples guide through the instrument setups and show measurement results as well.

27-Oct-2010 | AN-No. 1EZ61

The R&S®SMW200A vector signal generator combined with the R&S®FSW signal and spectrum analyzer offers fast and simple power amplifier testing including envelope tracking and digital predistortion, effectively replacing complex test setups.

22-Feb-2015

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. Analyzing the modulation of the pulse is essential, because it contains important information to characterize the application. The R&S®RTO and R&S®RTP oscilloscopes can precisely trigger on and analyze RF pulses. This document describes the use of the R&S®RTO and R&S®RTP to demodulate RF pulses for further measurements.

13-Mar-2019

With its small footprint, the R&S®ATS1000 antenna test system is the ideal direct far-field OTA system to test phased array antennas. The system tests and optimizes the radiation characteristics of any modules using the AiP technology from 18 GHz to 87 GHz.

12-Mar-2020

This application note provides information about measurements on DVB-S2 transmitters, including Amplitude Phase Shift Keying (APSK) signals. Specifically, this note will discuss how to import APSK mapping files in order to make modulation quality measurements.

09-Feb-2010 | AN-No. 1MA172

This application note explains how to convert different Rohde & Schwarz I/Q file formats among each other using the supplied software tool.

23-Sep-2015 | AN-No. 1EF85

Fading in the baseband of the R&S®SMW200A signal generator is well proven and widely accepted for testing any mobile radio standard. However, there are applications where an RF signal must be faded.A versatile RF Fading Simulator can easily be built using an R&S®FSW, R&S®FSQ, R&S®FSG, R&S®FSV signal analyzer with Digital Base Band Interface or with the instrument combination R&S®TSMW / R&S®IQR and an R&S®SMU signal generator with digital baseband inputs and fading simulator option. Note describes how.

27-Feb-2015 | AN-No. 1MA145

Combining the R&S®UPP audio analyzers with the R&S®SMB100A signal generators provides the most compact and fastest test solution for modern FM car radios

19-Feb-2015

This application note explains the fundamentals of the cell search and cell selection and reselection procedures required for both modes of UMTS Long Term Evolution: FDD and TDD. It describes how to generate and analyze the required signals using Rohde & Schwarz test and measurement solutions. The application note also shows how to perform interoperability tests and terminal conformance tests according to the baseline of the 3GPP specifications for protocol conformance and Radio Resource Management (RRM).

17-Sep-2009 | AN-No. 1MA150