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Learn how to configure Rohde & Schwarz products to fit your application. Search our database by product, technology, or application to find relevant technical documents.
Search Application Notes & Cards
Learn how to configure Rohde & Schwarz products to fit your application. Search our database by product, technology, or application to find relevant technical documents.
1110 Results
Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technology is an integral part of 3GPP E-UTRA long term evolution (LTE). As part of MIMO, beamforming is also used in LTE. This application note provides a brief summary of the transmission modes (TM) in LTE and describes the beamforming measurements for base stations (BS) and user equipment (UE). The T&M options using various Rohde & Schwarz instruments are also presented.
26-Apr-2013 | AN-No. 1MA187
For NB-IoT applications to function correctly, sufficient network coverage is required. Coverage must be measured to ensure a robust NB-IoT connection. Rohde & Schwarz mobile network testing provides a unique combined test solution that accurately measures the DL coverage using network scanners. It measures the device/network interaction, UL behavior, protocol, signaling load and energy efficiency during communications using NB-IoT devices connected to R&S®ROMES.
20-Feb-2018
Part 1 of the Cable and Antenna verification series – essential for Mobile Networks
Key points: Critical Infrastructure: Learn why the antenna system, as part of mobile base stations, is irreplaceable and demands meticulous attention due to its impact on network quality and availability.Vulnerability to Environmental Factors: Understand the challenges posed by weather conditions and environmental stresses on antenna systems, highlighting the importance of robust design and maintenance.Fundamental Properties: Delve into the core concepts of antenna systems, gaining insights into their transmit and receive characteristics, which serve as the foundation for effective measurement and verification.Measurement Techniques: Explore various measurement methods for antenna systems, focusing on return loss and decoupling, and their significance in assessing system performance and integrity.
23-Feb-2024 | AN-No. 8NT11
Nearly all analog NTSC broadcasting has ended in the US, Canada and South Korea. The digital switchover to ATSC in Mexico is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. ATSC receivers must fulfill the recommendations described in “ATSC Recommended Practice: Receiver Performance Guidelines” (document A/74:2010) before they can be sold freely in the markets that have adopted the standard. In addition, Recommendation ITU-R BT.2036-1 (07/2016), titled “Characteristics of a reference receiving system for frequency planning of digital terrestrial television systems”, includes the planning factors for an ATSC reception system, with a reference to ATSC Recommended Practice A/74:2010, because operation is in a more dynamic environment.
29-Sep-2016 | AN-No. 1GP111
This document provides information on how to perform manual testing based on current R&S TA-TRS QuickStep V4.05 platform in order to adapt to the new released EN 303 345 for broadcast sound receivers. It serves as a bridged document before new standard software package released by R&S for upgrade.
14-Apr-2021
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
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
3GPP TS36.141 defines conformance tests for EUTRA base stations (eNodeB). Release 14 added several tests, especially for enhanced License Assisted Access (eLAA).This application note describes how all required receiver (Rx) tests (TS36.141 Chapter 7) can be performed quickly and easily by using vector signal generators from Rohde & Schwarz. A few tests additionally require spectrum analyzers 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 performance (Px) tests (TS36.141 Chapter 8) are described in Application Note 1MA162.
11-May-2016 | AN-No. 1MA195
Unique automatic level controlled (ALC) based test setup using the R&S®ZVA vector network analyzer and R&S®BBA150 broadband amplifiers provides highly accurate and reproducible results in minimum test time.
27-Sep-2013
Heinz Mellein, Manuel Mielkech 8NT01 MIMO Channel,Field Measurements,MIMO Evaluation,R&STSMx,R&SROMES Assessing a MIMO Channel Heinz Mellein, Manuel Mielkech 8NT01 MIMO Channel,Field Measurements,MIMO Evaluation,R&STSMx,R&SROMES Related products
31-Aug-2017 | AN-No. 8NT01
3GPP TS36.141 defines conformance tests for EUTRA base stations (eNodeB). Release 14 added several tests, especially for enhanced License Assisted Accsess (eLAA).This application note describes how all required transmitter (Tx) tests (TS36.141 Chapter 6) can be performed quickly and easily by using signal and spectrum analyzers from Rohde & Schwarz. A few tests additionally require signal generators from Rohde & Schwarz.Examples illustrate the manual operation. A free software program enables and demonstrates remote operation.The LTE base station receiver (Rx) tests (TS36.141 Chapter 7) are described in Application Note 1MA195.The LTE base station performance (Px) tests (TS36.141 Chapter 8) are described in Application Note 1MA162.
11-May-2016 | AN-No. 1MA154
More and more mobile radio networks implement remote radio equipment (RE) that is connected to the base station main unit via a digital interface using standardized transmission protocols such as CPRI. For testing RE devices Rohde & Schwarz offers a complete test solution based on the R&S®EX-IQ-BOX [Model K04]. This key component is a configurable digital interface module that is used to connect Rohde & Schwarz test equipment to a RE under test using CPRI data transmission. This application note explains in detail the instrument setup and configuration needed to successfully test your remote radio head.
05-Aug-2013 | AN-No. 1GP78
Modern societies worldwide depend on the performance, reliability and security of critical infrastructures and networks. There is a plethora of “new verticals” such as manufacturing, warehouse, mining, ports or other critical infrastructure, just to name a few. These “new vertical” use cases all have one common requirement: the mobile network needs to provide a superior performance compared to a commercial mobile network. In such environments 5G brings new capabilities to build fast and secure campus or private networks tuned to higher performance, which can increase productivity and efficiency. To be successful in these business-critical use cases, the wireless networks need to be as reliable as the wired ones. This educational note describes the different test methods to be able to verify the superior network performance and to help finding root causes of potential problems limiting the performance. We distinguish between passive tests and active tests.
11-Aug-2023 | AN-No. 8NT09
Receiver diversity improves reception quality by using multiple antennas with a preferably low correlation factor between each receive path. The result is a much more robust reception, since a deep fade will not affect all received signals at the same time.However, the complex geometry and positioning constraints for antennas of the receiving devices can introduce an unwanted correlation between channels. The popular diversity test setup consisting of several independent transmitters does not serve the needs of a realistic simulation, because radio channel correlation is not simulated.This application note explains a compact and versatile MIMO test solution for any common broadcast standard with real time fading including the simulation of channel correlation for a 1x4 MIMO system.The test setup allows very precisely specified individual multipath profiles.
11-Oct-2017 | AN-No. 1GP114
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
The application note address test and measurement possibilities for DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X signals in the Ku & Ka -band. The AN includes detailed description of measurement setups, DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X signal generation, up-conversion and signal quality (Error Vector Magnitude and Modulation Error Ratio) analysis in the Ku & Ka-band using Rohde & Schwarz instruments.This paper is intended towards satellite equipment manufacturers, network operators, government & authorities, CE receiver chip set manufacturers, car manufacturer and automotive infotainment system manufactures.
08-Mar-2016 | AN-No. 1MA273
For several years, vehicle manufacturers and government agencies have sought ways to increase road safety, manage traffic efficiently and, in the future, make driving more comfortable, convenient and safe. Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) is a new generation of information and communication technology that connects vehicles to everything and can support these objectives. V2X is designed to offer low-latency vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-roadside infrastructure (V2I) and vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communications to add a new dimension to future driver assistance systems.Cellular V2X (C-V2X) is defined as the communications standard by 3GPP in Release 14 and uses LTE technology as the physical interface for communications.The LTE C-V2X Scanner provides customers an opportunity to verify, test, and optimize ITS traffic systems that are being deployed or are already established. The scanner accomplishes this by passively listening to PC (5.9GHz) messages that are being broadcast from RSU (roadside units), vehicles or any other C-V2X enabled device. Traditional scanner measurements regarding RF signal power and quality such as RSRP, RS-CINR and RSSI, are provided for each physical channel (PSCCH and PSSCH) as well as decoded ITS message content for all three regions (North America, EU, China).
21-Oct-2022 | AN-No. 8NT07
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
Rohde & Schwarz mobile network testing solutions enable operators to efficiently increase network capacity via hardware-related, capacity-enhancing features such as antenna tilt optimization, carrier aggregation, 4x4 MIMO and 6-sector sites.
09-Aug-2016
LTE-Advanced comprises multiple features enhancing the basic LTE technology firstly specified in 3GPP Release 8. LTE including the LTEAdvanced improvements was approved by ITU to comply with IMT-Advanced requirements and thus being a true 4G mobile communication system. The different technology components of LTE-Advanced have different market priorities and require different testing strategies. This application note summarizes the Rohde &Schwarz test solutions for LTE-Advanced (Release 10) using Vector Signal Generators, Signal and Spectrum Analyzers and the Wideband Radio Communication Tester.
03-Sep-2014 | AN-No. 1MA166
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
With a Rohde & Schwarz oscilloscope
29-Dec-2018
The R&S®FSWP phase noise analyzer is a highend instrument designed to accurately analyze noise performance of key components in radar and communications systems. Using phase noise measurements, a device’s large-signal noise figure can be derived under real-world operating conditions.
27-Oct-2017
Rohde & Schwarz has made a breakthrough for better jitter and noise separation with the launch of SW options (RT-K133 & RT-K134). Technical information on this new algorithm were presented at . We received a lot of positive feedback on this new technique. However, one fundamental question still remained. How does this new algorithm compare to established solutions available on the market today?This app note provides an introduction into the various jitter components and elucidates the commonly available jitter separation frameworks. Finally, it provides a comparison between the different commercial solutions, while explaining the used waveforms and signals to achieve the results. Curios? Read on, to learn how Rohde & Schwarz’s new option for jitter and noise separation delivers dependable and stable results. If you are interested in evaluating on your own, you may download the waveform files with registration.
08-Dec-2021 | AN-No. 1SL375
The R&S®ZNB vector network analyzer simplifies instrument configuration and calibration using the mixer measurement wizard and SMARTerCal.
01-Oct-2013
Software tool for fast and repeatable optimization of signal analyzer RF front-end settings
The signal conditioning in the RF front-end of signal analyzers is crucial to achieve the best performance with respect to image-suppression, noise-floor, dynamic range and other RF-key parameters.Precise signal levelling is especially important for complex measurements like Error-Vector-Magnitude (EVM). To minimize the measurement uncertainty from test system contributions over a wide range of different levels, the RF front-end needs to be adapted continuously according to the signal characteristics, signal power and frequency - ideally using an automatic levelling algorithm.This document describes the approach of a waveform specific, on-site characterization of the signal analyzer: For each waveform and frequency of interest, the instrument is evaluated in a first step. With this additional data, a fast and repeatable auto-levelling can be performed during the actual measurement.
24-Jan-2022 | AN-No. 1EF111
Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) uses radar wavelengths for airborne or spaceborne ground mapping. The resolution of the SAR ground map depends on the range and cross-range SAR processing resolution. Cross-range resolution is determined by integrating pulses along a flight path for a period of time to create a synthetic aperture. Longer synthetic apertures result in finer cross-range resolution. Range resolution is achieved by radar waveform bandwidth in the form of a linear frequency modulated (LFM) chirp. Wider bandwidth enables finer range resolution.
16-Apr-2021
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