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.
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
The R&S®RTO / R&S®RTE oscilloscope is a valuable tool for analyzing EMI problems in electronic designs. High input sensitivity, high dynamic range and a powerful FFT implementation are key features for capturing and analyzing unwanted emissions.
26-Feb-2015
This application note describes Methods of Implementations (MOI) for precise, fast and error-free compliance testing of high-speed backplanes and direct attach copper cables (DAC) according to IEEE 802.3bj, IEEE 802.3by, IEEE 802.3cd and IEEE 802.3ck, based on 25 Gb/s, 50 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s signaling per lane with vector network analyzers from Rohde & Schwarz.
07-Apr-2021 | AN-No. GFM356
Rohde & Schwarz signal generators present a compact easy-to-use solution for generating phase coherent signals. Different generator models can be coupled to optimally fit user requirements in terms of number of phase coherent channels and RF frequency range.This application note explains how to generate phase coherent signals, details what to consider and how to best calibrate the relative phases and timing between the individual channels. This document also presents various measurements of the phase stability over time for different RF frequencies.
07-Sep-2016 | AN-No. 1GP108
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
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
High-precision two-quadrant power supplies generate current profiles and simulate batteries
10-Dec-2020
For measurements of non-connectorized devices, test fixtures, probes or other structures are used to adapt from the coaxial interface of the test setup to the device under test (DUT). For accurate measurements of the DUT, these lead-ins and lead-outs need to be characterized, so that their effects can be mathematically removed, i.e. de-embedded from the measurement results.This application note provides practical hints to accurately characterize and de-embed these lead-in and lead-out structures with R&S Vector Network Analyzers ZNA, ZNB, ZNBT and ZND. As de-embedding is also essential in other test equipment like oscilloscopes, etc., this guide also describes, how lead-ins and lead-outs can be accurately characterized with a VNA and then exported as an S-Parameter file to be used by other test instruments.
19-Sep-2022 | AN-No. 1SL367
Generation of wideband digital modulated signals in V-band and above is a challenging task and typically requires a set of multiple instruments. This application note aims at simplifying the task and looks into the analysis part as well. Latest signal and spectrum analyzers like the R&S®FSW67 and R&S®FSW85 are first to allow use in V-band up to 67 GHz and E-band up to 85 GHz respectively without external frequency conversion. Up to 8.3 GHz of modulation bandwidth can be covered using the R&S®FSW-B8001 option. Millimeter wave use of analyzers ranging from 26 GHz up is shown. Application note 1MA217 describes V-band signal generation and analysis up to 500 MHz modulation bandwidth. This application note expands modulation bandwidth up to 2 GHz and covers both V- and E-band examples.
18-Jun-2015 | AN-No. 1MA257
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
The R&S®ZNB vector network analyzer simplifies instrument configuration and calibration using the mixer measurement wizard and SMARTerCal.
01-Oct-2013
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
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
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
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
R&S®RTP, R&S®RTO, R&S®RTE, oscilloscopes, acquired waveform data, python How to work with acquired waveform data in Python using the R&S®RTP, R&S®RTO or R&S®RTE. Working with acquired waveform data in Python R&S®RTP, R&S®RTO, R&S®RTE, oscilloscopes, acquired waveform data, python How to work with acquired waveform data in Python using the R&S®RTP, R&S®RTO or R&S®RTE. Working with acquired waveform
12-Jan-2022
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
Compliance testing is essential to ensuring that dynamic random access memory (DRAM) signals meet the JEDEC specifications for parameters such as timing, slew rates and voltage levels. For system verification and debugging, eye diagram measurements are the most important tools for efficiently analyzing the signal integrity in any digital design. The specific nature of DDR requires a dedicated solution with a powerful read/write separation to get meaningful eye diagrams on the DDR data bus.
19-Feb-2019
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
MIPI D-PHY is a low-power, cost-effective physical layer interface, essential in mobile devices and advanced technology systems. It's a high-speed, source-synchronous interface used in smartphone cameras, smartwatch displays, drones, in-car entertainment, automobile cameras, and radar sensors. This application note explores MIPI D-PHY's features, functionality, and testing practices for device compliance, addressing common issues. It highlights Rohde & Schwarz's equipment for ensuring compatibility and solving issues with MIPI D-PHY, aligned with MIPI D-PHY specification version 2.5.Developed by the MIPI Alliance, D-PHY connects cameras and displays to a host processor via CSI-2 or DSI protocols. It features a master-slave, asymmetrical design for reduced link complexity. Key aspects include a unidirectional clock, optional data signal directions, different data rates for half-duplex operation, point-to-point communication, and high-speed (HS) and low-power (LP) modes for data transfer and battery preservation. In HS mode, D-PHY uses differential signaling with specific impedance, while in LP mode, it operates in a single-ended manner with high impedance termination.The application note from Rohde & Schwarz provides insights into characterizing and debugging MIPI D-PHY, offering conformance verification with MIPI Alliance standards and protocol decoding options.
31-Jan-2024 | AN-No. 1SL410
Many applications in aerospace and defense as well as in mobile communication require a defined magnitude and phase relation between several signals, for example, to design a smart antenna array and it's distribution network, or to ensure accurate phase alignment between different transmitter or receiver chains of T/R modules. Magnitude can be measured with spectrum analyzers or power meters. For phase measurements, a vector network analyzer is the easiest, fastest and most accurate instrument.This application note shows how to measure the phase accurately between several signals using vector network analyzers of the R&S®ZNA, R&S®ZNB and R&S®ZNBT families.
11-Jul-2019 | AN-No. 1EZ82
Enhanced Mobile Broadband, Massive Machine Type Communication, Ultra-reliable and low latency communication have been identified as the requirements to be supported by the 5thGeneration of Mobile Communication, short 5G. 5G is extensively discussed in the wireless industry. A lot of research and pre-development is being conducted worldwide, including an analysis of the waveforms and access principles that are the basis for current LTE and LTE-Advanced networks.In this application note we discuss potential 5G waveform candidates, list their advantages and disadvantages and compare them to Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), which is used in LTE/LTE-Advanced.
10-Jun-2016 | AN-No. 1MA271
A step by step HOW TO guide to perform manual and automated wireless coexistence testing
At the end of the year 2020, there were over 20 Billion internet of things (IoT) products in the world operating using the licensed and unlicensed frequency bands. This growth trend is projected to keep steady over the coming years as more and more people adopt to a smarter and more connected lifestyle. This will result in a much busier and challenging RF environment than the one we have today. In order to understand the complexity of the RF spectrum, a white paper was published in 2021 from Rohde & Schwarz, which featured RF spectrum activity at multiple locations observed at different times of the day. The locations were selected based on population densities and the amount of known RF transmitters & their frequencies at those locations. It was also concluded that the ISM bands on average have higher channel utilization since most IoT devices take advantage of the unlicensed spectrum. The paper recommended, that while performing wireless coexistence testing, the test conditions should reflect the operational RF environment that the device is intended to operate in. Otherwise, the characterization of RF performance would only reflect ideal case which doesn’t exist in real world operation. Since it is not always possible to test all devices in the real world, relevant test methodologies need to be setup to replicate the real world as much as possible.This will help us get a better understanding of how the receiver of the RF device will behave under different RF conditions. It is also recommended to perform measurements in order to understand the behavior of the device in the future when the spectrum will get even more challenging. Therefore, a through characterization of the capability of the RF receiver to handle in-band and out-of-band interference signals in also of interest.In terms of regulatory compliance requirements for ensuring wireless coexistence performance, the ANSI C63.27 is currently the only published test standard that provides guidance on how to perform coexistence testing on devices. The test complexity is based up on risk imposed on the user’s health in the event of a failure caused by an or a plurality of interference signal. The standard also gives device manufacturers guidance regarding test setups, measurement environments, interference signal types and strategy, performance quality measurement parameters for physical layer using key performance indicator (KPI) and application layer parameters for end-to-end functional wireless performance (FWP).In this application note, the guidance provided by the ANSI C63.27-2021 version regarding test setup, measurement parameter and interference signal have been followed. It will give the reader a clear idea on how to configure standardized test instruments from R&S in order to generate the wanted signal as well as unintended interference signals and conduct measurement to monitor device performance in terms of PER, ping latency and data throughput.This application note provides step-by-step instruction on how to perform measurements using conducted and radiated methodology. Both manual and automated instrument configuration approach is explained in this document.The automation scripts are written using python scripting language and are available for download with this application note, free of charge. Official required to run the scripts are available on the PYPI database.
10-Nov-2022 | AN-No. 1SL392
Vector Network Analyzers (VNA) are gaining popularity in the Signal Integrity community as time domain measurement and analysis tools. VNAs with 8 ports or more can provide significant decreases in test time by migrating from a 4-port measurement system to an 8-port measurement system. For tight tolerance DUTs that are barely within the test limit lines, small increases in accuracy can be realized by testing all of the test parameters at once, because the entire test setup is at the same temperature. This application note discusses the thermal advantages of testing an 8-port DUT with the R&S ZNBT VNA. The use of the ZNBT to assess and debug two differential pairs in a 20-inch backplane is presented.
18-Mar-2020 | AN-No. 1EZ83_0E
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
Since June 2017 almost all radio transmitters and receivers sold or put into operation in the European Union have to be tested for immunity against interferers in adjacent frequency bands. ETSI standard EN 303 345 defines the tests to be performed on broadcast sound receivers, and the requirements to be passed.This application note describes the test procedures and provides script files and interferer signals for the Broadcast Test Center R&S®BTC.
29-May-2020 | AN-No. 1GP117
The R&S®RTO6 oscilloscope has an in-depth tool for debugging custom and commercial off-the-shelf serial buses for the avionics and aerospace industries.
20-Dec-2023
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.
19-Jul-2021
In addition to the generic edge trigger, modern oscilloscopes offer triggers that are specialized to address specific problems.
04-Jan-2016
Analyzing high speed datacom interfaces is an important task and ensures signal integrity. One major challenge of this analysis is the connection between the physical interface and the oscilloscope, as most of the datacom interfaces do not provide test connections suitable for RF. A test fixture is required as a bridge between the high speed datacom IF and the RF connector of the oscilloscope, but this will affect the signal integrity measurement. The R&S®RTP and R&S®RTO2000 oscilloscopes with the advanced jitter option can analyze and separate jitter contributions. Additionally, the option can evaluate the impact of test fixtures and traces inherently and give the user a good understanding of the impact of their test setup.
31-Mar-2021