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 signal purity of clock sources has a direct impact on system performance. To ensure proper operation, it is necessary to verify that the purity meets the design requirements.
30-Sep-2021
In high-speed digital measurement applications, test fixtures are commonly used to connect devices under test to measurement equipment. Characterization, and analysis in the time and frequency domains that accounts for various constraints helps to remove the influence of these fixtures.
23-May-2023 | AN-No. 1SL393
Fault identification in single elements of antenna arrays by scanning in near-field range and applying the near-field to far-field transformation method.
24-Mar-2020
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
Antennas have become an integral part of consumer electronics, even in small portable devices that rely on an energy source with limited capacity. Consequently, antennas need to be physically small and power efficient.
05-Mar-2020
High-speed serial interfaces often transmit data with differential signaling. For probing on the signal, trace differential probes are used. Besides the differential inputs, these probes often provide an additional connection for ground – especially the higher bandwidth models. The ground connection on the R&S®RT‑ZMxx modular multimode probes can be used to improve measurements on high-speed differential interfaces.
09-Nov-2017
Noise figure is an important parameter that describes the noise contribution of an electronic device. A classical approach to measure the noise figure is to use a noise source which delivers two different input noise powers by switching between a “hot” and a “cold” state and a noise receiver (e.g. a spectrum analyzer).In contrast to this approach, using a vector network analyzer with the “Cold Source” approach eliminates the need for a noise source. A cold source noise power measurement followed by an available gain measurement of the device under test is sufficient to determine the noise figure of the device. This application note describes the “Cold Source” technique for measuring noise figure on the R&S®ZNA family of vector network analyzers.Background equations are provided for an analysis of noise factor, noise figure and noise temperature on a device under test and a cascade of devices.Based on a measurement example the user will be guided through the process of setting up a noise figure channel and performing a noise figure measurement. In addition, various measurement options are reviewed, providing guidance as to when and how each option should be utilized to improve the noise figure results.
23-Dec-2021 | AN-No. 1SL378
This document describes how the advanced calibration techniques of the ZVA Vector Network Analyzers can solve the challenges of measuring the S-Parameters on impedance matching devices. The document describes the concept and setup required to perform the calibration of the ZVA and making the measurement. The procedure described in this application note applies to the ZVB and ZVT Vector Network Analyzers as well.
06-May-2009 | AN-No. 1EZ59
Performing essential RF tests gets your Sigfox device ready for certification and deployment
15-Nov-2018
Balanced RF components are advantageous compared to traditional single-ended components, since they cause less EMI, and are less susceptible to EMI. This application note describes the fundamental concepts of differential and common mode signals and of mixed-mode parameters, which are essential for balanced components. Techniques for the measurement of mixed-mode parameters are presented. Examples show the features implemented in the ZVB for balanced device measurement.
20-Sep-2004 | AN-No. 1EZ53
The required bandwidth span for power amplifiers is growing, driven by the latest 5G and satellite enhancements.Ideally, amplifiers support multiple bands. This makes wideband testing more essential than ever before.
19-May-2020
This application note describes how to measure the antenna pattern of a mm-Wave device in the R&S®ATS1000 shielded chamber. This includes the required calibration of the measurement setup and a possible near field to far field transformation when measuring larger devices.
28-May-2018 | AN-No. 1MA304
10BASE-T1S Ethernet enables the integration of diverse sensors into an automotive-Ethernet vehicle supply system, for example short-range radar sensors for detecting blind spots or ultrasonic sensors for the parking assistant. For reliable operation of the functions, data transmission over 10BASE‑T1S Ethernet must be assured at all times and in every climatic environment. Functionality must be tested during development and in production. Only 10BASE-T1S Ethernet interfaces that have passed compliance testing in line with IEEE 802.3cg can be deployed in vehicles. Consequently, vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers need measuring equipment that allows them to perform these tests quickly and reliably.
15-May-2020
Using VISA (Virtual Instrument Software Architecture) several interfaces allow communication between your computer and instruments. This application note describes the usage of both - R&S® VISA- NI VISA running on Microsoft Windows 10™ with the following connection types: ► USB VCP (Virtual Com Port), also called USB CDC (Communications Device Class) ► USB TMC (Test and Measurement Class)► Ethernet Raw Port Socket► Ethernet in general e.g. VXI11 or HislipAll the examples are shown using the R&S® HMC8042 unless otherwise stated. There may be some difference when integrating other devices. As example some interface types are not available on every unit.This application note does not claim to be complete. All information has been compiled with care. However, errors can’t be ruled out.
28-Oct-2021 | AN-No. 1SL374
Power Added Efficiency (PAE) is a key parameter for the characterization of an amplifier.This application notes introduces two alternative methods how to do the Power Added Efficiency measurement. The first one is based on the R&S ZNB vector network analyzer (VNA) measurement function. Alternatively to this, the PAE tracer macro is introduced. This macro offers to make the PAE at an user selected compression point of the amplifier versus frequency. The PAE tracer macro is provided together with this application note.
22-May-2013 | AN-No. 1EZ64
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
Simulation can be a big time-saver when designing EMI filters for DC/DC converters. Power supply control chip vendors offer various filter design tools that provide reasonable design choices for filter simulation before any hardware prototype is available. However, simulated results can differ significantly for different tools if simulated models are not accurate or do not cover all the relevant components. Performing a hardware measurement to evaluate the effectiveness of a simulated EMI filter is therefore indispensable.
21-Sep-2021
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
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
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
In order to clearly visualize and make repeatable measurements on signals with amplitudes of less than 1/100 of a division, and stabilize signals captured over very long periods, the R&S®RTO oscilloscope’s powerful combination of measurement and math channel capabilities allows corrective offset adjustments on individual acquisitions more than one hundred times per second.
10-Sep-2015
This application note describes the basic frequency filter measurements that are often required during service repairs, during development of simple circuits and for training purposes. These measurements do not always require high-end T&M equipment. Instruments in this class typically offer a very wide range of measurement functions coupled with the best-possible RF performance. However, these features are not necessary for simple applications. This application note therefore describes measurements using instruments from the cost-effective Rohde & Schwarz Value Instruments series. The instruments in this series offer the measurement accuracy demanded by quality-conscious users plus easy operation and all of the functionality needed for everyday measurement tasks.
27-Mar-2015 | AN-No. 1MA243
Using R&S®RTP high-performance oscilloscopes and R&S®VSE-K6A phased array measurement option
12-Jul-2021
LTE is becoming the predominant wireless technology. Among several new features of this standard, the multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technology offers various advantages. It improves the throughput, extends the reach, reduces interference and improves the signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) with beamforming. LTE supports various modes in order to optimize the transmission settings. An LTE MIMO base station consists of a baseband unit, a remote radio head (RRH) and an array of up to eight antennas. The RRH upconverts the digital signals of the baseband unit into analog signals for each antenna.
16-Aug-2016
Create and simulate detailed traffic situations for the verification of cellular V2X (C-V2X) connectivity.
18-Nov-2019
Many serial interfaces use Manchester or non-return-to-zero (NRZ) coding. Oscilloscopes typically offer dedicated software options for debugging and testing the communications interfaces for common standards such as I2C, UART or CAN. The R&S®RTx-K50 option expands the addressable range of interface standards by adding decoding capability for standardized and proprietary Manchester or NRZ coded buses. It allows customizable configuration of the protocol structure that has to be decoded.
19-Oct-2020
Signal faults and anomalies can cause electrical and electronic systems to fail. Especially in the field, these errors can lead to system downtimes and produce high costs. Consequently, finding them quickly and efficiently as well as identifying their source are crucial.
30-Dec-2015
RF system noise contributions define receiver capabilities and sensitivity. The noise figure measures how the critical components affect the signal.
28-Jan-2022
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