Mobile World Congress, Barcelona 2008 — Launched in 2007, the R&S CMW270 WiMAX communication tester from Rohde & Schwarz now offers the capability to emulate a base station (signaling mode). This capability means utmost flexibility and test depth. Plus, the measurement speed of the instrument is up to ten times higher than that of existing test solutions. This results in maximum throughput in the production of WiMAX chipsets and mobile stations.
The measurement accuracy of the WiMAX communication tester has been optimized with regard to stability and linearity of the measurements to provide utmost repeatability. The R&S CMW270 combines signal generation and signal analysis in a single box. Three interconnectable RF connectors in the RF frontend reduce the complexity of the test setup, which allows users in production and service to save costs, time and space.
Through intensive collaboration with renowned chipset manufacturers, optimized calibration and test solutions for leading WiMAX chipsets were developed. The optional signaling mode significantly improves the test depth compared with current solutions. The integrated base station emulation of the R&S CMW270 allows WiMAX users for the first time to apply test methods that have proven effective in the established mobile radio technologies.
Users in production can thus check how the DUT behaves in the real network. The main transmission parameters can be changed during test operation to match real operating conditions. Complex malfunctions such as crosstalk between the receive and transmit path are easily detected – which is especially important for final testing in production. An additional golden device, e.g. a WiMAX base station, is therefore no longer required.
Furthermore, the signaling mode ensures that chipsets from different manufacturers can be used without a special test interface. Additional benefits are the low purchase price, the flexible upgradeability and the selftest functionality, which lower the operating costs. Automated test routines using the R&S NRP power sensors facilitate on-site error diagnostics.
The WiMAX communication tester from Rohde & Schwarz supports WiMAX IEEE 802.16e and is designed to accommodate future expansions of the standard. It covers the frequency range from 100 MHz to 6 GHz. The R&S CMW270 thus supports all RF profiles defined by the WiMAX Forum®.
