CETECOM has selected Rohde & Schwarz (R&S) to enhance their over-the-air (OTA) testing capabilities with a new test system that includes LTE multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) and 802.11n functionality. The TS8991 test system can perform OTA measurements for LTE MIMO in addition to all cellular 2G, 3G, and 4G technology standards. It is not only capably of performing the legacy IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards for a, b, and g, but is the first system in any 3rd party test labs worldwide capable of performing 802.11n WLAN OTA measurements. Unique to the system is its auto-calibration capability, which dramatically decreases system calibration time from hours to under 30 minutes, while achieving the same accuracy and repeatability in results.
With the global adoption of LTE and the importance placed on customer satisfaction and wireless performance, device manufacturers have to ensure that their antenna subsystems adhere to the latest in conformance and interoperability standards in order to minimize any negative impacts to the overall customer experience. With this new test system, CETECOM’s OTA testing capabilities are expanded to ensure compliance to the latest MIMO industry methodologies from CTIA, 3GPP as well as any operator-specific test plans.
The R&S TS8991 OTA test solution was installed at CETECOM’s facility in Milpitas, CA. From a hardware perspective, the configured TS8991 system consists of the R&S CMW500 radio communications analyzer, the R&S ZNB 8 four-port vector network analyzer, the R&S NRP2 power meter together with dual Z11 power sensors, and the R&S OSP RF switch platform. The wireless performance test chamber is a combination of The Howland Company’s conical-cut positioning system including the dual theta axis positioners for MIMO and the fully anechoic chamber is provided by AP Americas. The R&S AMS32 test and measurement control software is used to control the positioning equipment as well as the R&S test equipment.
