Integrated Platform Takes on 5G A-GNSS Antenna Performance Test
This article is part of the TechXchange: 5G Test and Measurement.
To create an antenna performance measurement system with comprehensive assisted Global Navigation Satellite System (A-GNSS) capabilities for 5G NR, ETS-Lindgren and Rohde & Schwarz combined the R&S CMX500 OBT wideband radio communication tester and R&S SMBV100B GNSS simulator along with EMQuest software from ETS-Lindgren.
Designed to support current and evolving 5G NR location-based service standards, both instruments can be seamlessly integrated into new and existing CTIA-compliant over-the-air (OTA) antenna measurement solutions. Pairing Rohde & Schwarz test equipment with CTIA-compliant EMQuest antenna measurement software and chamber systems from ETS-Lindgren creates a comprehensive 5G NR A-GNSS test solution.
Emulator and Simulator
The R&S CMX500 one-box tester (OBT) from Rohde & Schwarz is an advanced 5G, LTE, and Wi-Fi network emulator for location-based services systems. It seamlessly works with the R&S SMBV100B GNSS simulator to form a powerful solution for A-GNSS testing of LTE and 5G NR that meets OTA antenna performance test requirements.
While the R&S SMBV100B simulates all possible GNSS satellite constellations at any time and geolocation, the R&S CMX500 supports LTE and 5G NR cellular network simulations as well as A-GNSS assistance data messaging over control planes (LPP over RRC) and secure user planes (SUPL). The solution enables users to conduct crucial GNSS OTA tests essential for certification and assessing positioning performance in smartphone, automotive, and high-precision applications.
The R&S CMX500 wideband radio communication tester is a universal test platform for commercial wireless device signaling and RF parametric testing. It can be used in all phases for product development, service/repair, regulatory testing, conformance, and network operator carrier acceptance.
Bryan Helmick, Product Manager for Wireless Device Test at Rohde & Schwarz, said, “To meet demand for greater location accuracy in a 5G NR network, operators around the world are driving the deployment of new location-finding technologies. New GNSS capabilities are a critical part of this deployment and GNSS receiver performance has never been more important. ETS-Lindgren is the perfect partner for Rohde & Schwarz and mobile device manufacturers. Their EMQuest Antenna Measurement software makes it easy to determine the GNSS performance of a 5G NR device.”
James Young, Sr. Director of Business Development with ETS-Lindgren, remarked, “ETS-Lindgren is pleased to expand technology coverage for GNSS with the R&S CMX500 OBT and the R&S SMBV100B signal generator. Our close collaboration with R&S engineering teams worldwide ensures that new wireless generations and technologies can be applied to the large network of ETS-Lindgren OTA test systems deployed around the world. In addition to GNSS, all 5G modes in FR1 and FR2, LTE, and hundreds of carrier aggregation combinations are available on OTA systems with the R&S CMX500 OBT.
He added, "Lab managers praise the instrument driver flexibility that EMQuest offers and which lets them add technologies and switch to the latest instrumentation, like when R&S CMW500 and R&S CMX500 capabilities were moved to the R&S CMX500 OBT. Rohde & Schwarz has a great track record, and early feedback commends the way the hardware, software, and system come together for 5G A-GNSS.”
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