Cellular "OTA" Over The Air Testing
Test Capability Overview...
RTCE routinely performs the pre-compliance testing of GSM and CDMA cellular modem devices for customers to PTCRB and FCC requirements: Some standard tests are ...
- RSE: Radiated Spurious Emissions, harmonics can be measured quickly with automation software and a high speed Rohde & Schwarz spectrum analyzer
- RSE: Radiated Spurious Emissions broadband from 10kHz to 18 GHz
- TRP: Total Radiated Power for standards like the PTCRB requirements for cellular transceivers
- TIS: Total Isotropic Sensitivity for standards like the PTCRB requirements for cellular transceivers
- Antenna Efficiency from TRP and input power measurements
- Troubleshooting with specialized probes and tools, such as a 5 foot screen inside the anechoic chamber which can show analyzer levels in real time, and help locate harmonic re-radiation sources in real-time
Please note: GSM and CDMA cellular modems normally require a "call box" or test set to host a on-the-air call. RTCE does not supply such a test set. Customers frequently use equipment such as Rohde & Schwarz CMU200, or Agilent's N9360A for this purpose.
Pre-compliance testing is done rapidly and cost-effectively for development and debug work, but is less accurate than formal testing at PTCRB labs. Correlation is typically 3dB on most measurements, however PTCRB approved lab testing is slow and often costs tens of thousands of dollars! Large handset companies and GSM/CDMA modem companies have their own in-house pre-compliance labs, and so can you !
Sample TRP Plot of 836.8 MHZ GSM Modem With Integrated Antenna
