Rohde & Schwarz fields complete test team at electronica

One highlight is the R&S RTP high-performance oscilloscope family that combines outstanding signal integrity with high measurement speed and rich functionality. The oscilloscopes capture up to 1 million waveforms per second, compensate for transmission losses between the signal source and the oscilloscope in real time through deembedding, and are extremely quiet even under full load.

These characteristics make the R&S RTP oscilloscopes ideal for debugging electronic modules as well as LSI components with fast digital interfaces or wideband RF interfaces. They are available in three bandwidths: 4GHz, 6GHz and 8GHz. At electronica, Rohde & Schwarz will demonstrate measurements on components with USB 3.0 and PCI Express 2.0 interfaces.

A signalling test solution for Bluetooth LE (BLE) will be prominent. For many manufacturers of Bluetooth Low Energy components, testing modules and sensors according to the standard is challenging. These devices often lack any way to connect the control line that is necessary to test them in the prescribed direct test mode (DTM).

The BLE signalling test solution for theR&S CMW platform allows easy testing of the RF characteristics of a Bluetooth LE DUT in a Bluetooth link, either over the air or directly via the antenna without a test mode. The platform offers three RF test modes: the BLE signalling functionality, BLE direct test mode, and BLE advertiser mode.

Backing this up is the R&S CMW270wireless connectivity tester, which can do more than test RF functions for Bluetooth.

Thanks to its measurement bandwidth of 160MHz, it also supports WLAN RF signalling tests in line with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and IEEE 802.11ax, as well as non-signalling RF tests in line with IEEE 802.15.4 for ZigBee, Thread and 6LoWPAN.

The R&S FSW will also be jostling for attention as Rohde & Schwarz has improved the performance and ease of use of the high-end signal and spectrum analyser. It now features an updated exterior with a new user interface concept and an SCPI recorder for simple programming of remotely controlled test sequences.

All R&S FSW models with a maximum input frequency of 26.5GHz or more are available with 2GHz internal analysis bandwidth. And 800MHz bandwidth is available for real-time analysis.

With its high sensitivity at input frequencies up to 90GHz (R&S FSW-B90G option), the R&S FSW85 is ideal for analysing radar signals and for automobile and A&D applications.

The R&S Spectrum Rider FPH family has also been enhanced. New base units with frequencies up to 6GHz, 13.6GHz or 26.5GHz as well as frequency extensions are available, enabling spectrum analysis up to 31GHz in the lab and in the field.

The handheld spectrum analyser has a capacitive touchscreen and a keycode concept for frequency extensions. It targets tasks such as verification of 5G, broadcast, radar and satellite transmissions.

Rohde & Schwarz will also present the R&S SMB100B analogue signal generator and the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator. Both of these new midrange devices offer great versatility and high performance in an extremely small package.

They feature high spectral purity and highest output power in their class, as well as easy and intuitive touchscreen operation.

Both generators allow developers in the semiconductor field, telecommunications or A&D to generate signals at frequencies up to 6GHz.

The high-end SMA100B can provide the extremely clean signals needed for testing ADCs or DACs. Its phase noise is significantly lower than that of the previously mentioned generators, making it unique on the market. It features a previously unattainable output power together with very low harmonic content and virtually no wideband noise.

The SMW200A equipped with the Pulse Sequencer Software will demonstrate generating wideband radar signals in the millimetre wave band. The 2GHz internal RF modulation bandwidth of the R&S SMW200A allows generation of dedicated pulses with minimal pulse width and rise time or wideband frequency modulated signals.

5G and advanced radar technology require larger frequency ranges and shorter switching times than before. Meeting this requirement is the R&S OSP switch and control platform. The hardware and software of the new instruments are completely new. However, first generation modules can still be used.

Different module types can be combined in one R&S OSP unit – from simple RF switching modules to more complex application-specific modules. This allows users to economically equip their R&S OSP platform and tailor it to their application on site.

The new product family is available in three models plus a satellite box version, making it possible to implement of a wide variety of test scenarios – from benchtop models for lab measurements to complex rack-based test systems.

The R&S NRQ6 power meter is designed for frequencies from 50MHz to 6GHz and can determine the band-limited continuous average power of a transmission channel up to a signal bandwidth of 100MHz. It can perform extremely precise and fast measurements down to –130dBm.

This feature combined with its linearity make it possible to perform tasks such as transmitter calibration with a simple, compact test setup. It is ideal for isolated observation of selected transmission channels, trace measurements on pulsed signals with very steep edges, ACLR measurements in the mobile communications domain and much more.

Test solutions for the new 5G standard, e.g. to generate and analyse 5G NR signals in line with the latest 3GPP specifications (version 15.2.0) are also in the electronica line up. The R&S FSW signal and spectrum analyser can now analyse 5G NR uplink signals when developing 5G consumer electronic devices or 5G components such as power amplifiers, as well as downlink signals for tests on 5G base stations. The R&S SMW200A RF vector signal generator provides the necessary signals for uplink and downlink receiver tests.

Both instruments can also be used to characterize efficient, high-performance Doherty amplifiers. The R&S SMW200A generates highly synchronised signals in its two paths, while the R&S FSW provides the right analysis functions to further improve the properties of Doherty amplifiers and other amplifiers.

For production tests on sub-6GHz consumer electronic devices in line with 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR), Rohde & Schwarz is presenting the R&S CMW100 communications manufacturing test set. This test solution supports all relevant cellular and non-cellular wireless technologies, including LTE, WLAN, Bluetooth and NB-IoT. That makes it a cost-effective test solution for mass production. The devices are calibrated and verified in non-signalling mode (analyser/generator).

EMC test systems are represented by the Elektra EMC test software at electronica. The software enables fully automatic EMC tests on products, which accelerates test times and cuts costs. The solution is perfect for measurements during the development phase and for certification of devices for the commercial, automotive and A&D sectors. It complements the R&S ELEKTRA EMI test software for developers, which also offer interactive test sequences.

Test solutions for automotive radar sensors that cover all phases from development to production. The R&S AREG100A automotive radar echo generator allows OEMs and tier 1 suppliers to achieve reliable end-of-line production testing, and makes it easy and straightforward to perform the mandatory tests for automotive radar sensors defined in the Radio Equipment Directive (RED). The radar echo generator, together with the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generator or the R&S SMB100B analogue signal generator, delivers a solution for testing the robustness of radar sensors to interfering signals.

To demonstrate debugging of communications components in vehicles, Rohde & Schwarz has selected the R&S RTO oscilloscope with a developer-friendly trigger & decode option for automotive Ethernet. The sturdy R&S Scope Rider RTH handheld oscilloscope with its analysis functions for the CAN bus will also be on display.