Fading simulation enhances LTE-A signalling tester

The tester fading options can be combined, cutting the need for investment in additional hardware to perform signalling tests under realistic radio frequency (RF) conditions. This is the first LTE-Advanced signalling solution with built-in fading supporting the 4x4 MIMO downlink configuration.

Tall structures, such as buildings and trees, reflect and scatter transmitted radio waves, meaning the receiver actually receives multiple original signals arriving from ‘multipaths’ with different strengths, times, and directions.

A key feature of LTE-Advanced is the Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna system that improves device performance by exploiting multipaths. To test such MIMO devices thoroughly, multipath fading effects must be applied accurately to every antenna in a reproducible manner.

Using internal digital baseband processing, the MD8430A applies multipath effects during test execution, and the Rapid Test Designer (RTD) software provides testers with an integrated environment for creating and running fading simulation tests.

Support for LTE-Advanced features, such as Carrier Aggregation and MIMO, enables chipset designers to build the next generation of high-performance mobile devices.

In addition to testing devices over an RF connection, the MD8430A with fading option also supports a slow-clock digital interface to verify designs in a simulation environment before starting expensive ASIC production.