MmWave test capability added to vector signal generator

The instrument meets expectations for generating digital signals for the most advanced wireless communication devices entering production, as well as for developing future products and technologies.

Manufacturers of state-of-the-art 5G devices wishing to test the whole frequency range possible, expect to do so with a single signal generator for both 5G NR FR1 and FR2 frequencies.

This vector signal generator can now meet this need across the entire frequency range from 100 MHz to 44 GHz.

It covers all the bands used by any wireless standards, including LTE and 5G NR, as well as the latest WLAN standards Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E (up to 7.125 GHz). Wireless personal area networks such as Bluetooth are covered, too.

The instrument’s maximum RF modulation bandwidth of 1 GHz meets requirements to generate the broadband signals used by devices making full use of the most demanding wireless standard specifications, including IEEE 802.15.4z Ultra-Wideband (HRP-UWB).

Maximum output power is +18 dBm, which reduces the need for external amplifiers. Excellent modulation frequency response, error vector magnitude (EVM) and adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) performance result in signal quality for reliable, repeatable test accuracy.

The same wide-ranging potential to meet RF performance requirements from development through to production extends to the extreme flexibility of the option concept.

The instrument comes with six maximum frequency options from 6 GHz to 44 GHz, and four modulation bandwidth options from 120 MHz to 1 GHz to meet all major device band requirements.

Users can upgrade their instrument’s capabilities according to their need anytime by simply entering a key code.

Both, real time signal generation with an internal baseband generator for one-box signal generation with on-the-spot configuration of signal parameters, and an arbitrary waveform generator (ARB) for waveforms defined with the R&S WinIQSIM2 simulation software are available.

ARB memory depth is up to 2 Gsample and the generator offers a high maximum sampling rate of 1.2 Gsample/s. For production use, the Multi-Segment Mode speeds up test sequences even more, with fast switching between individual baseband signals.

With the built-in SCPI macro recorder, users can create error-free remote-control programs quickly and easily. Moreover, MATLAB or Python scripts can be executed, which can not only be re-used on an R&S SMM100A, but on most Rohde & Schwarz vector signal generators currently available.

The new R&S SMM100A vector signal generator is now available from Rohde & Schwarz