The new handheld cable and antenna analyzer from Rohde & Schwarz reduces antenna station installation time

The rapid expansion of mobile radio networks to provide users with continuous coverage and the demand for higher transmission rates have required network operators around the world to set up more and more mobile radio antennas and base stations – under high time and cost pressure. The new R&S ZVH handheld analyzer from Rohde & Schwarz was designed especially to meet such demands. Two frequency ranges, from 300 kHz to 3.6 GHz or 8 GHz, are provided to help network operators, infrastructure manufacturers and their service providers install and maintain mobile radio antennas with a minimum of effort and time.

Rohde & Schwarz is the only manufacturer to offer a cable and antenna analyzer with wizards that guide users through procedures in individual, well described steps. Even users who have no experience with T&M equipment can, for example, check cable faults using the distance-to-fault (DTF) measurement or measure antenna matching and isolation. Measurement errors due to incorrect instrument settings are a thing of the past. Network operators can adapt the wizards in the lab to their individual test report formats and make them available to their service providers for use at the antenna site. Predefined test reports in various file formats make it easy to demonstrate that assignments were properly executed. The R&S ZVH significantly speeds up acceptance testing, reduces training requirements and minimizes the total cost of ownership.

The RF characteristics of the R&S ZVH make it one of the best analyzers in its class. It is the only cable and antenna analyzer on the market with a dynamic range of 100 dB, easily fulfilling the manufacturer’s guidelines of > 90 dB required for repeater measurements. The cost-effective handheld analyzer replaces conventional test setups consisting of a signal generator and a spectrum analyzer. The built-in DC bias supplies power to active DUTs, such as amplifiers, at both test ports via the RF cable. This function is especially useful for tower-mounted amplifiers (TMA).

The handy, 3 kg light R&S ZVH (194 mm × 300 mm × 69 mm) will be a big hit in the field because it is so easy to use: Key functions such as the wizard are just a keystroke away. Thanks to the upright format all operating elements are at the operator’s fingertips, even when wearing work gloves, and without having to set down the instrument. Since the R&S ZVH analyzers conform to protection class IP51 and feature splash-proof, dust-protected connectors, they are reliable tools even under adverse ambient conditions. When fully charged, the analyzer can be operated for more than four hours on the battery alone. If the field job takes longer, on-site replacement of the battery poses no problem at all.

In the long term, the R&S ZVH cable and antenna analyzer is an investment for the future: It comes with options for spectrum and network analysis and spectrogram display which cover applications such as spectrum analysis, field strength measurements, signal monitoring and interference hunting. Using external power sensors, the R&S ZVH can also operate as a power meter. When used with a directional power sensor, the analyzer can simultaneously measure antenna matching and transmitter output power up to 300 W.

The new R&S ZVH4 and R&S ZVH8 cable and antenna analyzers are now available from Rohde & Schwarz.