Signal generators test MIMO in one

New options add MIMO test capabilities to the SMU200A and AMU200A signal generators

Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) is an effective technique for boosting datarates in modern mobile radio and other wireless systems. Now, Rohde and Schwarz has added MIMO test capability to its R and S SMU200A and AMU200A signal generators. Each generator offers two signal sources and an internal fading simulator.
With the R and S SMU-K74 or AMU-K74 option added, each generator combines, in a single unit, all functionality required for measurements on MIMO receivers.

Rohde and Schwarz will present the beta version of this novel solution for the first time at WiMAX World Europe.

The steadily growing demands placed on the capacity and performance of wireless networks are driving the development of new mobile radio and other wireless standards.
Users expect rapid upload and download of information at high transmission quality.

Standards such as 3GPP Release 7, 3GPP LTE/EUTRA, WLAN 802.11n, or WiMAX therefore use the MIMO multiple antenna technique, which employs several antennas at the receiver and the transmitter end.

Crosstalk between antennas considerably impairs transmission quality.

This special form of multipath propagation must therefore be appropriately taken into account in channel simulation.

A typical MIMO system is a 2x2 system, for example, which contains two receiving and two transmitting antennas.

A 2x2 MIMO test setup normally requires two signal generators and a fading simulator.

The new options for the Rohde and Schwarz R and S SMU200A high-end signal generator and R and S AMU200A baseband generator enable measurements on 2x2 MIMO receivers using a single unit.

The R and S SMU200A and AMU200A can optionally be equipped with a second RF path or baseband path and an internal fading simulator.

With the R and S SMU-K74 or AMU-K74 MIMO option installed, each generator simulates up to four fading channels.

This novel one-box solution saves users not only space and cost, but also does away with the need for cabling and synchronisation as well as level adjustment between signal generators and fading simulator.