MediaTek has collaborated with Rohde & Schwarz to perform over-the-air (OTA) tests of its 5G frontend modules and antenna arrays. The R&S TS8980 R&D-M1 test system, which includes the new R&S ATS1800C CATR (compact antenna test range) chamber, will be used to fully characterize, verify and test the antenna performance of MediaTek’s 5G network solutions including its Helio M70 5G modem.
The Rohde & Schwarz solution is the first in the industry to meet some of the major challenges of real-world 5G deployments. For example, millimeter waves experience high path loss, and shadowing effects further decrease signal strength. The solution – a beamforming antenna array design – demands a test environment capable of measuring multiple beam streams to ensure the required quality and characteristics of each beam. Rohde & Schwarz is providing a complete 5G mmWave OTA turnkey solution using the R&S ATS1800C CATR chamber that ensures repeatable, accurate and robust characterization of 5G transmitters and receivers.
The R&S TS8980R&D-M1 test system consists of the R&S ATS1800C CATR (compact antenna test range) chamber – along with the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator, R&S FSW50 signal and spectrum analyzer and R&S ZVA40 vector network analyzer. The R&S ATS1800C CATR is a movable shielded chamber solution that allows engineers to fully characterize and test their components in a non-conducted OTA environment.
At 5G mmWave frequencies, the R&S ATS1800C can perform black box 3D far field measurements of 30 cm devices (Smartphones, tablets, notebooks) while occupying an unrivalled footprint of only 1.4 m2 (15 sqft). It includes a highly accurate positioning system that allows for handling transmitter and receiver performance measurements in a 5G environment with beam-formed signals, covering a wide frequency range of 20 to 87 GHz. Using the associated test and measurement equipment and the R&S ATS1800C CONTEST measurement software, radiation patterns of 5G antenna arrays can be measured extremely precisely in just a few minutes.
Furthermore, device transmitter tests can be performed using the R&S ATS1800C in combination with the R&S FSW67 signal and spectrum analyzer, which provides a direct measurement frequency range up to 67 GHz. For device receiver tests, the R&S ATS1800C is used with the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator. The R&S SMW200A and R&S FSW are the first instruments of their kind to provide mmWave frequencies and 2 GHz modulation/demodulation bandwidth. The R&S ZVA40 vector network analyzer supports up to four independent signal sources allowing parallel signal output. The R&S ZVA series is an ideal choice for demanding measurement tasks in the lab and in production.
MediaTek’s Helio M70 5G supports key 5G technologies including standalone (SA) and non-standalone (NSA) network architectures, the sub 6 GHz frequency band and high power user equipment (HPUE). The multimode chipset is designed for compliance with the 3GPP Rel-15 specifications. It is available now, and is expected to ship in the second half of 2019.
