R&S Touts Radio Network Analyzer

MUNICH -- Rohde & Schwarz will add the new, compact and powerful R&S TSMQ to its product portfolio in coverage measurement systems. For the first time, network operators, manufacturers of base stations and regulatory authorities thus have the opportunity to analyze up to three mobile radio technologies (GSM, WCDMA and cdma2000) in parallel. Furthermore, the radio network analyzer is the fastest scanner on the market. A separate function allows analog power level measurements.

Today, operators of mobile radio networks have to ensure a virtually complete and interference-free radio coverage, even within public buildings such as exhibition halls, train stations or airports. Interruption-free calls should also be possible in high speed trains such as the ICE. However, smaller cells as well as the use of different mobile radio standards and other wireless radio technologies such as WiMAX or WLAN make interference-free radio coverage an ever more demanding task. Thus, network operators have to perform comprehensive coverage measurements with a high spatial resolution in order to quickly detect potential problems. The R&S TSMQ was specially designed for these requirements.

The new radio network analyzer from Rohde & Schwarz allows parallel measurement of up to three different mobile radio standards. Power level measurements across single frequencies or a defined frequency range can be performed separately in order to easily detect spurious signals from WiMAX networks, for example. The extremely fast UMTS PN scanner of the R&S TSMQ enables up to 50 measurements per second in a frequency range of 80 MHz to 3 GHz. Users thus achieve a considerably higher spatial resolution during test drives than with existing solutions. Meaningful measurement results can also be achieved at higher speeds.

The instrument’s compact size of 150 mm x 80 mm x 170 mm and its low weight of only 1.5 kg make the new R&S TSMQ ideal for installation in test vehicles and also as a backpack system for indoor use. The power consumption of less than 10 W allows a long battery run time. A rack installation kit as well as a backpack system with rechargeable batteries and mountings for up to two mobile phones are available as options.

The R&S TSMQ comes with the tried-and-tested R&S ROMES software, which can be installed on a PC or notebook. Thus, a comprehensive evaluation of the measurement results is possible; a neighborhood and handover analysis is supported in combination with test mobiles and base station lists. The instrument is connected to the PC via a FireWire interface. To gain exact location data, a GPS system can be connected via a USB interface.

Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG