Expanded functions of testing solution support challenges of chipsets and data terminal development

Anritsu Corporation has a range of software options for the Signalling Tester MD8430A that expand the LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro) evaluation functions. The device's software options now support Gigabit LTE (DL 5CA and UL 3CA IP data communications, SCME, Fading), and Cellular IoT evaluations (Cat-M1, NB-IoT). The device is a base-station simulator used in the advancement of LTE/LTE-Advanced, and now LTE-Advance Pro-compliant chipsets and mobile UE. These functions support evaluations for LTE-A Pro terminal performance under simulated DL 5CA, UL 3CA, and SCME fading environments, as well as Cat-M1 and NB-IoT simulated environments. Also, if the signals are in the same band, multiple base-station signals can be output from one Tx antenna, which decreases the need for multiple MD8430A test sets even when the number of Tx signals is raised by increasing the number of component carriers. Combined use with the Rapid Test Designer software tool, it offers a GUI for the simple creation of test sequences, simplifying the conception of test cases for base station simulation in a MIMO environment and allowing the configuration of different test communications environments that are difficult to reproduce with a live base station.