Single instrument solution for LTE and 5G FR1/FR2 OTA measurements

Anritsu Corporation has announced its enhanced partnership with Bluetest AB, providing a new unified test solution for OTA measurement of 5G mobile terminals.

The companies have long been working closely for LTE/5G FR1 (Sub-6GHz band) and FR2 (mmWave) CATR OTA measurements with Bluetest's RTS65 OTA Reverberation Test System, but this enhanced partnership offers further advantages by supporting the new MT8000A Single Instrument NSA solution with Anritsu's MT8000A RF measurement test platform for 5G mobile terminals to implement new LTE and 5G (FR1, FR2) OTA measurements.

Generally, a separate call box MT8821C was needed for LTE OTA measurements, but this solution assists LTE, 5G FR1 and 5G FR2 measurements utilising only one OTA chamber and one single instrument, Anritsu MT8000A, resulting in lower costs for LTE/5G terminal developers and for operator specific CAT in an LTE/5G OTA test environment. Also, the unified smaller system saves valuable laboratory space.

This solution is composed of the MT8000A and MT8821C (now optional), as well as the Bluetest RTS65. The MT8000A is an all-in-one 5G test platform providing RF parametric and protocol tests, functional, and application tests, validation of beam characteristics, and more. It supports NSA and SA mode base-station emulation functions for the creation of LTE/5G chipsets and devices supporting FR1 and FR2. It is widely employed for conducted and OTA tests to evaluate the performance of LTE/5G devices.

The RTS65 OTA Reverberation Test System optimises the time needed for OTA measurements to improve R&D productivity. It supports 5G MIMO measurements on FR1 and FR2, incorporating the 28GHz and 39GHz mmWave bands. Its unique design, with both RIMP and CATR environments, enables multicarrier MIMO measurements and directional measurements on FR2. Furthermore, the built-in measurement computer with easy-to-use touch-screen interface assits to simplify measurement-results control and monitoring. Utilising the MT8000A and RTS65 to configure an efficient development environment with RF TRx tests, simulated base-station, and measurement-result monitoring functions, facilitates cost-effective OTA measurements of LTE and 5G FR1/FR2 mobiles.