Rohde & Schwarz shows 5G millimetre-wave setup at Korea summit

At the 5G Global Summit, taking place in South Korea this week, Rohde & Schwarz will present details of a test setup for generating and analysing signals up to 67GHz, the millimetre wave band, as part of research for 5G mobile communications, reports Tom Wilson.

The millimetre-wave test setup consists of the up to 20GHz SMW200A high-end vector signal generator, a harmonic mixer from subsidiary Radiometer Physics GmbH (RPG) and the FSW67 high-end signal and spectrum analyser. This test setup will be used to evaluate potential new physical air interface technologies for future 5G networks.

The SMW200A features two integrated RF paths up to 20GHz and a wideband I/Q modulator with a bandwidth of 2GHz. The internal baseband section with an I/Q modulation bandwidth of 160MHz supports all digital communications standards, with the option to add fading simulators as needed.

The integrated ARB generator can be used to generate high-quality, complex, digitally modulated waveforms. In combination with RPG harmonic mixers, it is possible to generate signals for all relevant frequencies, for example into the E band (60GHz to 90GHz).

The FSW67 analyses signals in the frequency range up to 67GHz at an analysis bandwidth of 500MHz and offers a 2GHz analogue IF output for further analysis of broadband signals, which makes it suitable for the 5G development phase.

5G is expected to see a sharp increase in the number of wireless devices and designers are investigating to extend the spectrum into the millimeter-wave range.

Rohde & Schwarz also supports the 5G Lab Germany and is active in numerous 5G initiatives around the world, including the 5G Innovation Center in Surrey, UK, the Future Forum in China and the NGMN 5G Initiative in Germany.