Bluetooth tester speeds RF device characterisation

CSR has selected R and S CBT RF test equipment including the new option for Bluetooth V2.0 + EDR (enhanced datarate).

CSR has selected R and S CBT RF test equipment including the new option for Bluetooth V2.0 + EDR (enhanced datarate).

Thanks to this option, the RF testers can now perform transmitter and receiver measurements on EDR Bluetooth instruments and modules.

The R and S CBT also supports spectrum measurements.

Working with the Rohde and Schwarz solution, CSR has also developed a chip offering Bluetooth EDR and incorporating an FM radio.

Both CSR's application and RF teams use the R and S CBT and take advantage of the high flexibility of the instrument.

"Rohde and Schwarz was the first company to show EDR operating - a key deciding factor for CSR", says Tim Newton, Consultant RF and Signal Processing Systems Designer, CSR.

"Our co-operation with Rohde and Schwarz ensures that CSR can continue its programme of fast and reliable testing of new Bluetooth chips throughout the various stages of R and D".

The EDR test specification demands four new transmitter and four new receiver measurements.

The R and S CBTGo software provides 18 of the test cases defined in the standard.

With regard to EDR receiver tests, the option supports the loopback test mode in accordance with the specification.

The loopback test mode verifies the receiver sensitivity of an existing Bluetooth link under virtually realistic conditions.

The user can also perform receiver tests with dirty TX as specified in some test cases.

Like the basic versions before, the R and S CBT with the EDR option features high measurement speed.

Lab tasks can thus be handled more quickly, reducing test times and costs in production.

For example, the R and S CBT requires only six seconds to measure four 2-DH5 and four 3-DH5 packets on three RF channels.

During this time, it calculates all measurement results of the test cases "EDR carrier frequency stability and modulation accuracy" and "EDR relative transmit power".

High-speed reliability is an asset, especially in production.

For this reason, Rohde and Schwarz offers the R and S CBT32, a cost-efficient model for rack installation.

The new Bluetooth standard V2.0 + EDR enables data transmission rates that are up to three times higher than the previous V1.1 and V1.2 standards.

"As a result, labs and production now require flexible and versatile T and M equipment to quickly measure the relevant EDR parameters on Bluetooth modules and instruments in addition to performing other tests", explains Dieter Mahnken, Marketing Manager at Rohde and Schwarz.

"In combination with the new EDR option, the R and S CBT Bluetooth RF tester and the smaller R and S CBT32 are ideally suited to meet these requirements".

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