Benetel, Rohde & Schwarz team up on femtocell test

The BTS-114RS femtocell test system can be configured for basic functional test, RF calibration, RF test, application-code download, and final functional test.

Rick Nelson, Editor in Chief -- Test & Measurement World, 3/23/2010 9:08:05 AM

Rohde & Schwarz and Benetel announced they are cooperating to supply comprehensive test-and-measurement systems for FAP (femtocell access points) from product development through mass production. For its part, Benetel said its BTS-114 is the first femtocell mass-production test system that supports RF test of four femtocell units in parallel, enabling OEMs and femtocell manufacturers to double test throughput compared with existing production systems. In addition to supporting mass production, Benetel said, the BTS-114 enables OEMs and femtocell manufacturers to scale femtocell production from NPI (new product introduction) through pilot production, and then on to full mass production. The test platform utilizes Benetel's high-isolation test fixturing, which facilitates consistent OTA (over-the-air) testing in any production environment. The system can be configured for basic functional test, RF calibration, RF test, application-code download, and final functional test.

Benetel's relationship with Rohde & Schwarz leverages test-and-measurement equipment from Rohde & Schwarz with experience from Benetel in test software and custom systems. In its BTS-114RS implementation, Benetel employs the R&S SMBV100A vector signal generator and the R&S FSV signal and spectrum analyzer to meet the accuracy and speed requirements for volume production. R&S NRP-Z11 power sensors enable Tx testing.

The BTS-114RS system has a compact design to minimize floor space requirements. Other features include auto calibration, remote login capability, and a database with tools for analyzing production data. The platform can be configured to provide boundary-scan test in addition to functional test, RF calibration, RF test, and application-code download, all of which can be followed by final functional test. Benetel has test profiles for UMTS, CDMA2000, GSM, and GPS available today, with LTE and WiMAX planned for later in 2010.

Benetel's design-verification system, FAST, also benefits from the cooperation with Rohde & Schwarz. FAST helps femtocell developers shorten product development time by automating device verification. Test times can be reduced by up to 80% compared with manual testing, the companies report, thereby allowing more time for rigorous stress testing of new products prior to compliance testing. The system employs Benetel's FAST software and a Benetel test set with two R&S SMBV100A signal generators, one R&S FSV13 spectrum analyzer, and one R&S SMF100A microwave signal generator for performing blocking tests in accordance with 3GPP TS25.141 transmitter and receiver specifications.

The Benetel FAST test set contains a series of filter banks that can be switched in and out of the RF path as required. This feature enables the automation of blocking and adjacent channel measurements. The software has a flexible GUI to simplify controlling factors such as tests performed, test limits, and frequency points. Results are stored in a database, and a software package is provided to generate user-friendly reports in graphical and tabular format. The FAST design and verification test system can be utilized today for UMTS (WCDMA, HSPA, HSPA+), CDMA2000 (1xEV-DO), and TD-SCDMA.

"Femtocells are becoming available for a range of cellular standards and are being deployed to improve subscriber QoS and network efficiency," said John Doyle, CEO of Benetel. One challenge facing the industry is to meet domestic access-point pricing while maintaining the reliability and compliance required of a cellular base-station. By utilizing Benetel's unique test strategy, capital investment in test equipment can be minimized and unit test costs can be driven down without compromising on test specifications."

Benetel, www.benetel.com.
Rohde & Schwarz, www.rohde-schwarz.com.