Speaker
Description
As wireless communication standards evolve, techniques such as wideband, multi-channel transmission, and high-order modulation are conducted to support higher data rates and throughput. For example, IEEE 802.11ax employs 1024-QAM with up to 160 MHz bandwidth, while IEEE 802.11be extends support to 4096-QAM and 320 MHz bandwidth. In cellular networks, 3GPP 5G NR supports bandwidths up to 100 MHz in FR1 and 400 MHz in FR2, whereas LTE supports up to 20 MHz per component carrier. However, the specialized test equipment like vector signal generators (VSGs) and vector signal analyzers (VSA) required for these evolving standards often presents a significant cost barrier for academic, R&D, and production facilities.
To address this, we present a wideband software-defined radio (SDR)-based VSG/VSA prototype compliant with 5G NR and 802.11ax standards. The design features core software functions for generating, demodulating, and analyzing waveforms, with key metrics including power spectral density (PSD), error vector magnitude (EVM), carrier frequency offset (CFO), IQ imbalance, and DC offset. The hardware platform is the USRP X410, chosen for its extensive RF range, wide bandwidth capabilities, and native 4-transmit/4-receive channels, which are crucial for parallel testing and improving testing efficiency.
Key integration challenges included implementing a power calibration process to ensure measurement precision and developing dedicated FPGA resources within the RFNoC framework to manage wideband signals across all 4x4 channels. Validation against a Keysight 89600 VSA confirmed the prototype's accuracy, demonstrating an EVM of -40 dB for 5G NR 400 MHz waveforms and -43 dB for 100 MHz in a loopback test. Its real-world applicability was further confirmed through successful over-the-air testing with 5G device under test (DUT).
This work offers academic value through SDR-based signal demodulation and analysis algorithms while providing a practical, scalable, and cost-effective solution for industrial applications. Future extensions, such as AI-assisted measurement, diagnosis, and testing, can further enhance its capabilities.
| Talk Length | 15 Minutes |
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