Using the W-CDMA or W-CDMA (with HSDPA) Analyzer
W-CDMA and W-CDMA (with HSDPA) transmitter measurements verify proper transmitter performance of a Base Station (commonly referred to as a Node B) and are typically made with the base station out-of-service in test mode. Non-intrusive measurements can also be made on a live network if a monitor or test port is present. This is usually a coupled port, with power levels that are -20 or -30 dB down from the main Tx output power RF path. The power levels on the main Tx output power path can exceed 10 Watts. Important metrics include:
These latter measurements are all performed in the "Code Domain" and are sometimes referred to as Code Domain Power (CDP) measurements.
- Frequency Error
- Error Vector Magnitude (EVM)
- Peak Code Domain Error (PCDE)
- Channel Power
- Carrier Feedthrough
- Code Domain Noise Floor
- CPICH Power
- Delta Powers between CPICH (Common Pilot Channel) and P-CCPCH (Primary Common Control Physical Channel), S-CCPCH (Secondary Common Control Physical Channel), PICH (Paging Indicator Channel), P-SCH (Primary Synchronization Channel) and S-SCH (Secondary Synchronization Channel).
One of the defining elements of a 3G system is high-speed data transmission. The 3GPP standard allows for multiple data rates depending on the application. This flexibility requires complex processing in both the transmitter and receiver to retain information quality and still transfer a variety of user information in the noisy spread spectrum environment. The CDP measurements allow you to quickly verify the operation of a 3GPP transmitter. In addition, it can give a high-level evaluation of modulation quality, channel power, and signal-to-noise in the code domain.
High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) was added in Release 5 of the 3GPP specifications. HSDPA was added in an attempt to make the W-CDMA systems more efficient for packet data applications by increasing peak data rates and reducing packet latency. You will need Option 245 - HSDPA Analyzer & HSDPA Over Air Test to make HSDPA-specific measurements, although other W-CDMA measurements can still be made without this option installed on your test set.
This chapter covers Option 240 - W-CDMA Analyzer installed on its own, and Option 240 - W-CDMA Analyzer installed together with Option 245 - HSDPA Analyzer & HSDPA Over Air Test.
Where differences exist between using Option 240 - W-CDMA Analyzer installed on its own, and using it in conjunction with Option 245 - HSDPA Analyzer & HSDPA Over Air Test, these differences are usually called out in this help system. Where the differences are small, however, they are not called out.
Example of a difference that is not called out: a title on a menu can be either W-CDMA Anl. or HSDPA Anl. depending on whether or not Option 245 - HSDPA Analyzer & HSDPA Over Air Test has been installed. The keys under that menu do not change, and only the title of the menu changes. Such differences are not called out here.