The PXB can connect with an Agilent E5515C/8960 Wireless Communication Test Set to form a complete solution for performing faded signal tests on
8960 Lab and Test Applications
Amplitude Offset for 8960 Applications
8960 Fading Measurement Example
8960 GPIB Connection and Remote Operation
8960 DC-HSPA and HSPA MIMO Support
* PXB firmware version 1.5.3 supports only the E6703 lab application. 8960 DC-HSPA support requires PXB firmware version 2.0.0 or later.
| PXB Configuration Browser | 8960 Tests |
| Fade (ext in) - 1 Channel | Single channel fading |
| Fade (ext in) - 2 Channels | Dual channel for soft handover test |
| Fade (ext in) - 1 Channel + Interferer | Single channel with custom interferer |
| Fade (ext in) - 1 Channel + summed Interferer | Single channel with summed interferer |
| Single-user MIMO (ext in) - 1x2 | 1x2 Rx diversity |
The PXB currently supports the following
8960 Wireless Communications Test Set applications:
|
Model |
Description |
8960 Firmware Version |
PXB Firmware Version |
|
E1962B* |
cdma2000 Mobile Test App |
B.19.07 or later |
1.6.0 or later |
|
E1966A* |
1xEV-DO Terminal Test App |
A.13.10 or later |
1.6.0 or later |
|
E1987A* |
Fast Switch Test App Supports:
|
A.13.07 or later |
1.6.0 or later |
|
E6701G |
GSM/GPRS Lab App G |
G.01.12 or later |
1.6.0 or later |
|
E6702C |
cdma2000 Lab App C |
E.00.05 or later |
1.6.0 or later |
|
E6703C |
W-CDMA Lab App C |
C.01.17 or later |
1.5.3 or later |
|
E6706C |
1xEV-DO Lab App C |
E.00.05 or later |
1.6.0 or later |
|
E6785G |
Fast Switch Lab App G Supports:
|
G.00.15 or later |
1.6.0 or later |
|
E6785H |
Fast Switch Lab App H Supports:
|
H.00.06 or later |
1.6.0 or later |
|
E6703H |
DC-HSPA Support |
H.01.12 or later |
2.0.0 or later |
|
E6785H |
DC-HSPA Support |
H.01.13 or later |
2.0.0 or later |
* Requires the 8960 test application's corresponding Option 405 digital bus software license (E1962B-405, E1966A-405). The E1987A Fast Switch Test App requires the corresponding Option 405 license to use a desired format.
Before setting up a measurement using an 8960, go to http://wireless.agilent.com/rfcomms/refdocs and read the user's guide for the appropriate 8960 application.
If mobile station testing is performed at frequencies that do not have amplitude offsets assigned to them, the test set will estimate an amplitude offset based on the nearest settings. This can cause unexpected results in your measurements. The recommended approach is to clear all entries in the 8960's RF IN/OUT Amplitude Offset table to prevent any undesired amplitude offsets. If you want to use the 8960's Amplitude Offset feature, make sure you fully understand its operation before setting up a measurement. For detailed information on Amplitude Offset for 8960 applications, go to http://wireless.agilent.com/rfcomms/refdocs and read the Amplitude Offset topic under Measurements for your desired application.
In all configurations, if the signal power and noise power sent to the 8960 during power calibration by the PXB differ by more that 20 dB during power calibration, the 8960 will generate an error message due to the limitation of its hardware.
However, in 1x2 configurations, since the RF signal is sourced from the signal generators, the error messages can be safely ignored. Alternately, you can manually set the 8960 cell power to match the signal power shown on the AWGN Settings of the PXB. If AWGN is not used, set the cell power to match the amplitude of the signal generators.
To get you started with 8960 fading, we've included a measurement example to help you perform a W-CDMA DPCH block error rate (BLER) test using one of the PXB's predefined fading profiles and AWGN.
8960 Fading measurement example
It is possible to remotely operate an 8960 in a PXB test system environment. To do so, you will need to use Agilent "Remote GPIB" interfacing and configure your system as described in the following section on GPIB-only instruments:
Using GPIB-only instruments in controller-PXB test systems
See the Supplemental Documentation topic for additional remote operation/automation examples.
PXB firmware 2.0.0 and later supports two input channels of IQ samples multiplexed together on a single LVDS cable via time interleaving. It also supports the E6703H/E6785H or later DC-HSPA lab applications.
In a dual-channel test system, an E5515E with an enabled 8960 dual-channel lab application (E6703H/E6785H or later) connects to a PXB using a single LVDS connector and PXB IO port. The PXB deinterleaves the dual-carrier signal and directs the carriers to two independent fading channels.
For Fade (ext in) 2-channel configurations, when the PXB detects a dual-channel application running on the 8960, it allows the user to configure a single 8960 to both inputs. In this mode, loopback is not supported and output to a different 8960 is not supported.
For more information, and for example test procedures, see the following:
8960-PXB HSDPA Dual-Channel Baseband Fading
8960-PXB HSDPA MIMO Baseband Fading