Six Essential 5G Field Tests: Using Fieldfox Handheld Analyzers
Six Essential 5G Field Tests: Using Fieldfox Handheld Analyzers
Six Essential 5G Field Tests: Using Fieldfox Handheld Analyzers
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TEST 1
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
Since path loss plays a significant role in establishing a link budget, having test
equipment capable of making path loss measurements in the field is imperative.
These measurements help ensure the quality of 5G coverage in varying terrain,
weather, and air quality.
To find out more about mmWave link propagation and link budget, read the
application note 5G Over-the-Air Performance Measurement and Evaluation Using
FieldFox Handheld Analyzers.
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PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
Path loss measurements for mmWave are made over the air via a radio link.
The transmitting FieldFox uses a gain horn antenna, and the receiving FieldFox
uses either an omnidirectional antenna or a gain horn antenna. The FieldFox on
the receiving side makes the signal strength measurement in Spectrum Analyzer or
Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer mode. You can record the data in a stationary manner
or during a drive test. FieldFox saves the data with GPS and timestamp information
so you can load the data into planning software.
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PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
gNB gNB
Uplink
Beam
Downlink
Beam
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
Find out more about the FieldFox and phased array antenna solution in this
technical overview.
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
Component Carrier
Power Measurements
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
Over-the-Air Control
Channel Interference Testing
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
Additionally, adjacent cells can cause interference between each other. If the data
channels are interfering, the speeds at which these signals travel are too fast
for the interference to impact network performance. If interference occurs in the
control channel on the other hand, it can bring down the whole cell site.
Proper control channel transmissions are essential for field deployment. Having Figure 4. 5G radio tower and mobile phone interfering with satellite
ground station communications
a solution in your field kit that is capable of capturing interference signals and
visualizing control channels will facilitate your 5G transformation
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
FieldFox is compatible with Keysight’s Figure 5. Beam sweep signals captured using FieldFox in RTSA mode
Spectrum Monitoring Software, which offers
spectrum monitoring, logging, and management, plus
interference detection and location.
RTSA mode also allows you to measure and visualize the synchronization signal
block (SSB) of a transmission, portrayed in Figure 6. Should any interference occur,
FieldFox will capture that interfering signal and display it on the screen.
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
Cell phones detect various SSBs from different towers and measure them to
determine which is the strongest. Once the cell phone pinpoints the SSB with the
most signal strength, it connects using that particular beam. A beam that is strongest
for one user may not be the strongest for another user near the same tower.
When transitioning to 5G, operators have to verify the quality of their network and
beam performance so users can connect without issue. To do this, you need a
solution in your field kit that is capable of reading and displaying important metrics
from several base stations in the vicinity. These metrics include channel power, signal
quality, SSB index, and frequency error from various base stations.
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
FieldFox’s 5G NR OTA mode demodulates 5G NR signals to provide frequency, Figure 8. LTE FDD KPI metrics measured in FieldFox’s Channel
physical cell ID, SSB index, frequency error, and other KPIs for up to eight base Scanner mode
stations. It also delivers several channel power measurements, including the
primary and secondary synchronization signals. From this information, users can
identify any frequency drifting, isolate power issues, and investigate performance
problems. Using both 5G NR and LTE FDD modes allows for verification of inter-
RAT handovers. These measurements are imperative for optimizing network
coverage for 5G. They help you determine 5G coverage versus LTE coverage in
a certain area. Having that information can help you engineer the LTE network to
provide backup when there is not enough 5G coverage. To find out more about 5G
NSA mode deployment and how interference affects it, read the application note
Overcoming RF & MW Interference Challenges in the Field.
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Application Note: Overcoming RF & MW Interference Challenges
in the Field. Figure 9. 5G NR OTA mode scans for 5G NR base stations and
provides KPI metrics
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
Exposure limits for EMF radiation differ by country. Many countries base their
regulations on findings from organizations such as the International Commission on
Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE), and the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
Figure 10. EMF measurements made using FieldFox in Spectrum Analyzer mode
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE
PATH LOSS BASE STATION COVERAGE COMPONENT CARRIER CONTROL CHANNEL NETWORK QUALITY EMF EXPOSURE