A rigorous link performance and measurement uncertainty assessment for MIMO OTA characterisation

TL;DR

This paper presents a rigorous, traceable method for assessing link performance and measurement uncertainty in MIMO OTA tests across different wireless standards and test environments, ensuring reliable characterization.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive, traceable SINR measurement approach for MIMO OTA testing, validated across multiple testbeds and environments, with detailed uncertainty analysis.

Findings

Validated measurement repeatability with standard deviation analysis.

Identified key sources of measurement uncertainty.

Demonstrated applicability across 4G LTE and 5G MIMO systems.

Abstract

In this paper, a rigorous link performance test for MIMO OTA (multiple-input-multiple-output over-the-air) characterisation with traceable signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) is presented. Measurements were made with three different testbeds which represent the 4G (fourth-generation) LTE (long term evolution) SISO (single-input-single-output), 4G LTE MIMO and 5G (fifth-generation) millimetre-wave (mm-wave) MIMO communication systems, respectively, in the small antenna radiated test (SMART) screened fully anechoic chamber, screened control room and reverberation chamber at the UK National Physical Laboratory (NPL). The measurement campaign comprised of automated data acquisition of channel power, downlink (DL) & uplink (UL) error vector magnitude (EVM) and throughput. The measurement repeatability has been assessed with standard deviation plotted as error bars and the uncertainty sources in the OTA test are analysed.