On the Dynamic Range of Digital Correlative Time Domain Radio Channel Measurements

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the performance limits of digital correlative time domain radio channel measurements, focusing on dynamic range and measurement accuracy, and provides practical guidelines for optimizing measurement setups.

Contribution

It offers a detailed discussion of measurement metrics, practical bounds, and nonidealities affecting digital correlative time domain channel sounders, with real-world data illustration.

Findings

Identifies key nonidealities impacting measurement performance

Provides bounds for dynamic range and path loss measurement

Validates analysis with experimental data

Abstract

For the concise characterization of radio channel measurement setups, different performance metrics like dynamic range and maximum measurable path loss have been proposed. This work further elaborates on these metrics and discusses practical bounds for the class of digital correlative time domain channel sounders. From a general instrumentation model, relevant nonidealities and the resulting effects on measurement performance are identified. These considerations yield the tools to select appropriate measurement parameters for a given scenario and assess the overall performance of a particular measurement setup. The findings are further illustrated with data acquired from an instrument-based measurement setup.