Mixed signal oscilloscopes add 5G NR analysis software

Tektronix, Inc. has introduced the SignalVu 5G NR analysis software for its 6 Series B MSO oscilloscopes, expanding its 5G test capability offerings. This allows engineers to conduct 5G NR measurements per 3GPP specifications on the mixed signal oscilloscopes that are used by RF system designers for viewing power rails, digital control buses, and I/O signals, in addition to RF signals.

By adding the 5G NR signal analysis to the scopes, 5G system engineers can quickly diagnose faulty signal interactions on a single oscilloscope that would otherwise require correlation between multiple instruments, said Tektronix.

The 6 Series B MSO offers the capabilities for a synchronized view of a variety of signals and the wide capture bandwidth and low intrinsic noise needed for 5G signal analysis. These performance features are said to reduce the need for dedicated vector signal analyzers.

Tektronix developed the new 5G NR analysis package using algorithms developed by NI (formerly National Instruments). The analysis package enables pass/fail testing of the 5G NR physical layer to qualify transmitter designs per the 5G NR standard under the 3GPP release of 15/16 test specifications. It includes signal quality measurements such as error vector magnitude (EVM), adjacent channel power (ACP), spectral emission mask (SEM), and power versus time (PVT).

The 5G NR PHY-layer solution based on the 6 Series B MSO offers advantages over traditional signal analyzers with wide signal analysis up to 2 GHz and low instrument noise for accurate EVM measurements, said the company.

For high frequency systems, such as FR2, the 5G NR analysis option is also available on the DPO70000SX which offers up to 70-GHz bandwidth. For engineers using real-time signal analyzers, the 5G NR option is also available for the Tektronix RSA500 and RSA5000 Series. The software operates identically on oscilloscopes and signal analyzers, while eliminates the need to learn a new toolset, said Tektronix.

The SignalVu 5G NR Signal Analysis option is available now for 6 Series B MSO oscilloscopes, DPO70000SX oscilloscopes, and RSA500 and RSA5000 signal analyzers.