Rohde & Schwarz will present its test and measurement equipment in ‘realistic test scenarios’ at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. One key focal point of the event is on test solutions for smart cities and smart industries.
A read module for smart metering applications checks that the desired security mechanisms have been correctly implemented. The test solution also measures consumption values to optimise battery lifetime. The module is mounted on a water meter and sends the meter readings to a cloud-based server at regular intervals.
To enable the testing of implemented security mechanisms even when developing IoT modules, Rohde & Schwarz has designed the CMW-KM052 IP security option. This function performs deep packet inspection during normal operation in a user-configurable network environment. Users can see if and how the connection is encrypted, whether any ports are open, and much more.
They can also verify that the module only communicates with approved servers. This security test function is unique among radio communication testers. In the test setup, the new CMW-KM052 option runs on an CMW290 wireless connectivity tester.
Field-to-lab measurements for NB-IoT
Another test setup with an CMW500 wideband communication tester simulates a realistic field test environment (real field conditions) for all types of wireless modules with NB-IoT and LTE interfaces. With a few clicks in the software, test cases can be generated from scenarios recorded in drive test logs.
Users can then reproduce these scenarios with the CMW500 for lab tests. The tester generates the network environment, signal strength and signal quality (RSRP/RSRQ) recorded in the drive test logs. It records the behaviour of the IoT module under these various environmental conditions, enabling users to analyse critical processes such as handovers in detail and to repeat measurements under identical field conditions. That is not possible with pure drive tests, which by the way can be reduced to a minimum with this solution.
World’s first combined test solution
Rohde & Schwarz will also showcase a combined RF and functional test for NB-IoT and Bluetooth 5.0 LE signalling on an CMW290 IoT radio communication tester. The DUT in this test is an IoT device solution for rental bicycles that has interfaces for both transmission methods.
The CMW platform is unique in enabling parallel tests on cellular and non-cellular transmissions. Only these testers allow developers to perform RF signalling tests on Bluetooth LE devices under real-world conditions using over-the-air measurements. This method permits detailed analysis of antenna characteristics and transitions between NB-IoT and Bluetooth.
