Global engineering services provider EDAG advances wireless test with Anritsu analyzer

EDAG selected the Anritsu MT8821C radio communication analyzer for its fast easy-set-up and configuration for automated OTA DUT testing

Anritsu Corporation has announced that German engineering services and test company, EDAG, recently purchased Anritsu’s Radio Communication Analyzer MT8821C primarily for DUT maximum output power and receiver sensitivity testing. The Anritsu MT8821C offers EDAG a variety of benefits that include quick and simple OTA (Over The Air) connection with a DUT, an easy to use and train GUI and the ability to quickly find and configure key parameters for establishing an OTA connection such as input/output levels and SIM card criteria.

EDAG is a mobility and engineering development and test company that focuses on vehicle engineering, electronics, software and digitalisation, and production (smart factories). With over 50 years of engineering experience, EDAG are known for their proprietary 360-degree development approach which has become a hallmark of quality in the holistic development of vehicles and smart factories.

A key aspect for EDAG is the testing of communications technologies in the automotive and electronics industry. For example, vehicles being designed today need to consider advanced communications such as V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything), LTE, 5G, MIMO, carrier aggregation as well as the standard OTA software updates, GPS for navigation, and Bluetooth connections.

EDAG selected the Anritsu MT8821C for its easy-to-use measurement functions in a single instrument and wide range of test capabilities, including LTE-Advanced and software options such as 3 CC carrier aggregation and 4×4 MIMO (individually tested), support of NB-IoT and CatM1 technologies. The GUI of MT8821C is easy to use and train, while configuration of some key parameters for establishing the connection, such as input/output levels and SIM card parameters are easy to find and configure. A feature called ‘Test Parameter Setup’ in LTE enables users to configure all relevant parameters at once, eliminating user error in configuration of complex test conditions in RF testing. Significant benefit in testing in OTA conditions is capability of instrument to keep and maintain the connection with DUT in dynamically changing pathloss conditions thanks to a wide dynamic range of its RF front-end interface.

Another important consideration is the ability of the MT8821C to be configured as an automated test system using either GPIB or Ethernet interface for remote control. A 3GPP RF test standard compliant automation tool called ATS is also available to users to select the required test case from a list in order to execute the measurement in fully automated matter without user intervention.

“We purchased MT8821C Anritsu radio communications analyzer with various hardware and software options. Key considerations were the instrument’s ease-of-use and ability to quickly establish an OTA connection with the DUT for maximum output power and receiver sensitivity testing as well as ability to keep and maintain the connection during the testing in radiated connection conditions. Another major factor for EDAG is that the MT8821C can be easily configured as an automated test system, even by novice users, reducing training time and increasing productivity.” says Andreas Bolaender, Dept. Manager EMC, EDAG.

Martin Varga, Anritsu’s Engineering & Technology Wireless Team Leader for the EMEA region added: “The purchase by EDAG validates the MT8821C as the ideal instrument for automated radio communications testing. Key to the success of the MT8821C is its built-in, flexible front-end with switches and RF dividers to eliminate the need for external combiners or a test set, thus simplifying test setup and calibration.”