Measuring Frame Error Rate (FER)

Measuring Frame Error Rate (FER)

Last updated: October 25, 2011

General Procedure

  1. Connect the mobile station's antenna output to the test set's front panel RF IN/OUT connector and power them on.
  2. Press the blue SHIFT key and then the green Preset key to full reset the test set.
  3. Establish a call with the mobile station with a loopback service option (SO2, SO9 or SO55) selected (see How Do I Set Up a Call? ).
  4. Initialize the measurement:
    • Press the Measurement selection key.
    • Turn the knob to highlight the Frame Error Rate measurement and press the knob.
  5. Press AWGN Power ( F3 ), use the knob and DATA ENTRY keys to enter -54 dBm/1.23 MHz , or as needed.
  6. Press the Frame Error Rate Setup ( F1 ) key to access the Frame Error Rate Setup menu.
  7. Use the knob and DATA ENTRY keys to set the measurement parameters as needed for your measurement situation. Press the Close Menu ( F6 ) key to close the settings.

       
    NOTE
    If single is selected in the Trigger Arm field, press the START SINGLE key to trigger each measurement. If the Trigger Arm is set to Continuous the measurement began executing as soon as you initialize the measurement in step 4.

       

  8. A typical display is shown below.
  9. After finishing the measurements, turn the measurement off if desired. Press the Measurement selection key, selecting Frame Error Rate , then Close Measurement ( F4 ).

Testing 3.4.1 Demodulation of Forward Traffic Channel in AWGN

Definition: This test evaluates how well the mobile station demodulates the Forward Traffic Channel in the presence of noise (simulated by AWGN). The performance of the demodulation of Forward Traffic Channel in an AWGN (no fading or multipath) environment is determined by the frame error rate (FER).

The following test procedure assumes that the mobile station supports Band Class 1 (US PCS) and only demonstrates the Test 1. You should change the settings as specified for other tests. Unless otherwise stated, leave all parameter settings to the defaults.

   
NOTE
The FER measurement is used for testing the forward fundamental channel . You can use TDSO FER measurement to perform the tests for forward supplemental channel . See Measuring TDSO (Test Data Service Option) Frame Error Rate (FER) .

   

  1. Connect the mobile station's antenna output to the test set's front panel RF IN/OUT connector and power them on.
  2. Press the blue SHIFT and then the green Preset key to full reset the test set.
  3. Establish a call with the following parameter settings (some settings may change as specified for each test).
    • Press CALL SETUP to access Call Parms and Call Control menus.
    • Set Cell Band ( F8 on the Call Parms 1 of 3 ) to US PCS .
    • Set Radio Config ( F11 on the Call Parms 1 of 3 ) to (Fwd1, Rvs1) .
    • Select FCH Service Option Setup ( F12 ) (Call Parms 1 of 3) , set Service Option for Fwd1, Rvs1 to SO2 (Loopback) .
    • Set Cell Power or ) to -55 dBm/1.23 MHz ( F7 on the Call Parms 1 of 3 ).
    • Set Traffic Data Rate ( F12 on the Call Parms 2 of 3 ) to Full .
    • Press Originate Call ( F3 ) to initiate a call. Verify that the Connected is in the Active Cell status field.
  4. Press the Measurement selection key, select the Frame Error Rate measurement.
  5. Press F3, set AWGN Power (I oc ) to -54 dBm/1.23 MHz .
  6. Press F1 to access the Frame Error Rate Setup menu (some settings may change as specified for each test).
    • Set FER Requirement to 3.00%.
    • Set F-FCH/Traffic Level to -16.3 dB.
    • Set Trigger Arm to Single.
    • Press Close Menu ( F6 ).
  7. Press the START SINGLE key to begin the measurement.

       
    NOTE
    If the Trigger Arm is set to Continuous the measurement began executing as soon as you initialize the measurement in step 4. If single is selected in the Trigger Arm field, press the START SINGLE key to trigger each measurement.

       

  8. A typical display is shown below.
  9. Repeat the steps 3-8 with the settings as specified for each test.
  10. After finishing all of the tests, turn the measurement off if desired. Press the Measurement selection key, selecting Frame Error Rate , then Close Measurement ( F4 ).

Testing 3.5.1 Receiver Sensitivity and Dynamic Range

Definition: The RF sensitivity of the mobile station receiver is the minimum received power, measured at the mobile station antenna connector, at which the frame error rate (FER) does not exceed a specified value. The receiver dynamic range is the input power range at the mobile station antenna connector over which the FER does not exceed a specific value.

The following test procedure assumes that the mobile station supports Band Class 1 (US PCS). All settings for the Receiver Sensitivity test and the Dynamic Range test could be the same, except the cell power (Î or ) settings as shown below. Unless otherwise stated, leave all parameter settings to the defaults.

  1. Connect the mobile station's antenna output to the test set's front panel RF IN/OUT connector and power them on.
  2. Press the blue SHIFT and then the green Preset key to full reset the test set.
  3. Establish a call with the following parameter settings (some settings may change as specified for each test).
    • Press CALL SETUP to access Call Parms and Call Control menus.
    • Set Cell Band ( F8 on the Call Parms 1 of 3 ) to US PCS .
    • Set Radio Config ( F11 on the Call Parms 1 of 3 ) to (Fw1, Rvs1) .
    • Select FCH Service Option Setup ( F12 ) (Call Parms 1 of 3) , set Service Option for Fw1, Rvs 1 to SO2 (Loopback) .
    • Set Traffic Data Rate ( F12 on the Call Parms 2 of 3 ) to Full .
    • Press Originate Call ( F3 ) to initiate a call. Verify that the Connected is in the Active Cell status field.
  4. For Test 1: Receiver Sensitivity test, set Cell Power or ) to -104 dBm/1.23 MHz ( F7 on the Call Parms 1 of 3 ).
    For Test 2: Dynamic Range test, set Cell Power or ) to -25 dBm/1.23 MHz ( F7 on the Call Parms 1 of 3 )
  5. Press the Measurement selection key, select the Frame Error Rate measurement.
  6. Verify that AWGN Power (I oc ) ( F3 ) is OFF .
  7. Press F1 to access the Frame Error Rate Setup menu (some settings may change as specified for each test).
    • Set FER Requirement to 0.5%.
    • Set F-FCH/Traffic Level to -15.6 dB.
    • Set Trigger Arm to Single.
    • Press Close Menu ( F6 ).
  8. Press the START SINGLE key to begin the measurement.

       
    NOTE
    If the Trigger Arm is set to Continuous the measurement began executing as soon as you initialize the measurement in step 4. If single is selected in the Trigger Arm field, press the START SINGLE key to trigger each measurement.

       

  9. A typical display is shown below.
  10. Repeat the steps 4-9 for test 2.
  11. After finishing all of the tests, turn the measurement off if desired. Press the Measurement selection key, selecting Frame Error Rate , then Close Measurement ( F4 ).

Testing 3.4.7 Demodulation of Forward Traffic Channel in Multipath Fading Channel with Closed Loop Power Control (FPC_MODE = '000')

See How Do I Perform FPC Test (FPC Mode 000)? .

Testing 3.4.9 Demodulation of Forward Traffic Channel in Multipath Fading Channel with Outer Loop Power Control and Closed Loop Power Control (FPC_MODE = '000')

See How Do I Perform FPC Test (FPC Mode 000)? .

Related Topics


Frame Error Rate (FER) Measurement Description

Programming an FER (Frame Error Rate) Measurement

Frame Error Rate Measurement Troubleshooting