Signaling Tone Measurement Description

Last updated: June 20, 2006

How is a Signaling Tone measurement made?

Signaling Tone is a 10 kHz tone that is generated by a mobile station and transmitted on the reverse analog voice channel to the test set. The signal tone is used to confirm orders, signal flash requests and signal release requests.

When the signaling tone measurement is initiated, the test set detects and measures the signaling tone. If the signaling tone is detected, the frequency of the signaling tone, the positive peak frequency deviation and the negative frequency deviation of carrier are measured and the frequency error that is the difference between the measured frequency and 10 kHz is calculated. If the signaling tone is not detected, the measurement is attempted anyway and the results are reported.

Operating Consideration

This measurement is available in Active Cell operating mode, AVC Test operating mode and CW operating mode.

When in Active Cell, test set is set to send Maintenance Order Message or Alert message to the mobile station to turn on the signaling tone.

Signaling Tone Measurement Parameters

The signaling tone measurement setup menu provides control over the following parameters

Multi-Measurement Count (See Statistical Measurement Results ) - Select On to enable averaging of multiple signaling tone measurement results.
Trigger Arm (See Trigger Arm (Single or Continuous) Description )
Measurement Timeout (see Timeouts )

Signaling Tone Measurement Results

In single measurement, the measurement results are

Integrity Indicator (See Integrity Indicator )
Positive Peak Carrier Frequency Deviation (See FETCh:STONe:DEViation:PPEak:ALL? ) - If Multi-Measurement Count is On , the average, maximum, minimum and standard deviation positive peak carrier frequency deviations are available. If Multi-Measurement Count is Off , maximum, minimum and standard deviation positive peak carrier frequency deviations are the same as average positive peak carrier frequency deviation.
Negative Peak Carrier Frequency Deviation (See FETCh:STONe:DEViation:NPEak:ALL? ) - If Multi-Measurement Count is On , the average, maximum, minimum and standard deviation negative peak carrier frequency deviations are available. If Multi-Measurement Count is Off , maximum, minimum and standard deviation negative peak carrier frequency deviations are the same as average negative peak carrier frequency deviation.
Frequency (See FETCh:STONe:FREQuency:ALL? ) - If Multi-Measurement Count is On , the average, maximum, minimum and standard deviation frequencies are available. If Multi-Measurement Count is Off , maximum, minimum and standard deviation frequencies are the same as average frequency.
Frequency Error (See FETCh:STONe:FERRor:ALL? ) - If Multi-Measurement Count is On , the average, maximum, minimum and standard deviation frequency errors are available. If Multi-Measurement Count is Off , maximum, minimum and standard deviation frequency errors are the same as average frequency errors.

A typical single measurement result is shown below

A typical multi-measurement result is shown below

Input Signaling Requirements

The signaling tone measurement meets specifications when the following input signal requirements are met:

The input signal must be within +/- 50 Hz of the test set' s expected frequency, 10 kHz.
The input signal at the RF IN/OUT connection must have analog TX power of at least -15 dBm.
The ratio of the input signal's deviation to residual FM must be greater than 30 dB.

Key TIA/EIA-690 Tests Performed using the Signal Tone Measurement

See Testing 3.3.5 Signaling Tone