MIMO Testing

Theoretical MIMO gain assumes that each individual link between the transmit and the receive antenna is uncorrelated. The MIMO gain can be used for improved performance, either as extended coverage or as higher data throughput. The actual MIMO gain is dependent on the propagation environment; hence the ability to test against realistic environment models is essential.

The repeatability and reliability of exact fading conditions are of great importance in comparing different designs and MIMO technologies. For MIMO testing, the requirement for excellent RF performance is accompanied by high delay accuracy between channels as well as controllable amplitude and phase correlation. Channel modeling tools that allow the creation of MIMO test scenarios with either a complex correlation or geometrical approach are essential.

EB Propsim radio channel emulators support up to 16 MIMO channels (for example 4x4 or 2x8). The channel modeling tools provided with EB Propsim radio channel emulators allow various MIMO channel modeling approaches, such as direction of arrival/direction of departure, complex correlation matrix and 3GPP spatial channel modeling. The EB Propsim radio channel emulators fulfill the performance requirements of MIMO testing extending from WCDMA to Wi-Fi and mobile WiMAX.