Rohde and Schwarz SMCV100B – Vector Signal Generator

Rohde and Schwarz SMCV100B – Vector Signal Generator

The R&S SMCV100B vector signal generator is the first multi-standard platform for automotive, broadcast, navigation and wireless applications. This makes the R&S SMCV100B unique for use in many applications, from the lab to production and wherever different technologies meet.

The R&S SMCV100B vector signal generator features a new direct RF DAC concept for RF signal generation. This concept enables I/Q modulation and upconversion in the digital domain, which eliminates the I and Q imbalance errors and LO leakage associated with traditional analog I/Q modulators.

The R&S SMCV100B options concept is fully software defined. No hardware options are required to obtain full instrument functionality. This software concept applies to upgrading the RF frequency, memory, I/Q modulation bandwidth and all other R&S SMCV100B options for other applications.

Thanks to its flexible and customizable design, the instrument is ready to meet future requirements. Options can easily be added via software keycodes, allowing users to quickly upgrade functions and add bandwidth, output power and even frequency range.

The intuitive, touchscreen based operating concept makes the R&S SMCV100B very ergonomic and practical to use.

State of the Art User Interface

1. High-resolution touchscreen
   • With easy-to-use graphical user interface and block diagram concept
2. Context-sensitive help
   • With complete user documentation
3. Quick access
   • Softkey access to user menus
4. Favorite key
   • For simplified and fast operation via customizable user menu
5. Quick access
   • With RF on/off hardkey
6. RF out connector (N female)
   • With 2 W reverse power protection
7. Graphical signal monitoring
   • At practically every point in the signal flow

Rear Panel Connections

1. Digital visual interface (DVI-D)
   • External monitor interface
2. Reference input
   • For external clock source
3. Reference output
   • For synchronizing external instruments
4. Multifunctional interface
   • Input for ASI, ETI, TS, trigger, SPDIF
   • Output for markers
5. Ethernet (LAN)
   • For remote access and remote control
6. USB 3.0 interfaces
   • PC data and streaming interfaces for waveform streaming
7. QSFP+ slots with 10BASE-T
   • For electrical interfaces (prepared for optical interfaces)
8. IP streaming interface
   • For external IP streaming to broadcast real-time coders
9. Multifunctional interface
   • Input for 1 PPS
   • Output for markers

First Multi-Standard Platform

Modern RF Signal Generation with Direct Digital RF Upconversion Concept

The R&S SMCV100B vector signal generator features a new direct RF DAC concept for RF signal generation. This concept enables I/Q modulation and upconversion in the digital domain which eliminates I and Q imbalance errors and LO leakage as known from traditional analog I/Q modulators.

The direct RF DAC concept is used up to a frequency of 2.5 GHz. For RF frequencies > 2.5 GHz, an analog mixing concept is used to bring the signal to the desired output frequency.

Powerful Internal Baseband Generator

The R&S SMCV100B provides powerful hardware for internal baseband signal generation. The R&S SMCV100B either generates signals in real time in FPGAs or it uses the ARB generator to directly generate I/Q signals for digital communications standards. The R&S WinIQSIM2 signal simulation software can also be used to generate I/Q signals.

Real-time signal generation in FPGAs is especially used for broadcast standards. This technological approach enables continuous and very long uninterrupted signal generation with different data content (audio, video, data, PRBS) for decoding. Such long sequences are required for testing the performance or EMC of tuners.

Internal I/Q Streaming Capabilities

The playing time of arbitrary waveform generators depends on the available hardware memory size and on signal parameters such as the signal bandwidth. This combination usually limits the playing time of conventional ARB generators to a few seconds, which is a problem for measurement applications that require a longer signal duration.

For such applications, the R&S SMCV100B offers the option of playing back I/Q waveforms from the internal solid state hard disk (64 gbyte SSD). The maximum RF bandwidth is 56 mHz. A playing time of almost 4 minutes can be achieved with a 60 gbyte sequence stored on the SSD. For signals with a lower RF bandwidth, the playing time is extended accordingly. A 100 kHz wide FM signal, for example, can be played over a period of several days.

If it is necessary to play even longer I/Q signals, it is possible (via the digital I/Q interface) to use the R&S SMCV100B in combination with other Rohde&Schwarz instruments such as the R&S IQW wideband I/Q data recorder.

R&S WinIQSIM2 Waveform Generation

Modulated signals for different standards can be generated with the R&S WinIQSIM2 simulation software. The simulation software supports wireless standards such as 5G and LTE and the generation of noncellular signals such as Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11xx) and many others.

Navigation standards for functional Go/NoGo tests

With the R&S WinIQSIM2 simulation software, the R&S SMCV100B supports the GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou navigation standards for functional Go/NoGo tests. Signal content for each navigation standard

Signal content for each navigation standard can be generated with a single navigation satellite. The output of this satellite signal makes it possible to quickly perform a simple functional Go/NoGo test of the navigation receiver. For a functional test with a position fix, predefined waveforms of limited length can be played. This makes the R&S SMCV100B ideal for production applications.

GNSS signals supported by R&S WinIQSIM2 – power spectral density of the most important GNSS signals