Channel Emulators Catalog

Channel Emulators Catalog

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This Catalog provides a complete overview of hardware and software solutions designed to replicate real‑world wireless propagation conditions in a controlled laboratory environment. It introduces a wide range of channel emulation platforms, OTA chambers, and companion software that enable engineers to accurately model fading, mobility, interference, Doppler effects, multipath environments, and spatial channel characteristics for technologies spanning 5G NR, LTE, Wi‑Fi®, NTN, SATCOM, MANET, and emerging 6G research. These solutions bring field‑grade RF behavior into the lab to enable reliable, repeatable, and scalable performance testing.
 

Channel emulator hardware is presented as the foundation of end‑to‑end wireless testing, supporting 16 to 64 RF channels, wideband signals up to 1.6 GHz, and frequency coverage from 3 MHz through mmWave bands including 24–29.5 GHz and 37–43.5 GHz. These emulators reproduce multipath environments, beamforming scenarios, massive MIMO behavior, mobility profiles, and dynamic handovers, allowing device and infrastructure developers to reduce field‑test dependencies while achieving precise, programmable RF conditions.
 

The catalog details five major channel‑emulation toolsets:

  • General Channel Emulation Toolsets support sub‑6 GHz through mmWave modeling with stochastic, ray‑tracing, and field‑to‑lab scenarios for 5G NR, Wi‑Fi 6/7, IoT, automotive, satellite, and RedCap applications. Engineers can dynamically adjust fading, blockage, mobility, and interference parameters during live testing.
  • The MIMO OTA Emulator Toolset focuses on 5G MIMO OTA device validation, supporting 3GPP channel models, 1024‑QAM modulation, spatial emulation, and beamforming analysis for FR1/FR2. It is trusted by major operators and system integrators for 5G OTA performance validation.
  • The RF Field‑to‑Lab Toolset enables engineers to capture RF environments—interference, fading, handovers—from the field and replay them in the lab. This bridges unpredictable field conditions with repeatable debugging and regression testing for 5G and LTE deployments.
  • The Satellite and Aerospace Channel Emulation Toolset simulates dynamic satellite, UAV, and airborne channels including high Doppler, long propagation delays, atmospheric fades, and trajectory‑based motion, supporting LEO/MEO/GEO and multi‑waveform testing.
  • The MANET Channel Emulation Toolset is designed for tactical mesh, D2D, and C‑V2X networks, supporting multihop propagation, terrain‑based mobility models, dynamic node topologies, and orchestrated multi‑link testing for mission‑critical communication systems.
     

The catalog also summarizes a full range of anechoic OTA test chambers, enabling isolated RF testing from sub‑6 GHz through mmWave:

  • CATR OTA Chambers provide indirect far‑field test capabilities for FR2 UE, 6G research, radar, and NTN device testing, supporting up to 90 GHz and high repeatability.
  • MPAC OTA Chambers deliver direct far‑field mmWave measurements with 3–8 angles of arrival, multiprobe arrays, and full 3D beam‑pattern acquisition for 5G FR2 and phased‑array verification.
  • Rack‑Mountable OTA Chambers provide compact, shielded, 19‑inch rack‑integrated test environments for sub‑6 GHz and mmWave device testing in R&D and integration labs.
  • Manufacturing OTA Chambers support rapid production‑line mmWave testing with pneumatic doors, adjustable horn antennas, and integrated switching for high‑throughput FR2 device validation.
     

Software and accessory options expand these test environments with capabilities for 5G NR device verification, RRM acceptance, virtual drive testing, regulatory testing, Channel Studio modeling, mmWave transceivers, and common interface units, enabling tightly integrated RF workflows across diverse validation stages.
 

The catalog concludes with KeysightCare support services, which provide prioritized assistance, calibration, and expert guidance to maintain system accuracy, maximize uptime, and accelerate adoption of Keysight’s advanced channel‑emulation solutions. High‑performance hardware includes one year of KeysightCare Assured.