RF power amplifier testing

From wafer to design-in

Power amplifiers are a crucial part of any RF design. These essential components get the RF signal to the right power level for transmission and the strength the receiver needs to recognize and decode the signal. Various applications, from low noise amplifiers often used at receiver frontends to high power amplifiers used at larger broadcast systems, face challenges such as signal distortion, power consumption, and a variety of measurements and reruns.

Rohde & Schwarz solutions help you verify your design with unmatched RF measurement performance, dynamic low level power consumption analysis and high test speed.

Learn more in our brochure "RF amplifier testing – from wafer to design-in".

Download now Contact us

New to amplifier design and test or are you looking for a refresh?

Get an overview and new insights in our eGuide Testing RF power amplifier designs.

More information

Webinars

I/Q noise cancellation

In this webinar, we have a closer look at these challenges and how they have a direct impact on the performance requirements for the test equipment.

More information

A summary of testing RF power amplifier designs

This webinar is intended for engineers who work on RF power amplifier design and test. It will cover the purposes of research & development, characterization, and production.

More information

Advanced Testing of 5G mmWave RF Systems

Join engineers from Otava, Avnet, and Rohde & Schwarz as they demonstrate test solutions for Avnet’s Wideband mmWave Radio Development Kit for the single chip combining programmable logic and a processing system, the Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC Gen-3.

More information

From design to real RF device – connecting EDA simulation and hardware test

This webinar is intended for engineers who design RF components and systems using tools for simulation and hardware test.

More information

Investigate RF power amplifier linearization benefits in EDA - including a comparison to hardware test

This webinar is intended for engineers who design RF frontends and RF power amplifiers and striving for the best possible error vector magnitude (EVM) performance.

More information

Power amplifier efficiency optimization

While the target application dictates the RF requirements, efficiency and cost are the main differentiating factors for RF power amplifier solutions. Various techniques can be used to improve efficiency, e.g. technologies such as GaN with increased energy density. Envelope tracking and digital predistortion (DPD) extend the linear range of amplifiers. Classic multipath structures such as Doherty and outphasing amplifiers are experiencing a comeback in current designs.

More information

RF power amplifier performance verification

When designing and using an RF power amplifier in a dedicated application such as a 5G base station, the system requirements for RF performance concerning EVM, ACLR, linear range, harmonics and output power are given. However, compliance with system requirements needs to be ensured.

More information

White paper: Understanding EVM

This paper provides an introduction to error vector magnitude (EVM), which is the primary metric of modulation accuracy. It discusses the fundamentals of the digital modulation schemes used in modern radio frequency communications systems, in particular, APSK and QAM, the fundamentals of error vector magnitude, and basics of constellation diagrams and how constellation diagrams can often be used to diagnose or troubleshoot the common root causes of EVM.

More information