SOURCEFORGE » RALF » 2014 ACM testing using channel emulation

h1. Lab Setup

Equipment Rack:

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All measurements were performed in Telecom Bretagne's satellite communication labs in Toulouse. Our setup consisted of a main rack containing principal hardware and several control PCs. The first contains the DVB-S2 modems, a R&S signal analyzer, a networking switch and the link emulation hardware. Here's a diagram describing the setup as well as connections.

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*Measurement equipment:*

+1 x Rhode & Schwartz FSV Signal and Spectrum Analyzer+

Here's a video showing the 16APSK in action:

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*Networking:*

+1 x CISCO 2811

1 x Newtec EL470 DVB-S2 HUB modem

1 x Newtec EL470 DVB-S2 Station modem+

*Link Emulation:*

+1 x NI PXIe-1078 Chassis+

_The NI PXIe-1078 nine-slot chassis features a backplane that incorporates a PCI Express connection to every slot to meet a wide range of test and measurement application needs. It accepts PXI Express modules in every slot and supports standard PXI hybrid-compatible modules. The chassis includes built-in timing and synchronization features including 10 and 100 MHz reference clocks as well as a PXI trigger bus._

+2 x NI PXIe-5644R VSTs+

_The NI PXIe-5644R vector signal transceivers (VSTs) are part of a new class of instrumentation that combines a vector signal generator and vector signal analyzer with FPGA-based real-time signal processing and control. Because of this software-designed approach, a VST features the flexibility of a software defined radio architecture with RF instrument class performance._

+1 x NI PXIe-8360 PXIe Controller+

_PCI Express card installed on laboratory PC to communicate with VSTs._

*Lab PCs:*

_+PC1+ - Remote managing of Newtec modems.

+PC2+ - Data source for HUB modem, connects directly to HUB's ethernet interface A through a twisted pair cable.

+PC3+ - Data source for Station modem, connects directly to Stations's ethernet interface Aa twisted pair cable.

+PC4+ - Channel emulator controller, handles processing of VST acquired signals._