By joining the FiRaTM Consortium, Rohde & Schwarz contributes to the organization’s efforts to establish a certification program for UWB devices. Rohde & Schwarz brings along a broad expertise in mobile device
testing and certification.
Rohde & Schwarz announced today to have joined the FiRa Consortium as an associate member. FiRa, short for “fine ranging”, is an organization dedicated to growing the UWB ecosystem by ensuring interoperability between multiple devices through compliance and certification programs. The FiRa Consortium focuses on three core UWB services: hands-free access control, location based services and device-to-device services that rely on the latest UWB based secure ranging technology specified by the IEEE
802.15.4z.
The advantages of the UWB standard include centimeter-accurate location measurements, allowing for
doors to open when approached with a UWB device or bringing positioning functionality to indoor
environments. UWB also features secure device-to-device data communications with very low power
requirements. The very wide bandwidth and very low power density make it easy for UWB signals to share
spectrum with other narrowband and wideband systems without causing interference.
As a leader in wireless device testing, Rohde & Schwarz collaborates with industry partners to develop UWB
test solutions for R&D, certification and production, including essentials like time of flight (ToF) and angle of
arrival (AoA) measurements as well as device calibration procedures. Alexander Pabst, Vice President
Market Segment Wireless Communications, comments: “We at Rohde & Schwarz recognize the power of a
secure and reliable UWB technology and are pleased to further strengthen our collaboration with members of
the FiRa Consortium to establish a strong certification framework.”
The R&S CMP200 radio communication tester from Rohde & Schwarz, for instance, is ideal for solving UWB
challenges in production as well as in R&D. It combines the capabilities of a signal analyzer and generator in
a single instrument. In combination with the Rohde & Schwarz WMT software service to implement
automated wireless manufacturing testing and a wide portfolio of shielded chambers, the R&S CMP200
offers a complete solution for transmitter, receiver, ToF and AoA measurements in conducted and radiated
mode, compliant to IEEE 802.15.4a/z specifications. The R&S SMM100A is a midrange vector signal
generator covering up to 44 GHz, and the only in its class to offer a maximum RF modulation bandwidth of 1
GHz, thus meeting the requirements to generate broadband signals used by UWB devices in R&D and
production.
