Rohde & Schwarz SMU200A - Bit and Block Error Rate Measurements - BERT Block

Instrument Function
R&S
®
SMU200A
174Operating Manual 1007.9845.32 ─ 15
5.4 Bit and Block Error Rate Measurements - BERT Block
The R&S Signal Generator contains an integrated bit error rate tester which makes it
possible to evaluate a signal demodulated and decoded by a DUT by measuring the bit
error rate. A known PRBS-modulated data sequence (PRBS = pseudo random binary
sequence) is sent to the DUT. The PRBS data sequence is decoded by the DUT and
sent to the R&S Signal Generator in the form of clock and data signals. The bit error rate
tester of the R&S Signal Generator synchronizes to the known PRBS sequence and
counts the bit errors. The quotient obtained by dividing the number of error bits by the
total number of bits is the BER.
In addition, a block error rate measurement can be used to verify CRC checksums. The
ratio of errored blocks to total blocks yields the block error rate.
The settings are shown in the block diagram in the "BERT" function block and in the menu
of the same name that is accessed via the MENU button.
The equipment layout for the basic unit (R&S Signal Generator with B10x frequency
option) includes the option R&S SMU-K80 (Bit Error Rate Tester).
Bit and Block Error Rate Measurements - BERT Block