STEVENAGE, England, 14 Nov. 2012. Aeroflex Ltd. in Stevenage, England, is introducing a version of the company's 7100 digital radio test set with support for 4x2 multi-input multi-output (MIMO) for research testing of LTE user equipment.

The 4x2 MIMO test & measurement capability is used adaptively improve throughput in good signal conditions, and for improved resilience in poor signal conditions.

When the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the user equipment is good, the device can make use of spatial multiplexing, where several information streams transmit simultaneously to improve throughput.

When the signal-to-noise ratio is poor then transmit diversity is employed. This is where one information stream is distributed across separately encoded antenna ports to reduce the variations in signal-to-noise ratio.

Measurements are made at the base station and at the user equipment and these are used to determine how many streams can be supported in the prevailing signal conditions.

Option 7100-111 is a software license to add 4x2 MIMO functionality in the field. Testing control is through command line interface control or programming via remote API.

For more information contact Aeroflex Test Solutions online at www.aeroflex.com/ats.