Validation Methodology for a Digital Wireless Channel Emulator

A Radio Frequency (RF) Wireless Channel Emulator (WCE) is technology used to emulate the RF environment for wireless devices so they can be evaluated in a laboratory while reproducing channel effects otherwise seen in the field. This increases the repeatability of evaluations, saves time and money in logistical and programmatic costs, and can analyze real world situations, such as an actual battlefield prior to engagement or the effect of a radio mounted on an aircraft. The types of scenarios are endless. All this benefit is relatively meaningless however, if the evaluator does not have confidence that the WCE will produce the same effects that would be seen in the real world. This paper is a validation study of a specific WCE, the Digital Battle space Environment Simulator (DBES) and provides a framework by which other channel emulators could be compared. A methodology for evaluating the fidelity of a channel emulator by measuring several key components is described. These components are analyzed experimentally and compared against the theoretical ideal without being radio specific. After this analysis had been completed several scenarios were run with radios in order to observe the results.