RF Channel Simulators enhance communication system quality and decrease costs

The radio frequency (RF) channel simulator is rapidly emerging as a standard test and measurement instrument for RF communication systems, since it is capable of easily generating RF signals that that precisely duplicate those between transmitters and receivers that when deployed, will be in motion with respect to one another.The channel simulator enables such tests without requiring any actual relative motion or separation distance, therefore supporting flight and ground system tests, for example, without requiring actual flights. Nominal and worst-case RF conditions and flight profiles can be easily and inexpensively duplicated in the lab. This enhances system quality and decreases overall costs through broader and deeper test coverage, faster test development and execution, and less expensive equipment. As well, since the RF channel simulator produces signals that are indistinguishable from those that will occur in nature, system over-design in response to unrealistic stimulation of devices under test is minimized.