Methods for over-the-air testing of base station receiver sensitivity

A method of testing a base station apparatus comprising multiple transceiver units coupled to an antenna array, wherein the base station apparatus is configured to support multi-carrier transmission using the multiple transceiver units and wherein the base station apparatus is rated with a respective maximum equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) for each of a predetermined number of simultaneous carriers, the method comprising:

• calculating a sum of the rated maximum EIRPs for the predetermined number of simultaneous carriers;
• transmitting an interfering test signal on a single carrier frequency in a transmit band for the base station apparatus, using the multiple transceiver units and the antenna array, wherein the interfering test signal has a total EIRP at least approximately equal to the calculated sum;
• transmitting a desired test signal to the base station apparatus, in a receive band for the base station apparatus, using a test signal generator and a test antenna separate from the base station apparatus;
• and
• evaluating a receiver sensitivity for the base station apparatus, based on the desired test signal, while the interfering test signal is being transmitted.

A method of testing a base station apparatus comprising multiple transceiver units coupled to an antenna array, wherein the base station apparatus is configured to support multi-carrier transmission using the multiple transceiver units and wherein the base station apparatus is rated with a respective maximum equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP) for each of a predetermined number of simultaneous carriers, the method comprising:

• transmitting an interfering test signal comprising multiple carriers in a transmit band for the base station apparatus, using the multiple transceiver units and the antenna array, wherein each of the multiple carriers is transmitted at the respective rated maximum EIRP for the carrier;
• transmitting a desired test signal to the base station apparatus, in a receive band for the base station apparatus, using a test signal generator and a test antenna separate from the base station apparatus;
• and
• evaluating a receiver sensitivity for the base station apparatus, based on the desired test signal, while the interfering test signal is being transmitted.