Active antenna system and methods of testing

The active antenna test system of any preceding claim, wherein in a transmit mode of operation, the baseband processor conductively applies a baseband test signal to the at least one processor of the active antenna unit that routes the baseband test signal through a selected transmit module.

The active antenna test system of any preceding claim further comprising a calibration transceiver operably coupled to the at least one switching module and arranged to selectively apply signals to the externally connectable RF test port via the at least one switching module or receive signals from the externally connectable RF test port via the at least one switching module to determine a performance of the calibration transceiver.

The active antenna test system of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one switching module comprises a switched coupler network comprising a plurality of coupler ports and receives a control signal from the at least one processor in order to select a transmit module or receive module for routing a test signal via at least one of the plurality of coupler ports.

The active antenna test system of any preceding claim wherein the at least one communication test equipment comprises at least one from a group of:

• a radio frequency, RF, test module and at least one baseband processor.

The active antenna test system of any preceding claim wherein the at least one communication test equipment further comprises a scaling process arranged to scale a conductively coupled signal to negate a transfer function of a signal routed between the externally connectable RF test port and a respective antenna port.

The active antenna test system of any preceding claim wherein the at least one baseband processor is arranged to compare a generated test signal with a representation of the test signal having passed through a transceiver module under test.

The active antenna test system of any preceding claim wherein the at least one communication test equipment further comprises at least one of the following:

• a local monitor terminal operably coupled to the at least one baseband processor and arranged to determine a performance or a component or circuit fault in the active antenna unit, a vector voltmeter or a vector analyser operably coupled to the local monitor terminal arranged to determine a vector error due to a component or circuit fault in the active antenna unit, a signal generator arranged to generate a test signal at a radio frequency or at baseband.