Application Note

Testing O-RAN Fronthaul

5G Base Station Rx Characteristics
ORAN Test Platform MX772000PC
O-DU Emulator Platform Software MX773000PC

Contents
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2

2. Preparations .................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 REQUIRED SOFTWARE ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
2.2 REQUIRED HARDWARE ....................................................................................................................................................... 2
2.3 EQUIPMENT CONNECTIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 3

3. BLER Measurement Using MX773000PC ...................................................................... 4

3.1 CREATE WAVEFORM USING IQPRODUCER ....................................................................................................................... 4
3.2 CREATE MT8000A WAVEFORM INSTALLER USING IQPRODUCER ............................................................................... 8
3.3 INSTALL MT8000A WAVEFORM ...................................................................................................................................... 9
3.4 SET MX800046A UPLINK .............................................................................................................................................. 11
3.5 SET MX773000PC UPLINK UC-PLANE PARAMETERS AND CREATE UPLINK C-PLANE DATA FILE ....................... 12
3.6 EXECUTE MEASUREMENT ................................................................................................................................................. 15
3.7 CONFIRM MEASUREMENT RESULTS ................................................................................................................................ 15

4. BLER Measurement Using MX772000PC .................................................................... 16

4.1 CREATE SEQUENCE............................................................................................................................................................ 17
4.2 EXECUTE MEASUREMENT ................................................................................................................................................. 21
4.3 CONFIRM MEASUREMENT RESULTS ................................................................................................................................ 21

5. Troubleshooting Example ............................................................................................ 23

IF BLER MEASUREMENT ERROR DISPLAYED ................................................................................................................................. 23

6. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 24
 1. Introduction
The 3GPP TS38.141-1 7.2 Reference sensitivity level specification is the expected 5G base station test standard for achieving
a minimum throughput of 95% (maximum 5% BLER) at the Reference sensitivity power level using FRC (Fixed Reference
Channels).
This FRC test includes many definitions, depending on the band, bandwidth, sub-carrier spacing, etc., causing difficulties in
creating all FRC waveforms.
The MX773000PC software facilitates easy creation of FRC waveforms using the IQproducer Easy Setup function. Additionally,
settings can be changed based on the FRC waveform to create actual operation waveforms as well as FRC waveforms.
Since the MX773000PC also supports real-time BLER analysis, it can also measure BLER during faults to confirm 5G base
station operating conditions.
The MX772000C software controls the MX773000PC and MX800046A to measure BLER automatically as the level changes.
Measured results are displayed graphically to easily measure and confirm sensitive points (UL level vs reference BLER).
This application note explains how to measure the BLER of 5G base stations using the MX772000PC and MX773000PC.

2. Preparations
2.1 Required Software
The following software are required to measure BLER.

Model Name
MX772000PC ORAN Test Platform
MX772000PC-TL001 MX773000PC Control Plugin (1 year)
MX772000PC-TL002 MT8000A Control Plugin (1 year)
MX773000PC O-DU Emulator Platform Software
MX773000PC-TL001 ORU Test Suite (1 year)
MX773000PC-TL040 UL U-Plane Analyzer (1 year)
MX800046A MX800046A Base Station Test Suite for NR sub-6 GHz
This BLER measurement function is supported by the June 2024 beta test version. The later official release will require
separate software purchase.

2.2 Required Hardware

The following hardware are required to measure BLER.

Model Name
MT8000A Radio Communication Test Station
MT8000A-001 Control Module
MT8000A-020 RF Base Module
MT8000A-021 0.4GHz-6GHz RF Sub Module
MT1000A Network Master Pro
MT1000A-005 AUX I/O
MU100010A1 10G Multirate Module
MU100010A-001 Up to 2.7G Dual Channel
MU100090B High Performance GNSS Disciplined Oscillator
G0437A Server for O-DU Emulator
G0438A Accelerator Card for O-RAN Fronthaul

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2.3 Equipment Connections
Connect the test equipment as shown below to measure BLER.

LAN cable
Optical cable
RF cable
USB-LAN USB-LAN
Adapter Adapter

Control PC

Ref Input MT1000A

10 MHz 50 Ω 10 MHz Ref Out
Control
Event Trig Input 1 PPS Out
RF1,Main 1 1LVTTL
BNC T-Adapter

MT8000A

MEAS#1

O-RU O-DU Emulator

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 3. BLER Measurement Using MX773000PC
Use the following procedure to measure BLER with the MX773000PC software. Refer to sections 3.1 to 3.7 to check the actual
procedure.
Step 1 Create waveform
↓ Create Waveform using IQproducer
Step 2 Create waveform installer and install
Create MT8000A Waveform Installer Using IQproducer
↓ ↓
Install Install MT8000A
Step 3 Set measurement parameters
Set Set MX800046A Uplink
↓
↓
Set Set MX773000PC Uplink UC-Plane Parameters and Create Uplink
C-Plane Data File
Step 4 Execute measurement and check results
Execute Measurement
↓
Confirm Measurement Results

3.1 Create Waveform using IQproducer

Use IQproducer to create the Uplink waveform used by the MX773000PC and MX800046A.

[Setting Procedure]
1. Select the MX773000PC Uplink UC-Plane tab and click the [IQproducer] button.

2. Click the [Launch] button at the Make UL C-Plane Data dialog.

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3. Select MT8000A/MX773000PC at the Select instrument dialog and click the [OK] button.

4. Click the [5G NR sub-6GHz] button at the IQproducer for MT8000A dialog.

5. Select [Easy Setup] → [BS Test] → [FRC] in sequence at the 5GNR sub-6GHz IQproducer for MT8000A dialog and select
the target FRC measurement.

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 6. Set the following parameters at the 5GNR sub-6GHz IQproducer for MT8000A dialog.

O-RAN Mode On
Carrier Frequency O-RU Frequency Example: 3351.000000[MHz]
Data Status Enable for Uplink Slot; Disable for Downlink Slot

7. Click the [Calculation] button at the 5GNR sub-6GHz IQproducer for MT8000A dialog.

8. Input the Package and Export File Name at the Export File dialog and click the [OK] button.

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9. At the opened Calculation dialog, wait until the displayed [OK] button is enabled and click it.

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 3.2 Create MT8000A Waveform Installer Using IQproducer
Use IQproducer to create the waveform installer for outputting the Uplink signal from the MT8000.

[Setting Procedure]
1. Click the [Installer Generator] button at the IQproducer for MT8000A dialog.

2. Input the Installer Name and Package Name data at the ARB Installer Generator dialog and double-click the No. 0 row.

3. Click the [Select] button at the Setting Pattern Data dialog. At the displayed file selection dialog, select the wvd file
created as described in section 3.1.
After selecting the wvd file, click the [Set] button and then click the [Close] button.

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4. At ARB Installer Generator dialog, confirm the file set at No. 0 and click the [Generate ARB Installer] button.
The file name set at the file save dialog is saved.

3.3 Install MT8000A Waveform

Install the waveform created in section 3.2 in the MT8000A.

[Setting Procedure]
1. Click the [Firmware Downloader] button at the MX800000A Application Launcher.

2. Click the [Select zip] button at the MT8000A Firmware Downloader dialog and select the ARB Installer created in section
3.2. Then click the [Download] button.

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 3. When the download completes, the Firmware Downloader – Reboot – dialog is displayed. Click the [Yes] button to
reboot the MT8000A.

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3.4 Set MX800046A Uplink
Set the Uplink parameters using the MX800046A and output the Uplink signal from the MT8000A.

[Setting Procedure]
1. Select Level/Freq Setup/ARB at the MX800046A menu and set Slot1/TRX1 to the following settings.

Frequency
SG Frequency O-RU Frequency Example: 3351.000000 [MHz]
SG
Output Level O-RU Level Example: –10.0 [dBm]
Output Level On/Off On
Modulation On/Off On
ARB
Package Output Waveform Package Number Example: 0
Pattern Output Waveform Pattern Number Example: 0
SG Trigger On
SG Trigger Delay Value calculated from O-RUn-ta-offset Example: –
2604

Example: SG Trigger Delay Settings when -ta-offset = 25600

n-ta-offset 25600
Timing Advance [ns] 13021 n-ta-offset/1.96608
SG Trigger Delay [Sample@200MSPS] –2604 -200 x Timing Advance x 10-3

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 3.5 Set MX773000PC Uplink UC-Plane Parameters and Create Uplink C-Plane Data
File
Set and save the Uplink parameters using the MX773000PC.

[Setting Procedure]
1. Select the MX773000PC Uplink UC-Plane tab and set Mode of Capture and Analyze to BLER.

2. Set the following Capture/Analyze Parameters.

Common
t1a-max-cp-ul Value matching O-RU setting Example: 500000 [ns]
ta4-max Value matching O-RU setting Example: 250000[ ns]
eAxC_ID Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0
Highest Subcarrier Spacing Value matching O-RU setting Example: 30 [kHz]
Supported by O-RU
Downlink Radio Frame Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0
Offset
Downlink SFN Offset Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0
Compression Parameters
Compression Type Value matching O-RU setting Example: Static
IQ Bitwidth Value matching O-RU setting Example: 9
Compression Method Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0001b_block floating point
C-Plane Common Header
startSymbolId Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0
C-Plane Section Parameters
rb Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0
symInc Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0
numPrbc Flag Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0:all PRBs
reMask 0xFFF
beamId Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0
Uplink Analysis Parameters
gain-correction Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0
FS_Offset Value matching O-RU setting Example: 0
Number of TBs Example: 100
*Uplink Slot Number equivalent to number of TBs/Frame = Measured
Frame Number

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3. Click the [IQproducer] button.

4. Click the [Select File] button at the Make UL C-Plane Data dialog to open the file selection dialog and select the oraUlIq
file created as described in section 3.1.

5. Click the [Import] button at the Make UL C-Plane Data dialog.

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 6. Click the […] button at the Make UL C-Plane Data dialog to open the file save dialog, set the file name, and click the
[Make] button.

7. Select the MX773000PC Uplink UC-Plane tab and click the […] button. At the file selection dialog, select the file created
at Step 6.

8. Click the MX773000PC [Save As] button to display the file save dialog and set and save the file name.

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3.6 Execute Measurement
Send the Uplink C-Plane Packet from the MX773000PC and measure the Uplink BLER.

[Setting Procedure]
1. Select the MX773000PC Uplink UC-Plane tab and click the [Open] button. Select the file created as described in section
3.5 at the file selection dialog.

2. Click the [Run] button. Measurement finishes automatically when measurement of the Number of TBs part completes.

3.7 Confirm Measurement Results

Confirm the measured results at the MX773000PC Analyze Data field.

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 4. BLER Measurement Using MX772000PC
The MX772000PC software measures BLER automatically by controlling the MX773000PC and MX800046A externally.

Use the following procedure to measure BLER using the MX772000PC software. Refer to sections 3.1 to 3.7 to check the
actual procedure.

Step 1 Create waveform

 Create Waveform using IQproducer
Step 2 Create waveform installer and install
Create MT8000A Waveform Installer Using IQproducer
 
Install MT8000A Waveform
Step 3 Set measurement parameters
Set MX773000PC Uplink UC-Plane Parameters and Create Uplink C-
Plane Data File


Create Sequence
Step 4 Execute Measurement/Check Measured Results
Execute Measurement

Confirm Measurement Results

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4.1 Create Sequence
Use the MX772000PC to create the BLER automatic measurement sequence.

1. Click the MX772000PC [Test Equipment] button.

2. Set the ports and parameters as follows at the Test Equipment (New) dialog and click the [OK] button.

Controlled Ports
Port Slot1/TRX1
Execution target Set checkmark to On
Parameters
Level/Frequency Setup/ARB
Level Frequency
SG Frequency O-RU Frequency Example: 3351.000000 [MHz]
SG
Output Level O-RU Level Example: –10.0 [dBm]
Output Level On/Off On
Modulation On/Off On
ARB
Package 0
Pattern 0
SG Trigger On
SG Trigger Delay Value calculated from O-RU n-ta-offset Example: –2604

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 3. Click the MX772000PC [O-DU Plane] button.

4. Set the following at the O-DU Plane (New) dialog and click the [OK] button.
Plane UC-Plane:Uplink (BLER)
Uplink UC-Plane Setting File (checkbox section) Set checkmark to On
Uplink UC-Plane Setting File (file setting section) orasa file saved previously using MX773000PC
Result Check
BLER Upper Limit Measured result BLER PASS threshold Example: 5.0 [%]

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5. Click the MX772000PC [Test Equipment–O-DU] button.

6. Set the following at the Test Equipment–O-DU (New) dialog and click the [OK] button.

Uplink UC-Plane Setting File Set checkmark to On

(checkbox section)
Uplink UC-Plane Setting File orasa file saved previously using MX773000PC
(file settings section)
Controlled Ports
Port Slot1/TRX1 – Port #0
Execution Target Set checkmark to On
Setting
Start SG Output Level SG Output Level Start Level output from MX800046A Example: –50.0 [dBm]
SG Output Level Range SG Output Level Range output from MX800046A Example: –10.0 [dBm]
SG Output Level Interval SG Output Level 1 Measurement Level change output from MX800046A Example: 0.1
[dBm]
BLER Result Check
Start of Limit Range BLER Limit Level Range (Lower) Example: –60.0 [dBm]
End of Limit Range BLER Limit Level Range (Upper) Example: –50.0 [dBm]
BLER Upper Limit Measured result BLER PASS threshold Example: 5.0 [%]

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20
4.2 Execute Measurement
1. Click the MX772000PC [Run (all)] button.

4.3 Confirm Measurement Results

1. Confirm the BLER measured values and results at the MX772000PC Execution Log.

2. Confirm the BLER measured values and results at Step 2 at the MX772000PC Execution Log.

3. Confirm the BLER measured values and results at Step 3 at the MX772000PC Execution Log.

4. Select [Logs] → [Graph Viewer] → [BLER] in sequence at the MX772000PC menu and confirm the BLER graph measured
at Step 3.

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22
5. Troubleshooting Example
If BLER Measurement Error Displayed

If the [NR_MEAS_FrameSync()] error is displayed at BLER measurement, there a high possibility that Timing Offset drift has
occurred.
Confirm the Timing Offset by analyzing the User Data as follows and adjust the Timing Offset to about ±10 ns.

[Adjustment Procedure]
1. Select the MX773000PC Uplink UC-Plane data and set Mode of Capture and Analyze to User Data.

2. Click the [Run] button. Measurement is completed automatically when analysis finishes.

3. Confirm the measured Timing Offset result at the Analyze Data field.

4. Set the MX800046A SG Trigger Delay parameter.

Example: When SG Trigger Delay = –2604, Timing Offset = 293 ns
・Timing Offset x –200 x 10-3 calculation
293 x –200 x 10-3 = –58.6 ≒ –59

・Set the new SG Trigger Delay calculated as SG Trigger Delay + calculated value
–2604 – 59 = –2663

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 6. Conclusion
This application note explains how to test the Rx characteristics of 5G base stations using the O-DU Emulator. The
MX72000PC/MX773000PC software packages facilitate 5G base station development and production by simplifying and
cutting the time required to measure BLER.

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 Specifications are subject to change without notice.

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Printed in Japan 2024-6 MJM No. MX772000PC_BLER-E-F-1-(1.00)