Aeroflex’s subsidiary IFR has designed a test fixture, a wide-band antenna coupler and screened box, for use with the 2935 test head and phonetest software, making it possible to test GSM phones ‘off air’. Mobile phones use a variety of different physical connectors making it neces-sary to maintain a wide variety of interfacing cable assemblies for connection to test equipment, while some mobiles have inaccessible RF connections making it impractical to directly measure. The antenna coupler overcomes these problems by providing an ‘off air’ connection to the radio tester for any make or model of GSM phone operating in any band. This approach further improves test coverage, as direct connection to the tester bypasses any check of the antenna itself which can often be the source of the problem experienced by the user. The coupler simplifies testing and in doing so improves workshop throughput. The operator has only to insert the repair item into the fixture clamp. There is no partial disassembly of the phone required and no search for specific test leads. Another advantage is that the measurement uncertainty associated with using the tool can be determined for each phone type and kept stored within the database. The user does not have to make adjustments of test results corresponding to a specific test lead. The screened box is designed to house the coupler and provides RF screening from external interference
EPP EUROPE 476
