Boosting ser test for RF transceivers by simple DSP technique

The paper presents a new technique of symbol error rate test (SER) for RF transceivers. A simple DSP algorithm implemented at the receiver baseband is introduced in terms of constellation correction, which is usually used to compensate for IQ imbalance. The test is oriented at detection of impairments in gain and noise figure in a transceiver frontend. The proposed approach is shown to enhance the sensitivity of a traditional SER test to the limits of its counterpart, the error vector magnitude (EVM) test. Its advantage over EVM is in simple implementation, lower DSP overhead and the ability of achieving a larger dynamic range of the test response. Also the test time is saved compared to a traditional SER test. The technique is validated by a simulation model of a Wi-Fi transceiver implemented in Matlab ™.