Radiated two-stage MIMO OTA test method progress for antenna performance evaluation

This paper discusses recent developments with the two-stage MIMO OTA test method. It first introduces the concept of the two-stage method which is based on a first stage of antenna pattern measurement followed by a second stage of throughput measurement using a signal generated by convolving the device antenna pattern with the desired spatial channel model. The resulting signal is applied to the DUT either through a conducted or radiated connection. The radiated version of the two-stage method was approved by 3GPP in Technical Report 37.977 v12.0.0. This paper will review recent two-stage work in CTIA and 3GPP including the specification of an antenna test function (ATF) in 3GPP Technical Report 36.978, the new RTS one box test solution, the latest test results and system performance based on the one box test solution.