A CTIA approved antenna measurement system for over-the-air testing of wireless devices

The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) certification program provides the wireless industry with an unbiased, independent and centralized product evaluation service. Mobile telephone and wireless device suppliers who market products in North America, or who seek to demonstrate equivalency to CTIA standards, need to follow CTIA procedures. The CTIA Certification Program Working Group (CPWG), develops test requirements for Part 1(CDMA, GSM, TDMA and analog test plans) and Part 2 (over-the-air performance test plan, or antenna test plan). Manufacturers wishing to sell CTIA certified devices must perform all required tests and many US wireless carriers have made CTIA certification a requirement. Tests must be performed at a CTIA authorized test lab (CATL) which must be A2LA accredited. CTIA CPWG is actively seeking international participation in the certification program. The mobile station over-the-air performance test plan provides test methods for measuring radiated power and sensitivity performance of mobiles both in free-space and against a simulated human head. The paper describes the system requirements of a test facility that would be required for a CATL to perform CTIA Part 2 testing.