Ultrawideband VNA based channel sounding system for centimetre and millimetre wave bands

Channel characterization of multipath channels at centimetre and millimetre wave bands is of interest from both academia and industry, especially for the frequency bands that are under consideration for 5G mobile communication systems. In this paper, we first demonstrate the limitations of an existing vector network analyzer (VNA) based channel sounding system in terms of frequency range and measurement range. After that, an improved system is proposed to address these limitations. The proposed system is capable of measuring from 2 to 50 GHz at 30 meters distances. A measurement campaign utilizing the proposed setup equipped with rotational directive horn antennas, with a focus on multi-band power-angle-delay profiles, was performed. The measured frequency bands are 18–20 GHz, 25–27 GHz, 28–30 GHz and 38–40 GHz.

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