Development and performance assessment of a real time high-resolution RF channel sounder

This paper presents a swept time delayed cross-correlation (STDCC) channel sounder. The proposed topology employs the real-time sliding correlation technique of pseudo-random (PN) sequences, enabling amplitude and Doppler spectrum measurements and analysis of individual multipath components. It makes use of recent technologies, specifically in the generation and transmission of PN sequences, which allows for an easy adjustment of the main specifications of the sounder. The intermediate frequency (IF) stage of the system presented here has been bench-tested and validated by using a PN sequence at 1GHz chip rate, which allows for a time-delay resolution of consecutive multipath components of 2ns. The radio frequency (RF) stage as also been bench-tested, and will be followed by rigorous measurements in an anechoic chamber. The dynamic range of the system was measured to be better than 40dB.