Real-time 3-D spatial-temporal dual-polarized measurement of wideband radio channel at mobile station

This paper describes a measurement system enabling the complete real-time characterization of the wideband radio channel. The system is based on a wideband radio channel sounder and a spherical antenna array, and it aims to describe the three-dimensional (3-D) spatial radio channel seen by the mobile terminal, including polarization. This information is highly valuable in designing antennas for mobile terminals. The spatial properties of the measurement system are analyzed through test measurements in an anechoic chamber. The system has a 40 spatial resolution and a 17 dB cross polarization discrimination. The values are well above those of a small mobile terminal antenna. The dynamic range in the spatial domain is 12 dB. The measurement is very fast, which makes real-time channel acquisition practical at normal mobile speeds.