First test platform support for Bluetooth OTA UTP Test Mode
Rohde & Schwarz and Ceva have collaborated to introduce the first test platform that supports the forthcoming Bluetooth® OTA UTP Test Mode, facilitating over-the-air (OTA) controlled device testing.
Making its debut at Embedded World 2025, the UTP test mode platform is based on the CMW radio communication tester platform from Rohde & Schwarz, with integrated Ceva-Waves Bluetooth® Low Energy controller software licensed from Ceva.
Until now, wearables and other small, highly integrated Bluetooth® devices required testing using the Direct Test Mode, which involves a control cable connecting the test instrument and the device under test (DUT). Encapsulated DUTs make it challenging or even impossible to integrate a connection for this control cable. Therefore, transmitting test control messages wirelessly, as specified in the UTP (Unified Test Protocol) mode, will greatly simplify the test setup.
The Ceva-Waves Bluetooth® Low Energy platform offers a swift, low-risk avenue for incorporating low-power and reliable Bluetooth® Low Energy connectivity into a system on a chip (SoC). The suite of optimised, integrated hardware IP and software has been deployed and Bluetooth® SIG qualified in numerous customer chips. It has been shipped in billions of devices across diverse markets, including consumer, automotive, industrial, mobile, and smart home. Ceva-Waves Bluetooth® Low Energy IP has emerged as the ideal choice for Rohde & Schwarz to incorporate into their OTA UTP Tester, owing to its maturity and robustness.
Tal Shalev, vice president and general manager of the wireless IoT business unit at Ceva, commented: “Rohde & Schwarz has long been a leader in Bluetooth® testing, and their highly respected CMW radio communication tester platform continues to set industry standards. The introduction of Bluetooth® OTA UTP Test Mode is a crucial advancement for testing next-generation consumer Bluetooth® products.“
The Bluetooth® UTP Test Mode on the CMW radio communication tester platform provides a straightforward and accurate signalling test solution tailored for Bluetooth® Low Energy radio tests during development, pre-conformance, and production testing. All Bluetooth® Low Energy and Bluetooth® Classic Radio measurements are unified and can be performed with a single test setup over the air in a signalling connection. Comprehensive test automation and accurate implementation of Bluetooth® test cases are crucial to ensure compliance with the Bluetooth® specifications.
Christoph Pointner, Senior Vice President for Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, says: “Thanks to our close partnership with Ceva and their highly-proven Bluetooth® Low Energy IP, we were able to implement the new Bluetooth® UTP Test Mode in line with the specifications of the Bluetooth® Core Specification Working Group on our well-established CMW platform. This highly anticipated solution will enable vendors and manufacturers of wireless chipsets, modules, and devices to test their products over-the-air with greater ease. In addition, they can perform the testing for all Bluetooth® radios with the same test setup.”
Both partners are actively involved in defining the specifications within the Bluetooth® Core Specification Working Group, ensuring that the test solution will be in line with the specifications of the upcoming Bluetooth® release. In addition, the solution is compatible with the already ratified Bluetooth® releases up to release 6.0 Channel Sounding, supporting the existing Direct Test Mode (DTM) with the conducted control connection.
www.rohde-schwarz.com
www.ceva-ip.com
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