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Eagle PN Scanner

The Eagle™ is a mobile, high speed field measurement device that surveys Cellular or PCS CDMA Pilot channel signals and reports their power profiles. Measuring Ec/Io, total power (dBm) in the CDMA channel as well as absolute power (dBm) profiles from each CDMA base station, the Eagle generates these correlations using internal, high speed parallel architecture in realtime. These profiles indicate the distribution of interference and multipath components as a function of relative power and delay.

The system employs an eight channel internal differential GPS and gen-lock system to synchronize the unit's clock time and track the CDMA signals. The Eagle can be configured to survey all or just specific base stations including power and signal thresholds to reduce the overall data collection. This allows the user to generate specific criteria for propagation analysis. With 1/2 chip resolution, (upgradeable to 1/4 chip) the Eagle can scan all 512 base stations and the associated multipaths from each base station. The user may also upload a list of base stations to be measured as well as a search window for base stations which is defined as the number of chips around each base station.

The Eagle excels in conducting accurate CDMA coverage studies, base station transmitter testing and setting hand-off thresholds. The heavily parallel, expandable and high speed time multiplexed architecture and DSP downloadable PN phases allow capture of real-time co-channel interference, multipath analysis Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI).

Download Eagle data sheet

Download Eagle manual from the Technical Support section

Download Eagle software updates

Download Eagle related article

• Identification of Pilot Pollution, Rogue Pilot PNs and Island Cells (confirm basestation offsets)
• Analysis of performance via independent measurement of Ec for direct and multipath components as well as Io (no reliance on a CDMA telephone)
• RSSI analysis
• Fast Pilot channel characterization independent of network parameters
• Analysis and verification of hand-off thresholds
• Realtime channel modeling and analysis of multipath fading
• Standard built-in GPS and gen-lock circuitry to lock the Eagle to time references of CDMA Base Station time
• Data for characterization of antenna coverage and performance
• Validate neighbor list
• Identify best servers
• Locate relections/multipaths
• Samples 2 times per chip
• Complete scan of all PN positions in 27 msec

RF

Frequency Range:	1930-1990 MHz PCS (bands A through F) 868-897 MHz EAMPs (Forward cellular)
Frequency Accuracy:	+25 ppb (0° C - 50° C)
IF Bandwidth:	1.25 MHz
Aging of TXCO:	+1.0 ppm/year

AMPLITUDE

Accuracy:	±1.0 dB (20° - 30° C) ±2.0 dB (0° - 50° C)
LNA Noise Figure	< 1.5 dB
Receiver Noise Figure	< 7.5 dB
1 dB Compression Point	-10 dBm
Adjacent Channel Desensitization	-20 dBm

SENSITIVITY

Antenna input sensitivity:	> -90 dBm
Maximum safe input:	+10 dBm

CONNECTORS

Computer	RS-232 (DB 9) Male
GPS	SMA female
Power	DC power jack 4 pin
RF input	50 ohms, Type-N, female

ENVIRONMENTAL

Operating Temperature Range	0° C - 50° C
Storage Temperature Range	-40° C - 70° C
Dimensions	18" x 15 1/2" x 7"
Weight	22 lbs.
Power	11 to 24 V DC (1 amp, 10 watts maximum)

CDMA PROCESSING

PN generation	IS-95 I and Q sequences
Minimum Ec/Io	-20 dB
Correlation length	1024 chips for I and Q PN
Minimum pilot power detectable	-20 dB (Ec/Io)
Primary base station measurement updates	6 measurements per second
Single base station update (64 chips) rate	37.5 measurements per second
Simultaneous normal and single update rate	6 measurements per second
Absolute measurement timing accuracy	Locked to GPS time
Base station identification	Absolute (not relative)
PN resolution in single mode	1 chip (820 ns)

• PCS
• Korean PCS
• Cellular
• ISM bands

The output of raw binary data from the Eagle may be converted to ASCII and coupled with any standard propagation and multipath fading analysis software for post-processing. The unit is configured to comply with IS-95/IS-97 and PCS JED008 standards. Since parameters are DSP downloadable, the Eagle can be customized to meet other custom CDMA standards . Standard RS-232 and parallel port interfaces allow connection to most any portable PC for data monitoring and collection. With the Eagle, the attributes of increased network capacity, transmission quality and security of a CDMA system are finally achieved.

Here are some salient differences between PN Scanner and the Eagle and Super Eagle regarding specifications and features.

Function	Competing PN Scanner	BVS Eagle/Super Eagle
Bands covered	Cellular and PCS	Cellular and PCS
RF Tuning	Fow and Rev bands	Forward only
RF channels	One channel only	Two channels
Measured bands	Forward only	Forward only
RF accuracy	+ 1.0 ppm	+ 0.5 ppm
GPS clocking	+ 0.05 ppm	+ 0.001 ppm
Base station lock	relative phase	absolute phase
IF bandwidth	1.25 MHz	1.25 MHz
Amplitude accuracy	+ 1.5 dB	+ 1.0 dB
RSSI accuracy	+ 1.5 dB	+ 1.5 dB
Noise figure	8.0 dB	< 7.0 dB
RF sensitivity	unspecified1	- 105 dBm
Channel switching time	unspecified2	< 20 ms
Sampling rate	1 X/chip	2 X / chip
Ec/lo sensitivity	undisclosed3	-18 Ec/lo dB
PN accuracy	> ± 1 chip	< ± 0.5 chip
Measurement speed	< 2 seconds	27 ms
Display updates	2 seconds	2 to 13 per sec.
Multichannel RF scan rate	One in 2 seconds	Two per second
Display environment	Windows '95	Windows '98
PN synch	Relative phased	absolute per GPS
Dead reckoning	supported4	Optional 455 Placer
Power	+12 volts DC	+12 volts ±10% DC

The output of raw binary data gathered from the Eagle may be converted to ASCII and coupled with any standard propagation and multipath fading analysis software for post-processing. The unit is configured to comply with IS-95/IS-97 and PCS JED008 standards. Since parameters are DSP downloadable, the Eagle can be customized to meet other custom CDMA standards. Open architecture is designed into both the Eagle and the Super Eagle so the user may create custom software interfaces (a detailed command set of instructions are supported). Standard RS-232 (9600 baud to 115 Kbaud is supported) and parallel port interfaces allow connection to most any portable PC for data monitoring and collection. With the Eagle, the attributes of increased network capacity, transmission quality and security of a CDMA system are finally achieved.

What are the main differences between the Super Eagle and the Eagle?

The Eagle contains all of the same functionality and features that are found in the Super Eagle. However, the Eagle has some scaled back architecture and does not include a laptop PC like the Super Eagle making it a more affordable PN scanner for demanding CDMA studies.

What is the minimum Ec/Io that can be measured?

The Min Ec/Io specified in the table above is based on processing gain. The weakest to strongest values were produced by computer simulation.

Can a user calibrate the Eagle without assistance from Berkeley?

It is not advisable for an Eagle user to attempt calibration by themselves. This is because the HP 8924C is really a base station simulator and has a rather inaccurate power control, limited to -30 dBm because it was not intended to accurately measure or control power, just to simulate a high-level radiated signal. More importantly, it would be an "apples to oranges" calibration, since the HP and even the Tektronix / Rodie base station simulators include all CDMA channels, and not just Pilot, as in the Eagle. The Rodie / Tektronix CDMA unit is much more accurate and extends 18 dB further, but still not advisable.
The calibration process of an Eagle is rather tedious and extensive. We are automating it here but it still is too complex to detail to customers. It requires some hardware fixtures and can be treacherous because the calibration tables must be exact or the unit will be way off. The process itself uses a calibrated CDMA source (right now an HP-4000A signal generator externally modulated or a Duet PN) and fed into a series of automated step attenuators.
BVS provides free calibration to all of our Eagles customers that are within the warrantee period of 180 days. The process takes one day and serves as a quick "RF sanity check" for the Eagle when compared to a good spectrum analyzer such as an HP 8563 or equivalent.

What is the Eagle's RF sensitivity?

The receiver has an RF sensitivity down to approximately -95 dBm. This is the point at which the AGC stops responding to decreases in RF level.

What is the processing gain and how does BVS compute it?

The pilot correlation length is 256 chips. The gain of the signal is through this process is 20 log(256)=48 dB. However, the gain through the correlator for Gaussian noise would be 10 log(256)=24 dB. Therefore, the processing gain above Gaussian noise is 24 dB.
It should be noted that this cannot be used to determine the maximum difference between strongest and weakest base stations that can be measured simultaneously. The real limitation is the correlation noise floor. Correlating across the IS-95 PN code with a correlation length of 256 chips, the maximum non-aligned correlation is -15 dB down from the aligned value. Base stations 15 dB below the strongest base station will be hidden in the correlation noise of the stronger PN. It is important to realize that this property of short correlations on very long PN codes. All IS-95 phones and test equipment suffer the same limitation.

How is the output format of Eagle compatible to various post-processing packages?

This is handled most simply by Berkeley's Chameleon data translation software package. This application can run on any PC and supports the following output formats:

Comarco Workbench
EDX SignalPro
Expert Wireless MaXPlan
Generic ASCII
Grayson IQ Analyzer
MapInfo (w/dB Planner)
Microsoft Excel
MLJ PathPro
MSI Planet
SafCo OPAS32
TEC Cellular Wizard
Teleworx PlotworX