IoT solution provider Quectel Wireless Solutions and Rohde & Schwarz have successfully validated Quectel’s 5G eCall module, which is part of the AG56xN series of automotive modules. The R&S CMX500 wideband wireless communication tester was used for testing.
eCall, an automated emergency call system for vehicles sold in the European Union (EU), was introduced in 2015 and has been a mandatory requirement for all new cars in the EU since 2018. eCall systems currently use 2G/3G circuit-switched cellular networks. . As these networks will be phased out in just a few years, emergency notification systems (in-vehicle systems and infrastructure) will be adapted to modern 4G/5G packet-switched cellular networks.
The automotive industry requires NGeCall test solutions to deliver eCall modules that include new NGeCall functionality.
The AG56xN series uses the MediaTek MT2735 chipset, which allows the module to support 5G Rel-15, delivering data rates of up to 4.0 Gbps downlink and 480 Mbps uplink within 200 MHz bandwidth.
This module includes cellular (4×4 MIMO) and GNSS antenna interfaces, USB 3.0, PCIe (Gen3), RGMII, SGMII, multiple UARTs, SPI, I2C, I2S (PCM), SDIO, ADC and GPIO. It is also compatible with automotive-grade Wi-Fi and Bluetooth modules.
The test setup for 5G/LTE automotive modules includes the R&S CMX500 communication tester as well as the R&S CMX-KA098 5G eCall test option to simulate the NG eCall Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and the R&S SMBV100B vector signal generation for GNSS simulation. It included utensils.
According to the companies, this test confirmed that a 5G emergency call was successfully established between the Quectel module and the PSAP. The minimum set data (MSD) transmission was successfully achieved without data loss and the simulated GNSS positions were transmitted accurately. In addition, voice communication with clear sound quality has also been realized.
The companies say that the R&S CMX500 with the R&S CMX-KA098 software option can be effectively used for NGeCall testing under reliable and configurable 5G network conditions.
Jürgen Mayer, Vice President Automotive Market Segment at Rohde & Schwarz: “This is an important milestone in the rollout of the next generation eCall system and will have a major impact on road safety. Using our test equipment and Quectel’s 5G eCall module, we will We were able to successfully establish the overall structure and validate this new and important feature.”
The test setup was unveiled last week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
