Element’s Over-the-Air (OTA) testing services ensure your wireless products comply with operator/carrier requirements and international standards, allowing the performance of your wireless devices to be verified before your product hits the market.

 

What is OTA testing?

OTA testing measures how reliably wireless devices, their antennas and components perform using simulated environments to replicate the live network experienced by end users. Testing measures parameters like Total Radiated Power (TRP), Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS), and Intermediate Channel Sensitivity to ensure optimal performance before market release. By simulating live network environments, OTA testing verifies that devices transmit and receive signals effectively, ensuring product quality, network compatibility, and user experience.

 

Benefits of Element’s OTA testing services 

  • Test In All Scenarios: Element's OTA testing replicates real-world scenarios, ensuring devices perform reliably in various environments, bolstering confidence in their performance under diverse conditions.
  • Early Issue Identification: Element's OTA testing helps identify and address performance issues in the product development cycle, optimizing antenna design and signal processing algorithms before market release, saving time and resources.
  • Global Reach: With labs strategically located in the US, UK, and South Korea, Element provides convenient access to OTA testing alongside our other compliance services.
  • Ensured Network Compatibility: We verify device compatibility across various wireless networks and technologies, ensuring seamless connectivity and communication in any environment.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Early identification and resolution of potential performance issues through OTA testing at Element mitigate the risk of costly recalls or warranty claims, offering manufacturers significant savings in both time and resources.
  • Market Readiness: By optimizing device performance through OTA testing, you can confidently release products that meet or exceed consumer expectations, enhancing market competitiveness and brand reputation.
  • Bespoke Solutions: Our experts create customized testing programs to  your specific product requirements, for greater accuracy or faster turnaround times.

 

Streamline your OTA testing with a single source provider

We understand the challenges of managing limited resources, including time and budget. Element’s team also includes experts in related services such as Global Market Access (GMA), Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) testing, making us a single source provider for all of your product compliance needs. Our labs are strategically located in the US, UK, and South Korea, making Element your ideal partner to provide OTA in conjunction with any of our additional testing services whenever and wherever you need it. 

 
Steve Hayes

Steve Hayes 

Technical Director - Connected Technologies

Read More About Steve
Michael Derby

Michael Derby

Technical Director - Regulatory Approvals

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Utilize Elements cutting-edge OTA test chambers 

Element’s cutting-edge Over-the-Air test chambers in the US cover 400MHz to 7.125GHz as well as the 28GHz and 38 GHz mm-Wave frequencies. Whilst our specialist antenna pattern measurement labs are equipped with a goniometer to improve 3D resolution from 15º down to 1º as needed, an integrated laser alignment system assisting with DUT positioning, and an integrated high-speed switch controller - providing fast switching between antennas for accelerated testing. Our AMS-8923-195 lab includes a multi-antenna array that houses twenty-three (23) dual-polarized measurement antennas spaced every 15º. Our simulated environments include using Phantoms (physical models of different parts of the human body) designed to hold a variety of different OTA device forms.

 

Our OTA testing capabilities

Element provides OTA testing for your commercial, industrial, military products, and consumer products such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, routers, and IoT devices.Our services include: 

  • Total Radiated Power (TRP)
  • Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP)
  • Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS)
  • Effective Isotropic Sensitivity (EIS)
  • MIMO Average Radiated SIR Sensitivity (MARSS)
  • Total Radiated Multi-Antenna Sensitivity (TRMS)
  • 5G FR2 conformance and acceptance
  • Coexistence / Desensitization Measurements
  • Engineering & Custom testing solutions
  • Passive Antenna Testing (Gain, Efficiency, and Directivity)
  • Antenna Pattern Measurement Testing
     

PTCRB and CTIA certification

Our chambers and systems support cellular testing capabilities for SISO and MIMO per the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association (CTIA) family of test plans for Mobile Station Over-the-Air (OTA) performance, including the RF Performance Evaluation of Wi-Fi Mobile Converged Devices. 

 

Technologies supported

Element’s OTA testing supports several cellular wireless technologies, including: 

  • 5G NR SA, 5G NR NSA
  • 5G FR1, 5G FR2
  • LTE (Category M, NB, and 1+), LTE Carrier Aggregation
  • A-GNSS (A-GPS, A-GLONASS, A-GALILEO, L1+L5)
  • IEEE 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac
  • Bluetooth Classical
  • ZigBee (802.15.4), ISM, SRD, UHF RFID, MedRadio- MICS bands
  • Legacy 3G

 

Why Choose Element?

Our team includes experts in Global Market Access (GMA) and related services such as Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) testing, making us a single source provider for all of your product compliance needs. Our labs are strategically located in the US, UK, and South Korea, making Element your ideal partner to provide OTA in conjunction with any of our additional testing services when you need it. Our US locations include Columbia MD, just outside the FCC certification and testing laboratory, and Brooklyn Park.

Whether you need OTA testing alone or in conjunction with other testing services, Element is your ideal partner. Our global presence ensures convenience and accessibility, allowing us to support you at every stage of product development and compliance.

For more information about our Over-the-Air testing, or to request a quote, speak to an expert today
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Over-the-Air Testing

Antenna Pattern Measurement test methods for OTA testing

Element’s Engaged Experts utilize Antenna Pattern Measurement methods for testing various types of antennas and receivers. We will work with you to create a customized testing program for your specific product requirements, for greater accuracy or faster turnaround times.

Our antenna pattern measurement labs 

Our AMS-8923-195 lab includes a multi-antenna array that houses twenty-three (23) dual-polarized measurement antennas spaced every 15º. The turntable/positioner for the device under test (DUT) provides continuous rotation along the phi axis with minimized reflections through the use of low dielectric materials in a fully anechoic room (FAR).

Element’s antenna pattern measurement labs are equipped with a goniometer to improve 3D resolution from 15º down to 1º as needed. An integrated laser alignment system assists with DUT positioning, and with an integrated high-speed switch controller, the system provides fast switching between antennas for accelerated testing. 

Element offers Antenna Pattern Measurements techniques for the following:

  • 400 MHz – 6 GHz
  • 3D and 2D patterns
  • Bluetooth
  • WiFi (802.11), ZigBee (802.15.4), ISM, SRD, UHF RFID, MedRadio- MICS bands
  • Antenna efficiency and directivity measurements
  • Absolute gain
  • Complete 3D Passive and active measurements in under 5 minutes per run
  • Design and evaluation for antenna designers and system integrators

Your Testing Partner Throughout the Product Life-Cycle 

Element’s experts support you throughout the whole product life-cycle of your connected devices from R&D, Testing & Certification, Advisory Services and Global Market Access. We ensure your products get to market on time, every time. 

Take a look at our services to learn how we can support you from R&D to reality to make tomorrow safer than today.

Explore our services now

Our team of over 9,000 Engaged Experts in North America, Europe, The Middle East, Australia, Asia and Africa are ready to help you.