R&S CMU200 vs. CMW500: A Detailed Comparison of RF Test Sets

This page provides a comparison between the R&S CMU200 and CMW500 radio communication test sets. Both are used for radio communication testing and incorporate both RF generator and RF analyzer modules. With the addition of baseband generator and analyzer applications, they become complete systems for testing WLAN, GSM, WCDMA, and LTE compliant devices.

The CMW500 is essentially the upgraded version of the CMU200 and was released later. Both equipments support various RF conformance tests.

Key Specifications Compared

The following table highlights the major differences and similarities between the CMU200 and CMW500:

SpecificationsR&S CMU200R&S CMW500
RF Frequency100 KHz to 2.7 GHz70 MHz to 3.3 GHz (up to 6GHz with CMW-KB036 module)
Attenuation of 2nd Harmonics> 20 dB up to 2.2GHz, o/p level <= 10 dBm> 30 dB
Phase Noise<-110dBc for frequency offset > 250KHz<-120 dBc at 1 MHz offset for 70M to 3.3 GHz
Output Power Level-40 to +47 dBm continuous power (10M to 2.7GHz)-130 dBm to -5 dBm (frequency dependent)
VSWRless than 1.2 or 1.7 (frequency dependent)less than 1.2 or 1.6 (frequency dependent)
Interface typesUSB, LAN, GPIBUSB, LAN, IEEE 488
Power level uncertainty0.5 dB to 1.5 dB (frequency/port dependent)0.5 dB to 1.2 dB (frequency/port dependent)

Conclusion

As the table indicates, the CMU200 and CMW500 radio communication test sets from R&S share many functionalities. The CMW500 is essentially an upgrade to the CMU200. Therefore, the CMW500 is the ideal choice for first-time buyers of R&S wireless equipment due to its enhanced capabilities and newer technology.