FS: Rohde & Schwarz CMU200 Communication analyzer (bunch)

[neopticus]

I was originally going to sell these on eBay, but since their commission fee is 10% and I have already been contacted by couple of interested buyers (and actually sold one) by private message, I'll begin to sell them here first.

So, I bought bunch of electronics from the Finnish auction while back, along with few CMU200 units. They have been sitting in a closet for few months and only recently I have had enough time to catalog their options and test them thoroughly.

Overall, these units are in quite nice condition. Almost no scratches anywhere and the front panels are almost flawless, only usually slight yellowing on the PCMCIA slots and the main rotary knob. Date of last calibration range from 2011 to 2014 and all have calibration stickers intact.

Here are the first two units for sale:
CMU-200 #1: Serial number 101029.
Calibrated 7/2012
CMU-B12 High stability Oven OCXO
CMU-B41 Audio generator and analyzer; includes audio frequency (AF) generator, voltmeter, distortion meter, SINAD
CMU-B21 Universal signaling unit; includes signaling module for GSM/GPRS/EGPRS
CMU-B52 Internal versatile multimode speech coder/decoder
CMU-B53 Bluetooth® extension
CMU-B54 GSM signaling Unit
CMU-B56 WCDMA (3GPP FDD) signaling module for CMU-B21
CMU-B95 Auxiliary generator that covers the requirements of present BCCH by GSM/ GPRS/EGPRS and application testing for (E)GPRS
CMU-U65 DSP for Wideband Measurement
CMU-K21 to K24: GSM tests
CMU-K42  GPRS tests
CMU-K43 EDGE tests
CMU-K56 to K69 & K16-K17: WCDMA tests and signalling
System: AMD K6-III with 256 MB of mem

CMU-200 #2: Serial number 102441
Calibrated 9/2010
CMU-B11 Reference OCXO
CMU-B41 Audio generator and analyzer; includes audio frequency (AF) generator, voltmeter, distortion meter, SINAD
CMU-B21 Universal signaling unit; includes signaling module for GSM/GPRS/EGPRS
CMU-B52 Internal versatile multimode speech coder/decoder
CMU-B54 GSM signaling Unit
CMU-B95 Auxiliary generator that covers the requirements of present BCCH by GSM/ GPRS/EGPRS and application testing for (E)GPRS
CMU-K21 to K24: GSM tests
CMU-K42  GPRS tests
CMU-K43 EDGE tests
CMU-K44 DTM @ GSM-MS
CMU-K45 ARM @ GSM-MS
System: Intel Celeron with 128 MB of mem
The fan is a bit louder compared to the first unit (but can be easily replaced).

UNITS #1 AND #2 SOLD!



CMU-200 #3: Serial number 104057, a.k.a the Evil Robot version
Calibrated 2/2014
CMU-B21 Universal signaling unit; includes signaling module for GSM/GPRS/EGPRS
CMU-B52 Internal versatile multimode speech coder/decoder
CMU-B54 GSM signaling Unit
CMU-B56 WCDMA (3GPP FDD) signaling module for CMU-B21
CMU-B96 2nd TX RF channel with full functionality; for generation of small-band signal (GSM BCCH, channel A) or of wideband signal (WCDMA BCCH, channel B)
CMU-U65 DSP for Wideband Measurement
CMU-K21 to K24: GSM tests
CMU-K56, K60-K69,K96: WCDMA tests and signalling
System: FMR6 with Intel Celeron, 256 MB of mem

Here are more pictures from CMU200 #3: http://imgur.com/a/pjNqm

Please note that the installed B95 option limits the maximum input power of RF1 connector to 2W (normally 50W).

Here are some pictures from tests from the CMU200 #1 (other units have almost identical values in tests):

2604.2 Mhz -90 dBm signal from internal sig generator with span 10mhz, RBW 1kHz (there is attenuation of about 1-2 dBm in my cable and adapters).
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vgecy50leusnw6b/2015-09-03%2018.59.43.jpg?dl=0

1 Ghz -90 dBm signal, span 10 Khz, RBW 50Hz.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ovabfd9cjm6czkn/2015-09-03%2021.42.42.jpg?dl=0

1 Ghz -90 dBm signal, span 1 kHz, RBW 30 Hz.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mmsyf7g28jzqhdc/2015-09-03%2021.45.27.jpg?dl=0

General overview.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1611snra5r5e1og/2015-09-03%2018.34.24.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ypyrzdnzf8t97ky/2015-09-03%2018.33.54.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nfx1ln35797c5sy/2015-09-03%2018.34.03.jpg?dl=0

Audio generator outputting 1 kHz test signal: (note that there are 2 generators, I tried only the main one).
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pun22vek6r5a5ad/2015-09-03%2019.34.06.jpg?dl=0

And the same signal fed to audio analyzer:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yxkiuu7hxmb2swl/2015-09-03%2019.34.21.jpg?dl=0

General overview of unit #2:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/w8nl2r4xy3xce8m/2015-09-10%2020.10.30.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/7qmvm4wcms8jyhh/2015-09-10%2020.09.02.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s6h7qnmkme45n2j/2015-09-10%2020.07.00.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s6h7qnmkme45n2j/2015-09-10%2020.07.00.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qkg7xu4i9hj70x4/2015-09-10%2020.04.26.jpg?dl=0

According to eBay price range, these units start from 800-900 euros and go up to 2000-3000 euros depending on their installed options, calibration, condition etc. However here I can omit sellers fee of 10% so I will be able to sell little bit cheaper.

My asking price for the units are:
Unit #1: 1090 EUR
Unit #2: 890 EUR
Unit #3: 890 EUR

Postage fees from Finland are excluded.  Payment is via Paypal. I will give return policy of 14 days (buyer pays for return postal fees). 

Shipping:
Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, Estonia: 68 euros
Bulgaria, Spain, Ireland, UK, Italy, Austria, Greece, Croatia, Cyprus, Malta, Monaco, Portugal, Poland, France, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Czech republic, Hungary: 112 euros
Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Turkey,  Ukraine, Russia: 144 euros

If there is a specific option that you are interested, please let me know and I'll check the other units if it is installed. I am also willing to do more detailed, custom tests or take more pictures on a specific unit as per your instructions.

[nctnico]

Just wondering: how usefull are these as a general purpose spectrum analyser? What is their frequency range?

[neopticus]

Hi nctnico,

here's the manufacturer page:
https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/en/product/cmu200-productstartpage_63493-7830.html

and the brochure:
https://cdn.rohde-schwarz.com/pws/dl_downloads/dl_common_library/dl_brochures_and_datasheets/pdf_1/CMU200_bro_en.pdf

Detailed specifications:
http://www.upc.edu/sct/documents_equipament/d_175_id-448.pdf
 
Service manual:
https://www.ntecusa.com/docs/RS_CMU200_CMU300_other.pdf


For your question, the RF generator range is 100 kHz to 2700 MHz, and spectrum analyzer and power meter range is 10 MHz to 2700 MHz (span from 0 to full span). Audio generator range is 20 Hz to 20 kHz.

They do have somewhat limited functionality compared to full-fledged spectrum analyzer (for example no tracking generator), although it may be possible to emulate this functionality by controlling RF generator and analyzer/power meter via GPIB. There was a pretty long discussion (among other things) about communication analyzers versus spectrum analyzers in this thread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/used-spectrum-analyzers-for-under-$1k/

If you have certain use case or test in mind, I can check if it is possible using CMU200.

[Neganur]

I would say the value of the CMU lies in the Bluetooth, otherwise a CRTU is pretty much the same if you just want to use it as power meter, SA and SigGen.

I'm quite happy with the SA function, the span is good and the RBW filters are plenty. There is quite a bit of cross talk if you use certain connector combinations for the sig gen / analyzer. The power meter is a useful feature and is pretty accurate.

Only gripe, the GUI is quite clunky.

[Wuerstchenhund]

Just wondering: how usefull are these as a general purpose spectrum analyser? What is their frequency range?

They actually make pretty good SAs. The frequency range goes from 10MHz to 2.7GHz, and frequency stability and phase noise specs are better than for the Rigol DSA815. DANL is a bit low, though.

They are also well designed and very robust devices (aside from the laptop hard drive that these days tends to be close to failing, so I'd take a backup and replace it with an EIDE SSD or a EIDE to CF card adapter; 4GB is more than enough). And the software is reliable and does what it's supposed to do.

I would say the value of the CMU lies in the Bluetooth, otherwise a CRTU is pretty much the same if you just want to use it as power meter, SA and SigGen

The CMU200 has a few more advantages. For one, the Audio Analyzer (with THD measurements) isn't available for the CRTU. Plus there are quite a few nice programs (i.e. CMU2go) which don't work well with the CRTU.

In addition, parts for the CMU200 seem to regularly show up on ebay but rarely so for the CRTU.

Only gripe, the GUI is quite clunky.

Some things need to get used to but its not that bad (you should see the UI of some of the other cell phone testers), most settings are pretty straight forward plus the CMU200/CRTU has a basic functionality mode so you don't have to wade through cellphone specific settings when using it for general purpose measurements.

I'm actually preparing a review of CMU200 and CRTU, time permitting I hope it's ready to be posted in the next week or so.

[neopticus]

Wuerstchenhund, thanks your comments! I'm looking forward to reading your review!

[neopticus]

Lowered prices.

[neopticus]

BOTH UNITS SOLD!

I will soon add a third CMU200 here, so keep an eye out for updates!

[neopticus]

One more unit is now on sale. This time it's something special: an Evil Robot version with quite recent calibration 

[hafrse]

Hi,

I have newly aquired a CMU-200 with GSM and WCDMA  signaling options mainly for using it as a basic spectrum analyzer and signal generator.
However, I wanted to "play" with the mobile phone options, tried the GSM Signaling software and it worked with my mobile phone: Network detected, could register and initiate calls, displaying spectrum,etc...
Tried the WCDMA signaling option: Network detected in my mobile phone, tried to register but did not succeed, status in the CMU is attached  but not ready or complete
I am using the default profiles, did a reset too.
Is there any  configuration that  I need to do  ? I am not using a test cmu sim.
Or, is there any operation manual on how to setup WCDMA signaling for the CMU-200 ?

Thanks

[neopticus]

Hi,

I have newly aquired a CMU-200 with GSM and WCDMA  signaling options mainly for using it as a basic spectrum analyzer and signal generator.
However, I wanted to "play" with the mobile phone options, tried the GSM Signaling software and it worked with my mobile phone: Network detected, could register and initiate calls, displaying spectrum,etc...
Tried the WCDMA signaling option: Network detected in my mobile phone, tried to register but did not succeed, status in the CMU is attached  but not ready or complete
I am using the default profiles, did a reset too.
Is there any  configuration that  I need to do  ? I am not using a test cmu sim.
Or, is there any operation manual on how to setup WCDMA signaling for the CMU-200 ?

Thanks

Hi hafse,

I haven't used any of the mobile comm specific options on CMU200 as it is completely out of my expertise, and I think almost without exception hobbyists here use CMU200 and other similar testers only for their general RF capabilities. However I found an Application Note from R&S that you might find useful: https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/en/applications/operating-guide-for-wcdma-test-setup-according-to-3gpp-ts34.121-application-note_56280-15469.html

[_Wim_]

Hi,

I have newly aquired a CMU-200 with GSM and WCDMA  signaling options mainly for using it as a basic spectrum analyzer and signal generator.
However, I wanted to "play" with the mobile phone options, tried the GSM Signaling software and it worked with my mobile phone: Network detected, could register and initiate calls, displaying spectrum,etc...
Tried the WCDMA signaling option: Network detected in my mobile phone, tried to register but did not succeed, status in the CMU is attached  but not ready or complete
I am using the default profiles, did a reset too.
Is there any  configuration that  I need to do  ? I am not using a test cmu sim.
Or, is there any operation manual on how to setup WCDMA signaling for the CMU-200 ?

Thanks

What kind of antenna's or cabling did you use. Seems fun to give this a try?

[hafrse]

Hi,

for the GSM1800 I just put a 10 cm wire on RF2 input/output and have the telephone neer that wire.

[neopticus]

Hello all,

the last unit (#3) for sale has been gathering dust in my closet, forgotten until now Lowered the price to 890 eur.

I'm going to keep this ad here for 2-3 weeks and if it's still unsold then, it will be moved to be sold on eBay.



This unit has been now moved to eBay:  http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/-/272376643393?

[Bravo]

I have a CMD55 which I use to test SIM800 GSM modules, but I need to move to 3G modules for my products next year, so I have bought a CMU200 a few days ago, which I have not tried on GSM yet, but it looks like the right set ups are there for the tests I need. SIM800 modules are only a couple of $s from Aliexpress, so you could buy a couple & try your phone tester out. Obviously a sig gen & spectrum analyzer & power meter to 2.7Ghz are a bonus.