Sounder-rotor synchronization for dynamic wideband directional channel sounding
Zhijie Tang · Aaltodoc (Aalto University) · 2026
To support 6G research in the Frequency Range 3 (FR3) band, this thesis presents a Sounder-Rotor synchronization method for a dynamic wideband directional channel sounder at 15 GHz. The system integrates a wideband Software Defined Radio (SDR) architecture with a motorized rotating antenna platform, utilizing the EtherCAT protocol for precise real-time servo control. A key innovation is a hardware-level synchronization mechanism utilizing an RF switch. By toggling the transmission path between a reference omnidirectional antenna and the rotating directional antenna, the system creates a distinct signal power drop at the receiver. This serves as a reliable synchronization marker, enabling the precise alignment of the instantaneous physical antenna angle with received signal data without relying on complex software timestamping. Validation in an anechoic chamber confirms this mechanism maintains high consistency at rotational speeds up to 25 rps(rotation per second), allowing for the accurate reconstruction of Power Angle Profiles (PAP).