Communication system with base stations having test capabilities

摘要

A communication system uses its existing resources to test base stations, without requiring dedicated test equipment. The communication includes scattered base stations that in a normal operating mode, transmit communication signals to mobile stations over downlink RF channels and receive communication signals from the mobile stations over uplink RF channels. At least one base station of the communication system is responsive to a test command for placing the base station in a test mode. In the test mode, a receiver section of the testing base station receives test signals from a tested base station over a downlink RF channel for testing its transmitter path, the testing base station includes a transmitter section that in the test mode transmits test signals to the other base station over an uplink channel for testing its receiver path.