Methods and apparatuses for providing a stable wideband noise signal

1. A method of determining uplink receive signal path characteristics in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps:

providing a tower-top noise source (TTNS) permanently affixed in close proximity to a receive antenna, the TTNS having a diode that is reverse biased beyond its junction breakdown voltage and an output that includes a wideband noise signal having predetermined characteristics;

selectively connecting the TTNS output to a receive signal path, the receive signal path comprising a tower-top low-noise amplifier (TTLNA);

receiving an altered version of the wideband noise signal at an output of the receive signal path; and

measuring a characteristic of the altered version of the wideband noise signal to facilitate an evaluation of an uplink receive signal path characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the TTNS comprises generating a noise signal and filtering the noise signal to generate the wideband noise signal.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising isolating the noise signal using a buffer amplifier.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the TTNS comprises collocating the TTNS and the TTLNA.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein selectively connecting the TTNS output to the receive signal path comprises a tower-top controller (TTC) communicatively coupling the TTNS output to the receive signal path.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the TTC is remotely controlled.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the receive signal path further comprises a radio frequency coaxial cable extending from the TTLNA to a base transceiver station location.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring the characteristic of the altered version of the wideband noise signal comprises measuring at least one of a power level and a frequency response characteristic.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined characteristics of the wideband noise signal comprise at least one of a power level and a frequency bandwidth.

10. An apparatus operable to determine uplink receive signal path characteristics in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a tower-top noise source (TTNS) permanently affixed in close proximity to a receive antenna, the TTNS operable to output a wideband noise signal that has predetermined characteristics, wherein the TTNS comprises a diode that generates a noise signal and a temperature compensator unit adaptable to regulate the temperature of the diode;

a receive signal path that includes a tower-top low noise amplifier (TTLNA) and an output;

a tower-top controller (TTC) for selectively connecting the TTNS output to the receive signal path; and

a measuring device connected to the receive signal path output and operable to measure a characteristic of an altered version of the wideband noise signal produced at the receive signal path output.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the TTNS further comprises a passband filter that filters the noise signal to generate the wideband noise signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the TTNS further comprises a buffer amplifier to isolate the noise signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the TTC is remotely controlled.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the receive signal path comprises a radio frequency coaxial cable extending from the TTLNA to a base transceiver station location.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined characteristics of the wideband noise signal comprise at least one of a power level and a frequency bandwidth.

16. A method of determining uplink receive signal path characteristics in a wireless communication system, comprising the steps:

providing a tower-top noise source (TTNS) permanently affixed in close proximity to a receive antenna, the TTNS having a diode that is reverse biased beyond its junction breakdown voltage and an output that includes a wideband noise signal having predetermined characteristics;

selectively connecting the TTNS output to a receive signal path, the receive signal path comprising a tower-top low-noise amplifier (TTLNA);

receiving an altered version of the wideband noise signal at an output of the receive signal path;

measuring a characteristic of the altered version of the wideband noise signal to facilitate an evaluation of an uplink receive signal path characteristic; and

regulating the temperature of the diode.

17. An apparatus operable to determine uplink receive signal path characteristics in a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a tower-top noise source (TTNS) permanently affixed in close proximity to a receive antenna, the TTNS comprising a diode that is reverse biased beyond its junction breakdown voltage and an output that includes a wideband noise signal having predetermined characteristics;

a receive signal path that includes a tower-top low noise amplifier (TTLNA) and an output configured to receive an altered version of the wideband noise signal;

a tower-top controller (TTC) for selectively connecting the TTNS output to the receive signal path; and

a measuring device connected to the receive signal path output and operable to measure a characteristic of the altered version of the wideband noise signal to facilitate an evaluation of an uplink receive signal path characteristic.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the diode is configured to generate a noise signal, and wherein TTNS further comprises a passband filter that filters the noise signal to generate the wideband noise signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the TTNS further comprises a buffer amplifier to isolate the noise signal.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the TTC is configured to be remotely controlled.