A portable interference-generating device for inducing desired frame error characteristics, such as desired frame error patterns and rates, at a mobile unit receiving a carrier signal having at least one data channel having a plurality of data frames. The induced frame errors may be used to test a digital radio receiver's behavior in the presence of frame errors that may occur as a result of various impairments in a CDMA wireless communication channel. The portable interference-generating device includes a noise source that provides a noise signal and a pulse generator that is used to gate the noise signal according to a desired frame error characteristic at the mobile unit. The gated noise signal is provided to the mobile unit via a coupling element, which preferably couples the gated noise signal directly to an antenna radiation element on the mobile unit.