A method for testing an air interface device using emulated noise in unassigned uplink resource blocks (RBs) includes, in a network equipment test device including at least one processor, receiving a first downlink signal transmission from an air interface device under test. The method further includes identifying unassigned uplink resource blocks. The method further includes transmitting an uplink signal to the air interface device under test with emulated channel noise in at least one of the unassigned uplink resource blocks. The method further includes receiving, after transmission of the uplink signal to the air interface device under test, a subsequent downlink signal transmission from the air interface device under test. The method further includes determining an effect of the emulated channel noise on resource block assignments.