Rohde & Schwarz presents world’s first WLAN signaling tester for IEEE 802.11ax

The R&S CMW270 wireless connectivity tester is the world’s first tester to emulate all IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, including 802.11ax. In signaling mode, users can test the RF properties of WLAN stations under real-world conditions.

Before now, the RF properties of WLAN stations (STA) were mainly tested in an artificial remote control operation, the non-signaling mode. For IEEE 802.11ax, this is only possible to a certain extent. IEEE 802.11ax uses OFDMA technology to significantly increase the efficiency of WLAN networks. The available bandwidth is shared between multiple STAs that simultaneously transmit to the access point. This requires precisely coordinated timing among all STAs, and power levels need to be individually controlled. The innovative IEEE 802.11ax presents new challenges for all those involved with testing WLAN components – from development to production.

Rohde & Schwarz now presents a solution based on the well-established R&S CMW270 wireless connectivity tester, which has a newly extended bandwidth of 160 MHz. Users also need the new hardware option, the R&S CMW-B100H advanced measurement unit, which allows them to emulate an 802.11ax access point to test the RF properties and performance of a STA under realistic conditions. The R&S CMW270 can also simultaneously and comprehensively test other devices, e.g. Bluetooth® devices.

The solution will be presented to the public for the first time at Mobile World Congress in hall 6, booth 6C40. It will be available as of April 2018 from Rohde & Schwarz. For more information, visit www.rohde-schwarz.com/mwc.

The R&S CMW270 wireless connectivity tester is the world’s first tester to emulate all IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, including 802.11ax. In signaling mode, users can test the RF properties of WLAN stations under real-world conditions.

Before now, the RF properties of WLAN stations (STA) were mainly tested in an artificial remote control operation, the non-signaling mode. For IEEE 802.11ax, this is only possible to a certain extent. IEEE 802.11ax uses OFDMA technology to significantly increase the efficiency of WLAN networks. The available bandwidth is shared between multiple STAs that simultaneously transmit to the access point. This requires precisely coordinated timing among all STAs, and power levels need to be individually controlled. The innovative IEEE 802.11ax presents new challenges for all those involved with testing WLAN components – from development to production.

Rohde & Schwarz now presents a solution based on the well-established R&S CMW270 wireless connectivity tester, which has a newly extended bandwidth of 160 MHz. Users also need the new hardware option, the R&S CMW-B100H advanced measurement unit, which allows them to emulate an 802.11ax access point to test the RF properties and performance of a STA under realistic conditions. The R&S CMW270 can also simultaneously and comprehensively test other devices, e.g. Bluetooth® devices.

The solution will be presented to the public for the first time at Mobile World Congress in hall 6, booth 6C40. It will be available as of April 2018 from Rohde & Schwarz. For more information, visit www.rohde-schwarz.com/mwc.