Platform Performs OTA Tests for 802.11ax in the 6 GHz Extended Band

Sept. 29, 2021

ETS-Lindgren and Anritsu Announce Support for Wi-Fi 6E

ETS-Lindgren will address Wi-Fi 802.11ax testing in the extension band from 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz. Based on the Wireless Connectivity Test Set MT8862A from Anritsu, the solution serves OTA testing on 160 MHz wide channels located in the Wi-Fi 6E band. Providing a fully automated TRP or TIS pattern measurement, the solution uses EMQuest EMQ-100 Antenna Measurement Software to control the MT8862A, device modes, and all hardware.

Applicable to existing OTA test systems as an upgrade, the Wi-Fi 6E test package is recommended for all systems testing Wi-Fi SISO or MIMO configurations. Manufacturers can upgrade OTA chambers to characterize and validate with the Wi-Fi 6E test package, and the EMQ-100 offers a range of parameterized test methods for measuring antenna performance metrics as well as radiated and conducted performance of wireless devices. The EMQuest EMQ-100 can analyze stand-alone antennas, or an embedded antenna system and radio module.

Anritsu’s Wireless Connectivity Test Set MT8862A supports Wi-Fi technologies including 802.11ax in 80 MHz legacy bands, and 160 MHz in the Wi-Fi 6E band. The MT8862A offers stable and reliable connections with wider dynamic range, even in a faded environment. An updated radio module supports the 6 GHz band and 160 MHz channels, as well as providing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band support. The test configuration can also be expanded to support 2x2 MIMO measurements by using two MT8862A WLAN testers.

James Young, Director of Business Development with ETS-Lindgren said, Our software team does a top-notch job at supporting the constantly evolving OTA measurement requirements. Feedback from system users tells us the flexibility to choose best-in-class instrumentation across brand and model number is a key decision point in our favor. While it is not easy to keep up with all the firmware and hardware changes happening in wireless technologies, great partners like Anritsu really help.”

Anritsu Market Development Manager, Keyvan Yasami, added, “Expanding the frequency range to 6 GHz spectrum and addition of 160 MHz bandwidth supports the most recent regulatory and industry requirements for conformance and performance evaluation. This addition enables R&D applications as well as certification testing in a single integrated test platform. It continues Anritsu’s commitment to developing solutions that meet the design test requirements associated with emerging technologies.”

About the Author

Alix Paultre | Editor-at-Large, Electronic Design

An Army veteran, Alix Paultre was a signals intelligence soldier on the East/West German border in the early ‘80s, and eventually wound up helping launch and run a publication on consumer electronics for the US military stationed in Europe. Alix first began in this industry in 1998 at Electronic Products magazine, and since then has worked for a variety of publications in the embedded electronic engineering space. Alix currently lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Also check out his YouTube watch-collecting channel, Talking Timepieces.