To meet stricter wireless local-area-network (WLAN) testing requirements at 2.5 and 5.0 GHz, LitePoint Corp. has introduced the IQflex 802.11 a/b/g instrument. The dedicated unit, based on the company's IQview 802.11 a/b/g WLAN test solution, is designed for high-volume testing requirements, translating into reduced costs.
Within the same housing, the wide-bandwidth instrument incorporates a vector signal analyzer, a vector signal generator, a spectrum analyzer, and a power meter. As a result, advanced transmitter performance metrics such as error vector magnitude, spectral mask compliance, and phase noise levels can be measured. Instead of relying on a conventional "golden radio" approach to test signals that drift over time and temperature, the IQflex independently produces high-accuracy signals for consistent and reliable results.
"With increased test accuracy, faster test, and higher throughput, the WLAN manufacturer not only reduces the number of production-line test stations but also improves production yield for overall increased profitability," says Anita Chapman, LitePoint's vice president of marketing. "Ongoing maintenance costs are significantly lower, and software upgrades will ensure continued compliance with WLAN standard changes."
IQflex uses the LitePoint application programming interface (API) to operate under Visual C/C++ test scripts. Test scripts can be easily and quickly created using the LitePont DLL interface to support either automated pass/fail or parametric testing.
Interestingly, IQflex is completely independent of any WLAN chip set out there today. The instrument's capabilities also can be readily incorporated as part of PC-based test suites for specific chip sets to support production-line calibration of parameters like transmit power levels, gain, and phase imbalances, as well as crystal oscillator frequency offsets.
IQflex costs $40,000.
LitePoint Corp.www.litepoint.com See associated figure