July 15, 2014. LitePoint, a provider of wireless test solutions, announced today the launch of the LitePoint z8653, a new wideband vector signal analyzer (VSA) for development testing of high bandwidth wireless components used in smartphones and tablets. High-bandwidth 802.11ac Wi-Fi is expanding rapidly as smart-device users demand the faster performance, high capacity of this new standard. Wave 2 of the standard will expand this performance even further with wider bandwidth channels.
Chris Ziomek, general manager of LitePoint’s Design Test Division said, “This is exciting because the z8653 is the world’s first VSA that can test Wave 2 Wi-Fi chipsets and their associated power amplifiers. With Wave 2 components in the R&D pipeline now, the z8653 provides development engineers uncompromised measurement capabilities to test these innovative, complex wireless components, while meeting aggressive development cost and time-to-market goals.”
Until now, the only measurement technology for testing high bandwidth devices was expensive bench-top instrumentation, Ziomek said. “The z8653 is the first PXI-based technology that provides chipset vendors, power amp/frontend module suppliers and other engineering teams involved in the design, verification, and testing of these components with unparalleled performance at PXI prices,” he added.
“This instrument will find application not only in design verification, but also in R&D engineering groups developing the next generation of connectivity and cellular technologies,” said Ziomek.