Rohde & Schwarz presents signaling tester for IEEE 802.11ax

Munich, Germany. Rohde & Schwarz has introduced the R&S CMW270 wireless connectivity tester, which the company describes as 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, the company explains. 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 said it now offers a solution based on the R&S CMW270 wireless connectivity tester, which has a newly extended bandwidth of 160 MHz. Users also need a 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 an STA under realistic conditions. The R&S CMW270 can also simultaneously and comprehensively test other devices—such as Bluetooth devices.

The solution will be presented to the public for the first time at the Mobile World Congress February 26-March 1 in Barcelona. It will be available as of April 2018 from Rohde & Schwarz.