Supporting upgrades to offer a strong and up-to-date OTA measurement solution

Anritsu Corporation and Bluetest have combined their recent product upgrades to produce a strong and up-to-date OTA measurement solution for verifying the WLAN RF performance in this new 6GHz band, as well as of existing WLAN standards (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. The collaboration offers customers a complete WLAN OTA test solution to transmit power (TRP) and receiver sensitivity (TIS) measurements on devices and access points. Measuring the OTA performance in life-like but repeatable conditions allow manufacturers of small and large WLAN equipped devices, as well as IoT and smart home appliances, to optimise the radio performance and end-user satisfaction.

For a long time, 6GHz has been the upper frequency limit of most public communication systems. This is now developing with the WLAN standard IEEE 802.11ax expanding up to 7.125GHz range ('Wi-Fi 6E'). The growth of WLAN connected devices and services are anticipated to benefit hugely from this increase in available frequency space and number of 160MHz channels.

The Anritsu Wireless Connectivity Test Set MT8862A is dedicated to the WLAN standard, therefore, optimised for stable and reliable connections with a broader dynamic range, even in a faded environment such as in the Bluetest reverberation chamber. It is now updated with a new radio module adding support for the 6GHz band and 160MHz channels, as well as the already supported 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. The test setup is simply expanded to support 2x2 MIMO measurements using two MT8862A units.

Bluetest has meanwhile upgraded the whole range of reverberation test systems with an increased default frequency coverage. The compact and cost-effective RTS25 chamber is upgraded by adding the new 6-7.125GHz band. This chamber is principally targeting the buzzing WLAN and Bluetooth industry. The RTS65, as well as the larger RTS85 and RTS95, now feature 4x4 MIMO support for frequencies up to 12GHz, as well as previously released 5G FR2 packages with 2x2 MIMO support up to 43.5GHz.

Bluetest product manager, Klas Arvidsson, says: “Increasing the default frequency range from 6 to 12GHz with full support for multiple 4x4 MIMO carriers means we are fully prepared for continued evolution of the WLAN and 5G standards and shows the strength of our flexible product design.”

Keita Masuhara, product manager, IoT Test Solutions Div, Anritsu Corporation, adds: Expanding to 6GHz band spectrum is expected to bring new services, and it will require concrete performance evaluation to prevent issues regarding to new challenges. Anritsu has been working with Bluetest to provide valuable solutions for OTA RF performance evaluation. I am convinced that the new measurement system will contribute to efficient performance testing.