As 5G know-how evolves, non-3GPP networks resembling public, house and enterprise WLAN hotspots shall be increasingly interlinked with the 5G core. In consequence, tomorrow’s smartphones will rely much more on the following generations of WLAN know-how, which shall be extra highly effective and environment friendly, but in addition extra complicated. At Cell World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, Rohde & Schwarz shall be showcasing its newest Wi-Fi 7 take a look at options for R&D and manufacturing to fulfill the ever-increasing take a look at challenges posed by the know-how and the parallel operation with LTE and 5G mobile requirements.

Rohde & Schwarz will show its R&S CMX500 multi-technology multi-channel signaling tester at MWC 2024 with newly added Wi-Fi 7 testing capabilities. With this performance, the one-box tester permits R&D engineers of wi-fi units to comprehensively take a look at their design’s operation in mobile and non-cellular requirements of the most recent technology in a single instrument setup. Along with this, the R&S CMP180 radio communication tester will confirm a sign waveform of 480 MHz bandwidth in loopback mode, testifying to be a future-proof answer for customers in R&D and manufacturing, even past the necessities of Wi-Fi 7.

Challenges of next-generation WLAN testing

Whereas the marketplace for the sixth technology of Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.11ax, remains to be rising, the event of Wi-Fi 7, or IEEE 802.11be, is in full swing. Wi-Fi 7 is the following technology of Wi-Fi know-how, designed for very excessive knowledge throughput. With tens of gigabits of information per second and low latency, it meets the rising demand for ultra-high-definition video streaming, digital actuality and augmented actuality functions. Key components to attain increased throughput are an elevated channel bandwidth of 320 MHz, as much as 16 spatial streams and 4096 QAM modulation. As well as, for a yet-to-be-defined Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) normal, even wider channel bandwidths are in dialogue. Rohde & Schwarz meets these difficult traits with its options for testing Wi-Fi 7 and past, showcased at MWC Barcelona.

R&S CMX500 options new Wi-Fi 7 capabilities for R&D

Throughout the improvement of WLAN units, measurements of the RF TX and RX traits have to be performed underneath real-world circumstances in signaling mode. The R&S CMX500 one-box tester is a multi-technology multi-channel signaling tester that’s now accessible with built-in Wi-Fi 7 take a look at performance. Particularly in Wi-Fi 7 the place Multi-Hyperlink-Operation (MLO) is a key function, a take a look at setting that gives a number of RF chains is essential. The tester’s flexibility, help for a number of radio applied sciences, and embedded IP take a look at capabilities make it a flexible answer for a variety of Wi-Fi 7-specific exams, resembling 2×2 MIMO, 6 GHz band with out-of-band discovery, coexistence and E2E take a look at capabilities.

Testing WLAN offloading with Voice over WLAN in a single field

WLAN offloading is the method of delivering knowledge initially meant for mobile networks over WLAN. It helps scale back the quantity of information carried on the mobile bands, releasing up bandwidth for different customers. It is usually used to make sure service continuity in eventualities the place mobile protection is inadequate, however a WLAN hotspot is on the market to take over the connection. For instance, the handover between a mobile community and WLAN throughout a voice name, sometimes called Voice over WLAN, goals to supply subscribers with an uninterrupted voice name expertise.

At MWC, Rohde & Schwarz will display the R&S CMX500 and its means to check seamless site visitors offloading and interworking between mobile 5G and WLAN with a single field answer. The newly built-in Non-3GPP Interworking Operate (N3IWF) gateway within the R&S CMX500 makes it an easy-to-use answer for testing WLAN offloading with Voice over WLAN, enabling machine producers and operators to effectively take a look at these functions. As well as, the built-in POLQA voice high quality measurement operate of the R&S CMX500 presents a complete and cost-effective answer to make sure the standard of expertise for voice over WLAN functions at an early stage.

Future-proof R&S CMP180 R&D and manufacturing tester

Within the manufacturing section of WLAN units, all RF measurements are carried out in non-signaling mode to avoid wasting time. Rohde & Schwarz has optimized the R&S CMP180 radio communication tester for this goal. The instrument helps many mobile and non-cellular applied sciences together with Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 and 5G NR FR1 as much as 8 GHz in frequency with bandwidths as much as 500 MHz. Leveraging the vast bandwidth, the R&S CMP180 will display at MWC its means to confirm a WLAN waveform with 480 MHz bandwidth in loopback mode, a possible waveform candidate for the yet-to-be-defined Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) normal. This function reveals that the cost-effective instrument is future-proof for customers not solely in manufacturing but in addition in R&D.

Two analyzers, two turbines and two units of eight RF ports are built-in within the R&S CMP180 to help 2×2 MIMO testing in a single field. Two R&S CMP180 devices might be mixed and scaled to help 4 analyzers and turbines for environment friendly testing of 4×4 MIMO entry factors.

Rohde & Schwarz will current its complete take a look at options for next-generation WLAN on the Cell World Congress 2024 on the Fira Gran Through in Barcelona in corridor 5, sales space 5A80.