Wi-Fi 7 test solution features at MWC 2024

Prominent will be the R&S CMX500 multi-technology multi-channel signalling tester with newly added Wi-Fi 7 testing capabilities.

With this functionality, the one-box tester allows R&D engineers of wireless devices to comprehensively test their design’s operation in cellular and non-cellular standards of the latest generation in a single instrument setup.

In addition, the R&S CMP180 radio communication tester will verify a signal waveform of 480 MHz bandwidth in loopback mode, attesting to be a future-proof solution for users in R&D and production, even beyond the requirements of Wi-Fi 7.

While the market for the sixth generation of Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.11ax, is still growing, the development of Wi-Fi 7, or IEEE 802.11be, is in full swing. Wi-Fi 7 is the next generation of Wi-Fi technology, designed for extremely high data throughput.

With tens of gigabits of data per second and low latency, it meets the growing demand for ultra-high-definition video streaming, virtual reality and augmented reality applications.

Key elements to achieve higher throughput are an increased channel bandwidth of 320 MHz, up to 16 spatial streams and 4096 QAM modulation. In addition, for a yet-to-be-defined Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) standard, even wider channel bandwidths are in discussion.

During the development of WLAN devices, measurements of the RF TX and RX characteristics must be conducted under real-world conditions in signalling mode. The R&S CMX500 one-box tester is a multi-technology multi-channel signalling tester that is now available with integrated Wi-Fi 7 test functionality. Especially in Wi-Fi 7 where Multi-Link-Operation (MLO) is a key feature, a test environment that provides multiple RF chains is crucial.

The tester's flexibility, support for multiple radio technologies, and embedded IP test capabilities make it a versatile solution for a wide range of Wi-Fi 7-specific tests, such as 2x2 MIMO, 6 GHz band with out-of-band discovery, coexistence and E2E test capabilities.