Test & Measurement


Wireless LAN test platform

7 July 2010 Test & Measurement

National Instruments has introduced a new solution for IEEE 802.11n wireless LAN (WLAN) testing, the NI WLAN Measurement Suite 2.0, which includes enhanced software toolkits for IEEE 802.11n WLAN signal generation and analysis. The suite integrates with NI 6,6 GHz PXI Express multichannel RF signal generators and analysers to deliver true, phase-coherent multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) RF measurements required for IEEE 802.11n WLAN testing. The suite also delivers fast measurement speed for those including error vector magnitude (EVM) and spectrum mask and provides the highest class of measurement accuracy for IEEE 802.11n and a/b/g WLAN test.

Using a software-defined architecture based on PXI and LabVIEW graphical system development software, engineers can lower their cost of test and reduce the size of their test systems by testing multiple wireless standards, such as IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n, GPS, Bluetooth, GSM/EDGE, WCDMA, WiMAX and others, using the same PXI test system.

The WLAN Measurement Suite 2.0 adds IEEE 802.11n support to the generation and analysis toolkits to facilitate MIMO testing with true port-to-port phase coherency. For measurements, the toolkit integrates with NI PXIe-5663E 6,6 GHz two-, three- and four-channel vector signal analysers (VSAs) to provide engineers highly accurate multistream MIMO measurements. For signal generation, the toolkit integrates with NI-PXIe-5673E 6,6 GHz two-, three- and four-channel vector signal generators (VSGs) to generate phase-coherent, multistream RF signals.

In addition to 802.11n MIMO support, the latest version of the measurement suite improves on the previous version with faster measurement time. When combined with the latest NI PXIe-8133 quad-core embedded controller, the system can perform composite EVM and power measurements in 7,0 ms. The suite also adds a variety of software features to improve measurement performance and ease of use. Engineers can software-enable its new resolution bandwidth filter feature to remove broadband noise and increase EVM measurement accuracy. With front-end filtering engaged, engineers can achieve residual EVM accuracy of better than -47 dB when testing WLAN devices.

The measurement suite includes soft front panels for signal generation and analysis to support a wide range of WLAN IEEE 802.11n configurations, including 4x4 MIMO, and to report measurement results and traces. Additionally, engineers can use the measurement suite as either a standalone executable or as an API in LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI ANSI C development environment or in other C, C++ and .NET development systems.

For more information contact National Instruments, 0800 203 199, [email protected], www.ni.com/southafrica





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page

Further reading:

High-speed AWG generates up to 20 sine waves
Vepac Electronics Test & Measurement
Spectrum Instrumentation has released a new firmware option for its range of versatile 16-bit Arbitrary Waveform Generators, with sampling rates up to 1,25 GS/s and bandwidths up to 400 MHz.

Read more...
Digitisers upgraded with pulse generator option
Vepac Electronics Test & Measurement
Spectrum Instrumentation has added the Digital Pulse Generator option to its ultrafast digitisers (with up to 10 GS/s speed) and arbitrary waveform generators.

Read more...
Network Master Pro to provide support of OpenZR+
Tamashi Technology Investments Test & Measurement
Anritsu Corporation has introduced the 400G (QSFP-DD) multi-rate module MU104014B that supports the new interface standard.

Read more...
Upgrade brings extra layer of detection to Fluke’s acoustic imagers
Comtest Test & Measurement
The firmware 5.0 update helps to boost efficiency and allows maintenance technicians to scan large areas quickly, and visually pinpoint technical issues before they become critical.

Read more...
Companies collaborate on EnviroMeter
Avnet Silica Test & Measurement
STMicroelectronics and Mobile Physics have joined forces to create EnviroMeter for accurate air-quality monitoring on smartphones. Time-of-flight optical sensing enables an accurate personal air quality monitor and smoke detector.

Read more...
PCB test points
Vepac Electronics Test & Measurement
Maintaining these access points in the final production versions will prove invaluable during the life of the equipment for service, adjustment, and debug, or repair activities.

Read more...
RFID reader
Test & Measurement
The EXA81 from Brady turns any smartphone or tablet into a personal radar that can pick up radio signals from all RFID-labelled items.

Read more...
Proximity sensor with VCSEL
Avnet Abacus Test & Measurement
Vishay’s newest small package proximity sensor, the VCNL36828P, combines low idle current with an I2C interface and smart dual slave addressing.

Read more...
CNH data output devices for AI applications
Altron Arrow Test & Measurement
STMicroelectronics’ CH family of time-of-flight sensor devices feature compact and normalised histogram (CNH) data output for artificial intelligence applications requiring raw data from a high-performance multizone ToF sensor.

Read more...
Webinar: The key to smart occupancy
Test & Measurement
This one-hour session will allow the attendee to discover the company’s latest infrared sensor with high-sensitivity presence and motion detection capabilities.

Read more...