National Instruments (NI), a provider of software-defined platforms that help accelerate the development and performance of automated test and automated measurement systems, today unveiled its new Wi-Fi 6 Front-End Test Reference Architecture, which enables comprehensive, accurate and fast testing of the latest Wi-Fi 6 Power Amplifiers (PAs) and Front-End Modules (FEMs) operating in the new frequency bands above 6 GHz. Fi-Fi 6 power amplifiers (PAs) and front-end modules (FEMs) operating in the new frequency band above 6 GHz.

The NI Wi-Fi 6 Front-End Test Reference Architecture not only meets the Wi-Fi test range requirements for the new approved bands from 6 to 7.125 GHz, but also improves the bandwidth, accuracy and test speed of vector signal transceivers (VSTs). The Vector Signal Transceiver is a widely deployable and proven workhorse that combines an RF signal generator and a signal analyzer with 1 GHz instantaneous bandwidth (up to 12 GHz). The solution provides engineers performing PA/FEM characterization and verification with excellent linearity, low noise and high dynamic range to fully validate Wi-Fi 6 1024-QAM performance. The reference architecture also allows for FPGA-based power level tuning, simplifying dynamic EVM measurements while increasing test speed.

As chipmakers race to commercialize the latest Wi-Fi 6 products, engineers have the daunting task of not only accelerating their products, but also meeting the increased test requirements of the higher frequency bands. the Wi-Fi 6 Front-End Test Reference Architecture's instrumentation and measurement IP can be used for both validation labs and production testing, simplifying the production process and dramatically reducing correlation and correlation time. correlation and test system development time.

"The VST's broad frequency range coverage and high instantaneous bandwidth are critical for engineers who need comprehensive, reliable data across the entire Wi-Fi band in a short period of time," said Stefanie Breyer, vice president of product planning at NI. test systems based on NI's software-defined platforms can help them keep up with the latest developments in wireless standards."

The release of the VST-based Wi-Fi 6 Front-End Test Reference Architecture is the latest in NI's ongoing efforts to continually expand the range of products that can be tested while helping users shorten time-to-market for PA/FEM equipment. This solution completes NI's modular instrument portfolio and measurement software for characterizing and verifying the latest Wi-Fi 6 RFIC devices in the 2.4 to 7 GHz and higher frequency bands.