Wi-Fi 7 Non-Signaling Solutions

Challenge

Meeting the requirements of regulatory standards in the face of ever improving wireless solution performance presents new challenges. Thus it is important to test using high-performance products that meet the new standards and regulations to perform at a high capacity.

Therefore, one must understand the new parameters for the Wi-Fi 7 standard, the wireless signals these new rules cover, and what type of test software would help you resolve new and unforeseen challenges.

While in the early development stage, 802.11be holds great promise, both in terms of increased throughput and support for real-time applications. These features include 320 MHz transmission bandwidth, the use of 4096 QAM modulation, and enhancements to MIMO with more spatial streams. Like 802.11ax, 802.11be will also operate in 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz frequency bands.

Keysight provides solutions for WiFi 7 development and testing for each step, from prototyping to design validation to production. Having solutions under the same umbrella ensures measurement consistency to maximize the benefit of the investment.

Effectively Test Your Prototype Designs

Designers can now test the latest wireless signals with Keysight PathWave Vector Signal Analysis (89600 VSA) software for 802.11n/ac/ax, and 802.11be modulation analysis. Software options provide an advanced troubleshooting and evaluation toolset designed to manage the challenge of analyzing legacy and new wireless LAN signals.

This solution covers technologies such as multi-user, multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO), and orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) used in the latest standards. PathWave 89600 VSA software supports 802.11 standards and over 75 other signal modulation types. 

PathWave VSA enables more advanced testing features such as Cross-Correlated EVM (ccEVM) to improve the EVM sensitivity of the test system. ccEVM is a technique used to extend the dynamic range of a receiver for best EVM performance. Two receivers are used to capture and demodulate the same signal independently. Performing a cross-correlation on the error vectors cancels out uncorrelated noise added by the receivers, resulting in a much lower EVM. This technique causes the ccEVM value to primarily contain just the noise and distortion coming from the device under test or in the case of an amplifier, noise coming from signal source plus device under test.

Figure 1 shows a measurement result of a ccEVM compared with EVM of individual receivers. In this measurement setup, a loop back configuration was used, involving one signal generator feeding two receivers. Our ccEVM measurement shows a 6 dB EVM improvement of 802.11be WLAN signal. Clearly the measurement system is much more sensitive now, and able to measure low EVM signals. 

The new Keysight M9484C VXG signal generator solution enables the highest signal fidelity for wide bandwidth test applications with advanced direct digital synthesis (DDS) technology. The fully integrated, calibrated, and synchronized signal generation helps minimize measurement uncertainty.