Rohde & Schwarz’ FSW signal and spectrum analyser is offering new options for analysing WLAN signals. The 20/40/80/160 MHz bandwidths defined in IEEE 802.11ac based on the proven orthogonal frequency division multiplying process are now supported. With the 256QAM modulation process, up to 8 MIMO data streams and bandwidths four times higher than that of previous standards such as IEEE 802.11n, it supports data rates up to 6.9 Gbit/s, to support future applications such as wireless HD video.
The new R&S FSW-K91ac option provides an integrated demodulation bandwidth of 160 MHz, enabling the R&S FSW signal and spectrum analyser to record and demodulate the full bandwidth of a WLAN signal in line with IEEE 802.11ac. The error vector magnitude (EVM) is an important measure of the modulation quality. The IEEE 802.11ac standard requires an EVM of –32 dB for 256QAM modulation. To accurately measure this parameter, the T&M equipment itself must have a very low EVM, such as the R&S FSW with an EVM of less than –45 dB.
Developers of components and modules for IEEE 802.11ac will also appreciate the high measurement speed of less than 100 ms per measurement. The R&S FSW high-end analyser allows them to quickly and accurately measure the spectrum and analyse the modulation. Another advantageous feature is the 12.1″ touchscreen with MultiView, which permits users to simultaneously view multiple measurements and applications. The analyser’s intuitive operation and simple configuration make it easy to measure IEEE 802.11ac signals.
Rohde & Schwarz has also extended the functionality of its vector and baseband signal generators to include the IEEE 802.11ac standard. Equipped with the R&S SMx-K86 option, these instruments can generate signals in the defined 20 MHz, 40 MHz and 80 MHz bandwidths. The R&S WinIQSIM2 simulation software, together with the R&S SMx-K286 option, can also be used to generate signals. The combination of the R&S AFQ100B baseband generator and the R&S SGS RF signal source is an ideal solution for signals with contiguous and non-contiguous 80 MHz + 80 MHz or 160 MHz bandwidths.
ECN Europe 