WLAN/Wi-Fi – connecting homes, offices and hotspots

WLAN/Wi-Fi

Connecting homes, offices and factories

The next generation of all kinds of mobile devices will rely more than ever on the next generations of Wi-Fi, which will be more powerful, efficient and complex.

Wireless local area network (WLAN) technology based on the IEEE 802.11 standard series is one of the most successful wireless communication technologies of the last two decades. Essentially based on an OFDM access scheme and typically operating on license-exempt bands, such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 60 GHz, it carries an essential portion of traffic from various devices in the wireless communications networks of today and tomorrow. The sixth generation of Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6), based on the IEEE 802.11ax standard, represents its improving communication efficiency and will be also operating in the newly available 6 GHz spectrum (Wi-Fi 6E). Moreover, the standardization of the seventh generation (Wi-Fi 7) has already started, with the target to enable extremely high throughput (IEEE 802.11be).

Rohde & Schwarz test solutions for WLAN/Wi-Fi

Rohde & Schwarz offers a broad range of test and measurement equipment for testing WLAN access points (AP) and stations (STA). This includes unique test instruments such as vector signal generators that are able to generate multiple streams at the required frequencies and bandwidths and demonstrate outstanding RF performance. It also includes solutions for signal and spectrum analysis that provide the required accuracy, speed and signal analysis bandwidths.

Wideband communication testers are one-box solutions for measuring the RF characteristics of transmitters and receivers of APs and STAs. Operating in signaling mode, they evaluate the end-to-end performance and analyze the protocol stack, including the application layer, which will become more important than ever with the sixth generation of Wi-Fi.

WLAN/Wi-Fi test solutions

WLAN IEEE 802.11be testing

Wi-Fi 7 promises extreme high data throughput to tens of gigabits per second by the use of increased channel bandwidth of 320 MHz, up to 16 spatial streams and 4096QAM modulation.

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WLAN IEEE 802.11ax testing

Wi-Fi 6/6E introduces efficiency improving features such as OFDMA, uplink scheduling, MU-MIMO and power control, making accurate testing more important than ever.

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WLAN IEEE 802.11ac PHY testing

Wi-Fi 5 supports data rate increasing features such as a 160 MHz wide bandwidth, 8x8 MIMO and MU-MIMO. These features require appropriate test solutions in R&D and production.

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WLAN IEEE 802.11ad/ay testing

802.11ad/ay sets the benchmark for device test and measurement. The standard operates at a very high frequency, such as 60 GHz, over a wide bandwidth from 2 GHz to 8 GHz and uses MU-MIMO and beamforming.

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WLAN IEEE 802.11p testing

The 802.11p Wi-Fi technology is used for automotive applications in a challenging RF environment that requires comprehensive testing and certification.

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WLAN traffic offload in LTE

Combining cellular and non-cellular communications has led to several evolutions in technologies. Making Wi-Fi an integral part of mobile network requires detailed testing of the related network functionalities, interworking and coexistence.

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The history and future of Wi-Fi

Free wall poster: the history and future of Wi-Fi

Are you excited about more than three decades of Wi-Fi, but still struggling with the numerous Wi-Fi specifications? Find everything you need on this poster:

  • Numbering and structuring from the first Wi-Fi 802.11b to the latest 802.11be also known as Wi-Fi 7
  • Technology evolution in terms of bandwidth, spectrum, modulation and antenna schemes
  • Different Wi-Fi variants for automotive applications (11p, 11be), IoT use cases (11ah, 11af) and couch & desktop networks (11ad, 11ay)

Related resources

Free WLAN/Wi-Fi webinars

802.11 specifications, their test challenges and leading test solutions.

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Free WLAN/Wi-Fi videos

IEEE 802.11 and innovative test solutions.

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White papers and application notes

Details on the WLAN/Wi-Fi specifications, related test challenges and practical solutions.

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Press releases

Stay informed about WLAN/Wi-Fi technology and our latest product innovations.

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