RF performance and coverage of IoT devices

Verify the RF performance of your IoT devices with smart test solutions to ensure safe operation, even under difficult conditions.

Wireless IoT devices operate for years and can easily be installed anywhere. New applications can mean that these devices have to be used in very difficult RF environments. Smart meters installed in basements, for example, have to handle tough coverage conditions. Robots on the factory floor have to deal with very harsh radio conditions while maintaining reliable, low latency communication. Other devices such as connected mousetraps or parking lot sensors need to be very robust and waterproof, which is challenging for the overall RF design. The RF performance of IoT devices wireless connections is a crucial factor for the success of IoT applications. Otherwise, there could be a direct impact on critical performance parameters like reliability, power consumption, latency and coverage.

Your IoT test challenges

IoT device measurements typically start with RF power, spectrum and receiver sensitivity measurements in connected mode. S-parameters are measured to verify and tune the antenna performance of the IoT device. After this, over-the-air measurement of the total radiated power (TRP) and total isotropic sensitivity (TIS) of the final design is recommended. Depending on the application, it can also be relevant to perform measurements under certain fading conditions or apply coverage enhancement techniques such as those used for NB-IoT and LTE-M devices.