Tech Corner, a wealth of knowledge & expertise
LitePoint experts share compelling thought leadership on wireless device testing and important industry topics to help keep you in the know on key commercial and technological developments.
Trending Topic: 802.11ax
802.11ax, the next-generation WLAN standard that promises greater capacity and more robust data transmission than previous Wi-Fi standards, requires additional validation. In this article, originally published on EDN.com, LitePoint’s Vice President of Applications Engineering John Lukez takes a deep dive into the many new system aspects you need to know.
5G
Different 5G mmWave devices may require specific OTA test chambers and techniques. This article investigates various test methods and their tradeoffs in cost and path-loss performance.
Over-the-Air Testing for 5G mmWave Devices: DFF or CATR?
Over-the-air testing can introduce some unique challenges and considerations. In this article, we show you how to calculate the total link budget for 5G mmWave OTA test.
Link-Budget Calculations: Needed for 5G OTA Testing
Different 5G mmWave devices may require specific OTA test chambers and techniques. This article investigates various test methods and their tradeoffs in cost and path-loss performance.
Over-the-Air Testing for 5G mmWave Devices: DFF or CATR?
What 5G advances are in the pipeline for this year? This article explores how this technology is starting to come to fruition in 2019.
2019 Wireless Test Trends: The Year of Enabling 5G
The presentations below are from LitePoint’s 2018 5G Seminar.
Product testing is getting more difficult and complex with the adoption of 5G. This article, featuring the expertise of a LitePoint product manager, looks into over-the-air testing as one possible solution.
Wireless Test Faces New Challenges
What’s new and on the horizon for test this year? Delve into this article that leverages recent data and use cases to predict the near future.
2018 Wireless Test Trends
Expected 5G spectrum utilization means major engineering and design challenges: very high frequencies and large channels, with high expectations for performance. Vendors, operators and government initiatives are testing 5G technologies to better understand and address the challenges of the next-generation of technology. This RCR webcast, featuring LitePoint’s Jeorge Hurtarte, examines 5G trials and testbeds, R&D work and how the test industry is supporting the evolution to 5G.
Transitioning to a 5G World: Evolving Testing to Meet Operators’ NeedsDownload “Transitioning to a 5G World” Report
This presentation is from LitePoint’s 2017 802.11ax Advanced Test Technology Seminar.
Emerging millimeter wave technology – which supports vastly higher frequencies and broader channel bandwidths than other Wi-Fi and cellular technologies – will facilitate the integration of IoT devices into the 5G network.
5G & IoT Create a Market for mmWave
Exciting new standards and applications may be driving the development of next-gen wireless devices; but LitePoint’s leading-edge test solutions help make sure they all work.
Major Trends in Wireless Test
In this first of a two-part series, you will get an intro to 5G, including how it differs from preceding technology generations and how it is well suited to a diverse range of wireless applications. The article also covers testing strategies that will make your 5G products successful.
Ensuring a Quality 5G Wireless User Experience: Applications & Technologies
The second of this two-part series focuses on the testing challenges facing higher-bandwidth technologies like 5G New Radio, WiGig, LTE cellular and Wi-Fi (802.11ax).
Key Test Considerations for a Quality 5G Wireless User Experience
802.11ax
While 802.11ax delivers significant user capacity improvements, it also presents unique test challenges. This feature lays out the issues and offers ways to overcome testing obstacles to ensure quality products.
Solving Test & Deployment Challenges for 802.11ax
802.11ax aims to optimize data throughput for wireless devices. This new Wi-Fi standard changes test scenarios, and presents unique challenges. These resources cover common pitfalls of 802.11ax DVT that test developers should avoid.
3 Common Pitfalls of 802.11ax DVT (that Test Developers Should Avoid) Article
This article from a leading publication features LitePoint’s Director of Product Marketing, an industry expert on 802.11ax, and highlights the IQxel-MW.
802.11ax Is On Its Way
What’s new and on the horizon for test this year? Delve into this article that leverages recent data and use cases to predict the near future.
2018 Wireless Test Trends
The presentations below are from LitePoint’s 2017 802.11ax Advanced Test Technology Seminar.
802.11ax, the next-generation WLAN standard that promises greater capacity and more robust data transmission than previous Wi-Fi standards, requires additional validation.
802.11ax: Not Just Another Higher Data Rate
Exciting new standards and applications may be driving the development of next-gen wireless devices; but LitePoint’s leading-edge test solutions help make sure they all work.
Major Trends in Wireless Test
802.11ax will have a huge impact on the Wi-Fi landscape. In this webcast we provide an overview of this quickly emerging standard, discuss testing challenges, and more.
Testing 802.11ax: What You Need to Know
802.11ax presents additional challenges for power amplifier design, characterization and test. Learn about new physical layer test requirements including increased linearity for 1024QAM, in-band emission testing and more.
Testing Power Amplifiers for 802.11ax
Consumer mobile apps are driving an insatiable thirst for data; and ever-evolving Wi-Fi seeks to solve the growing data congestion problems. With other contending technologies in this space, the race to claim supremacy is on.
Wi-Fi’s Future is in the Air
Application Notes
Among all PA characteristics, EVM is usually most critical for Wi-Fi applications. This application note details several kinds of impairments that affect PA EVM testing.
Power Amplifiers EVM Testing Impairments
802.11ax presents additional challenges for power amplifier design, characterization and test. Learn about new physical layer test requirements including increased linearity for 1024QAM, in-band emission testing and more.
Testing Power Amplifiers for 802.11ax
One of the most essential stages in the manufacturing process—RF testing—is becoming increasingly challenging. Find out how you can maximize production throughput and increase testing station up-time.
The LitePoint Factory Efficiency Module
The PA is a vital component in a WLAN transmitter circuit as its performance affects wireless coverage area, data rate capacity and circuit battery life. Learn about comprehensive, widely used techniques for PA testing.
Power Amplifier Testing for 802.11ac
Bluetooth (BT & BLE)
New enhancements to Bluetooth make it an even more appealing technology. In this article we examine BT5’s impact on RF measurement methods and the challenges devices using this wireless tech face.
Bluetooth 5: More Speeds, More Range, New RF Tests
Because of packaging, BLE performance can be difficult to verify. However, new OTA measurement methods can overcome obstacles—especially in relation to packet error rates and receiver sensitivity.
Over-the-Air BLE Test Systems Pinpoint Wireless Quality Issues
LitePoint has partnered with ETS-Lindgren to produce the first Bluetooth low energy over-the-air antenna measurement system.
BLE Antenna Testing Helps Optimize IoT Device Performance
This LitePoint presentation dives deep into the design challenges of Bluetooth low energy and why verification and testing are imperative throughout the product lifecycle.
Challenges & Solutions for Testing Bluetooth Low Energy IoT Devices
Bluetooth low energy is a leading standard for the Internet of Things. This two-part series covers what RF engineers need to know how to test their next-gen IoT products that leverage this wireless technology.
Bluetooth Low Energy 101Ensuring Reliable Bluetooth Low Energy Performance In Wearables, IoT Devices
Operating in a high volume, low price, fast time-to-market environment necessitates efficient, affordable test solutions. Learn about practical applications for manufacturing testing the quality and compliance of your Bluetooth devices.
Bluetooth low energy is a great choice for devices that must operate with ultra low power wireless connectivity and be very low cost to make. Learn more about BLE and the key take-aways of BLE testing.
Bluetooth Smart—with its low power consumption, very low cost components, and compatibility with all mobile platforms and operating systems—is playing an important role in IoT.
Cellular
Devices introduce significant variability into the manufacturing process. Learn how you can perform optimized, efficient physical layer cellular production testing using the LitePoint test system.
Where and how far will LTE be adopted for the Internet of Things? In this interview, LitePoint shares impressions on LTE’s future for IoT.
LTE for the Internet of Things
The cellular device landscape is ever-changing. In this feature, LitePoint discusses what technology and market developments mean for the future of wireless testing.
A Look at Cellular Device Test Trends: An Interview with LitePoint
Production test systems and R&D testers are designed for significantly different tasks. Learn how these solutions are different; and see how a production tester is optimized for the unique requirements of high-volume manufacturing test.
Improperly used splitters could affect your calibration and verification results. Discover why a Wilkinson type splitter design is recommended over a resistive design to reduce measurement errors.
Internet of Things (IoT)
This special report on Enterprise IoT includes quotes and perspectives on wireless test from LitePoint’s Director of Product Marketing.
IoT Devices for the Enterprise: The Key Roles of Design, Testing & Security
Emerging millimeter wave technology – which supports vastly higher frequencies and broader channel bandwidths than other Wi-Fi and cellular technologies – will facilitate the integration of IoT devices into the 5G network.
5G & IoT Create a Market for mmWave
At the 2017 IoT Summit, LitePoint’s Senior Product Manager presented on the design challenges of Bluetooth low energy and why verification and testing are imperative throughout the product lifecycle.
Challenges & Solutions for Testing Bluetooth Low Energy IoT Devices
Making sure your IoT product – and the broader Internet of Things – works is critical to your success. This webcast delves into how and why you need to test your IoT device.
Testing the Internet of Things: Making the IoT Work
In today’s multitrillion-dollar IoT market, establishing a test-oriented environment for RF is a critical investment in the success of a product.
IoT Wireless Design Challenges – Testing Makes a Difference
As “internet of things” devices become essential in our lives and in industry, so too will their quality and reliability.
IoT Wireless Design Challenges – Design Tradeoffs
Bluetooth Smart—with its low power consumption, very low cost components, and compatibility with all mobile platforms and operating systems—is playing an important role in IoT.
It’s imperative to build RF performance verification into wireless device design and manufacturing. Get recommendations on key considerations like access RF signals, DUT control, and where testing fits in the process.
Millimeter Wave
Different 5G mmWave devices may require specific OTA test chambers and techniques. This article investigates various test methods and their tradeoffs in cost and path-loss performance.
Over-the-Air Testing for 5G mmWave Devices: DFF or CATR?
Different 5G mmWave devices may require specific OTA test chambers and techniques. This article investigates various test methods and their tradeoffs in cost and path-loss performance.
Over-the-Air Testing for 5G mmWave Devices: DFF or CATR?
mmWave products are quickly moving into the consumer market place. With it come several new testing requirements and challenges.
The Road Towards Faster, Simpler & Smarter Test Equipment for mmWave Products
What’s new and on the horizon for test this year? Delve into this article that leverages recent data and use cases to predict the near future.
2018 Wireless Test Trends
Emerging millimeter wave technology – which supports vastly higher frequencies and broader channel bandwidths than other Wi-Fi and cellular technologies – will facilitate the integration of IoT devices into the 5G network.
5G & IoT Create a Market for mmWave
Near-Field Communication (NFC)
Manufacturers of NFC products are entering a critical period in the technology’s market growth. See why NFC testing is important and how to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of production tests.
NFC’s possibilities are endless, which is resulting in an ever-broadening array of applications. LitePoint explores this expansion of NFC devices and use cases.
NFC Applications Venture into New Territories
With the advent of mobile payment and information exchange systems, and fickle consumers, it’s imperative that you thoroughly test your devices. LitePoint shares some considerations for efficient, effective NFC testing.
6 Key Factors in NFC Testing
LitePoint discusses and debunks common myths related to NFC testing.
7 Misconceptions about NFC Testing
Power Amplifiers (PA)
Among all PA characteristics, EVM is usually most critical for Wi-Fi applications. This application note details several kinds of impairments that affect PA EVM testing.
Power Amplifiers EVM Testing Impairments
802.11ax presents additional challenges for power amplifier design, characterization and test. Learn about new physical layer test requirements including increased linearity for 1024QAM, in-band emission testing and more.
Testing Power Amplifiers for 802.11ax
This paper highlights implications LTE and 802.11ac have on PA designs; explains the use of DPD and ET to manage linearity and efficiency; and discusses measurements for evaluating and optimizing PAs using these technologies.
The PA is a vital component in a WLAN transmitter circuit as its performance affects wireless coverage area, data rate capacity and circuit battery life. Learn about comprehensive, widely used techniques for PA testing.
Power Amplifier Testing for 802.11ac
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi connectivity – due to the rise of the smartphone – is important to our daily lives. This article discusses common indicators for assessing Wi-Fi performance, causes of certain issues, and how mobile phone manufacturers can avoid quality issues by testing.
Examining Common Smartphone Wi-Fi Quality Issues & How Wi-Fi Performance Testing Can Help
What’s new and on the horizon for test this year? Delve into this article that leverages recent data and use cases to predict the near future.
2018 Wireless Test Trends
Take a deeper look at the challenges wireless device manufacturers face when testing for 802.11 quality and reliability in a production-line environment, where cost considerations are paramount.
Consumer mobile apps are driving an insatiable thirst for data; and ever-evolving Wi-Fi seeks to solve the growing data congestion problems. With other contending technologies in this space, the race to claim supremacy is on.
Wi-Fi’s Future is in the Air
Exciting new standards and applications may be driving the development of next-gen wireless devices; but LitePoint’s leading-edge test solutions help make sure they all work.
Major Trends in Wireless Test
The explosion of new wirelessly connected products depends on improvements in range, battery life, latency, and number of connected devices. This article highlights major technologies that will play a key role: IEEE 802.11ax, low-power wide-area networks, and millimeter-wave frequencies.
5 Technology Areas to Watch in 2017
802.11ac is expected to make a substantial impact in the marketplace, with over one billion ICs being shipped worldwide. This paper highlights the motivations, key features, and market forecast for 802.11ac.