Rohde & Schwarz collaborates with Broadcom on test solution for next generation 6-GHz Wi-Fi devices

Rohde & Schwarz, a leading supplier of test and measurement equipment for wireless applications, today announced the availability of test solutions for the Broadcom^® 6GHz Wi-Fi 6E chipsets, the industry’s first to operate in the 6 GHz band. In collaboration with Broadcom Inc., Rohde & Schwarz has successfully verified the new R&S CMP180 next generation wireless device test platform, which is especially suitable for R&D as well as production. OEMs and ODMs of wireless equipment, who integrate Broadcom Wi-Fi 6E chipsets, now have access to the right test solution for R&D, quality control, and production prototyping.

The IEEE 802.11ax amendment (Wi-Fi 6/6E), operating in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands, intends to improve WLAN system efficiency, especially the throughput per station in dense signal environments and outdoor environments. With up to 1.2 GHz of Wi-Fi spectrum available for unlicensed use in the 6-GHz band, Wi-Fi 6E can access up to seven 160-MHz channels to support various bandwidth-driven use cases.

These technologies pose challenges for test and measurement equipment. For example, the 1024QAM modulation requires signal generation capabilities which transmit reference signals with very low distortion over a bandwidth of up to 160 MHz and the required analysis bandwidth. The R&S CMP180 has been qualified for characterizing Broadcom 6 GHz Wi-Fi chipsets at the RF level for tests such as error vector magnitude (EVM), timing measurements and spectrum emission compliance. Rohde & Schwarz also provides a Wireless Manufacturing software for Broadcom 6 GHz Wi-Fi chipsets and service solutions to OEMs and ODMs.

Christoph Pointner, Senior Vice President Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, says: “We are happy to provide tailored test solutions that help Broadcom’s customers bring the newest Wi-Fi technology to the market. The joint efforts with Broadcom for Wi-Fi 6E also provide a solid foundation to enhance our test solution for next generation Wi-Fi 7, which will leverage on the 6 GHz band to deliver higher performance and throughput.”

Gabriel Desjardins, Director of Product Marketing in the Wireless Communications & Connectivity Division at Broadcom Inc., says: “We continue to collaborate with Rohde & Schwarz in developing 6 GHz Wi-Fi test systems. The availability of these systems has enabled our customers and partners to accelerate deployment of 6GHz Wi-Fi.”

The R&S CMP180 radio communication tester is a future-proof, non-signaling testing solution for wireless devices in research and development, validation and production. Together with advanced frequency, bandwidth and RF capabilities, it enables testing of new wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 and many more. Additionally, the doubled number of analyzers (2xVSA), generators (2xVSG) and RF ports (2×8) enable simultaneous measurements of technologies and devices in a VSA/VSG single-box tester.

At CES Las Vegas from January 5 to January 8, 2022, Rohde & Schwarz will showcase a Wi-Fi 6E test setup featuring the R&S CMP180 and the BCM4389 Wi-Fi 6E device from Broadcom. For further information on the R&S CMP180, visit:
www.rohde-schwarz.com/product/cmp180