Agilent Technologies Inc. today announced that its EXM wireless test set now supports 4x4 True MIMO capability for WLAN design and validation, with up to four TRXs testing multiple-input, multiple-output antenna characteristics simultaneously. This capability further advances the gigabit era for WLAN evolution, especially the rapidly evolving 802.11ac technology.
Other new features for the EXM include WLAN combined measurements that support transmitter beamforming test for device calibration testing, and independent source and analyzers for parallel receiver and transmitter testing to further speed up and optimize WLAN device manufacturing.
The 4x4 True MIMO enhancements allow the EXM to support the design and validation characteristics of multiple antennas in mobile devices, access points, and WLAN adapters used in R&D and manufacturing environments. The EXM versatility across the various stages of the product lifecycle allows code to be leveraged, expediting the process from new-product development to manufacturing and facilitating the ramp-up to full-volume production.
“Cellular and WLAN device manufacturers can benefit from the EXM’s broad application support but can also further optimize the test instrument’s usage across the design validation and production process,” said Joe DePond, vice president and general manager of Agilent’s Mobile Broadband Operation. “The EXM gives manufacturers a platform that protects their test system investment and easily adapts to needs that keep pace with chipset advances. This is the underlying tough goal of maximizing throughput in high-volume device manufacturing.”
For manufacturing, the EXM’s individual TRX modules are upgradable to up to 160 MHz bandwidth and 6 GHz frequency range with a license key. The EXM’s ultimate port density and extensibility supports any combination of up to four TRX modules, which can enable up to 16 connections without the use of extra external fixtures and provides up to 32 devices with customizable multi-port adapting technology.
The EXM has the industry’s broadest application coverage, with support for 2G, 3G and 4G, including LTE-A, and wireless connectivity, including WLAN 802.11ac.