Rohde & Schwarz and NETGEAR are joining forces to accelerate the development of next-generation Wi-Fi 8 products. Rohde & Schwarz, a leading provider of test and measurement solutions for wireless applications, and NETGEAR, a pioneer in advanced networking technologies and Wi-Fi 7 devices, are collaborating to ensure Wi-Fi 8 is market-ready.
Wi-Fi 8, based on the upcoming IEEE 802.11bn standard, focuses on ultra-high reliability (UHR) WLAN to deliver a superior wireless experience in homes, offices, and industrial environments. It promises high-speed connectivity under all conditions, with low latency for gaming, remote learning, and work applications that leverage augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) for immersive experiences.
Design validation of Wi-Fi 8 access points requires test solutions that support advanced features such as distributed resource units (DRU), unequal modulation (UEQM), channels up to 320 MHz in all supported bands, and high-order modulation schemes like 4096-QAM. Additionally, solutions must provide precise performance measurements (EVM) and scalability, including 4×4 MIMO, to optimize device performance.
To meet these demands, Rohde & Schwarz supplies NETGEAR with the CMP180 radio communication tester, a versatile, future-proof non-signaling testing solution. The CMP180 supports a wide range of cellular and non-cellular technologies, including Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8, and 5G NR FR1 operating in frequencies up to 8 GHz and bandwidths up to 500 MHz.
The CMP180 combines two analyzers, two generators, and two sets of eight RF ports in a single compact box, with the option to scale by stacking multiple testers. This design offers a cost-efficient, high-performance solution that meets both current and future test requirements.
Its fast multi-DUT testing capabilities make the CMP180 ideal for mass-production environments, while test engineers can leverage it across the full product development cycle, from engineering validation tests (EVT), design validation tests (DVT), and production validation tests (PVT) to mass production (MP).
Joseph Emmanuel, VP, Consumer Business Unit HW Engineering at NETGEAR, says: “Working with Rohde & Schwarz enables us to bring our Wi-Fi 8 products on the market with the expected high quality and extremely high performance for the best multi-gigabit Wi-Fi experience everywhere at home.”
Goce Talaganov, Vice President Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, says: “We are grateful for the close collaboration with NETGEAR on the latest Wi-Fi 8 technology. Our experience in wireless device testing and early cooperation with Wi-Fi 8 chipset and device vendors helped us to improve our test solution for the upcoming broad Wi-Fi 8 market.”
