Rohde & Schwarz, a premier provider of wireless test and measurement equipment, has officially teamed up with NETGEAR, a global leader in advanced networking and Wi-Fi solutions. Together, they are accelerating the market readiness of next-generation Wi-Fi 8 products.
What is Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn)?
Wi-Fi 8 represents the next massive leap in wireless internet, built upon the upcoming IEEE 802.11bn standard. While previous generations focused heavily on peak speeds, Wi-Fi 8 prioritizes Ultra-High Reliable (UHR) WLAN.
This shift in focus ensures that users experience high-speed, stable connectivity regardless of environmental conditions. By drastically reducing latency, Wi-Fi 8 will seamlessly power bandwidth-heavy and delay-sensitive applications. This includes advanced gaming, remote learning, remote work, and immersive Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) environments for both smart homes and automated factories.
The Challenges of Wi-Fi 8 Design Validation
Developing access points capable of delivering UHR WLAN is no small feat. Engineers face strict design validation requirements to ensure consumer devices function flawlessly. Testing next-generation Wi-Fi 8 equipment requires advanced solutions that can handle complex new features, including:
- Distributed Resource Units (DRU) and Unequal Modulation (UEQM): Advanced techniques to optimize how data is packed and transmitted.
- Massive Bandwidth: Support for up to 320 MHz wide channels across all operational bands.
- Extreme Modulation Schemes: Utilizing up to 4096QAM for incredibly dense data transmission.
- Superior Scalability: Handling 4×4 MIMO configurations while maintaining strict Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) performance.
The Rohde & Schwarz CMP180 Radio Communication Tester
To overcome these rigorous testing hurdles, Rohde & Schwarz is supplying NETGEAR with its state-of-the-art CMP180 radio communication tester.
The CMP180 is a highly versatile, non-signaling testing powerhouse designed to future-proof wireless device development. It provides comprehensive support for a wide array of cellular and non-cellular protocols, spanning Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8, and even 5G NR FR1. It operates seamlessly in frequencies up to 8 GHz and handles bandwidths up to 500 MHz.
Built for the Entire Product Lifecycle
What makes the CMP180 stand out is its hardware architecture. A single unit houses two analyzers, two generators, and dual eight-port RF configurations. For manufacturers needing even more power, multiple testers can be stacked and scaled.
This multi-Device Under Test (DUT) capability makes it a highly cost-efficient solution. Engineers at NETGEAR can rely on the CMP180 at every stage of the product lifecycle:
- Engineering Validation Tests (EVT)
- Design Validation Tests (DVT)
- Production Validation Tests (PVT)
- Mass Production (MP)
Industry Leaders on the Future of Connectivity
The collaboration between these tech heavyweights highlights a shared commitment to delivering premium networking hardware to consumers and enterprises alike.
Joseph Emmanuel, Vice President of Consumer Business Unit Hardware Engineering at NETGEAR, emphasized the value of this partnership: “Working with Rohde & Schwarz enables us to bring our Wi-Fi 8 products to the market with the expected high quality and extremely high performance for the best multi-gigabit Wi-Fi experience everywhere at home.”
Similarly, Goce Talaganov, Vice President of Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, noted the mutual benefits of the collaboration: “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.”
As we look toward the horizon of wireless networking, partnerships like this guarantee that by the time Wi-Fi 8 routers hit the shelves, they will be stress-tested, optimized, and ready to revolutionize how we connect. Stay tuned to AarokaTech.com for more updates on networking innovations.
Here at AarokaTech.com, we are always tracking the cutting edge of networking technology. The future of wireless connectivity is rapidly approaching, and two industry giants are paving the way.
