LitePoint Announces Emulator For Dynamic Wireless Systems Testing

Sunnyvale, CA -- LitePoint Corporation announces the new TrueChannel Emulator which reproduces highly accurate multipath environments for testing up to 4 x 4 multiple input / multiple output (MIMO) or single input / single output (SISO) wireless solutions. The TrueChannel Emulator works with wireless integrated circuit and board-level products enabling researchers, developers and verification teams to stress a device-under-test's (DUT) algorithms and hardware designs. Furthermore, it allows developers and product managers to evaluate the performance of multiple products and validation testing under the same environmental conditions.

"Our release of the TrueChannel Emulator demonstrates the commitment of LitePoint to provide the most advanced wireless test solutions to our customers" said Greg Ravenscroft, President / Advanced Development at LitePoint Corporation. Mr. Ravenscroft continued, "The TrueChannel Emulator joins IQnxn, IQview and IQflex, LitePoint's MIMO and Legacy WLAN test solutions, addressing the varied needs of developers, manufacturers and product owners."

The TrueChannel Emulator provides end-to-end RF connectivity with the ability to accurately enable measurements of a DUT's response to a standardized or user-defined channel. Channel emulation is particularly critical to the latest MIMO systems, including 802.11n, where the ability to test algorithms and products against complex channel models is important to measure and validate the DUT with real-world effects such as multipath, fading and cross-channel correlation.

Accuracy and repeatability of the channel model is achieved by implementation of a low latency, custom digital signal processor supported by high dynamic range, high isolation Rx and Tx radio frequency interfaces. The TrueChannel Emulator supports all 802.11 requirements operating in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands with a channel bandwidth greater than 40 MHz. All Rx/Tx ports are fully bidirectional with automatic switching and per-channel gain control.

User set up of the system is done through an included GUI. Once set up, the system runs automatically. Automation is supported through either a C++ or MATLAB compatible API. Through these interfaces, the user defines channel model characteristics. Included are TGn channel models or the user can define their own models. Individual channel attenuation can be controlled for modeling roaming scenarios. Channel models can be dynamically changed at any time during packet transmissions to emulate changing environments and is supported by an interpolator which ensures smooth transitions between models. The system can be configured to provide physical layer link performance PER data in real time and works with popular performance analysis packages such as Ixia's IxChariot or iPerf.

The TrueChannel Emulator scales with customer needs and is available in 2 x 2, 3 x 3 or 4 x 4 configurations. Systems can be expanded after initial purchase with TrueChannel Rx/Tx Expansion Modules. The TrueChannel Emulator and Rx/Tx Expansion Modules are available now.

SOURCE: LitePoint Corporation