Spirent adds Wi-Fi 6/7 automated tests to Octobox

The STA Automation Package simplifies Wi-Fi testing by automating the process, ensuring consistency, and reducing the need for manual intervention.

Octobox with a webcam under test surrounded by PCB log-periodic antennas.

The Octobox STA Automation Package by Spirent Communications offers automated Wi-Fi 6/6E and 7 over-the-air (OTA) testing, compatible with previous Wi-Fi versions, to meet the demands of evolving technologies.

The Octobox serves as a test chamber equipped with log-periodic antennas to transmit and receive signals from the equipment under test (EUT), allowing for performance evaluation under various signal conditions. It supports a wide range of devices, including cell phones, IoT devices, AR/VR glasses, and routers.

This Octobox configuration uses two chambers, one for cell phone and other for a router.

The Octobox and STA Automation package streamline Wi-Fi testing, providing repeatability and automation for various testing scenarios. Despite automation, manual adjustments may still be required for antenna positioning within the Octobox due to the nonlinear nature of RF propagation.

The automated tests conducted by the Octobox include evaluating maximum throughput, data rate as a function of range, fixed MCS sweep, MU-MIMO capabilities, OFDMA testing, roaming reliability, backward compatibility to previous Wi-Fi standards, and security protocol testing.

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