WLAN 802.11ad/WiGig/WiHD Test and Design

IEEE 802.11ad is an amendment to the 802.11 WLAN standard which enables up to 7 Gbps data rates in the unlicensed and globally available 60 GHz band. With much more spectrum available than the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, the 60 GHz band has wider channels, enabling higher data rates over short distances (1m – 10m). Primary 802.11ad applications will be to remove wires between High-Definition multimedia, computer displays, I/O and peripheral, peer to peer data synchronization and higher speed LAN.

A shared MAC layer with existing 802.11 networks enables session switching between 802.11 networks operating in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 60 GHz bands, resulting in uninterrupted wireless data communications. The 802.11ad MAC layer has been extended to include beamforming support and address the 60 GHz specific aspects of channel access, synchronization, association, and authentication.

The design and integration of 802.11ad devices present challenges in tackling 10 times higher frequencies and 100 times wider modulation bandwidths than previous WLAN standards. A mix of modulation technologies (both Single Carrier and OFDM) and the use of active directional antennae further complicate matters.

Agilent 81199A supports WiHD revision 1.0b PHY including HRP and LRP modes.

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For a measurement block diagram of Agilent’s emerging WLAN 802.11ad product offering.

To learn more about the WLAN implementation of MIMO: MIMO Test