Agilent has PHY tool for 1Gbit/s wi-fi system design

Agilent Technologies has added digital signal processing reference libraries for emerging standards IEEE 802.11ac and 802.11ad to its SystemVue wireless physical-layer design environment.

There are also updates for 4G-LTE, 3G-HSPA and wideband digital predistortion libraries.

The 802.11ac WLAN standard promises data throughputs of more than 1Gbit/s for short-range media streaming, gaming and computer networks.

The W1917EP WLAN baseband verification library provides over 50 new baseband signal processing blocks, built into working, user-modifiable transmit and receive reference designs in a closed-loop physical layer.

“With this new library, system architects will now be able to see system-level effects of 802.11ac algorithms and models, predistortion, impairments, interferers, and fading on signal quality and bit error ratio,” said the company.

The W1917EP library helps validate baseband algorithms, nonlinear RF components and system performance when integrating system-on-a-chip chipsets into next-generation wireless products.

It interoperates with other Agilent test equipment and software, providing a consistent, structured approach from simulation to hardware test. This allows the earliest possible design validation and product maturity.

Similarly, the W1915EP mmWave WPAN baseband verification library targets system architects working at 60GHz, where measurement challenges are even more difficult. The library provides transmit and receive reference designs for simulation-based validation of the 802.11ad physical layer.

The 802.11ad physical layer (which is also compatible with WGA PHY specification version 1.1) is used in the development of next-generation high-bandwidth HD video streaming systems and set-top boxes.

“Simulation-assisted measurements are a powerful enabler for SoC designers and system integrators working to deliver early 60GHz product designs,” said Todd Cutler, general manager of Agilent’s EEsof organisation.