Anritsu Enhances WLAN Tester to Support Wi-Fi 7 2x2 MIMO

08/06/2025

Anritsu Company introduces an option for its Wireless Connectivity Test Set MT8862A (WLAN Tester) that extends its measurement capability to support Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be). With the option installed, the WLAN Tester – through is Network Mode – can evaluate the RF transmit and receive characteristics of 2x2 MIMO under real-world operating conditions, thus helping to improve the communication quality of WLAN-equipped devices.

The MT8862A supports the 2.4 GHz/5 GHz/6 GHz frequency bands and has 320 MHz channel bandwidth and 4096 QAM modulation for accurate analysis of Wi-Fi 7 devices. The new option allows the analyzer to measure the receive sensitivity and transmit power of devices supporting Wi-Fi 7 2x2 MIMO. Necessary measurements can be made by simply connecting the WLAN-equipped device under test (DUT) to the MT8862A. Target control settings are not required, and measurements can be taken by personnel of any experience level.

To determine how the device will operate in the real world, tests can be made using the Network Mode in the MT8862A WLAN Tester. The Network Mode emulates live operation to evaluate RF characteristics. It uses the data link layer communication protocol implemented in the chip and analyzer to establish communication. In addition to evaluating the RF characteristics through testing, Network Mode is especially useful for Over-The-Air (OTA) wireless performance testing – including antenna characteristics – of finished products.

Development Background
The release of Wi-Fi 7 support in the MT8862A addresses the market need to measure Wi-Fi 7 product designs now underway, such as ultra-high-definition video streaming and AR/VR. The MT8862A enables RF evaluation at all data rates of the major WLAN standards via the per-data-rate signal control technology. With the enhanced capability, the MT8862A can measure WLAN-equipped devices under real-world operating conditions, including Wi-Fi 7 2x2 MIMO, which requires two antennas for each of the transmitter and receiver.

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