Candela Technologies provide the virtual-station TR-398 solution

Candela Technologies提供全新的TR-398 Issue 2測試方案，新的方案採用模擬Wi-Fi用戶的模式滿足測試案例的需求。與先前發表的32組實體無線模組方案相比節省了硬體上的成本，同時大大降低實體線路整合上的難度。整套方案硬體上除了Wi-Fi用戶模擬器，另外也包含了Candela的LANforge流量產生器、可程式化轉盤、可程式化衰減器，電波隔離箱及所有的實體接線。軟體部分包括自動化測試程式及圖形化介面以利客戶簡易的完成TR-398的相關測試，報告提供html及CSV格式搭配pass/fail的條件輕鬆判讀測試結果。

在某些情況下，因為小體積中的線路較少，模擬Wi-Fi用戶的方案比 32 個單獨無線模組性能更好。Candela Technologies仍然有提供不同種的TR-398方案供客戶彈性選擇。欲了解更多相關資訊或判斷最適合配置組合，歡迎聯繫 sales@meshlink.com.tw

Candela Technologies offers a fully automated TR-398 Issue 2 test system. All the required test hardware including multi station emulator, traffic generator, RF enclosures, turntable, programmable attenuators, and fully automated test software along with PASS/FAIL results are provided in a fully packaged, easy to use and affordable solution. This testbed uses 6 4x4 dual-band radios supporting 19 virtual stations each. This performs better than 32 individual radios in some cases since there are fewer radios in a small volume. This virtual-station solution is also more affordable than the 32-station tri-band radio version of this testbed.

Hardware diagram:

Automation GUI:

Sample report:

TR-398 testplan: https://www.broadband-forum.org/download/TR-398.pdf

TR-398 provides a set of performance test cases with pass/fail requirements for 802.11n/ac/ax
implementations, to assist operators in the selection of Wi-Fi capable devices. Operators will use additional
criteria, such as deployment scenarios, customer needs, complexity, when selecting equipment and defining
deployment configurations. These test cases are not suitable for consumer selection of devices in the absence
of expert level understanding of Wi-Fi operation, configurations, and deployment scenarios. The corresponding
certification programs of interoperability are “Wi-Fi 4” “Wi-Fi 5”, and “Wi-Fi 6” for 802.11n, 802.11ac, and
802.11ax in Wi-Fi Alliance, respectively......

Key Tests from TR-398 Issue 2 Document

6.1 RF capability

6.1.1 Receiver Sensitivity Test

6.2 Baseline performance

6.2.1 Maximum Connection Test

6.2.2 Maximum Throughput Test

6.2.3 Airtime Fairness Test

6.2.4 Dual-band Throughput Test

6.2.5 Bidirectional Throughput Test

6.2.6 Airtime Fairness Test

6.3 Coverage

6.3.1 Range Versus Rate Test

6.3.2 Spatial Consistency Test

6.3.3 802.11ax Peak Performance Test

6.4 Multiple Stations Performance

6.4.1 Multiple Stations Performance Test.

6.4.2 Multiple Association/Disassociation Stability Test.

6.4.3 Downlink MU-MIMO Performance Test.

6.5 Stability/Robustness

6.5.1 Long Term Stability Test

6.5.2 AP Coexistence Test

6.5.3 Automatic Channel Selection Test

8 Mesh test cases (TR398 issue-3) Requires additional testbed components.

8.1.1 Mesh Roaming Test

8.2.1 Mesh Backhaul Rate vs Ranget

8.2.2 2-hop Mesh Backhaul Rate vs Ranget