Aeroflex is offering test support for MIMO (multiple-input/multiple-output) capabilities on its PXI 3000 series manufacturing test system with the introduction of a multiport RF combiner module.
 
The initial target application for the new module is WLAN IEEE 802.11n device testing.

The WLAN measurement suite software (3030 RF digitiser software option 103) has been updated for the MIMO capabilities offered by the 3061 RF combiner.

It supports testing of WLAN devices implementing up to 2x2 MIMO communications. Support for 4x4 MIMO device testing is expected later this year.

Power modulation and spectrum measurement results for each transmit stream can be viewed independently using PXI Studio application software, as well as supporting composite measurement of EVM (error vector magnitude) for multiple antenna configurations.

The WLAN Measurement Suite is designed for use in conjunction with the new 3061 RF combiner/RF switch module, which provides three RF in/out interfaces to a single VSA/VGA (vector signal analyzer/vector generator analyzer) resource.

With instantaneous measurement bandwidths up to 90 MHz available, the PXI 3000 Series is equipped to perform WLAN spectral emission mask measurements in a single step.