The decision by the Wi-Fi Alliance means that the MT8860C can be used by any top-tier independent laboratory authorized by the CTIA and the Wi-Fi Alliance to perform RF performance evaluations of Wi-Fi Mobile Convergence Devices. This test, which is mandatory for all Wi-Fi mobile convergence devices intended for the North American market, provides network operators and terminal suppliers with a reliable method for evaluating and comparing the RF performance of devices incorporating Wi-Fi and cellular technology.

The tests are performed according to the Test Plan for RF Performance Evaluation of Wi-Fi Mobile Converged Devices, as a new firmware version (11.2) for the MT8860C supports the defined test methodology. The test plan includes a comprehensive set of over-the-air (OTA) measurements taken in a 360° environment to simulate real-world conditions. Total Radiated Power (TRP) measurements provide information about the range of the Wi-Fi signal emitted by a converged device, while Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) measurements indicate a converged device's ability to detect an incoming Wi-Fi signal.

Over-the-air (OTA) measurements require specialized test systems. As part of the MT8860C validation process, a joint development program was established between Anritsu and ETS-Lindgren. Within this program, ETS-Lindgren developed a new MT8860C instrument controller for the EMQuest EMQ-100 Data Acquisition and Analysis Software. This software not only controls the measuring equipment (MT8860C) but is also capable of positioning the antenna relative to the converging device under test and subsequently processing the measurement data to generate 2D and 3D antenna patterns.

Validation was achieved once the MT8860C successfully passed a set of acceptance tests defined by the Wi-Fi Alliance. Based on these tests, the Wi-Fi Alliance concluded that the MT8860C's performance falls within the required measurement uncertainty margin for driven transmit and receive, as well as for over-the-air (OTA) TRP and TIS tests. Furthermore, the Wi-Fi Alliance confirmed that the MT8860C's linearity performs correctly across all UNII bands and provides reliable measurement results for 802.11a converged devices.

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