A new Wi-Fi test process that combines three-dimensional antenna measurements with in-house virtual reality modeling has been announced by researchers at the University of Bristol’s Communication Systems and Networks (CSN) Group. The work was completed in conjunction with Farncombe, a provider of product strategy and technical consultancy and engineering services to the TV industry.
“Modern Wi-Fi routers typically include between four and six internal antennas. The types of antennae, position, orientation and their proximity to other electronic components and the outer casing all make a significant difference. To predict the performance of a new product, we need to measure how each of its antennas radiate in three-dimensional space,” antenna design specialist Dr. Geoff Hilton of the university’s Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering said.
Product performance is characterized, Hilton says, by rotating a test unit within an anechoic chamber and measuring the response of each antenna in turn. From this data, a set of complex, three-dimensional antenna patterns are created that describe how the signals radiate to and from each antenna within a building.
These antenna patterns are then combined with channel data from virtual reality models to better identify the performance of products within certain locations, lead researcher Andrew Nix, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said.
“Our test home is deliberately challenging, comprising ten rooms spread over three floors. Electromagnetic ray tracing is used to calculate how the Wi-Fi signals flow, bounce and bend around the home between your wireless router and client, for example a tablet or mobile phone,” Nix explained.
“Next, we ‘move’ the wireless router from room to room and predict its coverage and speed in all areas of the home. To reach our conclusion, we analyze 1.44 million different Wi-Fi links inside the property. WiFi speed and coverage is computed using the CSN Group’s own 802.11n simulator, which has been developed over a 20-year period. The simulator supports some of the latest Wi-Fi technologies, such as Eigen beam-forming with up to four antennas at the router.”
While most clients using the new testing process are covered by non-disclosure agreements, Nix says, “we’re really pleased to be able to announce that the latest product through our optimization process is the brand new Super Hub from Virgin Media.”
