
Spec out the test requirements
Right-sized wireless testing starts with comparing and contrasting the two general types of wireless test systems: transceiver and handover. Transceiver testing means testing how radios directly communicate with one another. In handover testing, you test how antennas or access points perform with radios, which generally are called handsets.
Whether looking at transceiver or handover testing, testing gear has the following considerations:
- Ports connect devices to the test system.
- Internal RF components attenuate, divide, or combine signals.
- Attenuators may be remotely programmable or manual.
- Systems work over specific frequency ranges.
- Configurations establish paths of communications among devices.
The ports, attenuators and divider/combiners, frequency ranges, and internal configurations are where tradeoffs will happen that affect overall testing speed, thoroughness, and cost.