Data sheet

Version
01.00

November
2003
WLAN Protocol Tester ¸PTW 70
IEEE 802.11 multimode protocol tester for development, integration and verification

Applications Features
 Development –The ¸ PTW 70 is an  Analyzer mode – The IEEE 802.11  The measurement unit is detached
indispensable error diagnostics tool for reference model of the ¸ PTW 70 from the controller and can be
wireless LAN system components from simulates a wireless LAN access remotely driven from different
chip set to complete infrastructure point or a station workstations
 Integration – By accommodating  Sniffer or monitor mode – The ¸  The modular design allows flexible
wireless LAN software and hardware PTW 70 records data communications tester configurations specific to a
modules, the ¸ PTW 70 can in a wireless LAN cell given measurement task – from the
be used to evaluate how different  The multi-choice operating concept single-channel model to versions
system components interact and to features graphical and programmable networking several ¸ PTW 70
test cross-technology compatibility user interfaces testers
 Verification – Due to its special  Online analysis tools provide the user  Its predefined set of applications is
design, the ¸ PTW 70 allows the with reliable data exactly when needed tailored to specific user groups
performance and quality features of  Hardware-based timers and realtime  Its powerful hardware platform makes
wireless LAN system components to be processing make it possible to the tester a future-proof investment
objectively evaluated for the first time analyze protocol sequences in detail
in all operating modes
Objective of the ¸ PTW 70 IEEE Standard ¸ Comments
PTW 70
The WLAN Protocol Tester ¸PTW 70 availability
represents a considerable enhancement 802.11a PHY/MAC layers for high-speed
in speed, accuracy and cost-effective- WLAN in 5 GHz frequency band

ness in the complex measurement tasks
802.11b PHY/MAC layers for WLAN in Sniffer mode and 2.4 GHz
involved in multi-standard wireless LAN 
2.4 GHz frequency band interoperability testing
systems.
802.11c MAC layer procedures to cover Please ask about availability

bridge operation with 802.11
Target customers
 Innovators in wireless LAN chip-set 802.11d PHY layer requirements to
and protocol-stack development extend the operations of 802.11 
 Suppliers of wireless LAN system to new regulatory domains
802.11e MAC layer enhancement to See application note for
components and infrastructures 
improve and manage QoS further details
 Consulting firms and engineers
specializing in radiocommunications 802.11f Inter-access point protocol to Please ask about availability
and telecommunication systems support multi-vendor AP interop- 
 Professional providers and users of erability across a DS
WLAN-based services and networks 802.11g PHY/MAC layers for high-speed Mandatory parts are
 Laboratories and test houses perform- WLAN in 2.4 GHz frequency  implemented
ing interoperability, compatibility and band
802.11h PHY/MAC layer enhancement See application note for
certification tests 
(DFS/TPC) further details
What does IEEE 802.11 multimode 802.11i MAC layer enhancement to See application note for
protocol tester mean? improve security and authenti-  further details
IEEE 802.11 currently specifies wireless cation mechanisms
LAN systems for the 2.4 GHz ISM 802.11j PHY/MAC layer enhancement Please ask about availability
frequency band (802.11b and 802.11g) to apply the Japanese rules for

and the 5 GHz U-NII frequency band radio operation in 4.9 GHz and
(802.11a). 5 GHz bands
802.11k Radio resource measure- Please ask about availability
The ¸PTW 70 supports the 802.11a
ment enhancements provide
and 802.11g systems, i.e. it offers a wide
interfaces to higher layers for 
range of functions from the RF frontend,
radio and network measure-
the physical protocol layer, the MAC
ments
protocol layer through to applications.
As to 802.11b functionality, the focus Table 1: IEEE 802.11 standards versus ¸PTW 70 implementation (as of October 2003).

is on interoperability measurements,
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particularly the monitor mode and
���������� ����������� ����� analysis functions for testing 802.11b
������������ �� �� ��������� ��������� ����������� and 802.11g interoperability. IEEE 802.11
defines a number of additional functions
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��������� ������� ������� ��������� ������� ��������� for the PHY and MAC protocol layers.
��������� ���� ��������� �������� ��������� ������������� ��������� These functions and their implementa-
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��������� �� ����������� ������ tion in the ¸ PTW 70 are listed in
Table 1.
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Fig.1: Design of WLAN Protocol Tester ¸ PTW 70

2 WLAN Protocol Tester ¸PTW 70

 �����������
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range of sophisticated measurement
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��������������
������ ������ applications. Table 2 shows the different
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configuration levels and correspond-
�������� ������ ing applications of the WLAN Protocol
�� ���
����� Tester ¸PTW 70.
������������ ���
������� �
��������� ������ Measurement unit
�������� ������� ������ Fig. 2 provides a schematic view of the
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�� ���������� modules of the ¸ PTW 70 measure-
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ment unit.
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� ����������� ����� � ����������� ����� Using a standard PC architecture, the
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¸ PTW 70 measurment unit can
simultaneously carry out measure-
Fig. 2: ¸PTW 70 modules. ments, record measured data and, in
the background, send the data to to
Modular design the detached controller. The baseband
The WLAN Protocol Tester ¸PTW 70 graphical script interface and run by architecture is oriented to the realtime
(see Fig. 1) consists of a measurement remote control. The measurement unit requirements of the PHY layer and
unit and a controller (workstation PC contains a wireless LAN protocol plug-in the MAC layer. The baseband board
or notebook). The two components developed by Rohde & Schwarz. The plug- is designed to support future require-
are connected via Ethernet directly in consists of an RF frontend capable ments of the WLAN standards by install-
or as part of a network. The detached of multi-frequency-band operation and ing software updates. The RF frontend
measurement unit of the ¸PTW 70 a processor architecture suitable for covers the currently used frequency
can be configured and monitored via a all time-critical wireless LAN protocol spectrum for WLAN systems. The RF
graphical user interface. The measure- processes. The measurement unit can frontend can be set to receive selected
ment data is returned to the controller be equipped with one or two protocol frequency bands or channel bandwidths
and can be evaluated conveniently plug-ins. Moreover, several measure- to match the internal settings of the
using graphical analysis tools. In ment units can be networked. This mixer stages or external devices that are
addition, complex test sequences modular concept is also employed in connected.
can be configured via a user-friendly the software, thus opening up a wide

¸PTW 70 measurment ¸PTW 70 protocol Configuration (¸PTW 70) Configuration

unit (number) plug-in (number) (DUT)
one one Analyzer mode – one access point Station

Analyzer mode – one station Access point

Monitor mode Communication between

components
Monitor mode and test station
two Analyzer mode – two access points Station
(single band/dual band)
Analyzer mode – two stations Access point
(single band/dual band)
Analyzer mode – one access point Communication between
and one station components
Analyzer and monitor mode
Several one to two As needed

Table 2: Scaling of WLAN Protocol Tester ¸ PTW 70.

WLAN Protocol Tester ¸PTW 70 3
 The measurement unit processes both
������ graphical and text scripts. With no
���� more than a mouseclick, the scripts
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are available for processing after going
����������� ������ �����
through an executability check.
����������� ��
�������� ��� The protocol SAP interface (see Fig. 3)
������ ������
������� ���������
��������� provides unrestricted access to the ¸
���� �� ����������� ���� PTW 70 protocol stack. The interface,
which is implemented as a C++ library,
Fig. 3: ¸ PTW 70 programming environment. enables the user to manipulate the time
sequence of events, modify baseband
Featuring trigger signal inputs and The graphical script editor (see Fig. 4, processes (for example by changing
outputs, an I/Q output and configu- background) is installed on the control- the header or checksum of a protocol
rable RF connectors, the ¸ PTW 70 ler. Featuring a predefined set of control message) and insert test sequences.
measurement unit can easily be commands and 802.11-specific protocol
integrated into more complex test vocabulary, the editor supports the
setups. fast and guided generation of test
scenarios. The graphical user interface
is a very convenient means of setting
Software concept variables and protocol parameters as
well as branching to program sections or
The ¸PTW 70 uses three operating repeating selected sequences.
systems. All time-critical processes run
on the OSE realtime operating system Test scenarios can also be created as
and are executed by accessing a reliable texts through direct access to the script
Rohde & Schwarz protocol stack model. engine command interface (see Fig. 3)
The PC of the measurement unit runs (feature currently in the planning stage).
on the Linux operating system, which
is also used to communicate with the
controller. The user interface is designed
for 32-bit Microsoft Windows operating
systems.
Abbreviation Meaning
Three tools are available to enable AP Access point
optimal configuration of the ¸ DFS Dynamic frequency selection
PTW 70 for a given measurement task DUT Device under test
(see Fig. 3). IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers
ISM band Industrial-Scientific-Medical band
The user interface consists of the LAN Local area network
following elements: MAC layer Medium access control layer
 Graphical script editor: the direct way PHY layer Physical layer
to measurement results QoS Quality of service
 Script-based programming interface: RF Radio frequency
time-saving in automatic tests SAP Service access point
 C++ library: error simulation for STA Station
quality assurance at all stages of TPC Transmit power control
development U-NII band Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure band
WLAN Wireless LAN
Table 3: Abbreviations.

WLAN Protocol Tester ¸PTW 70 4

The graphical analyzer (see Fig. 4, Since it supports controlled error PTW 70 is an indispensable tool in the
foreground) displays the protocol-based simulation in the protocol sequence, development, integration and verifica-
communication between the DUT and manipulation of test sequences, realtime tion of wireless LAN systems.
the ¸ PTW 70 in detail and with high analysis and complete documentation of
time resolution. Analysis is facilitated results, the WLAN Protocol Tester ¸
by various protocol views display-
ing, for example, a decoded protocol
message in detail, a single protocol layer,
or a complete protocol sequence. In
addition, an extensive range of filter and
event functions is available to support
systematic fault and error analysis and
correction.

Fig. 4: ¸ PTW 70 graphical script editor and analyzer.

Specifications
TX/RX (RF) TX
Frequency range Band 1 IEEE802.11b 2400 MHz to 2500 MHz Modulation
Band Japan IEEE802.11a 4910 MHz to 5080 MHz EVM Pout= 0 dBm >28 dBm
Band 2 IEEE802.11a 5150 MHz to 5350 MHz Spurious 10 kHz to 200 MHz offset –40 dBc
>200 MHz offset –20 dBc
Band 3 EU HiperLAN2 5470 MHz to 5725 MHz
Harmonics 2nd and 3rd order –30 dBc
Band 3 US IEEE802.11a 5725 MHz to 5825 MHz
Output level
Frequency resolution 1 MHz in band 1 Max. +6 dBm
2.5 MHz in all other Range 20 dB
bands
Resolution 1 dB
Frequency accuracy internal reference 5 × 10–6

WLAN Protocol Tester ¸PTW 70 5

Output level accuracy RF interfaces
Frequency response Band 1 1 dB Split RF connectors for antenna diversity with N connectors at front panel

(Pe as)
Band 2, 3 2 dB
External reference inputs/outputs with BNC connectors at rear panel
Temperature drift +5 °C to +45 °C 2 dB
Digital interfaces LAN 100BT
+20 °C to +30 °C 1 dB

Printed in Germany
dual-port USB connector for LAN setup
Repeatability 0.1 dB
VGA connector for external monitor for
Output VSWR <2 : 1
LAN setup
RX
Environmental requirements
Immunity to interference
Operating temperature range +5 °C to +45 °C according to
Image rejection >30 dB DIN EN 60068-2-30: 2000-02
IF rejection IF1: 1150 MHz >30 dB Storage temperature range –25 °C to +60 °C according to
IF2: 20 MHz >50 dB DIN EN 60068-2-30: 2000-02
Sensitivity packet error rate PER: 10 % –82 dBm at 6 Mbit/s Relative humidity +40 °C 95 % noncondensing
According to S/N (~S/N = 12 dB) according to DIN EN 60068-2-30:
–65 dBm at 54 Mbit 2000-02
(~S/N = 29 dB)
Mechanical resistance
Max. input level –30 dBm
Vibration, sinusoidal 5 Hz to 150 Hz according to
Level accuracy DIN EN 60068-2-6: 1996-05
RF frequency Band 1 1 dB Vibration, random 5 Hz to 300 Hz according to
response Band 2, 3 2 dB DIN EN 60068-2-64: 1995-08
Drift +5 °C to +45 °C 2 dB Shock 40 g shock spectrum according to
+20 °C to +30 °C 1 dB DIN EN 60068-2-27: 1995-03
Repeatability 0.1 dB General data
Input VSWR <2 : 1 Power supply input range 100 V to 240 V AC
Power supply input power max. 310 VA
Power supply frequency range 50 Hz to 60 Hz
Regulatory requirements

PD 0758.0268.32 ⋅ WLAN Protocol Tester ¸ PTW 70 ⋅ Version 01.00 ⋅ November 2003 ⋅ Data without tolerance limits is not binding
Electromagnetic compatibility in line with EMC directive of EU

¸ is a registered trademark of Rohde&Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG ·Trade names are trademarks of the owners ⋅ Subject to change
EMC standards met DIN EN 61000-6-3 and
DIN EN 61000-6-4
Safety standards met EN 60950 (1992 + A1 2993 + A2 1993
+ A3 1995)
Mechanical data
Dimensions (W × H × D) 310 mm × 140 mm × 430 mm
Weight 10 kg

For detailed ordering information please contact your local

Rohde & Schwarz representative.

Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG ⋅ Mühldorfstraße 15 ⋅ 81671 München ⋅ Germany ⋅ P.O.B. 801469 ⋅ 81614 München ⋅ Germany ⋅ Telephone +49 89 4129-0
www.rohde-schwarz.com ⋅ Customer Support: Telephone +49 1805124242, Fax +49 89 4129-13777, E-mail: [email protected]