Anritsu Corporation has introduced new software evaluation options for its MT8862A Wireless Connectivity Test Set to support RF characteristic testing for next-generation Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) and Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) devices on a single platform.
Methodical: test coverage first, practical caveat second
The company said the new options allow developers to measure transmit power, modulation accuracy and receiver sensitivity while a device operates, and to perform both conducted and over-the-air (OTA) measurements through the device antenna. Anritsu positions the MT8862A as a single, software-extensible platform that already supports the latest Wi-Fi 7 requirements — including 320MHz channel bandwidth and 4096-QAM — all three Wi-Fi 6E frequency bands, and legacy IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards.
The vendor emphasized the platform’s Network Mode, which establishes an active connection with the device under test and performs measurements while the device is operating. That capability is designed to let engineers verify performance metrics at individual data rates under realistic operating conditions.
Speed claim and real-world caveat
Anritsu framed Wi-Fi 8 as a next-generation WLAN standard aimed at “low-latency and highly reliable wireless communications,” and noted industry timelines: the standard’s formal completion target is 2028. The company says Wi-Fi 8 adoption is expected in AI-enabled equipment and physical AI systems, while the single-platform approach responds to the growing need to evaluate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth together for IoT devices, wearables and smartphones.
- Platform: MT8862A Wireless Connectivity Test Set
- New options: RF evaluation for Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) and Bluetooth LE (software options)
- Supported WLAN features: Wi-Fi 7 requirements including 320MHz channel bandwidth and 4096-QAM, three Wi-Fi 6E bands, and legacy IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Measurement modes: Network Mode (connected, in-operation testing), conducted testing and OTA via device antenna
- Measured parameters: transmit power, modulation accuracy, receiver sensitivity at individual data rates
The MT8862A is described as a transmit-and-receive measurement platform intended to support device development from initial design through quality evaluation. Anritsu said the new evaluation options are provided as software, enabling upgradeability for existing MT8862A owners.
| Manufacturer | Product | New capability | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anritsu Corporation | MT8862A Wireless Connectivity Test Set | Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) and Bluetooth LE RF evaluation options (software) | Options supplied as software to MT8862A platforms |
By supporting Wi-Fi 8 test features alongside a full range of legacy and current WLAN standards and Bluetooth LE, Anritsu aims to streamline testing for devices that combine multiple wireless technologies. The vendor also highlighted OTA testing capability and Network Mode as ways to validate real-world performance rather than only conducted measurements.
For manufacturers and developers producing multi-radio IoT devices or next-generation wireless equipment, the MT8862A’s extended options provide an upgrade path to evaluate emergent Wi-Fi 8 features and Bluetooth LE without adding separate hardware platforms, according to Anritsu.
“The single-platform evaluation of RF characteristics for both wireless technologies helps improve development efficiency and optimise test environments,” Anritsu Corporation said.
Integrators, test labs and OEMs planning device certification or pre-compliance measurement campaigns should review Anritsu’s options and upgrade path for the MT8862A when scheduling development and validation roadmaps that include Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi 8 and Bluetooth LE testing.
