How to Implement Wireless Lab Automation Cost-Effectively

lamta
May 18, 2023 • 8 min read

As RF testing becomes more complicated, interest in automation solutions is growing. Automation can save time and improve test repeatability, leading to more reliable results.

Depending on the need, there are many very capable solutions available that address several different aspects of RF testing. One of the challenges is that most of them are highly specialized and require a significant investment to get started. Staff may also need extensive training to operate them, and this can limit their effectiveness.

In many cases, however, the need for RF testing automation can be solved with a solution that is much simpler and easier to use.

There are three essential elements of any RF testing setup:

An RF source such as a cellular base station, Wi-Fi access point or some kind of network emulator.

A device under test (DUT) such as a mobile phone or Wi-Fi client device in an RF shielded box or Faraday cage to isolate it from ambient RF environment.

RF signal distribution and attenuation control to manage the RF environment that connects them, like programmable variable attenuators.

The simplest form of RF test automation is a solution that uses software to control the variable attenuators to simulate changing RF conditions. For example, increasing attenuation on one RF source while decreasing it on a second RF source can simulate a DUT roaming from one to the other. This mimics what happens as RF signal strengths change when a mobile phone moves between cell sites or a Wi-Fi client moves around inside a home with a mesh Wi-Fi network.

Do It Yourself vs Off-The-Shelf Options

Many users develop their own software in-house to control RF signal distribution and attenuation. It is usually written in Visual BASIC or Python because those languages are relatively easy to learn and communicate readily with most programmable attenuation equipment.

While this may be the least expensive option to get started, it usually results in relatively unsophisticated software and is limited to performing only very simple tests. There are also hidden costs: the staff effort to develop the in-house software to begin with, and ongoing costs to maintain it to make sure the functionality remains current and to address any defects that will inevitably arise. These factors need to be considered when evaluating a “do it yourself” solution.

There are “off the shelf” RF signal distribution and attenuation control solutions on the market that are cost-effective to buy. Although there is some up-front investment required, it compares favourably to the effort and costs of developing and maintaining in-house software. Furthermore, they offer advanced testing features (such as handovers with MIMO and carrier aggregation) that would be even more complex to develop in-house.


LAMTA controls RF Signal Distribution and Attenuation

One example of this is LAMTA from Acentury. With LAMTA, a user can start small with a single RF Test Position – consisting of a small programmable attenuator array, RF shield box and LAMTA control software – and still perform sophisticated RF tests like they were in a much bigger lab.

LAMTA easily expands to support multiple test positions (i.e., RF shield boxes) while sharing the same set of radio sources. It effectively shares a common set of radio resources among multiple testers without disruptions. Non-sharable resources (like DUT) can be assigned to specific testers, and this greatly reduces the chances of testing interruptions.

Start Small and Expand

Using a solution like LAMTA, RF testers at all levels of sophistication can benefit from advanced RF testing automation capabilities without having to make a significant up-front investment.



To learn more about our LAMTA product, click here

Contact us if you have any further questions by reaching out to us here

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