By Caio Castro
While 6G communications are still some good years from happening – with the most optimistic timeline being 2028 – for at least one sector the future is (almost) here: test and measurement companies are already providing solutions for sub-Terahertz and 6G research.
Anritsu, Keysight, and Rhode & Schwarz will showcase new products and demos next week at the European Microwave Week (EuMW) – the event, by the way, will dedicate a track for 6G.
These are the solutions they will exhibit:
Anritsu
The Japanese company will use its portfolio to demonstrate broadband spectrum analysis up to 170 GHz. It will display:
The ultraportable and ultrabroadband Spectrum Master MS2760A,
Receiving signals transmitted by the Rubidium MG362x1A High-Performance Analog Signal Generator.
According to Anritsu, the demonstration will focus on F-band (90 to 145 GHz) and D-band (130 GHz to 175 GHz) frequency ranges, which have high potential in mobile communications, industrial radar systems and future radar applications.
Keysight
The California-based company will exhibit three 6G solutions:
A mmWave circuit design: Keysight’s new PathWave ADS 2024 software for today’s 5G technology and pre-6G and sub-THz research.
Wideband MIMO prototyping: solutions providing flexibility and scalability in prototyping various types of waveforms operating in different frequency bands.
Sub-THz device analysis: Keysight will showcase how its Vector Component Analyser solution enables engineers to minimise the residual error vector magnitude of the test system and zero in on component performance.
Rhode & Schwarz
The German company will display three solutions that are set to enter the market “soon”, R&S said:
SFI100A wideband IF vector signal generator: Rohde & Schwarz will show the R&S SFI100A combined with the R&S FSW50 signal and spectrum analyser and R&S FE170ST/SR TX/RX frontends to upconvert and downconvert signals, and the new R&S NRP170TWG thermal power sensor for the D band.
NRP170TWG(N) thermal power sensor: the product will extend the thermal RF power sensors portfolio to include the precision measurement of power levels in the frequency range from 110 GHz to 170 GHz.
R&S FE110ST/SR TX/RX frontends: The new frontends extend the company’s frequency range of signal sources to cover the W band (75 GHz to 110 GHz). At the EuMW, it will showcase them in a setup of multi-port measurements in combination with the R&S SMW200A vector signal generator and the R&S RTP oscilloscope.