X8711A IoT Device Functional Test Solution

• Over-the-air signaling test
• Quantitative measurements: Input Power Measurement (Device Transmit Power), receiver sensitivity, Packet Error Rate (PER)
• Integrated solution with Keysight Test Automation Platform (TAP) software enabled measurement suites: the KS83301A /KS83301B Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) 4.2 signaling measurement suite and the KS83302A /KS83302B WLAN b/g/n signaling measurement suite provide the essential test steps for functional testing

Accessories to complement the X8711A solution include the X8751A RF Shield Enclosure Kit which is non-RoHS compliant, Keysight restricts to ship the product to countries where European Union regulation applies.

Functional Testing Solution for IoT Devices – A New Way to Achieve Faster Time to Market, At A Lower Cost

For IoT device manufacturers, the manufacturing test stage is critical especially after the final assembly of your IoT device to ensure that you are shipping good products to your customers that are performing as per intended design and specifications. Field failures would cause customer dissatisfaction, or worse product recalls where your brand and reputation will be affected.

Conventional ways of IoT device functional testing include the golden radio method. Though it is low in cost, it does not provide sufficient test coverage to filter out manufacturing defects, nor the quantitative results that are important to detect performance drift or identify the root cause of failure.

Parametric testers are another available method today, but they are an overkill at this point of the product’s lifecycle. These testers are also expensive, causing the cost of test to rise significantly with volume.
At the same time, you face the pressures of getting new devices out in the market faster, while maintaining the cost of test.

This calls for an innovative and cost effective way of testing the functionality of RF devices after final assembly to ensure device quality and performance.

The Keysight X8711A is a unique integrated solution which measures important RF performance indicators of your IoT device while it is operating normally with production-release software. This ensures that your device is sufficiently tested for manufacturing defects including missing or wrong components, solder issues and more, without the need of complex or expensive test systems.

The X8711A consists of the Keysight 34972A data acquisition/data logger switch unit with built-in 6 ½-digit digital multimeter, 34999A RF module and the TAP-based KS83301A /KS83301B Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) 4.2 signaling and KS83302A /KS83302B WLAN b/g/n signaling measurement suites.

Test your IoT devices in normal operation mode after final assembly

Miniaturization of IoT devices eliminates test points, making contact testing impossible. With the X8711A’s over-the-air signaling test capability, you do not need to take your device apart or change its firmware to a test firmware. All test setup complexities and opportunities for error associated with physical connections or firmware changes are removed, so you can reduce time and cost of test development.

Assure that your devices meet quality levels

The X8711A objectively measures key transmitter and receiver parameters which would be affected by manufacturing defects with quantitative measurements of RF signals, such as the Input Power measurement and receiver sensitivity tests.

Simplify test development

With the TAP-based measurement suites with readily available test steps for Bluetooth® 4.2 signaling and WLAN b/g/n signaling, you can easily adjust test parameters to suit your testing needs using the KS8400A TAP Developer System and quickly perform the functional tests on your IoT devices without needing to spend time writing test software.

 
Maximize throughput on the manufacturing line and accelerate time to market
The X8711A is easy to setup and completes the Input Power measurement and receiver (Rx) PER tests in seconds.

Notice: Keysight will discontinue the KS83301A and the KS83302A on January 1, 2020 after which limited support basis will be in effect. Keysight has launched the replacements which are the KS83301B and KS83302B respectively.