How to Improve OTA Measurement Accuracy for BLE and WLAN IoT Devices

+ IoT Wireless Test

OTA Path Loss and System Offset Workflow

Many IoT devices are too small or too integrated to support a physical RF test connector. Products such as sensors, wearables, hearing aids, and other compact connected devices often need to be tested in final form, running final firmware, and operating as they will in the real world. Over-the-air testing makes this possible, but it also introduces path loss from cables, antenna couplers, shielded enclosures, and device placement. Without compensating for these losses, transmitter power, receiver sensitivity, and packet error rate results can vary from setup to setup.

Keysight’s IoT wireless test solution enables over-the-air signaling tests for Bluetooth® Low Energy and WLAN IoT devices. Engineers can measure transmitter power, receiver sensitivity, and packet error rate without a chipset-specific driver or wired connection to the device. To improve accuracy and repeatability, teams can characterize the test setup by measuring path loss, applying the correct system offset, and verifying results with a known-good reference unit. This workflow helps R&D teams establish realistic test margins and helps manufacturing teams perform fast, repeatable transmitter and receiver tests on devices running final firmware.

OTA Measurement Accuracy Solution for IoT Wireless Test

Accurate over-the-air testing depends on the complete RF path between the test system and the device under test, including cable loss, antenna coupling loss, shield-box characteristics, device antenna behavior, and placement or orientation. Keysight’s IoT wireless test solution enables conducted and non-conducted signaling tests for Bluetooth® Low Energy and WLAN devices, helping engineers measure transmitter power, receiver sensitivity, and packet error rate on devices running final firmware. By measuring path loss, applying the correct system offset, and verifying results with a known-good reference unit, teams can improve measurement accuracy, reduce setup-to-setup variation, and maintain repeatable R&D validation and production test workflows.

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