Test & measurement
Those accessing international markets must navigate complex international regulations. In some regions, in-country testing is required as there is no mutual recognition agreement between jurisdictions. So, you will need the support of:
Notified Body for the EU’s RED
Telecommunication Certification Body (TCB) for the U.S.
Foreign Certification Body (FCB) for Canada
Certification Body for Japan
TESTING AND CERTIFICATION Radio devices are subject to type approval testing to ensure their compliance. To get a radio product to market, a series of tests and certifications must be completed. This includes RF (radio frequency), EMC (electromagnetic compatibility), electrical safety, and SAR (specific absorption rate). Requirements include:
RF testing
The use of automated test equipment is required to bring devices to market quickly due to complexity.
Transmit (Tx) performance: Measure output power and spectral density, occupied bandwidth, spectral masks and spurious emissions.
Receive (Rx) performance: Measure receiver sensitivity, blocking and adjacent channel selectivity.
Emissions testing (EMI): Ensure the device does not emit electromagnetic interference which could disrupt other electronic devices.
Immunity testing (EMS): Can the device operate without degradation when exposed to electromagnetic phenomena?
SAR Required for mobile/wearable devices.
Measures the amount of RF energy absorbed by the body when using a wireless device.
At operating frequencies greater than 6 GHz, Canada (ISED) requires an evaluation of Absorbed Power Density (APD) and the FCC Incident Power Density. These require advanced measurement systems such as SPEAG’s DASY8.
How Wi-Fi 7 compares to Wi-Fi 6 Feature
Max channel bandwidth Max QAM
Multi-link operation Channel puncturing Latency
Wi-Fi 6 160 MHz
Wi-Fi 7 320 MHz
1024-QAM 4096-QAM
Improved Ultra-low
For highly effective device testing, advanced equipment that goes beyond traditional testing and which can fully automate testing allows the test sample to be controlled directly by initiating commands via a terminal window. This reduces human interaction to reconfigure the test sample, saving time and allowing testing to be performed without an engineer present. Test automation also streamlines test execution, thereby reducing manual intervention and human error, while minimising development timelines. As it is still early days in the development of Wi-Fi 7 devices it is worth considering pre-compliance testing. Performing pre-compliance tests early in the design and development cycle can help identify and resolve potential issues before official certification - saving time, cost and optimising time to market. Also, engage with test laboratories and certification bodies early during product development to ensure they are designed to meet the relevant regulations from the start. Wi-Fi 7 represents a major shift in wireless networking, bringing significant enhancements in speed, stability, and latency reduction. New features like channel puncturing and multi-link operation address many of the problems associated with previous generations. However, when evaluating whether to opt for a Wi-Fi 7 chipset or module, product designers and manufacturers should consider whether the advantages in spectral efficiency, latency and reliability outweigh the additional costs of the actual module, as well as additional time and costs for testing due to their complexity.
TÜV SÜD
www.tuvsud.com/en 34 October 2025 Instrumentation Monthly
Ensure efficient use of the radio frequency spectrum: Adaptivity tests the LBT (Listen before talk) mechanism to ensure polite spectrum access.
Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS): For devices operating in certain 5 GHz bands to avoid radar system interference.
EMC
Higher frequencies, wider channels, and increased data rates of Wi-Fi 7 can introduce new EMC challenges.
Wi-Fi 7’s advanced features necessitate sophisticated and precise test equipment, including:
Vector signal generators and analysers capable of handling 320 MHz bandwidths and 4096-QAM modulation.
Network emulators that can simulate real- world network conditions and multiple clients, including support for MLO and other Wi-Fi 7 specific features.
Anechoic chambers for accurate radiated measurements.
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