In a hospital room with 15
connected devices per bed, additional
devices carried by visitors may create
enough interference to obstruct
transmission of test results, cause a
misdiagnosis, or result in a critical
medical alert going unanswered.
In a natural or man-made crisis,
interference may leave fi rst
responders unable to access critical
data needed to react quickly and save
lives.
Similar problems can occur in
the increasingly wireless home, with
its many connected appliances,
security systems, doorbells, alarms,
and thermostats. Here, interference
might cause a service interruption that
invites robbery or disrupts emergency
communication capabilities on a
cordless or cell phone.
“Diff erent wireless protocols and
endpoint devices in the same airspace
create a complex interplay that makes
it hard to predict device interaction,”
says Huei Sin Ee, vice president
and general manager of General
Electronics Measurement Solutions at
Keysight Technologies. “It’s one thing
to experience wireless delays during a
video game, but delays with a medical
infusion pump can be life threatening.
Comprehensive wireless testing is not
optional.”PLANNING FOR THE UNKNOWN
Being able to diagnose interference
issues has never been more critical.
That’s why industry leaders have
identifi ed the importance of early
wireless device testing.
“The best way to minimize
coexistence issues is complete
testing,” says Huei Sin Ee. “Testing
protocols in the lab, in controlled over-
the-air conditions, in the presence of
controlled noise, in dense networks as
they would be deployed, and in the
fi eld in real conditions should all be
part of a device’s testing regimen.”
Issues around coexistence have
ramifi cations to both companies
that create the devices and the
economic ecosystems that rely on
them. By testing devices early in the
development process, companies
can determine a device’s toleranceto other radio signals and ensure it
operates as intended.
“Identifying interference issues in
complex wireless technologies requires
deep and broad experience,” says
Chris Cain, vice president and general
manager of Electronic Industrial
Products at Keysight. “Awareness of
coexistence challenges comes from
working with a technology partner who
measures protocol, waveform, and
coexistence issues every day—from
the earliest days when standards are
fi rst established. That is the only way
to ensure you minimize surprises
when your IoT product enters the
market.”
New innovations bring about new
economies. They also bring about
new technical challenges to detect
potential interference issues. The most
successful companies test across the
product lifecycle, from design and
verifi cation to manufacturing and
deployment. As wireless products
continue to fl ood the market, ensuring
their fl awless operation—whether
in harsh or remote environments,
manufacturing plants, homes, or
hospitals—will become even more
essential. ●ABOUT KEYSIGHT TECHNOLOGIES
EVERYWHERE THE ELECTRONIC SIGNAL GOES
and data fl ows, Keysight is there to help
innovators design, test, manufacture, and
optimize their technology breakthroughs with
trusted hardware and software solutions,
services, and a global network of experts.
Keysight’s end-to-end design and test
solutions—which span edge devices to
network performance and security—ensure
IoT devices, wireless communications, and
networks are market-ready and built to with-
stand the rigors of the real world.