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Rohde & Schwarz, in collaboration with Broadcom, is set to display its CMX500 multi-technology multi-channel signalling tester at MWC Barcelona 2026 with newly added Wi-Fi 8 (IEEE 802.11bn) testing capabilities. The setup at the Rohde & Schwarz booth (5A80) will validate a prototype Wi-Fi 8 device from Broadcom, showcasing physical layer features unique to Wi-Fi 8.

Addressing UHR challenges with the CMX500

As Wi-Fi transitions beyond increasing throughput, the IEEE 802.11bn amendment introduces crucial advancements focused on delivering consistent, high-quality connectivity across a diverse range of dense environments. It is designed to handle the growing number of connected devices and the increasing demands of applications like VR/AR, 8K streaming, and industrial IoT.

Wi-Fi 8 builds upon the foundation of Wi-Fi 7, retaining core physical layer parameters like supported frequencies up to 7.125 GHz, channel bandwidths up to 320 MHz and 4096QAM modulation, as well as Multi-Link-Operation (MLO). However, to achieve its UHR goals, IEEE 802.11bn introduces a suite of innovative PHY and MAC layer technologies that present new testing hurdles. At MWC 2026, visitors can experience how to address key testing challenges associated with Wi-Fi 8 with the enhanced testing capabilities of the CMX500 one-box signalling tester, one of the most versatile mobile device test platforms in the market, which supports many of the demanding features of Wi-Fi 7 and Wi-Fi 8 today.

For example, Wi-Fi 8 uses distributed resource units (dRU) to overcome power spectral density (PSD) limits. With dRU measurement,s users can validate their device’s effectiveness in boosting uplink transmit power and improving connection reliability. Another technology is unequal modulation (UEQM), where throughput is improved in difficult reception scenarios by allowing each MIMO link to use a different modulation scheme. With UEQM analysis, users can assess the ability of the test device to adapt the modulation accurately, using the specified modulation of coding scheme (MCS) combinations. With comprehensive signalling mode tests, covering a broad range of Wi-Fi 8 features, users can perform in-depth analysis of performance characteristics.

Future-ready platform for all cellular and non-cellular standards

The CMX500 is a modular, powerful one-box signalling tester enabling comprehensive multi-technology testing. It covers LTE and NR in SA/NSA modes, NR-NTN, NB-NTN, Direct-to-Cell (D2C/DTC) testing and WLA, N, including Wi‑Fi 7 and Wi‑Fi 8. Consequently, the CMX500 allows R&D engineers of wireless devices to comprehensively test their design’s operation in both cellular and non-cellular standards of the latest generation in a single instrument setup.

Rohde & Schwarz will present the CMX500 one-box signalling tester, validating a Wi-Fi 8 device from Broadcom and other comprehensive test solutions for next-generation WLAN at MWC Barcelona 2026 at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, in hall 5, booth 5A80.

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 Keysight Technologies introduced its next-generation Infiniium XR8 Real-Time oscilloscopes, designed to accelerate high-speed digital and compliance testing while improving efficiency and insight for modern electronics development.

As interface standards such as USB, DisplayPort, and DDR rapidly evolve and scale in speed and complexity, engineers face tighter margins, higher data rates, and compressed development timelines. These pressures result in longer validation cycles, reduced noise tolerance, and growing lab constraints. The Infiniium XR8 addresses these challenges with a completely new hardware and software architecture optimised for today’s high-speed digital applications and emerging standards, helping engineering teams condense days of testing into hours.

The XR8 integrates newly designed front-end ASIC technology and an integrated ADC and DSP digital engine to preserve signal integrity, improve timing accuracy, and deliver consistent, repeatable measurements across high-speed serial, memory, and mixed-signal designs. These capabilities are essential for debugging and validating today’s high-speed interface, where small impairments in signal quality can directly impact system performance and compliance margins.

A redesigned mechanical architecture further enhances usability by reducing system power consumption, improving thermal efficiency, and minimising acoustic noise with a compact footprint. Engineers can deploy high-performance oscilloscopes in space-constrained labs and dense validation environments while maintaining a stable, low-noise operation.

Powered by Keysight’s new Infiniium 2026 software platform, the XR8 delivers faster response time, improved stability, and streamlined workflows for high-speed digital and compliance testing. The modern user experience features flexible waveform windows, enhanced visualisation, and productivity tools such as drag‑and‑drop functionality and an integrated SCPI recorder. Optimised multithread processing and memory management enable engineers to fully leverage Keysight’s measurement science, delivering enhanced jitter decomposition, PAM analysis, and advanced equalisation for deeper insight and faster validation.

Together, the new hardware and software architecture enable: 

Maximised test margin and signal integrity

Intrinsic jitter as low as 13 fs rms and noise performance below 130 µV at 8 GHz bandwidth provide exceptional fidelity and preserved compliance margin, enabling confident validation of high-speed interfaces including USB4v2, DisplayPort 2.1, and DDR5. 

Accelerated compliance testing efficiency

A new ADC and DSP digital engine combined with Infiniium 2026 software accelerates acquisition, analysis, and reporting by up to three times, dramatically reducing validation cycles and improving overall test throughput. 

Compact, quiet, and flexible lab deployment

Lower power consumption, enhanced thermal design, and reduced acoustic noise create a smaller, more flexible platform that can be positioned closer to the device under test while supporting comfortable, distraction-free daily engineering workflows.

Jun Chie, Vice President, Keysight Product Management, said: “Our customers are under intense pressure to validate increasingly complex, high-speed designs on compressed schedules. The Infiniium XR8 directly addresses that reality, preserving signal fidelity, accelerating compliance workflows, and reducing lab constraints in a single, streamlined platform. It’s about giving engineers back time, confidence, and productivity when they need it most.”

“As India strengthens its leadership in AI data centres, 5G-Advanced, next-generation computing, and aerospace and defence, signal integrity measurement challenges are becoming increasingly complex,” said Girish Baliga, General Manager, Industry Marketing, Keysight India. “The Infiniium XR8 oscilloscope delivers the precision and performance required to accelerate innovation while ensuring accurate, high-speed validation. As India advances its ‘Make in India’ vision and expands its global R&D footprint, demand for ultra-high-speed digital test solutions continues to grow. The XR8 empowers local engineering teams with the confidence and efficiency needed to bring world-class technologies to market faster.”

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Surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters may sound exotic, but they are everyday workhorses in wireless front-ends. Compact, cost-effective, and reliable, they shape signals with precision while keeping designs simple.

This quick primer walks through the basics—what they do, why they matter, and how they fit into modern communication systems.

SAW filter fundamentals

SAW filters exploit the piezoelectric effect to convert electrical signals into acoustic waves and back again. At their core, they consist of two interdigital transducers (IDTs) patterned on a piezoelectric substrate. The input IDT launches acoustic waves from the incoming electrical signal, while the output IDT reconverts those waves into an electrical signal.

Together, they form a bidirectional transversal filter. Absorbers are placed at the ends of the substrate to suppress unwanted reflections, ensuring clean signal transmission and stable filter response.

Figure 1 Drawing illustrates the basic architecture of a SAW filter, with input/output IDTs transducing signals across a piezoelectric substrate, while absorbers suppress reflections. Source: Author

Note that the wave produced by the output transducer represents only half of the full signal. Thus, if a 3-dB loss is observed at the output, the combined insertion loss of the input and output transducers amounts to 6 dB.

Each transducer consists of periodic interdigital electrodes connected to two busbars, which link to the electrical source or load. The electrode length governs amplitude, electrode position sets phase, and electrode wavelength defines the operating frequency of the SAW filter.

On a historic note, surface acoustic waves were first described by Lord Rayleigh in 1885 and are therefore often called Rayleigh waves. In his classic paper, Rayleigh predicted their propagation properties, noting that SAWs contain both longitudinal and vertical shear components that couple with the medium at the surface.

Their energy is confined to the substrate surface. Because SAWs are accompanied by electrostatic fields, electroacoustic conversion can be achieved through IDTs. Shaped like crossed fingers, these electrodes launch and receive the waves, forming the basis of modern SAW devices.

At its core, a SAW filter operates by converting electrical energy into acoustic energy on a piezoelectric substrate. This process is driven by two interdigital transducers: the input transducer generates acoustic waves from the incident electrical signal, and the output transducer reconverts them into electrical energy.

Because each transducer launches waves equally in the +X and –X directions, the device functions as a bidirectional transversal filter. Since only half of the launched wave (+X direction) is useful, a 3-dB loss is observed. Taken together, the input and output transducers yield a total insertion loss of 6 dB.

SAW filter applications

Due to their excellent selectivity, low insertion loss, and compact size, SAW filters have become indispensable across modern RF systems. In mobile communication devices such as smartphones, base stations, and repeaters, they suppress interference and maintain clean signal channels.

Wireless LAN and Bluetooth modules rely on them to preserve frequency integrity and reduce crosstalk, while GPS receivers use SAW filters for precise frequency selection that enhances location accuracy. In broadcasting and television tuners, they improve signal quality and selectivity.

Beyond consumer electronics, SAW filters are widely adopted in IoT devices, automotive electronics, and satellite communication systems, where their reliability and small footprint make them a cornerstone of high-performance RF design.

As a familiar practical example, I remember 38.9 MHz SAW filters were a staple in television receivers, serving as intermediate‑frequency (IF) filters in tuner modules. They provided sharp selectivity for separating video and audio signals, ensuring clear picture and sound quality. In fact, paired designs often used a 38.9 MHz SAW filter for the video IF and a companion filter around 33.4 MHz for the audio IF, enabling precise audio separation in PAL/SECAM systems.

Beyond TVs, the same frequency was also used in audio IF stages of broadcast receivers and set‑top boxes, where the compact size and stable response of SAW filters made them a reliable choice for consumer electronics.

Below figure shows a niche and potentially legacy 38.9 MHz SAW filter used in PAL/SECAM television receivers as the video IF filter. In these systems, the filter provides sharp selectivity to isolate the video carrier, while a companion SAW filter at 33.4 MHz is employed for the audio channel.

Figure 2 A 38.9-MHz SAW filter shows its pinout and package design for television receiver applications. Source: Author

Together, this pair enabled precise separation of picture and sound in analog TV tuners, with the compact package and stable frequency response making SAW filters the standard choice in consumer television receivers.

As a quick aside, dual-output SAW filters were also in use at that time, designed to handle both picture and sound carriers simultaneously. The picture IF carrier was set at 38.90 MHz, while the sound IF carrier was offset at 33.4 MHz, reflecting the 5.5 MHz spacing defined in PAL/SECAM systems.

SAW filter practice pointers

This session offers some practical pointers on working with SAW filters, based on their established role in communication and signal-processing systems.

Recall that SAW filters operate on the principle of the piezoelectric effect: an applied voltage induces a mechanical wave on a crystal, while mechanical pressure conversely produces a change in potential difference. When an RF voltage is applied to the input transducers, it generates an acoustic surface wave that travels across the crystal to the output transducer, where it’s reconverted into an electrical signal.

By carefully designing the electrodes—typically comb-shaped with interlocking fingers—engineers can tailor frequency transmission characteristics through precise control of finger size, number, and spacing.

Compared with conventional filters that rely on coils and capacitors, SAW filters are smaller, more affordable, and offer superior long-term stability. They require no tuning and deliver significantly better performance, which explains their widespread adoption in color television sets and video recorders worldwide.

Beyond these, SAW components are also integral to satellite receivers, cordless phones, mobile devices, automotive keyless entry systems, garage door openers, and numerous other applications.

Next, a SAW resonator is a key component in low-cost 433 MHz RF modules. It’s used in the transmitter module as a precise, fixed-frequency oscillator to ensure stable operation at 433.92 MHz within the unlicensed ISM band.

Figure 3 SAW resonator enables a compact, low-cost architecture for 433-MHz RF transmission. Source: Author

Getting into the criteria for choosing a SAW filter, many specifications must be carefully evaluated. Key parameters include the center frequency, bandwidth, insertion loss, and out-of-band rejection, since these directly determine how well the filter isolates the desired signal from interference. Group delay and passband flatness are also critical for maintaining signal integrity, especially in communication systems where timing accuracy affects bit error rates.

Designers must further consider package size, environmental stability, and repeatability, ensuring the filter performs reliably under temperature variations and mechanical stress. Finally, cost, availability, and compliance with regulatory standards often guide the final choice, balancing performance with practical constraints.

Figure 4 A sample datasheet snip highlights the operating conditions and electrical characteristics of a randomly picked 480-MHz SAW filter. Source: ESC Inc.

Side note: The ECS-D480A 480 MHz SAW filter is now obsolete, yet it remains a useful reference for understanding how compact SAW devices were once applied in RF systems. At this frequency, such filters were typically deployed in satellite receiver intermediate-frequency stages, where sharp band-pass selectivity was critical after down-conversion.

They also found roles in wireless communication front-ends and certain measurement instruments, valued for their ability to provide narrowband filtering and suppress adjacent channel interference. Do not panic about this obsolescence—SAW filters are still widely available today from multiple vendors, offered in both thru-hole and, more commonly, SMD form for modern RF and wireless applications.

And, integrated SAW filters enable multi-channel usage within a single radio front-end, allowing several selective paths to be consolidated into one compact device. This integration reduces board space, simplifies design, and supports efficient handling of multiple frequency bands in modern receivers.

There are voltage-controlled SAW oscillators (VCSOs) as well, which add electrical tunability to the otherwise fixed-frequency concept. By applying a control voltage, their oscillation frequency can be shifted, making them valuable in agile radios, test instruments, and wireless platforms that demand dynamic channel agility and adaptive interference suppression.

Moreover, SAW filters operate along the surface of the substrate, making them well-suited for mid-band frequencies and compact designs. Around the early 2000s, bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filters were introduced, driving acoustic waves through the bulk of the material to reach higher operating frequencies and stronger power handling.

In practice, SAW devices remained the mainstay for intermediate-frequency stages and mid-band wireless, while BAW devices gradually took hold in high-frequency front-ends such as LTE, 5G, and Wi-Fi.

Next steps

As it seems, SAW filters carry a distinctive experimental appeal in ham radio, where their sharp selectivity and compact footprint make them ideal for signal-chain exploration—even though their primary role has long been in commercial systems.

Anyway, they are not a casual undertaking for hobbyists: working at these frequencies demands care, proper instrumentation, and patience. Still, salvaged parts from old TV boards and consumer gear can provide a practical gateway into serious tinkering.

While this serves as a quick wrap-up—with more to explore another time—it’s clear that engineers are naturally drawn to SAW filters for their importance in frequency-domain design and their resonance with ham radio practice. Yet curious builders should not hesitate—experiment, learn, and share. The community thrives on grassroots exploration, and your work could well spark the next wave of practical insights.

T. K. Hareendran is a self-taught electronics enthusiast with a strong passion for innovative circuit design and hands-on technology. He develops both experimental and practical electronic projects, documenting and sharing his work to support fellow tinkerers and learners. Beyond the workbench, he dedicates time to technical writing and hardware evaluations to contribute meaningfully to the maker community.

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• SAW filters and resonators provide cheap and effective frequency control

The post SAW filters made simple: A quick front-end primer appeared first on EDN.

There was one heck of a scary item in the news recently. The following screenshots were taken from a video that was recorded in the teeth of recent inclement weather. Overhead power lines had actually caught fire.

Figure 1 Overhead power lines that caught fire during inclement weather in Brooklyn, NY.

It looks to me like the photographer captured an exact moment in the center image of high winds, where we can see points of simultaneous ignition of what I suspect was flammable insulation material that had surrounded a copper center conductor. I further suspect that decades of weathering had caused that insulation material to deteriorate so that when high winds brought wires into contact, those wires set off sparking that resulted in the insulation material being ignited.

At one time, I read about overhead power line fires being a threat as a result of monk parrots making nests up there. I’ve seen those birds, and I’ve seen some of their enormous nests as well, but this situation clearly had nothing to do with those birds. This situation was strictly man-made.

This incident took place in Brooklyn, NY, but it seems likely that danger of this sort is widespread around the nation and around the world.

John Dunn is an electronics consultant and a graduate of The Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (BSEE) and of New York University (MSEE).

Related Content

• A tale about loose cables and power lines
• Ground strikes and lightning protection of buried cables
• Why do you never see birds on high-tension power lines?

The post Burning power lines appeared first on EDN.

Rohde & Schwarz will present its advanced test and measurement solutions for the embedded industry at embedded world Exhibition & Conference in Nuremberg, Germany. Visitors can find the T&M expert at booth 4-218 in hall 4 of the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre from March 10 to 12, 2026. There, they can delve into the company’s innovations designed to help engineers enhance device energy efficiency, expedite EMC compliance within the design process, speed up digital protocols debugging, and meet required regulatory standards for wireless interfaces.

Next generation oscilloscopes

At Embedded World, Rohde & Schwarz will showcase its ever-growing range of next-generation oscilloscopes, from MXO 3 to MXO 5, all powered by the same next-generation MXO-EP ASIC technology from Rohde & Schwarz, originally introduced with the MXO 4 in 2022. The latest addition, the compact MXO 3, comes with up to eight channels and offers a combination of features that rival higher-class oscilloscopes, such as a real-time capture rate of up to 99% and hardware-accelerated functionality on math, spectrum and zone trigger.

Ensuring reliability in power electronics

Combined with high voltage, current and optically isolated probes (R&S RT-ZISO), the eight-channel models of MXO 3 and MXO 5 extend their capabilities to power electronics applications. For power conversion, the instruments’ eight channels and 18-bit HD mode provide critical visibility into complex systems like motor drives and inverters, enabling precise measurements for efficiency and optimisation. Furthermore, they simplify power sequencing analysis with simultaneous multi-channel observation and deep memory of up to 500 Mpts, enabling longer recording durations and precise analysis of small signal events. Additionally, their fast spectrum analysis capability makes them excellent tools for quickly identifying EMI issues and noise sources.

EMI testing for embedded systems

Every electronic product and component is likely to emit conducted or radiated electromagnetic emissions. Especially for densely packed embedded systems, early debugging helps to isolate and correct EMI issues and accelerates time-to-market. As a leader in EMC testing, Rohde & Schwarz will present solutions that integrate EMI testing into the product design process. Visitors can learn how to use the R&S EPL1007 EMI test receiver in fast, accurate and reliable EMI pre-compliance and compliance measurements up to a frequency range of 7.125 GHz. The instrument offers device developers and conformance test houses the flexibility to upgrade with evolving needs – from preselection, including a preamplifier, up to a full CISPR 16-1-1 compliant test receiver.

Verifying signal integrity of digital designs

All hardware elements on a board layout are potential causes of signal degradation. To test the signal integrity on a PCB, Rohde & Schwarz will showcase its R&S ZNB3000 vector network analyser at embedded world, covering up to 40 GHz. This VNA, part of the new midrange family offering instruments with a maximum frequency range of up to 54 GHz, has redefined the standard for speed, precision and versatility with its industry-leading dynamic range, fast measurement speed, and scalable upgrades, perfectly suited for signal integrity applications. Visitors can experience the instrument’s advanced de-embedding techniques, which facilitate characterising the test fixture, extracting the S-parameters and de-embedding the test fixture in a user-friendly manner, with the signal quality visualised by a simulated eye diagram.

Testing of high-speed interfaces

High-speed digital interfaces are integral to electronic designs, with increasing data rates and integration density posing new challenges at the IC, board and system level. Trade show visitors will learn at the Rohde & Schwarz booth about powerful signal integrity test tools for system verification, debugging, and compliance testing for different high-speed busses. Rohde & Schwarz will showcase, for example, 1GBASE-T Ethernet compliance testing using the R&S RTO6 oscilloscope and related equipment to ensure that a 1 Gigabit Ethernet (1GbE) physical layer (PHY) transceiver meets the specifications outlined in the IEEE 802.3 standard. In a different setup, Rohde & Schwarz will showcase its R&S RTP164B oscilloscope for signal integrity testing on a multitude of standards, including DDR5 and USB3.2.

When it comes to automotive interfaces, the emerging standards, including Automotive Ethernet, OpenGMSL or ASA (Automotive SerDes Alliance), bring new challenges for design. Rohde & Schwarz already supports all of these new standards and will showcase comprehensive validation using the R&S RTP164B oscilloscope, featuring signal integrity debugging and automated compliance on ASA, as well as protocol decoding of 10Base-T1S to ensure robust and reliable link performance.

Battery life testing

Battery life is critical for battery-powered devices. Rohde & Schwarz will demonstrate in real time how the features of smart devices affect their power consumption. The setup is based on the R&S NGU source measure unit emulating a battery. The integrated analysis tool captures and visualises current across sleep-to-active transitions. In another application on battery testing with the R&S NGM202, cells will be charged and discharged to characterise battery behaviour and build accurate battery models.

Wireless connectivity testing

Embedded systems increasingly incorporate wireless connectivity as a core function. Thorough testing is essential to ensure reliable performance, interoperability and compliance with industry standards. The complexity of these standards requires specialised test equipment and expertise. The CMP180 radio communication tester from Rohde & Schwarz contains two analysers, two generators and two sets of eight RF ports in a single box and supports many cellular and non-cellular technologies across R&D, pre‑conformance and mass production. At embedded world, visitors will experience the CMP180 testing both Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi 8 devices.

The platform already supports physical layer testing for the new Bluetooth LE Channel Sounding and new Bluetooth LE High Data Throughput (HDT) feature, a cornerstone for the next generation of Bluetooth Low Energy (LE), offering increased capacity, better energy efficiency, improved spectrum efficiency and enhanced reliability. Wi-Fi 8, based on the IEEE 802.11bn standard, sets new expectations for consistent, ultra-high-reliability and quality connectivity. Designed to support a growing number of connected devices and demanding applications like XR and industrial IoT, the CMP180 helps engineers navigate the technical complexities of 802.11bn throughout the entire device lifecycle in non-signalling mode with its advanced capabilities and broad bandwidth support.

Efficient production lines with tailored solutions
For production tests at component, module and system level, Rohde & Schwarz will showcase a rack-mounted test and measurement configuration, featuring the rack-optimised MXO 5C oscilloscopes and the PVT360A performance vector tester. This setup will demonstrate how tailored Rohde & Schwarz test solutions contribute to a production environment built for reliable validation, streamlined workflows and maximised throughput.

These and other test solutions for the embedded industry can be found at the Rohde & Schwarz booth 4-218 in hall 4 at the Embedded World Exhibition & Conference from March 10 to 12, 2026, in Nuremberg, Germany.

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