Multi-Gigabit Wireless Test Bed at Millimetre Waves

Abstract

We are developing a multi-gigabit wireless test bed for demonstrating new technologies that are suitable for commercial broadband applications of the future. We are targeting the emerging millimetre-wave bands above 57 GHz and the data rates up to 10 Gbps or more. The test bed will be used to test different network applications and signal processing algorithms as well as new RF module and antenna prototypes.Introduction -Computer speeds continue to increase following "Moore's Law". Networking speeds have also been increasing; Gigabit Ethernet is now widely used and 10-Gigabit Ethernet is becoming more available. Wireless data rates have been lagging behind, mainly because of lack of wide-band spectrum at the traditional radio frequencies. But recently, commercial gigabit wireless point-to-point links (for approximately 1-2 km range) have become available in the 57-64 GHz band [1] and in the 71-76 and 81-86 GHz bands [2][3]. Higher data rates (2 Gbps and more) are promised in the near future.