Ethertronics Debuts 802.11ax Wi-Fi Front End Module With Active Steering Technology

News Highlights:

• 2X throughput and coverage improvement benefits
• New Wi-Fi Front End Module plus Active Antenna System solution for Wi-Fi repeaters, mesh access points, and wireless clients delivers 802.11ax performance with benefits of Active Steering Technology
• EC714 5 GHz Wi-Fi Front End Module solution delivers high performance and linearity for 802.11ax/ac applications

Mobile World Congress - Ethertronics, the leader in high performance antenna system solutions, recently announced the EC714 Wi-Fi Active Steering Front End Module (FEM), which provides a breakthrough 5 GHz Wi-Fi Front End Module solution for 802.11 ax/ac devices. The Ethertronics EC714 provides the world’s first 802.11ax Wi-Fi FEM with integrated Active Antenna technology, providing robust Wi-Fi RF performance and linearity required to support 802.11 ax/ac applications. Combined with Ethertronics’ patented Active Steering Antenna technology, this system delivers the 2x performance and coverage benefits in a flexible, cost-optimized solution.

The EC714 is the evolution of Ethertronics’ RF front-end and Active Antenna solutions portfolio and the world’s first product that combines high-performance Wi-Fi FEM functionality and Active Antenna support in a single integrated system solution. The unique combined capabilities of the EC714 provide an ideal solution for space-constrained Wi-Fi applications supporting 802.11ax/ac -class performance in challenging radio conditions.

“Ethertronics Active Steering system solutions are designed from the ground-up to enable operators and OEMs deliver consistent Wi-Fi throughput, capacity, and coverage throughout the home and enterprise,” said Laurent Desclos, Vice President and General Manager, AVX-Ethertronics Antenna Solutions Group. “With the launch of the Ethertronics’ EC714, we are delivering the benefits of a high-performance Wi-Fi FEM architecture designed to work synergistically with Active Antenna systems, in order to meet the stringent demands of next-generation 802.11ax services.”

Ethertronics’ new EC714 Wi-Fi Active Steering FEM is based on a breakthrough CMOS architecture, enabling the integration of an 802.11ax -class Wi-Fi FEM design with an advanced Active Steering engine into a single ASIC. This unique system architecture enables the EC714 to provide the RF performance and linearity required to support next-generation 802.11 ax/ac applications.

The EC714 Wi-Fi Active Steering FEM supports the complete set of RF-level performance requirements for 802.11ax/ac, including support for 160 MHz channel bandwidth at MCS11 in 5 GHz frequency bands. Combined with Ethertronics Active Antenna solutions, the EC714 provides a complete RF front-end system solution for a broad range of Wi-Fi applications, including clients, mesh networking and range extenders.

• +18.5 dBm power output for high-performance 802.11ac applications (MCS9 / 80 MHz channel bandwidth)
• Advanced CMOS architecture to meet the stringent performance and linearity requirements of next generation 802.11ax devices
• MCS11 / 160 MHz channel bandwidth support for high-performance 802.11ax applications
• Integrated Active Steering technology for up to 3dB of radio link margin gain with Ethertronics Active Antenna solutions

Availability
Ethertronics is currently sampling the EC714 Wi-Fi Active Steering FEM solution to lead customers and early access partners, broad availability planned for Q3 2018. Additionally, Ethertronics will be showing a live demonstration of the EC714 FEM at Mobile World Conference 2018 in Barcelona.

About Ethertronics
Ethertronics is a global leader and innovator in ultra-high performance smart antenna system solutions for wireless communications. Ethertronics Active Steering Antenna technology provides performance enhancements for throughput, range, efficiency and reliability across a range of applications, from 5G to Wi-Fi and the Internet of Things. Ethertronics has shipped over 1.8 billion antenna systems that are being used by leading wireless handset and device manufacturers worldwide. For more information, visitwww.ethertronics.com.

About AVX
AVX Corporationis a leading international manufacturer and supplier of advanced electronic components, interconnect, sensing, control, and antenna solutions with 29 manufacturing facilities in 16 countries around the world. AVX offers a broad range of devices including capacitors, resistors, filters, couplers, sensors, controls, circuit protection devices, connectors, and antennas.