Testing complex radio communication

Airtame, a Danish-American start-up, introduces a wireless HDMI solution tailored for education and business settings. Their compact device facilitates seamless wireless screen sharing among various devices and screens.

Despite its modest size and user-friendly interface, Airtame embodies sophistication. Upon closer inspection, it reveals itself as not just one, but two devices, as per the definitions outlined in the EU Radio Equipment Directive.

The latest iteration, Airtame 2, prioritizes both security and reliability by transmitting data across two distinct radio bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Consequently, under the radio equipment directive, it qualifies as two devices merged into one product.

Double testing

Kennet Palm, head of EKTOS Test & Reliability Services, sheds light on the complexity of Airtame 2: “Airtame 2 is a sophisticated product handling extensive data transmission. Its resilience under diverse conditions necessitated the adoption of two distinct transmission channels.” EKTOS’s testing facilities, located in Copenhagen and accredited by DANAK, were instrumental in this process.

“For type approval, we meticulously evaluated the radio technology within Airtame 2. Recognizing the distinct requirements for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, we conducted testing as if they were separate entities,” Palm elaborates.

“The prevalence of WiFi on the 2.4 GHz band and its susceptibility to congestion prompted the adoption of the 5 GHz frequency. Despite the absence of fixed standards, we adhere to preliminary guidelines to ensure compliance. Staying abreast of evolving standards is crucial for our consulting firm’s operations.”

Higher frequency, larger bandwidth

Kendra Bannister, Hardware Team Lead at Airtame, explains the technology behind their product: “Our state-of-the-art WiFi chip from Cypress enables us to utilize both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WLANs in our application. While 2.4 GHz is widely used in consumer and industrial designs due to its range, bandwidth, and wall penetration capabilities, it has limitations. Unlike the 5 GHz WLAN, which offers less interference and a more reliable link due to its lower congestion and greater number of non-overlapping channels. Additionally, the higher communication frequency of 5 GHz provides increased bandwidth, enhancing performance.

Certified in the EU and the US

Kennet Palm from EKTOS Test & Reliability Services conducted separate tests for Airtame 2 in the American market, covering both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies. Additionally, this certification extends access to 80 more countries beyond the EU and US due to DANAK’s affiliation with the global accreditation network ILAC MRA.

Close collaboration

Attila Sukosd, CTO and Co-founder of Airtame praised the collaboration with EKTOS, stating: “EKTOS has been an exceptional certification partner to work with. They have brought the knowledge of the latest standards together with deep technical know-how on anything related to certifying a product, including tricky areas, such as RF and PSUs. Not only have they helped us through the process of certifying, but their excellent feedback was also greatly appreciated, which made Airtame 2 a better product in the end.”

Kendra Bannister, Hardware Team Lead at Airtame, emphasized their close collaboration with EKTOS in planning, preparing, and executing the type approval process for their new device. “EKTOS’ proximity to our main office in Copenhagen and partnership with RISE in Sweden made them a flexible partner that could adapt to our development schedule and provide 5 GHz testing services,” she added.

“EKTOS, as well as RTX and Cypress, have helped us during development and type approval to design an Airtame 2 product that ensures a more reliable connection for our customers,” Kendra Bannister concludes.

Feel free to contact us at EKTOS for additional information. We would be happy to discuss the standards and demands that are relevant to your product.