Ethertronics has 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’ 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.

EC714 5 GHz Wi-Fi FEM Features

• +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.