Main Content

WLAN Waveform Generator

Create, impair, visualize, and export WLAN waveforms

Since R2018b

Description

TheWLAN Waveform Generatorapp enables you to create, impair, visualize, and export IEEE®802.11™ waveforms.

The app provides these capabilities by using theWireless Waveform Generatorapp configured forWLANwaveform generation.Using the app, you can:

  • Generate IEEE 802.11ax™ waveforms, as specified in[1].

  • Generate IEEE 802.11ac™, 802.11ad™, 802.11n™, 802.11ah™, 802.11p™, 802.11a™, 802.11g™, 802.11j™, and 802.11b™ waveforms, as specified in[2].

  • Export theWLANwaveform to your workspace or to a.mator a.bbfile.

  • ExportWLANwaveform generation parameters to a runnable MATLAB®script or a Simulink®block.

    • Use the exported script to generate your waveform without the app from the command line.

    • Use the exported block as a waveform source in a Simulink model. For more information, seeWaveform From Wireless Waveform Generator App.

  • Visualize theWLAN waveform in time scope, spectrum analyzer, constellation diagram, and complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF) plots.

  • Visualize the resource unit (RU) and subcarrier assignment in an IEEE 802.11ax waveform.

  • Distort theWLANwaveform by adding RF impairments, such as AWGN, phase offset, frequency offset, DC offset, IQ imbalance, and memoryless cubic nonlinearity.

  • GenerateaWLANwaveform that you can transmit using a connected radio or lab test instrument.

    • To transmit a waveform by using an SDR, connect one of the supported SDRs (ADALM-Pluto, USRP™, USRP embedded series, and Xilinx®Zynq-based radios) to your computer and have the associated add-on installed. For more information, seeTransmit Using SDR.

    • To transmit a waveform by using a lab test instrument, the connected lab test instrument must:

      • Support the TCP/IP interface

      • Use one of these drivers — AgRfSigGen, RsRfSigGen, AgRfSigGen_SCPI, or RsRfSigGen_SCPI

      • Be supported by therfsiggen(Instrument Control Toolbox)function

      For more information, seeQuick-Control RF Signal Generator Requirements(Instrument Control Toolbox). This feature requiresInstrument Control Toolbox.

    • To transmit your waveforms over the air at full radio device rates, use the Wireless Testbench™ software and connect a supported radio to your computer. For a list of radios that support full device rates, seeSupported Radio Devices(Wireless Testbench). This feature requiresWireless Testbench.For an example, seeTransmit App-Generated Wireless Waveform Using Radio Transmitters.

To create, impair, visualize, and export waveforms other thanWLANwaveforms, you must reconfigure the app. For a full list of features, see theWireless Waveform Generator应用程序。

For more information, seeCreate Waveforms Using Wireless Waveform Generator App.

Open the WLAN Waveform Generator App

MATLAB Toolstrip: On theAppstab, underSignal Processing and Communications, click the app icon.

MATLAB Command Prompt: EnterwirelessWaveformGenerator.This command opens theWireless Waveform Generator应用程序。To configure the app forWLANwaveform generation, in theWaveform Typesection, select one of theformatsunderWLAN (IEEE 802.11).

Examples

expand all

This example shows how to generate IEEE® 802.11™ waveforms by using theWLAN Waveform Generator应用程序。

Open WLAN Waveform Generator App

On theAppstab of the MATLAB® toolstrip, select theWLAN Waveform Generatorapp icon underSignal Processing and Communications. This selection opens theWireless Waveform Generatorapp configured for WLAN waveform generation.

Select IEEE 802.11 PHY Format

Choose the PHY format of the waveform you want to generate by selecting one of the formats underWLAN (IEEE 802.11)in theWaveform Typesection of the app toolstrip. The app supports these IEEE 802.11 PHY formats.

  • 802.11ax

  • 802.11ah

  • 802.11ad

  • 802.11n/ac

  • 802.11p

  • 802.11b/g

  • 802.11a/g/j

Generate WLAN Waveform

Set transmission and configuration parameters by specifying options in theWaveformtab on the left pane of the app. Add impairments and select visualization tools by specifying options in theGenerationsection of the app toolstrip. To visualize the waveform, clickGenerate.

For example, this figure shows theTime ScopeandSpectrum Analyzervisualization results for a high-efficiency trigger-based (HE TB) waveform with default parameters.

Export Generated Waveform

You can export the generated waveform and its parameters by clickingExport. You can export the waveform to:

  • A MATLAB script with a.mextension, which you can run to generate the waveform without the app

  • A file with a.bbor.matextension

  • Your MATLAB workspace as a structure

  • A Simulink® block, which you can use to generate the waveform in a Simulink model without the app

Transmit WLAN Waveform

This feature requiresInstrument Control Toolbox™ software. To transmit a generated waveform, click theTransmittertab on the app toolstrip and configure the instruments. You can use any instrument supported by therfsiggen(Instrument Control Toolbox)function.

Use the NI™ USRP™ N310, USRP N320, USRP N321, USRP X310, and USRP X410 radio transmitters, available in theWireless Waveform Generatorapp, to transmit an app-generated waveform over the air (requires Wireless Testbench™). These radio transmitters enable you to transmit up to 2 GB of contiguous data over the air at full radio device rate.

Introduction

TheWireless Waveform Generatorapp is an interactive tool for creating, impairing, visualizing, and transmitting waveforms. Using a radio transmitter available in the app, you can transmit your generated waveform repeatedly over the air. You can also export the waveform generation and transmission parameters to a runnable MATLAB script. Configure these radio transmitters to transmit an OFDM waveform. The same process applies for all waveform types that you can generate with the app.

Set Up for Radio Transmission

To use the radio transmitters in the app, you must install the Wireless Testbench Support Package for NI USRP Radios add-on, and set up your radio outside the app. For more information, seeConnect and Set Up NI USRP Radios(Wireless Testbench).

生成波形传播

Open theWireless Waveform Generatorapp by clicking the app icon on theAppstab, underSignal Processing and Communications. Alternatively, enterwirelessWaveformGenerator在MATLAB命令提示符。

In theWaveform Typesection, select an OFDM waveform by clickingOFDM. In theWaveformpane of the app, specify the parameters ofOFDM Waveform Configuration,QAM Waveform Configuration, andFiltering Configurationfor the selected waveform. Then, generate the configuration by clickingGeneratein the app toolstrip.

Configure Radio Transmitter

Select theTransmittertab from the app toolstrip. In the transmitter gallery, select a radio transmitter.

In theWaveformpane of the app, select the name of a radio setup configuration that you saved using the Radio Setup wizard. For more information, seeConnect and Set Up NI USRP Radios(Wireless Testbench).

Set theCenter frequency,Gain, andAntennasconfiguration parameters. The app automatically sets the waveform sample rate based on the waveform that you generated earlier. The radio transmitter uses onboard data buffering to ensure contiguous data transmission at up to the full hardware sample rate. If necessary, to achieve the specified sample rate, the radio uses a Farrow rate converter. Use this list as a reference when setting the sample rate:

  • USRP N310: 120,945 Hz to 76.8 MHz, or one of: 122.88 MHz, 125 MHz, or 153.6 MHz

  • USRP N320: 196,851 Hz to 125 MHz, or one of: 200 MHz, 245.76, MHz or 250 MHz

  • USRP N321: 196,851 Hz to 125 MHz, or one of: 200 MHz, 245.76 MHz, or 250 MHz

  • USRP X310: 181,418 Hz to 100 MHz, or one of: 184.32 MHz or 200 MHz

  • USRP X410: 241,890 Hz to 125 MHz, or one of: 245.76 MHz or 250 MHz

Transmit Waveform

To transmit the waveform continuously, clickTransmit. To end the continuous transmission, clickStop transmission. To export the waveform generation and transmission parameters to a runnable MATLAB script, clickExport MATLAB script.

References

[1] IEEE Std 802.11ax-2021 (Amendment to IEEE Std 802.11-2020). “Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications. Amendment 1: Enhancements for High Efficiency WLAN.” IEEE Standard for Information technology — Telecommunications and information exchange between systems. Local and metropolitan area networks — Specific requirements.

[2] IEEE Std 802.11-2020 (Revision of IEEE Std 802.11-2016). “Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications.” IEEE Standard for Information Technology — Telecommunications and Information Exchange between Systems — Local and Metropolitan Area Networks — Specific Requirements.

Version History

Introduced in R2018b