PCTEL has added Wi-Fi 6/6E coverage testing to its SeeHawk® Touch network testing software, allowing Wi-Fi technologies to be tested alongside 4G/5G, public safety and private wireless networks during in-building coverage surveys. The new option takes Wi-Fi measurements directly through the SeeHawk Touch Android™ tablet and works with PCTEL IBflex® and Gflex® scanning receivers without requiring a separate Wi-Fi dongle.
According to PCTEL, the update is intended to simplify in-building testing by bringing multiple wireless technologies into a single field-testing workflow. PCTEL states that users can “test Wi-Fi, cellular, public safety, and private wireless simultaneously”, while retaining both grid-based and path-based testing methods.
Wi-Fi 6/6E added to multi-technology coverage testing
The SeeHawk Touch update extends an existing testing platform that PCTEL describes as tablet-based software for collecting, analysing and reporting wireless network data. Its current feature set supports simultaneous data collection across multiple bands and technologies, including cellular, Wi-Fi, NTN and LMR.
The SeeHawk Touch product page specifies Wi-Fi Network Scan measurements across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz channels. PCTEL also lists automated grid-based in-building testing and reporting, alongside path-based testing, BDA commissioning and network troubleshooting.
The significance of the update is the ability to incorporate Wi-Fi into the same in-building coverage assessment rather than treating it as a separate testing requirement. PCTEL says the new capability is available as an option within SeeHawk Touch and describes the Wi-Fi measurements as being taken directly from the tablet.
IBflex and Gflex receivers support the workflow
PCTEL’s SeeHawk Touch brochure lists Gflex, HBflex, IBflex and MXflex among the supported scanning receivers. The latest Wi-Fi 6/6E update specifically identifies IBflex and Gflex as compatible receivers, with no Wi-Fi dongle required.
PCTEL states that SeeHawk Touch can connect to compatible scanners through Bluetooth® or USB. Its documentation also describes grid-based testing for cellular, Wi-Fi, public safety radio and private wireless networks, with coverage, signal quality and noise-floor measurements available across selected channels, bands and technologies.
The IBflex is designed for in-building and outdoor wireless network testing and supports simultaneous measurement of multiple technologies and bands. PCTEL specifies a 10 MHz to 6 GHz frequency range for the current IBflex platform. The Gflex extends testing across sub-8 GHz and mmWave frequencies and supports Wi-Fi 6 alongside 5G and other cellular technologies.
One testing workflow across in-building networks
The update gives SeeHawk Touch a broader role in in-building wireless testing, particularly where several network types need to be assessed within the same building.
PCTEL’s SeeHawk Touch documentation states that the software supports in-building critical communications coverage testing, indoor and outdoor walk testing, drive testing, DAS and BDA commissioning, and 5G network deployment and testing.
Grid-based testing can be used to assess coverage, signal quality and noise floor, while path-based testing provides a route-based method for collecting measurements. PCTEL also supports integration with its SeeHawk® Central cloud reporting platform and third-party network design tools.
The result is a testing workflow that can bring Wi-Fi 6/6E measurements into the same field process as cellular and critical communications networks. For existing SeeHawk Touch users, the new option also means Wi-Fi testing can be added using compatible PCTEL scanning receivers rather than introducing a separate receiver or dongle into the test setup.
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Astute supplies PCTEL test and measurement technology
Astute Group is an authorised distribution partner for PCTEL. Astute’s PCTEL portfolio covers PCTEL’s antenna and wireless network testing technologies, including scanning receivers used for network measurement and site surveying.
PCTEL’s expansion of SeeHawk Touch adds a further capability to a test and measurement portfolio already covering cellular, Wi-Fi, public safety and private wireless networks. With Wi-Fi 6/6E measurements now available directly through SeeHawk Touch, in-building surveys can incorporate a wider set of wireless technologies within the same testing workflow.
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