WLAN Waveform Generator
Create, impair, visualize, and export WLAN waveforms
Description
The WLAN Waveform Generator app enables you to create, impair, visualize, and export IEEE® 802.11™ waveforms.
The app provides these capabilities by using the Wireless Waveform Generator app configured for WLAN waveform generation. Using the app, you can:
Generate IEEE 802.11ax™ waveforms, as specified in [1].
Generate IEEE 802.11ac™, 802.11ad™, 802.11n™, 802.11p™, 802.11a™, 802.11g™, 802.11j™, and 802.11b™ waveforms, as specified in [2].
Generate IEEE 802.11ah™ waveforms, as specified in [3].
Distort the WLAN waveform by adding RF impairments, such as AWGN, phase offset, frequency offset, DC offset, IQ imbalance, and memoryless cubic nonlinearity.
Visualize the WLAN waveform in time scope, spectrum analyzer, and constellation diagram plots.
Visualize the resource unit (RU) and subcarrier assignment in an IEEE 802.11ax waveform.
Export the WLAN waveform to your workspace as a structure, to a
.mator a.bbfile, or to a runnable MATLAB® script.Note
You can use the MATLAB script to reproduce your waveform outside of the app.
Generate a WLAN waveform that you can transmit using a connected lab test instrument. The app can transmit a waveform by using instruments supported by the
rfsiggen(Instrument Control Toolbox) function. Use of the transmit feature in the app requires Instrument Control Toolbox™ software. For more information, see the documentation for Instrument Control Toolbox.
To create, impair, visualize, and export waveforms other than WLAN waveforms, you must reconfigure the app. For a full list of features, see the Wireless Waveform Generator app.
For more information, see Using Wireless Waveform Generator App.
Open the WLAN Waveform Generator App
MATLAB Toolstrip: On the Apps tab, under Signal
Processing and Communications, click the app icon. 
MATLAB Command Prompt: Enter wirelessWaveformGenerator. This command opens
the Wireless Waveform Generator app. To
configure the app for WLAN waveform generation, in the
Waveform Type section, select one of the formats
under WLAN (IEEE 802.11).
Examples
App-Based WLAN Waveform Generation
This example shows how to generate IEEE® 802.11™ waveforms by using the WLAN Waveform Generator app.
Open WLAN Waveform Generator App
On the Apps tab of the MATLAB® toolstrip, select the WLAN Waveform Generator app icon under Signal Processing and Communications. This selection opens the Wireless Waveform Generator app 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 under WLAN (IEEE 802.11) in the Waveform Type section of the app toolstrip. The app supports these IEEE 802.11 PHY formats.
802.11ax802.11ah802.11ad802.11n/ac802.11p802.11b/g802.11a/g/j
Generate WLAN Waveforms
Set transmission and configuration parameters by specifying options in the Waveform tab on the left pane of the app. Add impairments and select visualization tools by specifying options in the Generation section of the app toolstrip. To visualize the waveform, click Generate. You can export the generated waveform and its parameters by clicking Export. You can export the waveform to:
A MATLAB script with a
.mextensiona file with a
.bbor.matextensionYour MATLAB workspace as a structure
Generate HE TB Waveform with Default Settings
This image shows the Time Scope and Spectrum Analyzer visualization results for a high-efficiency trigger-based (HE TB) waveform. The waveform comprises a single packet. The RU size is 52 subcarriers, and the RU index is 3. All other transmission and configuration parameters take their default values.
Generate HE ER SU Waveform with Packet Extension
This image shows the Time Scope and Spectrum Analyzer visualization results for a high-efficiency extended-range single-user (HE ER SU) waveform. The waveform comprises two packets separated by an idle time of 50 microseconds, and contains a nominal packet padding of 8 microseconds for packet extension. The transmission of this waveform uses two antennas and Hadamard spatial mapping. All other format and configuration parameters take their default values.
Generate HE MU Waveform with 10 Transmit Antennas
This image shows the RU & Subcarrier Assignment visualization results for a high-efficiency multi-user (HE MU) waveform comprising a single-packet. The transmission bandwidth is 80 MHz and the number of antennas is 10, which requires configuration of the Pre-HE cyclic shifts (ns) parameter. The transmission includes midamble in the HE-Data field. The allocation indices determine the RU and subcarrier assignment. This image shows RU numbers, sizes, indices, and allocated users, and the result of clicking the first RU in the transmission. All resource units use Fourier spatial mapping. Users specified by indices 1-3 use a modulation and coding scheme (MCS) index of 7, the user specified by index 4 uses an MCS index of 10, and the users specified by indices 5 and 6 use an MCS index of 11. The app displays the resulting PSDU length for each user. All other format and configuration parameters take their default values.
Transmit WLAN Waveform
This feature requires Instrument Control Toolbox™ software. To transmit a generated waveform, click the Transmitter tab on the app toolstrip and configure the instruments. You can use any instrument supported by the rfsiggen (Instrument Control Toolbox) function.
References
[1] IEEE P802.11ax/D4.1. “Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications. Amendment 1: Enhancements for High Efficiency WLAN.” Draft Standard for Information technology — Telecommunications and information exchange between systems. Local and metropolitan area networks — Specific requirements.
[2] IEEE Std 802.11-2016 (Revision of IEEE Std 802.11-2012). “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.
[3] IEEE Std 802.11ah-2016 (Amendment to IEEE Std 802.11-2016 as amended by IEEE Std 802.11ai™-2016). “Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications. Amendment 2: Sub 1 GHz License Exempt Operation.” IEEE Standard for Information technology — Telecommunications and information exchange between systems. Local and metropolitan area networks — Specific requirements.