Looking Beyond Total Throughput
When video streaming, voice calls, and background downloads share a Wi-Fi connection, total throughput alone does not show how bandwidth is distributed among different traffic types.
In this example, we use a TP-Link Archer BE800 as the device under test and LANforge WiFi Test Processor, developed by Meshlink, to configure Candela LANforge and review received throughput. The workflow covers test creation, execution monitoring, and results analysis.
Four UDP traffic groups are configured with different ToS markings and labeled VI (Video), VO (Voice), BE (Best Effort), and BK (Background). The purpose is to observe throughput distribution under competing offered loads.
Test Environment and Method
A 10 Gbps LAN port on the BE800 is connected to a 10 Gbps Ethernet port on the LANforge system. Traffic passes between the wired endpoint and wireless test stations through the BE800.
The DUT is placed in an RF isolation chamber to provide a controlled environment. Uplink and downlink tests are performed separately on the 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands, producing six sets of results.
In this article:
- Downlink (DL): traffic travels from the wired endpoint through the BE800 to the wireless stations.
- Uplink (UL): traffic travels from the wireless stations through the BE800 to the wired endpoint.
No additional network features were specifically configured on the BE800 beyond the settings required for wireless access, band selection, and channel bandwidth.
