Bluetooth 6.0 and HDT: Test Needs from R&D to Mass Production

Under the theme of Bluetooth Asia 2026, WELZEK presented its RF test solutions for Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding (CS) and Bluetooth HDT, with applications spanning smart-car digital keys, industrial IoT and consumer electronics. This article summarizes the test focus of CS and HDT, and how the T6290E and T6290F are used in R&D validation and production testing.

This article is compiled from information published by Welzek (Welzek link: https://en.welzek.com/gsdt/111.html)

Channel Sounding: Focus on Frequency and Phase Accuracy

Bluetooth 6.0 Channel Sounding centers on ranging accuracy, so RF measurement focuses on frequency stability and phase measurement accuracy. Compared with Bluetooth v5.4, Welzek notes that CS adds modulation characteristics measurement at a 2 Ms/s symbol rate with BT=2.0, as well as transmitter signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measurement. These items are key points when planning RF validation for CS devices.

CS Transmitter and Transceiver Test Items

Transmitter tests (TRM):
• CS Stable Phase
• CS Modulation Characteristics, 2 Ms/s, BT=2.0
• CS TX Output SNR Control

Transmitter/receiver tests (TRM-RCV):
• CS Step Mode-0, Frequency Verification
• CS Step Main Mode, Frequency Verification
• CS Phase Measurement Accuracy

HDT: PHY Validation for High-Speed Transmission

Welzek featured HDT as a separate showcase topic, explaining what high-speed transmission requires of hardware design, protocol stacks, test validation and ecosystem compatibility. The WELZEK HDT test solution provides PHY-layer analysis, multi-rate testing, and throughput, bit error rate (BER) and error vector magnitude (EVM) measurements for R&D validation, RF conformance and production testing of HDT chips, modules and finished products.