Coexistence Testing: Comparing Conducted and Radiated Test Results

In an era of ubiquitous wireless devices, ensuring their coexistence in shared electromagnetic environments has become increasingly critical. This paper explores the dynamics of coexistence testing and compares two coexistence test environments outlined in the ANSI/USEMCSC C63.27 standard: conducted and radiated-anechoic. The objective is to demonstrate how the results from two different test environments can be compared. We conducted a series of tests involving a commercial wireless Emergency Stop (E-Stop) system and IEEE 802.11 WLAN technology - two wireless technologies deployed in machine safety applications in industrial settings, including the mining sector. These tests provide insights into how the different testing environments can influence the outcomes of coexistence tests and how one can compare the results between two different test environments. The paper also presents an overview of general coexistence testing procedures.