Weinschel brand Butler Matrices are beamforming networks used in wireless test applications (Cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth). They transfer the signal reciprocally from any of n-input ports to any of n-output ports, with high phase accuracy, amplitude balance, low insertion loss, and high port-to-port isolation. They are designed to deliver maximum power with progressive phase shift the output in the transmitting mode and collect signals from all beam directions with the full gain of the antenna array in the receiving mode.
Butler Matrices from Spectrum Control
Spectrum Control’s 8401, 8401-8, and 8401-16 series Butler Matrices are a beamforming network which are typically used for wireless test applications. It is available in several frequency bands from 0.5 to 7.25 GHz.
Butler Matrices are used in multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) testing to simulate real-world, over-the-air conditions in a conductive test environment. A Butler Matrix can transfer a signal reciprocally from any of its n-input ports to any of its noutput ports, with high phase accuracy, amplitude balance, low insertion loss, and high port-to-port isolation.
Key Benefits
- Compact, modular microstrip design and construction
- Reciprocal signal path
- Excellent channel condition number
- Technology agnostic
- Wide frequency range (3.5 octaves)

The Butler Matrix family includes multiple models which can be used in a variety of configurations, across cellular, WiFi, and any band within it’s frequency limits.
Key Applications
- RF MIMO Test for 5G, WiFi, Bluetooth
- Create ideal channel for best MIMO performance
- Addition of programmable attenuators allows easy degradation of the channel number for Throughput vs Channel Testing.
WiFi, WiMAX, 4G/5G LTE Testing, Link Simulation - MIMO Testing
- Multipath Simulation and Performance Evaluation
- Antenna Array Beam-forming
- Interferometer System Simulation and Testing
8401 Series (4x4, 8x8 & 16x16 Configurations)
Multichannel MIMO testing for 4×4, 8×8, and 16×16 ports over a large frequency range for both transceiver and receive applications.
Part Number | Connector Type | Connector Configuration | Frequency Range | Power | Type | Availability | ![]() | 8401E | SMA | Female | 2.4 – 7.2 GHz | 5 W
| 4×4
| Learn More
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8401-8E | SMA | Female | 2.4 – 7.2 GHz | 5 W | 8×8 | Learn More |
![]() | 8401-8-6 | SMA | Female | 0.5 – 6 GHz | 5 W | 8×8 | Learn More |
![]() | 8401-6 | SMA | Female | 0.5 – 6 GHz | 5 W | 4×4 | Learn More |
![]() | 8401-16-5 | SMA | Female |
0.7 – 6 GHz
| 5 W | 16×16 | Learn More |