Fast IP and Inter-Rat enhancements to 8960 tester

The 8960 Wireless Communications Test Set is upgraded to test high-speed IP and Inter-RAT voice and data handoffsAgilent Technologies has introduced new 7.2Mbit/s IP data connection and Inter-RAT voice and data handoff enhancements to its 8960 Wireless Communications Test Set running UMTS Lab Applications. The single-box 8960 tester couples a 7.2Mbit/s HSDPA IP data connection with real-time 3GPP network emulation, including Inter-RAT voice and data handovers, and provides engineers with a tool they can use early in the design cycle to ensure UE design integrity throughout the cycle of test and deployment. Agilent's new 7.2Mbit/s IP data connection provides an innovative solution for stressing new high data-rate applications to ensure UE design will meet the most stringent network conditions, thereby ensuring high customer reliability.

Because the 7.2Mbit/s IP data connection supports 7.2Mbit/s RF and IP data, engineers can stress the UE at rates above what is traditionally seen in real networks.

In addition, they can test the impact of high data rates on UE hardware components, which impact battery life and current drain, evaluate software issues such as memory overruns and buffer limitations, as well as analyse RF parametric performance of the UE transmitter and receiver.

Two-cell emulation, an advanced feature of the E6701E/T and E6703D/T Lab Applications, ensures realistic testing of UMTS Inter-RAT handovers and cell selections by allowing the mobile to select from, and hand over between, two independent cells.

The Inter-RAT voice and data handoff enhancements allow engineers to functionally test UE voice call quality and data intensive applications while roaming between GSM and W-CDMA/HSDPA networks.

Voice handovers are supported, as are network-initiated and autonomous handovers during an IP data connection.

Using two-cell emulation, an engineer can make measurements such as throughput, packet statistics, ACK/NACK and protocol messaging analysis, on the transmitted and received data between a GSM and HSDPA network -- now up to 7.2Mbit/s.

In addition to testing the functional aspects of the handover, it is also possible to ascertain whether the handover occurs at the correct parametric conditions and that the data application is correctly managed throughout the transition.

'Today, more than ever before, designers require cost-effective measurement solutions capable of providing broad test coverage for stress test, validation and regression testing across RF, protocol and software', says Earl Thompson, Vice President and General Manager of Agilent's Wireless Division.

'With our new enhancements, Agilent's E6701E/T and E6703D/T Lab Applications are now equipped with the leading-edge test capabilities necessary to meet this need'.

'As a result, engineers have the benchtop tools they need to effectively verify today's multiformat wireless device designs'.

The Agilent E6701E GSM/GPRS Lab Application, E6703D W-CDMA/HSDPA Lab Application and their associated E6701T/E6703T Special High Data Rate Lab Applications work with Agilent's 8960 Wireless Communications Test Set to create a cost-effective desktop network in a box with RF measurement performance to meet the wide variety of UE design needs in today's UE design environment.

Agilent's new 7.2Mbit/s IP data connection and Inter-RAT voice and data handoff capabilities are currently available via the E6720A Lab Application annual contract.

This contract not only offers all new official releases that will come out during the year, but also gives customers access to subscription releases, which are early releases of leading-edge test capabilities added to UMTS Lab Applications.

Subscription releases are only available with the annual contract