Test platform expands

Aeroflex has added communications standards to its PXI 3000 series modular test platform, now enabling testing of a variety of 2G and 3G wireless data standards with a single software-defined system.

With the addition of the Bluetooth measurement suite and the WLAN, and CDMA2000/1xEVDO plug-ins for the PXI studio software application as well as upgrades to the WiMAX, UMTS and GSM/EDGE measurement suites, the series is claimed to be one of the most versatile communications test applications available.

All measurement suites are supported by the company’s PXI studio.

Bluetooth signal analysis enables characterisation of enhanced data-rate signals in accordance with the requirements of 2008 Bluetooth Specifications 1.2/2.0/2.0 + EDR/2.1/2.1 + EDR revision 2.1E1. The suite enables fast measurement of all signal characteristics including burst power, spectrum and modulation accuracy.

CDMA2000 and 1xEVDO reverse link is designed for PXI-based RF test systems used in the development and manufacturing of mobile radio transmitters, sub-modules and RFICs (radio frequency integrated circuits), the new CDMA2000 and 1xEVDO reverse link measurement suite from the company enables precise characterisation of CDMA2000 rev C and 1xEVDO rev A reverse link transmissions.

The release now features phase and amplitude error measurements accessible from within the PXI studio plug-in.

WLAN supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g with data rates and corresponding modulation and encoding formats up to 54 Mb/s. DSSS-OFDM support is now available along with new measurements including carrier leak, skew and gain imbalance.

GSM/EDGE simplifies programming and integration of PXI into automated test applications for GSM handsets/devices and has been updated to include an increased frequency lock range to 300 kHz.

UMTS uplink is designed to perform high-speed RF measurements on UE radio transceivers, sub-assemblies and RF components during R&D, design verification, manufacturing test and quality control and now supports phase discontinuity, IQ skew, gain imbalance, carrier leak and phase/amplitude error.

WiMAX enables WiMAX PHY (physical layer), orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) power, spectrum and modulation measurements in accordance with IEEE 802.16e (2005).

Updates include user-defined SEM, and expanded modulation measurements including IQ skew, gain imbalance and carrier leak.