Agilent Technologies 8960 Wireless Test Set Offers 3G Developers New HSDPA Packet-Data Capability and Two-Cell Emulation
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Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced advanced 3G capabilities for the Agilent W-CDMA/HSDPA and GSM/GPRS/EGPRS Lab Applications, which run on the Agilent 8960 Wireless Test Set. These solutions help R&D and integration engineers get products to market as quickly as possible, without compromising quality.
The 8960 W-CDMA/HSPDA Lab Application currently supports FRC channels, including support for both RB and FDD test mode capability. Enhancements to this product, scheduled for release this quarter, include 1) end-to-end data connection capability that enables users to set up an IP data channel using HSPDA to simulate the end-user application experience on the bench; and 2) an HSDPA data throughput monitor, which allows designers to view real-time data rates through the data channel. Support for HSDPA will also be added to the Wireless Protocol Advisor. This unique, real-time analysis tool quickly identifies and solves tough protocol problems.
"Based on in-house testing, the W-CDMA/HSDPA Lab Application offers the fastest packet-data channel available today in a one-box tester," said Earl Thompson, vice president and general manager with Agilent's Wireless Division. "Advances such as this demonstrate Agilent's ongoing commitment to ensuring that our 8960 continues to be the box of choice for today's R&D and integration engineers."
The Agilent 8960's HSDPA packet-data channel enables developers to test both the functionality of HSDPA applications and HSDPA data throughput. Support for all-region frequency bands allows performance validation for all-region phones. Enhanced HS-DPCCH tools can be used for analyzing and fixing HSDPA power amplifier issues.
Further enhancements to the Agilent 8960 W-CDMA/HSDPA Lab Application are now in development. They include support for up to CAT 6 end-to-end data connection and HSDPA fading, InterRAT 2-box handovers for data and voice, and an idle and data reselection capability.
For users of the GSM/GPRS/EGPRS Lab Application, advanced features such as dual transfer mode (DTM) and two-cell emulation, available for the first time in a benchtop solution, translate into unique 3G functionality.
Two-cell emulation ensures realistic testing of GSM/GPRS/EGPRS handovers and cell (re)selections by providing two independent cells for the mobile to select from and hand over between. Voice handovers are supported, as are network-initiated and autonomous handovers during an IP data connection. For these data handovers, the IP traffic is automatically re-routed through the appropriate cell, and all context information is preserved. It is also possible to hand over a DTM call and maintain both the voice and data connections. Two-cell emulation is available today for GSM, GPRS and EGPRS. This capability will be extended to W-CDMA and HSDPA in 2006.
DTM enables testing of simultaneous voice and packet-data connections under real-world conditions. For example, an AMR voice call in which the codec rate is rapidly being changed can run at the same time as an EGPRS IP data connection with incremental redundancy. While they run, errors can be deliberately introduced to force re-transmissions. Protocol exchanges can be logged in real time, while the designer makes Tx and Rx measurements. The DTM capability will be enhanced throughout 2006.
Further enhancements to the 8960 GSM/GPRS/EGPRS Lab Application are also now in development. They include support for multiple PDP contexts and EGPRS multi-slot class 33 (with full throughput), as well as multiple and secondary PDP context support.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The E6701E GSM/GPRS and E6703D W-CDMA/HSDPA Lab Applications run on the Agilent 8960 Wireless Test Set, which provides real-life network emulation in an affordable, easy-to-use test environment. Pre-releases of the products are now available for current owners of the E6720A lab application annual contract. Full release is expected by October 2006. Pricing is as follows:
E6703C W-CDMA Lab Application: $37,000
E6701D GSM/GPRS Lab Application: $40,700
E6720A-003 E6703D pre-release, available now: $8,800 (must own E6703C and purchase E6720A)
E6720A-001 E6701E pre-release, available now: $8,800 (must own E6701D and purchase E6720A)
For information about the Agilent E6703D and E6701E Lab Applications, contact an Agilent sales representative. For information on the Agilent 8960 Wireless Test Set, go to www.agilent.com/find/8960.
About Agilent Technologies
Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) is the world's premier measurement company and a technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. The company's 21,000 employees serve customers in more than 110 countries. Agilent had net revenue of $5.1 billion in fiscal 2005. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.
Contact:
Janet Smith
+1 970 679 5397
janet_smith@agilent.com
