Tektronix adds EDGE to its base station analyzer

ATLANTA--

Tektronix today introduced the crowds at CTIA's show to an addition to its NetTek Base Analyzer that tests EDGE technology for GSM operators.

The software enhancement to Tektronix handheld tester helps operators evaluate the RF interface for EDGE services by providing measurements for error vector magnitude (EVM) and carrier to interference (C/I).

“You can be right next to the base station, but if the EVM is off, you’re not going to get a signal,” said Mark Kulper, general manager of Tektronix’s wireless field test product line.

The system is a rugged portable platform that demodulates the RF signal without taking down the base station. “We can do that by separating power measurements from interference and determine the pure carrier signal from the base station,” Kulper said.

It is a software enhancement that can be loaded onto the existing NetTek base Analyzer equipment. Kulper said this saves operators approximately 40% of the cost of a hardware solution. It is used in the data-intensive environment in EDGE networks as well as UMTS/WCDMA, GSM, CDMA2000 and 1xEV-DO.

“Operators have created expectations to do all things wirelessly, and they have to live up to it,” Kulper said. "And to do that, operators really need to manage signal quality.”

The system also is Windows-based and is a compact, battery-powered tool, weighing just over 12 pounds. Pricing begins at $8150.00.