Network tester supports multiple handsets

A new multiple-handset version of the highly successful SystemAT test product supports a wide range of different commercial handset models.

Aeroflex has launched a new, multiple-handset version of its highly successful SystemAT test product that supports a wide range of different commercial handset models from manufacturers including LG, Motorola, Nokia and Sony Ericsson.

SystemAT is used in a laboratory environment to test the stability, performance and interoperability of wireless networks and handsets, and the multiple-handset version significantly extends the test capabilities that SystemAT offers.

Aeroflex has also announced that the multiple-handset SystemAT product has already been shipped to three major network operators.

The new multiple-handset SystemAT enables network operators and vendors to exercise the handsets in use in their networks in order to measure the end-to-end performance experienced by subscribers.

This testing allows handset-network interoperability issues to be identified and addressed in advance of their introduction to the market and consequently before subscribers are affected.

With the introduction of multiple-handset support, SystemAT can now be used for both network regression testing and now network-handset interoperability testing with specific handset models.

Network regression testing ensures that the network software or configuration changes have been fully validated in advance of roll-out and do not impact subscribers' quality of service.

Network-handset interoperability testing ensures new handsets and existing handsets that have been subjected to significant firmware changes perform as expected with the network prior to deployment.

SystemAT provides network operators with a number of core benefits including a repeatable and controlled test environment, comprehensive handover testing and improved handset-network test efficiency through test automation.

Once a set of regression or interoperability tests have been defined handsets need only to be placed in the system and the tests executed.

Tests can be automated with SystemAT controlling 32 handsets in parallel for round-the-clock operation.

By testing in a controlled laboratory environment using SystemAT any problems can be identified and resolved more easily and cheaply than in the field.

The quality of service provided to a handset can be measured under various network conditions including different traffic mixes, multiple handsets and handover scenarios.

SystemAT provides a high level of handset RF isolation needed to ensure a controlled test environment for functionality testing and test repeatability to ensure that problems can be reproduced and subsequent fixes confirmed.

SystemAT supports soft and hard handovers involving up to four different basestations of any combination of radio access technologies.

Handset activity such as voice or data applications can also be specified to validate service continuity and user experience under handover conditions.

Commenting on the launch of the multiple-handset version of SystemAT, Nick Carter, Product Manager for Aeroflex's system test products said: "The launch of the multiple-handset version of SystemAT significantly extends the testing options available to both network operators and vendors, exploring all the interactions between networks and handsets that could otherwise cause problems later down the line".

"Now end-to-end performance can be measured using a range of subscriber handsets and both network regression and network-handset interoperability testing can be conducted using a single system".

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