Product category:
Stand-Alone Instruments
News Release from: Exfo Electro-Optical Engineering | Subject: Covalt
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 05 June 2006
Handheld tester puts copper networks on
trial
A handheld battery-powered test set handles both installation and maintenance applications on copper-based, triple-play, broadband access networks.
EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering has released the enhanced Covalt, a handheld, battery-powered test set for installation and maintenance applications on copper-based, triple-play, broadband access networks The Covalt, which has been integrated into EXFO's comprehensive product portfolio for telecom testing, is used to install and troubleshoot digital subscriber line (DSL) circuits that carry data and VoIP services (voice and data) over high-speed access networks
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 Mar 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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It also performs functional testing and quality-of-service testing for voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Internet services.
With large-scale deployments of VoIP and DSL becoming a reality among telecom service providers, the Covalt is a vital tool for rapid installation and efficient troubleshooting of these services.
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The form factor and functionality of the Covalt will be very familiar to installers and troubleshooters because it is modelled after the rugged telephone test sets carried by nearly every telecom installer on the planet.
The Covalt, however, adds the needed requirements demanded by the paradigm shift away from plain old telephone service (POTS) towards IP-based telephony.
A 10/100 BaseT Ethernet interface enables the Covalt to operate as a complete home/office DSL modem and router, allowing it to work "inline" on a live DSL service, replacing the customer's DSL modem.
The 10/100BaseT interface can also be used to directly test Ethernet interfaces for connectivity, performance and VoIP.
In addition, the Covalt tests upstream and downstream datarates and other important parameters of a DSL circuit; performs ATM-layer testing; carries out ping, trace-route and file-download testing; places and receives VoIP and POTS telephone calls; and makes an assessment of the IP-layer stability and other factors affecting speech quality such as packet jitter and delay.
"The Covalt is the first test set on the market that combines the familiar ergonomics, ruggedness and weather-proofing of a telephone lineman's butt set with the tests needed to turn up DSL and VoIP subscribers", said Robert Fitts, EXFO's Vice-President of Product Management, Copper Access Group.
"The Covalt's familiar look and feel combined with a simplified and intuitive keypad will make it a popular choice among technicians".
Following EXFO's acquisition of Consultronics in January 2006, the Covalt has been enhanced and rebranded to expand EXFO's leadership in the copper access and DSL testing areas.
It will be showcased at OSP Expo, Booth 66005, at the McCormick centre in Chicago from 5th to 7th June 2006.
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