The network test and measurement space is busily supporting wireless operators’ transition to LTE networks and advanced wireless services. RCR Wireless News’ Kelly Hill is tracking this space in a weekly look at analysis, trends and new products in test and measurement.Â
Spirent Communications is now offering operators the ability to test mobile users’ experience of Voice over LTE and video chat. The Nomad product for VoLTE quality, and the Chromatic product for video performance both rates the user experience and provides tools for improving performance of the services. The two products are integrated with the company’s CS8 and 8100 device test solutions, according to Spirent; enabling the capture and analysis of metrics in both labs and live networks.
Spirent VP Nigel Wright said that the company’s acquisition of Metrico Wireless last year had enabled the company to offer end-user quality of experience testing for voice and video on LTE networks.
Also this week, Signals Research Group completed a benchmark test of eight LTE baseband chipsets, using Spirent’s LTE solution to test all of the chipsets with the same sets of network conditions multiple times to generate data. The study found “wide variations in data performance,” according to a statement from Spirent, but LTE chipsets from three different suppliers — including Intel’s pre-commerical chips — had similar top performance. Spirent said that the study found that during more challenging tests, the differences between the best and worst-performing chipsets often exceeded 20%, and that “it is evident that chipset suppliers have different philosophies with respect to how the chipsets report channel conditions … and how they leverage the use of MIMO, including open loop and closed loop, as well as transmit diversity.”
The report will be published Monday at Signals Research Group.
Rohde & Schwarz is addressing testing for third-party applications on mobile devices, saying that the offerings for testing and analyzing such apps “have been less than adequate” and leaving operators and OEMs with situations where applications can generate excessive traffic, strain the hardware resources of devices, or drain batteries.
The R&S CMW500 now has an option for analyzing and testing IP-based applications that logs each data packet sent and received at the IP protocol level and enables analysis of features including lists of active IP connections, TCP analysis, data volume statistics, and triggering on IP events, among others.
The new product, which the company says is the industry’s first integrated end-to-end test solution with IP and protocol statistic analysis for smartphones, is being offered in conjunction with ipoque, which Rohde & Schwarz acquired in early 2011.
JDSU said this week that its DSAMobile Prem iPad application makes certification and data collection simpler for technicians, and that the app and its easy user interface recently received a 4.5 rating out of 5 in the Broadband Technology Report.
Agilent unveiled a new protocol testing solution this week  for the MIPITM Alliance Gear2 DigRf v4 RFICs. The Agilent M9252A DigRF host adapter allows developers to speed testing and analysis of RFICs used in cellular phones, tablets and other mobile devices.
The company also announced that it is collaborating with the University of Washington on a new, high-tech radio frequency and microwave teaching laboratory at the school’s Seattle campus.
Meanwhile, National Instruments released the newest version of its Veristand software this week. Word came out this week that the company plans to add 1,000 engineering and technical jobs in Austin, Tx. over the next 10 years and invest $80 million to expand its business.
With Mobile World Congress coming up next week, expect to see a slew of announcements in test & measurement. We’ll be keeping track of news for you — check in with RCR Wireless during MWC for the latest from the conference.
