Agilent Technologies Adds MIMO, Wave 2 Test Support to Three of its Mobile WiMAX Measurement Solutions

(Product News, 7 Aug 2007)

Agilent Technologies Inc.'s Vector Signal Analyzer (VSA), Signal Studio and Mobile WiMAX Test Set measurement solutions have been enhanced to facilitate testing of the WiMAX Forum's Wave 2 system profiles.

These standardized profiles specify options such as Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), a capacity enhancing, multi-antenna technology fundamental to Mobile WiMAX that supports IEEE 802.16e-2005. With their ability to accurately and cost-effectively test MIMO and other Wave 2 profile functionality, Agilent's enhanced measurement solutions provide the most up-to-date tools for engineers requiring signal analysis, signal generation and end-to-end functional test of Mobile WiMAX.

The ability to test Wave 2 system profiles is crucial to the successful deployment of Mobile WiMAX products. With the technology rapidly making its way onto the global stage, access to that capability is even more time critical. Agilent's 89601A VSA and N7615B Signal Studio measurement solutions address this need via a range of new test capabilities that support physical (PHY) layer signal generation and analysis for Wave 2 system profiles. Specific capabilities include matrix A and matrix B signals for downlink, uplink collaborative MIMO, and creation of HARQ bursts and uplink sounding zones. N7615B Signal Studio also provides MIMO fading embedded in a waveform. This capability enables testing of MIMO receivers without the added expense of fading hardware or software. Together, these features make the Agilent 89601A VSA and N7615B Signal Studio key tools for R&D engineers working in Mobile WiMAX development.

The Agilent E6651A Mobile WiMAX Test Set incorporates flexible base-station emulation, IP traffic support and a unique ability to make on-board RF parametric measurements in one integrated unit. In contrast to other commercially available solutions, no external equipment is required to measure UL signals. The E6615A's Wave 2 enhancements include support for DL, STC, SM and UL collaborative MIMO measurements. It also offers the protocols to support operating with the DUT in MIMO modes.

"Agilent is firmly committed to continually updating its Mobile WiMAX measurement solutions to keep pace with evolving engineering requirements," said Agilent's Guy Sene, Vice President of Marketing, Wireless Business Unit, and Vice President and General Manager, Signal Analysis Division. "The Wave 2 and MIMO functionality provided in these new releases is further evidence of this commitment. As a result, our measurement solutions not only help engineers move forward with their development efforts, but also help move forward the successful evolution and deployment of Mobile WiMAX."

Demonstrating Agilent's continued commitment to WiMAX, these latest introductions from Agilent follow on the MIMO support introduced earlier this year in Agilent's updated Mobile WiMAX Wireless Library for use with the company's Advanced Design System (ADS) EDA software. MIMO features include support for STC/MIMO with two antenna sources and receivers for both downlink and uplink, uplink collaborative MIMO source with one antenna and STC/MIMO decoding in the STC/MIMO receivers. The updated Wireless Library also features Convolutional Coding (CC), Convolutional Turbo Coding (CTC), and CC/CTC decoding with soft decision, as well as a flexible configuration of ranging, fast-feedback and HARQ-ACK Channels in uplink source. New source coding/decoding models to support CTC (e.g., SUI and Mobile WiMAX MIMO channel models) have also been included, along with ITU channel models in support of 2x2 MIMO.

Agilent N7615B Signal Studio software for 802.16 WiMAX is used to create 802.16e waveforms for PHY layer testing. It supports the ESG, MXG and PSG signal generators. Agilent's 89601A VSA is a PC-based software package designed to measure the RF and modulation quality of most digitally modulated signals. It features a large array of demodulators, filters, displays and analysis tools. The Agilent E6651A Mobile WiMAX Test Set represents a significant breakthrough in Mobile WiMAX testing, with the flexibility to configure a wide range of network parameters through an easy-to-use Windows XP user interface and high-speed, precision measurements.

Agilent Technologies