Keysight Technologies Inc. announced significant updates to its Signal Studio for LTE/LTE-Advanced FDD (N7624B) and TDD (N7625B) software. Both signal-creation tools now support key features of 3GPP Release 12 (Rel-12), accelerating time-to-market for developers of user equipment (UE) and evolved NodeB (eNB) base transceiver stations (BTS) designed to achieve greater spectral efficiency, higher data rates and more-robust links in heterogeneous networks (HetNets).
The enhancements to the Signal Studio software include generation of the metrology-grade 256QAM reference signals needed to test physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and physical multicast channel (PMCH) implementations. Signal Studio’s updated Test Model Wizard now supports the new 256QAM Rel-12 test models, E-TM2a and E-TM3.1a, used to evaluate BTS power amplifiers.
“Our ongoing goal is to provide timely enhancements that enable our customers to test their new designs versus the latest LTE specifications and get them to market faster,” said Mike Griffin, applications marketing and sales technical support manager of Keysight’s Microwave Communications Division. “Because Signal Studio supports our benchtop and modular signal generators and wireless test sets, engineers can now easily deploy signals across their entire product lifecycle.”
The software updates also support the downlink shared channel (DL-SCH) with limited data rate channel coding for the new Category 0 UE defined by Rel-12. These Internet of things (IoT) devices will use robust machine-type communications (MTC) based on low data rates, limited modulation schemes and limited multiple-input/multiple-output (MIMO) functionality, all of which are intended to improve battery life.
Other additions include multi-UE scenarios for eNB load testing through emulation of up to 100 UE devices using a single Keysight X-Series signal generator.
ASTRI to Demonstrate at Mobile World Congress (MWC)
From July 15 to 17, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Institute (www.ASTRI.org) will show a live demonstration of its new LTE Category 0 solution featuring a Keysight signal generator. ASTRI will display the demo in the ASTRI booth, Hall W5, Stand W5.H28, at MWC Shanghai 2015.
“Using the latest test solutions from Keysight, ASTRI is able to accelerate the time-to-market for our LTE machine-type communications solution,” said Dr. Justin Chuang, ASTRI’s vice president and group director of communications technologies.
U.S. Pricing and Availability
The updated versions of N7624B and N7625B are available now. Pricing is as follows:
- N7624B-TFP Advanced LTE-A FDD: $4,106
- N7624B-LFP Multi-UE Simulation: $2,000
- N7625B-TFP Advanced LTE-A TDD: $4,106
- N7625B-LFP Multi-UE Simulation: $2,000
Trial downloads and product details are available at www.keysight.com/find/N7624B and www.keysight.com/find/N7625B. Product images are available at www.keysight.com/find/N7624B_images and www.keysight.com/find/N7625B_images.
Keysight software is downloadable test and measurement expertise. From first simulation through first customer shipment, Keysight software tools enable engineering teams to accelerate from data to information to actionable insight. Visit www.keysight.com/find/software to learn more and view the recently received 2014 Market Leadership Software Instrumentation award from Frost & Sullivan. Download free software trials at www.keysight.com/find/free_trials.
Information about Keysight is available at www.keysight.com.