Acterna tester meets datacom needs

Acterna Corp., a supplier of test and management solutions to telecommunications network operators, announced the next generation of its Fireberd family of testers - the Fireberd 8000 (FB-8000).

Combining its two test platforms (Fireberd 6000A and TestPad), the FB-8000 promises to meet the needs of users installing and maintaining datacom circuits and network elements. The device is also touted to be the only tester on the market that meets the U.S. military's performance specifications (MILSTD) MIL-188C and MIL-188-114.

According to Acterna, the FB-8000 enables efficient and thorough installation and maintenance of datacom circuits and other network elements that provide both secure and nonsecure voice and data. It combines the abilities of conditioned diphase testing, clocking up to 18Mbps, and DTE and DCE emulation on native datacom interfaces.

"For military and government customers, guaranteeing error-free operation and reliability before placing information on their circuits is vital," said Jim Coulter, director of the company's government programs. "Reliable communications for both voice and data is a linchpin of network-centric warfare and the Fireberd 8000 helps ensure the error-free performance of government communications networks."

The new tester provides test functionality for various technologies, including RS-232/V.24, EIA-530, V.35/306, RS-449/V.36, X.21, MIL-188C, MIL-188-114 and conditioned diphase. Supported applications of the FB-8000 include verifying end-to-end circuit continuity and throughput, emulating datacom network elements (DTE/DCE), and verifying Quality of Service (QoS). It operates on and further expands the TestPad platform, which was launched in January 1999 as the industry's first handheld, battery operated, integrated test set, and is used by service providers and equipment manufacturers for provisioning and maintaining voice and data networks.