Signal creation software serves mobile WiMAX, WiBro

Test-and-measurement giant Agilent Technologies has a first release of signal creation software for mobile WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) and WiBro (wireless broadband) applications. It is for Agilent's E4438C ESG microwave vector signal generator.

WiMAX is intended to make point-to-multi-point broadband network access widely available without the expense and distance limitations associated with wired options. WiBro is a broadband wireless Internet service for Korean systems; it's based on the IEEE-802.16e standard.

Compliant waveforms
Agilent's N7615A Signal Studio for 802.16 OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) software creates waveforms that comply with the WirelessMAN-OFDMA physical layer in the IEEE-802.16-2004, 802.16-2004/Cor1/D2 or D3, and IEEE-802.16e/D9 standards. Its ability to create down-link or up-link sub-frames in TDD or FDD makes it suitable for testing base station and subscriber station equipment.

If you're working with baseband receiver test and system verification, the N7615A software lets you configure waveforms for both component and receiver design verification and testing. The software's intuitive GUI (graphical user interface) gives you access to physical and basic MAC layer parameters, including bandwidth, cyclic prefix ratio (G), sampling factor (n), FFT (fast Fourier transform) size (512, 1024 or 2048) and frame length.

Frame set-up parameters
Using the software's frame set-up parameters, you can generate high peak-to-average power ratio down-link or up-link signals. That can be used to test transmission chain components such as amplifiers. Generating signals for receiver test is done with automatic generation of correct FCH, DL-MAP and UL-MAP data.

The N7615A Signal Studio for 802.16 OFDMA can create up to 16 incrementally numbered frames/ waveform, and can configure frames for down-link, up-link, or both. The software's frame configuration provides for zone and burst allocations, too. Supported zone types include DL-PUSC, DL-FUSC, UL-PUSC and UL-OPUSC. The software can control signal generator functions remotely through the GUI.

Price and availability
The software is available now at a starting price of $7,500. A free 14-day trial license of the software can be downloaded from Agilent's website.

- Alex Mendelsohn
eeProductCenter