'Smallest' WiMAX test solution rolls from Agilent

Agilent Technologies Inc. has launched a new software feature intended for mobile wireless measurements on its E6474A network optimization platform that creates a standard WiMAX PC Card (CPE) into what the company claims is the industry's smallest WiMAX scanning solution for drive test. This new mode of operation provides network equipment vendors and wireless operators' RF engineering teams to have the most cost-effective means to identify the scope of WiMAX coverage and have basic troubleshooting tasks to assess signal quality.

The partnership of the commercial WiMAX CPE and Agilent's E6474A network optimization platform with option E6474-655 helps this new operation. One WiMAX CPE can be employed in both "phone" mode as a standard WiMAX CPE and whenever you are in the "scanning mode," having dedicated RF measurements of up to 10 channels. For each channel, a preamble index decode, bay station identification, received signal strength indication, carrier to interference-plus-noise-ratio and MAC messages are reported to the dominant, visible servers, offering a comprehensive view of the surrounding network.

"Our new WiMAX scanning functionality helps the subscriber device to be used as a scanner," said Jonathan Dunbar, general manager, drive test business, Agilent. "This provides the wireless industry's smallest and most cost-effective solution for basic WiMAX coverage and signal quality assessment," he stressed.

Benefits of the Agilent E6474A Drive Test WiMAX Scanning Mode include:

• Compact size: smallest, lightest WiMAX scanning solution suitable for indoor testing.
  
• Phone and scanner capability: One WiMAX CPE can be used as a phone to check WiMAX service performance and as a scanner to assess WiMAX coverage and signal quality.
  
• Easy usage: It has a one solution addressing multiple optimization tasks.
  
• Future-proof of investment: Same software license used for the WiMAX scanning mode also helps WiMAX measurements for the W1314A receivers. Simply add a WiMAX-capable W1314A receiver when more advanced troubleshooting is needed.
  
• Advanced troubleshooting capabilities: It has Increased measurement speeds, greater multicarrier support and interference and spectrum analyzer modes.