Test Equipment Connection » QoS

First Handheld With Ethernet, SONET/SDH, OTN, and Fibre-Channel Testing

Mike Novello — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:47:13 +0000

Bluelight Technology Introduces Handheld, Lightweight All-In-One Network Test Solution

BlueScope BL6000A is The First Handheld With Ethernet, SONET/SDH, OTN, and Fibre-Channel Testing in a Single Device

San Jose, Calif. — Bluelight Technology, the leading developer and manufacturer of innovative, handheld network test and measurement devices for the telecommunications industry, today announced the availability of the BlueScope BL6000A all-in-one, multiprotocol network test and measurement solution. The BL6000A is the industry’s most versatile, lightweight, handheld device that combines Ethernet (1GE and 10GE), SONET/SDH (up to 10G), Optical Transport Network (OTN) (up to ODU-2F), and Fibre Channel (up to 10x) testing in a single ultra- lightweight, handheld platform.

The easy-to-use and compact BL6000A features a productivity-enhancing user interface architecture that includes both an intuitive, touch-screen-enabled graphical user interface (GUI) in addition to an integrated keypad for data entry. The comprehensive array of network types that can be analyzed with the BL6000A eliminates the need for multiple devices, reducing overall costs, saving valuable space, and providing convenience and valuable time savings and flexibility for technicians in the field. Based on open architectures for both software and hardware that enable future expansion, the newest BlueScope is updateable as industry test and measurement needs change.

“We’re very excited to offer the test and measurement industry a multiprotocol test instrument that’s as technologically advanced and simple-to-use as the BlueScope BL6000A,” said James Jeong, Bluelight Technology’s CEO and co-founder. “The fact that a field technician now only needs to carry one testing device to ensure network performance saves our clients money and makes their technicians significantly more efficient and productive. This is a must-own for any network operator.”

Using the same form factor that has proven popular in previous BlueScope models, the BL6000A includes a host of standard connections to support many different media interfaces such as 10GbE (XFP), optic1000 BASE-SX/LX/ZX, and 100 FX and copper 10/100/1000 BASE-T. Results and analysis are easily accessible via an integrated file management system that enables the saving of data such as test results, log files, screen captures, and packet captures directly to a portable memory device using the USB port. The USB port also provides an ideal mechanism for future software changes and/or upgrades, which can also be performed via an FTP connection.

The powerful BL6000A carries out an impressive array of network performance tests, over any type of network. The truly unique benefit is the addition of testing for SONET/SDH networks, which can be analyzed for frequency offset generation, frequency power measurements, round-trip delay measurements, and more. Users can also select unframed rates to perform physical layer testing for OTN (OTU-2 to OTU-2F), Fibre Channel (1x to 10x), Ethernet (1GE to 10GE), and SONET/SDH (STM-1 to STM-64/OC3 to OC-192). SONET/SDH testing is additionally enhanced by a multichannel view capability, which allows users to view activities on as many as 48 channels simultaneously.

Up to 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks can be tested for throughput on up to 32 independent streams, packet flooding, packet capture and analysis, network discovery, and autonegotiation capture. IP application tests such as Ping, DNS, and DHCP can be run and cables can be checked for faults or irregular impedance. Combine all this with analysis of Fibre Channel networks and the BL6000A can analyze nearly any network architecture or element a telecom, cable, or private network technician may encounter.

“Our goal has always been to be a trendsetter for the test and measurement space,” continued Jeong. “This new product represents years of innovation based on listening to what our customers and partners needed and mapping our development plans to those needs.” (source www.bluelighttec.com)

Key Features and Benefits

Anytime, anywhere Ethernet/SONET/SDH/OTN/Fiber Channel testing
Compact, ultra lightweight form factor
Intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) – Reduces training time
Eliminates the need for multiple test instruments – Reduces cost of ownership
Open architecture H/W and S/W platforms – Capabilities to Support the Expansion of Your T&M Needs on a Higher Scale
SONET/SDH – Tx Overhead Byte Sequence Generation Up to 256 bytes – Rx Overhead Byte Capture Up to 256 events K1/K2 bytes are captured together – Multi-Channel Monitoring Concurrent real time monitoring function up to 48 x AU3 and 28 x TU11/12
1G/10G Ethernet -32 Multi-stream Traffic Generation & Analysis Layer 1/2/3/4 packets & fully customized packets – Powerful built-in Packet Capture/Decode Dual ports or Single port -Packet Jitter Test in RFC2544 -Real Time Traffic Monitoring -Packet Flooding -Wireless LAN (WiFi) -VoIP / IPTV -100FX optical

General Specifications

Hybrid user interface (UI) with graphical color touch-screen and also keypad at the same time, user-friendly
Supports multi-physical ports such as 1 10GbE (XFP), fiber 1000 BASE-SX/LX/ZX, 100FX, and copper 10/100/1000 BASE-T on one platform
Be able to upgrade a new software version via USB or FTP.
File Manager: Be able to copy testing results, log files, screen capture and packet capture files to USB memory card
Simplifies the troubleshooting of VoIP and IPTV services at the residential gateway
Optical power measurement
Customizable test profiles for quick and efficient test set configuration

IPTV Testing Tools

Mike Novello — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 14:59:44 +0000

What is IPTV?

Since its inception in 1994 many different definitions of IPTV have appeared, including elementary streams over IP networks, transport streams over IP networks and a number of proprietary systems. The official definition approved by the International Telecommunication Union focus group on IPTV (ITU-T FG IPTV) is as follows:

“IPTV is defined as multimedia services such as television/video/audio/text/graphics/data delivered over IP based networks managed to provide the required level of quality of service and experience, security, interactivity and reliability.”

Another official and more detailed definition of IPTV is the one given by Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) IPTV Exploratory Group on 2005:

“IPTV is defined as the secure and reliable delivery to subscribers of entertainment video and related services. These services may include, for example, Live TV, Video On Demand (VOD) and Interactive TV (iTV). These services are delivered across an access agnostic, packet switched network that employs the IP protocol to transport the audio, video and control signals. In contrast to video over the public Internet, with IPTV deployments, network security and performance are tightly managed to ensure a superior entertainment experience, resulting in a compelling business environment for content providers, advertisers and customers alike.”

One definition for consumer IPTV is for single or multiple program transport streams (MPTS) which are sourced by the same network operator that owns or directly controls the “last mile” to the consumer’s premises. This control over delivery enables a guaranteed quality of service (QoS), and also allows the service provider to offer an enhanced user experience such as better program guide, interactive services etc. In commercial environments IPTV is widely deployed for distribution of live TV, video playout channels and Video on Demand (VOD) material across LAN or WAN IP network infrastructures, with a controlled QoS. In 1994, ABC’s World News Now was the first television show to be broadcast over the Internet, using the CU-SeeMe videoconferencing software. The number of global IPTV subscribers is expected to grow from 28 million in 2009 to 83 million in 2013. Europe and Asia are the leading territories in terms of the over-all number of subscriber. But in terms of service revenues, Europe and North America generate a larger share of global revenue, due to very low average revenue per user (ARPU) in China and India, the fastest growing (and ultimately, the biggest markets) in Asia. The global IPTV market revenues are forecasted to grow from US$12 billion in 2009 to US$38 billion in 2013

Need to Qualify, Maintain and troubleshoot IPTV circuits ?

VStream Analyzer Turns any PC into a Powerful IPTV Analyzer

Automatically tests all channels and indicates pass/fail results
Complete Set Top Box (STB) emulation
Full Motion Picture video preview of all analyzed IPTV streams
Simultaneously analyzes multiple IPTV streams
Accurate audio and video MOS score
Comprehensive Video and Transport Stream statistics
Advanced Video Perceptual Quality Metrics
Operates with Windows XP/Vista/7
Contact us for more details

Frederick Engineering ParaScope mPA ADSLx IPTV Copper Bundle

Advanced handheld chassis with 7″ touch screen high-resolution display, dual 10/100 Ethernet ports, USB port, SD card port, VGA port. Includes ADSL1/2/2+ module, IPTV Analysis Suite, and Copper Module Bundle.

ParaScope mPA’s features include:

Large 7” bright touch-screen LCD and rugged enclosure
Unmatched ease of use with Pass/Fail results. Use at customer premises, remote location or the central office and reduce truck rolls
Copper qualification to identify physical layer faults and qualify the local loop for handling triple play services. Suite of tools includes integrated digital multi-meter (DMM), RFL meter, Longitudinal balance meter, TDR etc

Complete service verification to determine the upstream and downstream rates, emulate the modem or STB, PING the ADSL or Ethernet and much more. Ethernet testing facilitates FTTX deployments. Triple Play Analysis including IPTV and VoIP QoS measurements, streaming video, phone emulation and more over ADSL1/2/2+, VDSL2 and 10/100 links.