Keysight Technologies today announced a new option for its 89600 VSA software, enabling standard-compliant downstream modulation analysis of version 3.1 of the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS 3.1). Option BHM provides decoding of physical-layer link channel (PLC) information and measurements of modulation error ratio (MER) and bit error rate (BER).
Currently, the option supports a variety of Keysight measurement platforms, including two that offer bandwidth greater than 192 MHz: the N9040B UXA X-Series signal analyzer and the U5303A PCIe 12-bit high-speed digitizer. The UXA, which is Keysight’s flagship signal analyzer, provides the highest MER performance at all DOCSIS frequency bands over a wide power range. The U5303A is a lower-cost alternative.
“As the gold standard for demodulation and analysis of today’s most complex signals, the 89600 VSA software is an indispensable tool for designers working on the forefront of cable technology,” said Satish Dhanasekaran, marketing manager of Keysight’s Microwave and Communications Division. “With these new capabilities, developers will be able to more thoroughly verify the performance of today’s complex, high-speed components, chipsets and set-top boxes.”
With the DOCSIS 3.1 option, the 89600 VSA software provides post-processing analysis of PLC-coded, standards-compliant downstream signals. The software extracts the next codeword pointer (NCP) from acquired signals, creates the necessary OFDM map and demodulates DOCSIS 3.1 signals. It can then measure MER and BER and accumulate long-term results.
Developers can also use a separate option, BHF, custom OFDM modulation analysis, to characterize MER in upstream or downstream signals. This flexible diagnostic tool allows measurement and analysis of nonstandard DOCSIS 3.1 signals with the full complement of capabilities in the 89600 VSA software.
The 89600 VSA software is a comprehensive set of tools for demodulation and vector signal analysis. These tools enable developers to explore virtually every facet of a signal and optimize their most advanced designs.
Option BHM, DOCSIS 3.1 modulation analysis for 89600 VSA software, can be ordered now at a list price of $10,000 and a typical configured price of $18,606.
http://www.keysight.com/find/89600vsa
In related news, Keysight introduced continuous simultaneous acquisition and readout (CSR) for its U5303A 12-bit PCIe digitizer. In addition, complete data recording software applications are available, such as digitizer streaming (application option CB0) and digital down-converter streaming (application option CB1).
The U5303A firmware option CSR allows engineers to perform acquisition and readout simultaneously and in a continuous way. They can use several mechanisms to adapt the acquisition data rate to the targeted application. A gapless acquisition can be sustained at a high data rate due to the PCIe Gen2 x 8 interface. An entire range of new application possibilities are enabled by the CSR option, which includes real time GPU-based data processing systems and data recording systems.
CB0 is an application option which implements a real time digitizer data recorder. Based on the CSR architecture, the CB0 provides a command line interface and an easy to use data viewer. Recording performance up to 1 GB/s are ensured in a specific qualified system.
CB1 provides the same functionality as CB0 and adds real time digital down-converter functionality. Recording performance up to180 MHz instantaneous bandwidth are ensured in a specific qualified system.
“Numerous test scenarios require gap-free or continuous acquisition of digitized data for minutes, hours or days,” said Keysight’s Giovanni Lucia, R&D engineer for hardware and firmware. “Signal monitoring, software defined radio, atmospheric research, telemetry systems, and medical imaging are examples of such applications. We designed the CSR option with the intent of providing an easy and effective implementation to simplify the integration in any OEM system. Furthermore, the CB0 and CB1 applications provide a reliable and cost effective data recording system for customers who want a ready to use solution.”
The continuous simultaneous acquisition and readout CSR firmware option, as well as the digitizer streaming CB0 and digital down converter streaming CB1 application options are available now for the 12-bit U5303A PCIe high-speed digitizer.
