The A3306 optical standards tester is an automated instrument that contains all the functions needed to analyze and test 10-Gbit/s optical networks. It automatically performs layer 1, 2, and 3 tests on Sonet/SDH systems, 10-Gbit Ethernet local-area networks, wide-area networks, and solutions based on optical transport networking/
forward error correction (OTN-FEC).
Users can test at 9.9, 10.3, or 10.7 Gbits/s. They can also control devices like oscilloscopes and ovens to make pass/fail measurements from the A3306's customized interface. Instruments incorporated in the A3306 include bit-error-rate (BER) testers, attenuators, power meters, an erbium-doped fiber amplifier, couplers, splitters, protocol analyzers, optical filters, and optical sources.
The instrument features many analysis functions. For example, the proprietary Straight Line BER capability automatically performs a series of tests of optical power versus BER and then plots the results on a scale chosen so that the data will fall on a straight line for a well-behaved device. The user can quickly discern unexpected behavior.
A sequence of 100 tests can be programmed using IntelliScript and the point-and-touch graphical interface. The tests can be variations on built-in standard tests, or they can be tests run on external equipment, like oscilloscopes and environmental chambers.
Prices start at $186,000. The tester is scheduled for availability in June.
Circadient Systems Inc., www.circadient.com; (866) 871-2500.
