Test & Measurement

Software supports P25 transmitter compliance testing

31st July 2014
Mick Elliott
0

A cost-effective compliance transmitter test solution for the Project 25 (P25) Common Air Interface (CAI) Phase 1 and Phase 2 standard has been introduced by Tektronix. The new software gives RF test engineers and safety agencies push-button measurements with automated pass/fail reporting and runs on Tektronix spectrum analysers, Tektronix Windows-based oscilloscopes, and on SignalVu-PC linked with the MDO4000B Mixed Domain Oscilloscope Series.

P25 is a Land Mobile Radio (LMR) standard developed by the TIA-102 (Telecommunications Industry Association) and is used primarily by North American and Australian public safety and government organizations to provide interoperability among various agencies. With Phase 2 in the early phases of deployment, there is a growing need for cost-effective, easy to use test solutions to verify P25 standards compliance and perform troubleshooting as problems arise.

Beyond validation and verification, the solution also provides the ability to debug signal issues with multi-domain cross-correlation including Time Overview, Spectrum, Phase and Modulation. These measurements are integrated with Tektronix Vector Signal Analysis software and take advantage of advanced features in the Tektronix RSA5000 Spectrum Analyser including DPX Live RF spectrum display and DPX density trigger to pinpoint the source of intermittent problems.

The P25 solution is available on a variety of Tektronix RF test instruments ranging from bench to portable, allowing organizations to select the option that best fits their needs. For organisations looking for more comprehensive debug capability, the software also works with Tektronix MDO4000B series oscilloscopes that combine the full functionality of Tektronix mixed signal oscilloscopes with a dedicated spectrum analyser channel. This means that for the price of a mid-range spectrum analyser-based solution, engineers also gain the ability to analyse and debug complete digital, analogue and RF systems.

Tektronix also released a series of new capabilities for its RSA5000B, RSA6000B and SPECMONB real time signal analysers. These instruments are now available with optional Noise Figure and Gain measurement capability. In addition, a range of enhancements to improve usability and increase measurement functionality are now available as a free upgrade. Among the enhancements are improved measurement setup with Navigator View and “Go-Back, Go-Forward” keys for easy recovery of prior measurement settings. New marker functions to measure integrated power between markers and power density are also included. These enhancements will also be available in SignalVu-PC.

For spectrum managers, Tektronix is making mapping and signal strength functionality available on RSA5000B and RSA6000B instruments and SignalVu-PC, in addition to being standard on the SPECMONB series. As radio noise and complexity continues to increase, bench instruments are increasingly being utilised for mobile van applications such as identifying weak coverage areas or addressing interference problems.

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