Option automates BroadR-Reach PHY compliance testing

t is expected to gain widespread adoption within the automotive industry over the next few years, helping to improve in-vehicle safety, comfort and infotainment, while significantly reducing network complexity and cabling costs. As this market expands, automated compliance testing will be critical to ensuring that BroadR-Reach compatible products interoperate and deliver expected performance.

To help engineers test BroadR-Reach products quickly and efficiently, Option BRR allows the use of a single Tektronix oscilloscope for the full range of tests required by the specification including power spectral density (PSD) and return loss measurements. Until now, engineers have been required to use a spectrum analyser and a network analyser respectively for these tests. Tektronix has filed unique IP for performing these tests with an oscilloscope. This “one-box” solution simplifies setup complexity and reduces equipment expense.

The Option BRR solution recommends a test fixture that provides a mechanism to add a “disturbing” signal which is needed to perform the distortion measurement, one of the most important measurements recommended by the specification. Competitive offerings do not currently offer disturber support.