GPS World

Tag: testing

  • Antennas for the Future: Design and Use

    Sponsored by: NavCom
    Broadcast date: Thursday, February 19, 2015
    Moderator: Alan Cameron, Group Publisher, GPS World and Geospatial Solutions
    Speakers: Maged Shenouda, Project Manager, Antenna Group, NovAtel Inc.; Kenneth M. Pesyna Jr., Ph.D. candidate, department of electrical and computer engineering, The University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Stani Licul, Co-Founder, President and CEO, Maxtena
    Summary: Understand the whys and hows of simulating signal problems now to avoid real-world problems later when newly released GNSS products encounter unanticipated problems in the field. As the number of critical applications that rely on positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) increases, the list of considerations for testing also grows. Topics addressed include leap seconds (next one coming up in June!), multipath, and interference of all sorts. The stakes for attacks on GNSS technologies are rising as incidents increase from occasional, often accidental, interference to more structured and organized approaches to jamming and spoofing. Moderated by Alan Cameron, Group Publisher, GPS World and Geospatial Solutions.

  • Signal Simulation and Testing: Fundamentals and New Frontiers

    Broadcast Date: Thursday, March 10, 2016
    On-Demand Available Until: March 18, 2017
    Sponsor: Spectracom
    Summary: Our expert panel will cover fundamentals for good testing, case studies on specific signal simulation projects and special considerations for multi-constellation performance.
    Speakers: Julian Thomas, Racelogic; John Fischer, Spectracom; and John Pottle, Spirent Positioning, Spirent Federal and Spirent

  • Spirent’s new GSS7000 system offers flexible multi-GNSS testing

    Spirent’s new GSS7000 system offers flexible multi-GNSS testing

    Spirent Communications plc is releasing a new series of multi-frequency, multi-GNSS RF constellation simulators. The GSS7000 series provides an entry to multi-frequency testing, with a modular approach to enable this new precision GNSS simulation system to expand with users’ needs.

    The GSS7000 system will suit receiver, system and application developers who want to take advantage of new satellite navigation systems and the better accuracy offered by civilian, multi-frequency GNSS.

    “Testing across multiple GNSS systems requires more channels and more frequencies with accurate modeling across multiple constellations,” said Stuart Smith, lead product manager for Spirent’s Positioning business unit. “The GSS7000 is a new type of simulator in terms of capability and flexibility. We have gone above and beyond traditional thinking to create a new system for a new era of GNSS test.”

    Spirent Communications' GSS 7000 series of multi-frequency GNSS simulators provides an option for entry-level testing.
    Spirent Communications’ GSS7000 series of multi-frequency GNSS simulators provides a modular approach to testing.

    The GSS7000 series offers faithful emulation of all civil GNSS systems and regional augmentation systems, and allows devices to be tested under a multitude of operating environments and error conditions, the company said. The GSS7000 has the flexibility to reconfigure satellite constellations, channels and frequencies between test runs or test cases. Four software control variants are offered.

    For existing Spirent customers, the GSS7000 has been designed to be backward compatible, enabling the re-use of existing test cases. It allows full in-field upgradeability to add constellations, channels, and other options such as interference generation and sensor simulation.

  • Averna acquires US-based Nexjen Systems

    Averna acquires US-based Nexjen Systems

    NexJen-logoAverna, a developer of test solutions and services for electronics device-makers, has acquired 100 percent of U.S.-based Nexjen Systems for an undisclosed amount.

    Nexjen Systems is a full-service integrator with expertise in mechanical test systems, RF automated test equipment, industrial control, measurement and monitoring systems, and automation control panels.

    Nexjen Systems, a division of Jenkins Electric Company, was created in 2005 to service Jenkins Test & Measurement customers in the southeast region. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Nexjen Systems is a National Instruments Alliance Partner.

    Nexjen Systems’ president, Darren Lingafeldt, and vice president, Brian Esque, will continue to participate in the day-to-day operations and expansion plans as Averna employees.

    “Averna is extremely pleased to announce the acquisition of Nexjen Systems and welcomes its employees to the team,” stated François Rainville, vice president of sales and marketing for Averna. “Nexjen Systems represents an exceptional opportunity to expand Averna’s presence in the Eastern USA in each of our major market segments as well as tap new resources, solutions, and expertise to offer an extended Test & Quality Solution portfolio.”

    Darren Lingafeldt, president for Nexjen Systems, added, “We are delighted to join the Averna team and provide our long-standing customers with additional opportunities to deliver their test and quality projects worldwide as well as benefit from Averna’s renowned global support.”

  • Spirent announces portable, high-resolution system for navigation testing

    Spirent announces portable, high-resolution system for navigation testing

    Spirent-GSS6450-WSpirent Communications plc, a manufacturer of test equipment and services for improving positioning, navigation and timing (PNT) system performance, today announced the new Spirent GSS6450 RF record and playback system.

    RF record and playback systems capture the rich, real-world radio frequency environment and bring it into the lab. This enables receiver, system and application technology developers to optimize performance and robustness.

    The GSS6450 uniquely combines high-resolution, 16-bit-wide band sampling in a highly portable unit measuring 22 x 20 x 7.3 centimeters and weighing only 2 kilograms. The high-resolution capability means it can capture a more detailed RF environment, including RF interference, complex atmospheric scintillation and space weather impacts on the GNSS signal, so users can improve receiver performance against these signals.

    With its compact size, the GSS6450 is designed for capturing data in the field such as on foot or in vehicles, and easily portable when traveling.

    “The GSS6450 offers high resolution in a small self-contained battery powered unit,” said Rahul Gupta, commercial segment lead for Spirent’s positioning division. “Until now, high-resolution record and playback systems have been mains powered and not designed for in-field use. The GSS6450 changes that, enabling a range of signal powers and characteristics to be sampled, recorded, brought into the lab and replayed.”

    It offers a choice of 4-, 8- or 16-bit I/Q quantization, and a 10-, 30- or 50-MHz recording bandwidth. Up to four GNSS frequency bands can be recorded simultaneously, making the GSS6450 suitable for a wide range of applications, from testing new devices, such as wearable tech and unmanned vehicles, to chipset development using new GNSS frequencies, and high-end system test.

    The 16-bit I/Q quantization option gives up to 96 dB of dynamic range, so it also can be used for interference analysis and improving receiver resilience to GPS jamming.

    The GSS6450 is also capable of recording additional non-RF sources including inertial sensor outputs, dead reckoning, and up to four video streams. Long recordings are achieved using up to 4 terabytes of on-board storage. An additional 8 terabytes of RAID storage can be added externally.

    The Spirent GSS6450 is available now.

  • Averna acquires European company Test & Measurement Solutions

    Averna has acquired 100 percent of Europe-based Test & Measurement Solutions for an undisclosed amount. Averna is a developer of test solutions and services for communications and electronics device-makers worldwide.

    Averna’s main shareholders, Tandem Expansion and Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), both helped finance the acquisition. For CDPQ, the investment is consistent with its objective to further the international expansion of high-performing Quebec companies.

    T&M Solutions develops multidisciplinary solutions to test, measure, inspect, assemble and validate products in nearly all segments of the production industry. Headquartered in Belgium and with offices in the Netherlands and Poland, T&M Solutions is a National Instruments Gold Alliance Partner and has 100 employees, including 70 engineers with almost 50 NI certifications.

    The acquisition increases Averna’s global reach as well as provides a strong local presence in Europe, according to an Averna press release. It will enable Averna to enter the market with a well-established and respected solution provider while giving it a springboard for further European deployments. In addition, T&M Solutions brings unique expertise in semiconductor testing, vision inspection systems and precision assembly.

    T&M Solutions’ management, including current owners Roel Geraerts and Kurt Hensen, will continue to play key roles in operations and expansion plans for the European market.

    “This major expansion into Europe signals Averna’s strategic positioning to accelerate growth and become a truly global Test Engineering powerhouse. Test & Measurement Solutions and Averna share complementary solution portfolios, clients and partners, so this is a real win-win arrangement for everyone,” said François Rainville, vice president of sales and marketing for Averna. “We are proud to welcome T&M Solutions’ customers and employees while providing all our customers with additional expertise and increased worldwide presence.”

    André Gareau, Averna’s president and CEO, added “We’re building a strong track record of successful acquisitions and are motivated by our robust pipeline of opportunities in Europe and around the world. These are exciting times for Averna and the industry as our leading test expertise, rapid processes and global support continue to demonstrate that we are a strategic-value partner for our clients’ ongoing product quality and market goals.”

    “We are very excited to become part of Averna, a leading player in our field. This transaction creates a unique strategic opportunity as we combine T&M Solutions’ mature European presence and respected expertise with Averna’s expansive global footprint and renowned products and solution delivery capabilities,” said Kurt Hensen, CEO of Test & Measurement Solutions. “As part of Averna, our portfolio will deliver even greater value as we remain focused on our strengths and customers.”

  • Taoglas opens IoT design center in San Diego

    Antenna maker Taoglas USA has opened a facility in San Diego for its North American customers.

    In the midst of explosive wireless device growth in the Internet of Things (IoT) market,  the company has quadrupled the original size of its local facility — now more than 16,000 square feet.

    The new Taoglas IoTx Center offers a fully equipped design and test location that supports companies seeking a competitive, time-to-market advantage for machine to machine (M2M) and IoT applications.

    According to Taoglas, the location offers support for customers at all stages of their product design cycle — from concept to certification readiness.

    “This kind of open-door policy is rare in the antenna and wireless device testing business,” explained Dermot O’Shea, president of Taoglas USA. “We have expanded our engineering team, added more test equipment, and now have two chambers here to increase design and test capacity. As well as being able to prototype antennas and PCBs, we can test the antenna and devices in operation on site to ensure they work reliably in the real world.

    “We have also now added an antenna and cable assembly operation so we can quickly produce antenna and custom RF cable orders here in San Diego,” O’Shea said. “Quite often customers require products in a few days rather than weeks and we have now facilitated that demand with this new move.”

    Taoglas has dedicated the facility to support it’s North American customer base. San Diego was chosen due to the strong, experienced talent pool in the areas of antenna and hardware design.

    In addition to the site’s two CTIA calibrated anechoic chambers, the campus includes a custom antenna and RF cable assembly facility, expanded development and office space as well as a well-equipped, sound-proofed customer lounge area with workspaces and other features to accommodate customers while testing and product development are in process. Taoglas will increase its San Diego staff by 50 percent this year and expects to double that in the next three years.

    “Our enlarged San Diego facility reflects our growth rate last year of almost 100%,” explained O’Shea. “We’re bullish about the potential in the Internet of Things (IoT) market, which is key for us. The vendors in this space who we support not only need the off-the-shelf or custom antennas we offer, they need design services and assistance.  All our services have clear explanations and fast deliverables, all available on our website.  You just select your service code, or call our sales, and we will book you in for work on your device immediately. No waiting around or complicated contractual discussions.

    “First time certification is also critical so wireless OEMs can avoid the hardware failures that are so common in the IoT sector. Having two anechoic testing chambers means we can work on multiple devices in real time, helping customers get successful products into the market first time and on time.”

    According to International Data Corp., the IoT market will grow to $1.7 trillion by 2020, with a compound annual growth rate of 16.9 percent. “We’re currently shipping millions of antennas per month into the IoT market,” O’Shea said. “Our larger campus here will be well utilized.” Taoglas also has offices in Minneapolis, Ireland, Taiwan and Germany.

    According to Rory Moore, a prominent San Diego technology company founder and investor, in addition to being CEO of Southern California startup incubator EvoNexus, “The enlarged Taoglas campus is another sign of success in the local innovation economy.  San Diego already has a strong base in IoT growth and this large new Taoglas IoTx facility cements San Diego as an IoT hub in a very hot sector. I also like the fact that Taoglas has been collaborating with SDSU (San Diego State University), building useful bridges between the business and educational communities.”

  • PCTEST Expands Antenna Testing Capabilities with Rohde & Schwarz

    PCTEST Expands Antenna Testing Capabilities with Rohde & Schwarz

    R&S TS8991 Wireless Performance Test Chamber.(PRNewsFoto/Rohde & Schwarz)
    R&S TS8991 Wireless Performance Test Chamber.(PRNewsFoto/Rohde & Schwarz)

    PCTEST Engineering Laboratory, an accredited testing laboratory for wireless testing and certification, has expanded its over-the-air (OTA) conformance testing capabilities with the purchase of a CTIA-compliant R&S TS8991 Wireless Performance Test Chamber (WPTC) from Rohde & Schwarz.

    The R&S TS8991 OTA Test System is configured with hardware and software extensions for legacy and LTE A-GPS, a R&S ZND vector network analyzer for passive antenna measurements and faster system calibrations, and a second antenna boom with additional R&S NRP power sensors for faster total radiated power (TRP) measurements. The entire system is controlled via R&S AMS32 wireless performance software.

    As the number of technologies and the variety of mobile devices continue to increase, the ability to verify a device’s radiated performance is becoming more important to ensure end-user quality of experience. For 4G/LTE, there are major developments involving the Internet of Things, machine-to-machine communication, LTE at 5GHz (LTE-U), assisted global navigation satellite system (A-GNSS), and carrier aggregation, which are driving the need for improved as well as additional OTA tests required for both carrier acceptance and industry conformance test plans.

    “As wireless devices become more specialized and continue to push the boundaries of transmission efficiency, the ability to fully characterize a device in an over-the-air environment is becoming more critical,” said Randy Ortanez, president of PCTEST Lab. “Every day we are seeing the acceptance bar being raised and more test cases defined from operators and standard bodies such as CTIA and 3GPP. To meet these growing demands, we are very pleased to be working with our partner Rohde & Schwarz who is able to deliver and support a complete turn-key solution for our OTA testing needs.”

    PCTEST is exhibiting in the Test Pavilion of Hall C, Booth 5159, at the CTIA Super Mobility trade show, taking place this week at the Sands EXPO in Las Vegas. Rohde & Schwarz is exhibiting in Booth 3249.

  • Cobham Offers Aeroflex Tester for ADS-B

    The ATC-5000NG NextGen ATC/DME Test Set.
    The ATC-5000NG NextGen ATC/DME Test Set.

    Cobham AvComm, formerly the Aeroflex AvComm business unit, has introduced the ATC-5000NG NextGen ATC/DME Test Set.

    Designed for engineering development, design validation, manufacturing and return-to-service test applications, the ATC-5000NG is the replacement product for the legacy SDX-2000 and the ATC-1400A/S-1403DL. The software defined radio architecture supports more transponder RTCA DO-181E test capability than the legacy products did and has new capability needed to support the Federal Aviation Administration’s NextGen test requirements including ADS-B (RTCA DO-260B) and UAT (RTCA DO-282).

    ADS-B is the Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast for next-generation (NextGen) aircraft navigation. The FAA has mandated that aircraft operating in airspace that now requires a Mode C transponder must be equipped with ADS-B Out by Jan. 1, 2020.

    “We are excited to introduce the new ATC-5000NG which offers our customers the most comprehensive test set available in the market today. This will help our customers prepare for new requirements driven by the FAA’s NextGen and Europe’s SESAR projects,” said Ryan Panos, vice president and general manager of Cobham AvComm.

    In September 2014, Cobham completed its acquisition of Aeroflex for $1.46 billion.

  • Averna Partners with Investor Tandem Expansion

    Tandem Expansion Fund, a Canadian growth-equity investor, has acquired a majority interest in Averna, a developer of test solutions and services for communications and electronics device-makers, according to a news release from Averna. The transaction provides Averna with the financial resources to “accelerate organic and strategic growth as well as to expand its international presence,” the release said.

    Founded in 1999, Averna is a test engineering company that provides test expertise and solutions for tier-one clients in wide-ranging industries around the world, including aerospace and defense, telecom infrastructures, automotive and transportation, consumer electronics and life sciences. Averna has more than 300 employees and offices in 5 countries.

    “This is a new chapter for Averna and we are proud to have the support of these strategic and respected partners who share our vision and values,” said André Gareau, Averna’s president and CEO. “Averna is a Montreal-based success story and it is important for us to continue hiring the best local talents. This investment will help us extend our leadership position in each of our key industries as well as continue growing the company locally and internationally.”

    “Averna’s unique expertise in test, growing base of customers across the globe, excellent management team and portfolio of solutions position the company at the forefront of the electronic test and quality market,” said André Gauthier, managing partner at Tandem Expansion Fund. “With this investment, Tandem is providing solid support to Averna in the next phase of its development.”

    Averna has offices around the world as well as a network of partners such as JOT Automation, Keysight Technologies, and National Instruments. Incorporated in 1999, Averna is a Best in Test award winner and has been honored as one of the Deloitte Fast 500 fastest-growing technology companies in North America.

  • MWC 2015: Rohde & Schwarz Adds Option for Analyzing Mobile Apps to Test Solution

    MWC 2015: Rohde & Schwarz Adds Option for Analyzing Mobile Apps to Test Solution

    R&S CMW-PQA Test System for Performance Quality Analysis. by Rohde & Schwarz.
    R&S CMW-PQA Test System for Performance Quality Analysis, by Rohde & Schwarz.

    Rohde & Schwarz is presenting its new over-the-top (OTT) application analysis solution at Mobile World Congress, being held this week in Barcelona, Spain. The solution enables network operators and mobile device manufacturers to quickly and easily analyze and assess the behavior of OTT apps on mobile devices the data traffic they cause.

    The additional software option is for the established R&S CMW-PQA performance quality analysis test system.

    OTT apps are applications such as YouTube and WhatsApp that use mobile networks, but are not a service offered by the network operator. Such apps can cause uncontrolled data traffic on an operator’s network and excessively drain mobile phone batteries.

    The R&S CMW-PQA OTT software now allows users to check which server the OTT app registers with, the number of connections it initiates and the network traffic volume it generates. The R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester, the core component of the R&S CMW-PQA, also offers a unique IP and protocol statistical analysis function that enables users to analyze how much the OTT app drains the mobile phone battery. The PACE software fromRohde & Schwarz subsidiary ipoque integrates this precise application identification function into the device.

    The intuitive user interface enables users to quickly and easily configure tests as usual, Rohde & Schwarz said. Analysis results are available in a clearly structured graphical report. Users will have a clear overview of an app’s data throughput over time, its connected and idle state information, and when RRC messages were initiated.

    The OTT solution for the R&S CMW-PQA test system is now available from Rohde & Schwarz. Customers who already have an R&S CMW-PQA do not need to purchase a hardware upgrade. A software upgrade is all that is required to add the OTT functionality to their system.

    The test setup for OTT application behavior is on display at Hall 6, Booth C40, at Mobile World Congress.

  • TEOCO’s AIRCOM Lab Strengthens Carrier Aggregation, LBS Testing

    TEOCO, a provider of assurance, analytics and optimization solutions to communications service providers, has expanded the testing capabilities of its AIRCOM Device Test Lab in Columbia, Maryland, with additional test systems from Rohde & Schwarz. Combined with Rohde & Schwarz’s conformance and carrier test case support, the R&S TS-LBS Location Based Services (LBS) and the R&S CMW-PQA Performance Test Systems enable TEOCO to support new industry and carrier testing requirements for next-generation wireless technologies including carrier aggregation, IMS, VoLTE, RCS, E911 over IMS, LTE A-GNSS, LTE OTDOA and LTE eCID.

    Release 10 and beyond, also referred to as LTE-Advanced, allows for a substantial uplift in the capacity and throughput of LTE, in addition to mobile device performance improvements. In LTE-Advanced, carrier aggregation (CA) is a key feature that allows the combination of multiple carriers to increase bandwidth and ultimately data rates in the network. To meet this need, the R&S CMW-PQA test system performs automated testing of a devices downlink, uplink and bidirectional data performance with or without carrier aggregation under simulated network conditions.

    LBS is already a key technology enabling a myriad of new applications that people depend on every day. LTE and additional satellite constellations are being leveraged to improve availability and performance of location technologies indoors and outdoors. Higher customer expectations are driving the need for more advanced testing methodologies, and the R&S TS-LBS test system supports field-to-lab testing where real-world conditions are captured with high performance 16-bit resolution, and replayed in the lab for more accurate simulation.

    “We are excited to expand our testing capability and capacity for LTE-Advanced and LBS-enabled devices,” said Hemant Minocha, Executive Vice President at TEOCO. “And given the increase in test complexity and costs, we are pleased to be working with a partner such as Rohde & Schwarz whose expertise in conformance and carrier acceptance testing and breadth of test cases helps future-proof our investment while delivering the quality and results our customers have come to expect.”