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The access network explosion
The modern
communicationsmarket is challenging network operators in new ways. Because
growth from traditional voice services has declined, operatorsmust find new ways
to carry more data traffic in order to maintain their revenue stream. However,
bandwidth bottlenecks in the access and metro networks have prevented many new
high-speed, high-bandwidth services from being efficiently deployed.
Field technicians, who are tasked with installing and maintaining these
networks, must learn how to test a wide variety of technologies while they
strive to reach new levels of productivity. To perform these tasks, technicians
require an increased number of pieces of equipment and additional training to
operate each device effectively. Additionally, operatorsmust be able to manage
the conflicting demands of technicians, who need the proper equipment and
training to do their jobs, and executives, who are keeping close control on
capital expenses and operating costs.
The ANT-5 rises to the challenge
Acterna effectively
meets the challenges faced by network operators with the Acterna ANT-5 SDH
Access Tester. Designed for field operations, the small, rugged,
battery-operated ANT-5 streamlines installation and maintenance testing. Its
advanced features and automated functions enable technicians to perform tests
quickly and effectively. And, with SDH, PDH, SONET, and ATM combined into a
single compact unit, capital investment and training expenses are reduced,
minimizing business costs.
Highlights
- Smallest and lightest test solution (only 2 2 kg) for interfaces from
1.544 Mbps up to 2.5 Gbps
- Optical testing at dualwavelengths from STM-1/OC-3 up to STM-16/ OC-48
- Electrical testing atDS1, E1, E3, DS3, E4, STM-0, and STM-1/OC-3
- Full analysis of concatenated mappingswith SDH/SONET signals
- In-depth PDH analysiswith Sa bit generation and flexible mux/demux test
configuration
- Optical power measurements for verification of physical layer integrity
- ATM functionality for service verification of ATM, 3G, and UMTS networks
(provided via T-carrier, PDH, SDH, or SONET)
- In-line Monitor and Instrusive Thru Modes for traffic analysis and network
testing
- ECL/NRZ port enables non-intrusive direct monitoring of optical networks
The portable solution
The ANT-5’s compact, robust design
is ideal for field and central office applications. The convenient, built-in
stand and comfortable carry strap enable hands-free testing in any location.
And, its extended battery life allows for testing even when AC power is not on
hand.
Optional carrying cases protect the ANT-5 when technicians travel between
sites and provide a safe and convenient place for storing cables and
accessories.
Simplest handheld to learn and use
Access technicians
need a tester that can simplify their key taskswithout extensive training. With
its large color screen, graphical user interface (GUI), and ergonomic keypad,
the ANT-5 is the simplest handheld to learn and use on the market today. Other
features include:
- Labelled LEDs that show current and historical alarm
- OKresults summary and pass/fail results screen displays
- Auto-save of test results
- Fast store and recall of key network configurations
- Auto-configuration detects actual signal structure
- Automatic testing
Easiest to use
Technicians prefer instruments that are
the easiest to use, so that they can concentrate their efforts on measurement
tasks rather than on the complex operation of the instrument itself.
The ANT-5 is the most complete instrument, with all of the necessary
interfaces already built-in, including T1 Bantam, E1 balanced, and E1 unbalanced
up to optical interfaces with STM-16/OC-48. It covers T-carrier, PDH, SDH, and
SONET technology, all in one instrument.
The ANT-5’sworld-class ease-of-use is based on a clearly structured operation
concept: SETUP – RESULTS– ACTIONS.
The ANT-5 offers three operation modes to cover all necessary field
applications, including intrusive, nonintrusive, and monitoring modes. An
important feature is the ECL/NRZ port for monitoring optical circuits at
electrical monitor points provided by network elements (STM-1/-4/-16).
The navigation key allows for simple operation, and the keyboard supports the
easy input of comments, file names, etc.
The internal memory can hold hundreds of files. For result analysis and
report generation, the ANT-5 allows for the easy transfer of files to the
instrument’s Compact Flash Memory Card (CF card). In addition, the Mircrosoft®
Windows®-based Off-line Viewer provides simple results analysis.
For report generation, the Off-line Viewer print functions can be used,
supporting any of your desktop printers in your Windows environment.
Application selection
The ANT-5 application menu opens
direct access to the following applications:
- Performance Analysis (according to ITU-T, ANSI)
- Repetitive BERT (radio linkapplication)
- Automatic Protection Switching (APS)
- Service Disruption Measurements
- OH Capture
- Round Trip DelayMeasurements (RTD)
The corresponding results are directly accessible in the results page
structure.
The access technicians’ tool of choice
The ANT-5 provides
all of the transmission test functions required in today’s access networks:
- Optical power measurement
- Bit error rate testing
- G.821, G.826, G.828, G.829, ANSI, M.2100, and M.2101 analysis
- Received signal offsetmeasurement
- Transmit signal offset and generation
- Tabular and graphical event recording
Extensive SDH/SONET features
The ANT-5 is loaded with SDH
and SONET test features covering all installation and maintenance tasks up to
2.5 Gbps:
- STM-0e, STM-1e/STS-3 interface
- STM-1/OC-3 to STM-16/OC-48 optical ports at dualwavelengths (1310/1550 nm)
- Auto-configuration
- Anomaly generation and analysis
- Defect generation and analysis
- SOH/POH generation and analysis (HEX or clear text format)
- Pointer generation and analysis
- Path trace generation and analysis
- Tandem connection monitoring (TCM) generation and analysis
- APS/service disruption measurements
- RTD measurements
- Automatic tributary scanning
- K-byte capture
Full PDH support
From 1.5 Mbps to 140 Mbps, including
nx64 Kbps, the ANT-5 can test all PDH tributaries and legacy PDH hierarchy
transmission systems using high-level functions that include E1 Sa bit
generation and display.
T-carrier support
The ANT-5 is also equipped with a
standard T1 Bantam interface and supportsDS1 and DS3 interfaces and
structures.
In addition, the multiplexer/demultiplexer (mux/demux) option now supports
M13 framing (DS1/DS3) and allows for 64 K channel analysis.
ATM service verification
UMTSnetwork rollout and ADSL
growth is increasing the use of ATM in the access network. The ANT-5 enables the
installation and maintenance of ATM carried over PDH, SDH, and SONET networks
that include:
- DS1, STS-1 SPE, DS3
- E1, E3 (G.832), E4
- VC-4/STS-3cSPE
- VC-4-4c/STS-12cSPE
PVC cells can be generated over UNI and NNI with CBR and VBR traffic load
profiles up to STM-4c rates.
Service quality can be checked using BER or O.191 measurements. Linkand
channel performance can be monitored while traffic statistics are recorded.
Channel Explorer scans automatically for active VCI/VPI and displays the
result in tabular form.
Simple test and results management
Due to its built-in
Ethernet port, CF card port, and printer port, the ANT-5 can integrate more
effectively and simply with day-to-day operations.
- Export standard test setups to other ANT-5s or PCs via the CF card
- Exchange results over LANs using Windows-based PCs
- Print test reports directly via the serial interface or from a PC using
the Off-line Viewer software
Result evaluation (Off-line Viewer)
Results (in ANT-5 format) can be
loaded, analyzed, and printed by any Windows-based PC using the ANT-5 Off-line
Viewer software.
Off-line Viewer enables the generation of specific setupswith easy
downloading to the instrument. The user interface can be displayed in the
following languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and
Chinese. ThisWindows-based software, included with each instrument, can also be
used for training purposes, providing an excellent product simulation.
Remote GUI
Remote operation is achieved by establishing a
suitable communications linkover an Ethernet LAN. Once the linkhas been
successfully set up, the PC/laptop can communicate with the ANT-5 using the
supplied version of the ANT-5 GUI faceplate.
Advanced remote testing capability
The ANT-5 also
provides an advanced remote testing capability over Ethernet. As a result,
technicians can poll instruments remotely from their offices, simplifying
long-term commissioning and maintenance tests and dramatically reducing travel
time and costs. Test results can be saved to any networkhard disk or printed
from any network printer for convenient analysis.
Flexible, cost-effective platform
The ANT-5’s flexible
design enables it to be adapted quickly to operators’ changing requirements. In
addition, its field upgradeable capability, provided by the Compact Flash port,
enables technicians in the field to install software in minutes.
Hardware upgrades can be purchased to add optical bandwidths or wavelengths.
This protects the initial investment and reduces additional training expenses
while allowing operators to match capital expenditures to network rollout
plans.
The Acterna ANT-5 is an industry-leading access tester that sets new
standards for portability, ease of use, and adaptability. It is the ideal device
for field technicians who need to test a range of SDH, PDH, SONET, and ATM
digital links both onsite and from a remote location. As a result, the ANT-5
provides a significant advantage for companieswishing to optimize quality of
service using a cost-effective, industry- proven solution.
Technical Specifications
| Electrical Interfaces |
| G.703
transmitters |
BNC 75 O unbalanced outputs
Bit rates
and line codes |
| – 2048, 34368 Kbps |
HDB3 |
| – 44736 Kbps |
B3ZS |
| – 51840 Kbps |
B3ZS |
| – 139264, 155520 Kbps |
CMI |
| RJ48 120 O balanced output |
Bit rate and line codes
– 2048 Kbps |
HDB3 |
| Electrical
Interfaces |
BNC 75 O unbalanced inputs
Bit rates
and line codes |
| – 2048, 34368 Kbps |
HDB3 |
| – 44736 Kbps |
B3ZS |
| – 51840 Kbps |
B3ZS |
| – 139264, 155520 Kbps |
CMI |
RJ48 120 O balanced input
Bit rate
and line codes |
| – 2048 Kbps |
HDB3 |
| Clock Recovery |
- Pulling range as G.703
Selectable
input gain |
| – 155520 Kbps |
20 dB |
| – 2048, 34368 Kbps |
26 dB |
| – 44736, 139264 Kbps |
26 dB |
| T1 Interface |
| Connectors |
Bantam |
| Input impedance |
100 O |
| Bit rate |
1544 Kbps |
| Line code |
AMI, B8ZS |
| E1 Hi-Z Input |
A high input impedance setting for the
E1 75 O,
E1 120 O, and T1 100 O ports enables these
signals to be
monitored without a PMP. |
| Optical Interface
(Options) |
| G.957 optical transmitter and receiver
(options) |
| – Class 1 laser product |
| Connectors |
FC-PC connectors |
| Transmitter wavelengths |
Single (1310 nm), Dual (1310 nm and 1550
nm) |
| Line bit rates |
155.52 Mbps, 622.08 Mbps, 2488.32 Mbps |
| Line code |
scrambled NRZ |
| Optical Transmitter
Specifications |
| Optical option |
Line rate |
Wavelength |
Tx output power |
Tx output power |
|
|
|
@ 1310 nm |
@ 1550 nm |
| BN4565/00.01 |
STM1 |
1310SR |
-8 dBm to -15 dBm |
| BN4565/00.03 |
STM1 |
1310SR/1550LR |
-8 dBm to -15 dBm |
+2 dBm to -4 dBm |
| BN4565/91.13 |
STM1/4 |
1310SR |
-8 dBm to -15 dBm |
| BN4565/00.14 |
STM1/4 |
1310SR/1550LR |
-8 dBm to -15 dBm |
+2 dBm to -4 dBm |
| BN4565/91.15 |
STM1/4 |
1310LR/1550LR |
+2 dBm to -4 dBm |
+2 dBm to -4 dBm |
| BN4565/91.16 |
STM1/4/16 |
1310LR/1550LR |
+3 dBm to -3 dBm |
+3 dBm to -3 dBm |
| Optical Receiver
Specifications |
| Optical option |
Line rate |
Wavelength |
Rx dynamic range @ 1100 to 1600 nm |
Rx optical overload |
| BN4565/00.01 |
STM1 |
1310SR |
-8 dBm to -28 dBm |
N/A |
| BN4565/00.03 |
STM1 |
1310SR/1550LR |
-8 dBm to -28 dBm |
N/A |
| BN4565/91.13 |
STM1/4 |
1310SR |
-8 dBm to -28 dBm |
N/A |
| BN4565/00.14 |
STM1/4 |
1310SR/1550LR |
-8 dBm to -28 dBm |
N/A |
| BN4565/91.15 |
STM1/4 |
1310LR/1550LR |
-8 dBm to -28 dBm |
N/A |
| BN4565/91.16 |
STM1/4/16 |
1310LR/1550LR |
-8 dBm to -28 dBm |
-6 dBm |
| Optical Power Measurement |
| Measurement of the received optical
signal level |
| Resolution |
1 dB |
| Electrical Interfaces |
| For connecting the ANT-5 to STM-1/OC-3,
STM-4/OC-12, and STM-16/OC-48 monitor points |
| Line code |
scrambled NRZ |
| Input voltage (peak-to-peak) |
0.2 to 1 V |
| Coaxial input |
| Connector/impedance |
SMA/50 O |
| Transmit Clock
Synchronization |
| Internal stability |
±3.6 ppm |
| Tx bit rate offset |
±100 ppm |
| Increment |
0.1 ppm |
| External Clock (SDH
Transmitter) |
| Connector |
BNC 75 O (120 O via external adapter) |
| Reference clock |
1544, 2048 kHz |
| Reference signal |
1544, 2048 Kbps (HDB3) |
| SDH |
| Operating Modes |
| – Terminated Mode |
| – In-line Monitor Mode |
| – Intrusive Thru Mode |
| SDH Output Signals |
STM-0 signal consists of one VC-n container
with
– Framed or unframed PDH test pattern |
| – Test pattern without stuffing bits (bulk signal
to O.181) |
STM-1 signal consists of one VC-n container with
– Framed or unframed PDH test pattern |
| – Test pattern without stuffing bits (bulk signal
to O.181) |
Content of nonselected containers
– STM-1 PRBS
211-1 (framed/unframed as per selected container)
STM-4 signal consists
of one VC-n container with
– Framed or unframed PDH test pattern |
| – Test pattern without stuffing bits (bulk signal
to O.181) |
– Three VC-4 containers each filled with a fixed
pattern of 11100110
STM-16 signal consists of VC-n containers with
–
Framed or unframed PDH test pattern |
| – Test pattern without stuffing bits (bulk signal
to O.181) |
| SDH Anomaly and Defect
Insertion |
| Defect generation |
| Static |
ON/OFF |
| Anomaly generation |
| Single or at a continuous error rat |
io of 1x10–n |
| (where the range of n is as indica |
ted below) |
| Payload |
|
| Bit errors (TSEs) |
n = 2-9 |
| Anomalies |
| B1, B3 |
n = 4-9 |
| MS-REI |
n = 3-10 |
| LP-REI, LP-BIP (except C4) |
n = 3-10 |
| B2 |
n = 3-9 |
| HP-REI |
n = 4-10 |
SDH Anomaly/Defect Burst Generation
Anomalies
(injected in n consecutive frames
every m frames or seconds)
B1, B2,
MS-REI, B3, HP-REI, LP-BIP, LP-REI
Defects
LOS, LOF, RS-TIM, MS-AIS,
MS-RDI, AU-LOP, AU-AIS,
HP-UNEQ, HP-RDI, HP-TIM, HP-PLM,
TU-LOP,
TU-AIS, TU-LOM, LP-UNEQ, LP-RDI, LP-TIM,
LP-PLM,
LP-RFI |
SDH Error and Alarm Detection
Error
types
B1, B2, B3, MS-REI, HP-REI, LP-REI, TSE, LP-BIP,
PDH, FAS-45,
FAS-34, FAS-2, FAS-1.5, REI-45,
CPBIT, EBIT-2, CRC-2, code errors (2
Mbps, 45
Mbps),
HP-IEC, LP-IEC, HP-OEI, HP-TC-DIFF,
HP-TC-REI
Alarm detection
All alarms are monitored and
detected
simultaneously.
Alarm types
LOS, OOF, LOF, MS-AIS,
MS-RDI, RS-TIM, AU-AIS,
AU-LOP, AU-NDF, HP-RDI, HP-UNEQ,
HP-TIM,
HP-PLM, TU-AIS, TU-LOP, TU-LOM, LP-RDI, LP-PLM,
LP-UNEQ,
LP-TIM, LSS, LP-RFI, PDH-AIS, PDH-RDI
Mappings (to ITU G.707)
The
following mappings are provided as standard
with the instrument. (For
the structure, see Figure
1.)
– C11 mapping (1.5 Mbps)
– C12
mapping (2 Mbps)
– C3 mapping (34, 45 Mbps)
– C4 mapping (140
Mbps)
Test Patterns
Test patterns may be generated and measured
for
any of the provided bit rates either directly at the
SDH
interface or within the STM-16/STM-4/STM-1
substructure.
PRBS:
211-1, 220-1, 223-1, 231-1, 211-1 inv, 215-1 inv,
220-1 inv, 223-1 inv,
231-1 inv, QRSS20
User programmable word 16 bits
Overhead Evaluation
and Generation
SOH and POH evaluation
Display of complete SOH and
POH in hex, binary,
and ASCII formats.
Text decode of S and C bytes
for the trace
identifier.
J0 display of 16 byte ASCII
sequence.
J1 and J2 display of 16 or 64 byte ASCII sequence.
SOH and
POH generation
The content of all bytes, with the exception
of
A1/A2, B1/B2/B3, and H1 to H4, is programmable
with any
byte.
– Selectable synchronization messages (S byte)
– Selectable
signal labels (C byte)
– Trace identifier
– J0 programmable 1 byte
hexadecimal or 16 byte
ASCII sequence with CRC
– J1 and J2
programmable 16 byte ASCII sequence
with CRC or 64 byte ASCII
sequence
Pointer Analysis and Generation in AU/TU
Pointer
analysis
Current pointer values displayed
Displays counts of:
–
Pointer increments and decrements, sum and
difference
– New data
flags (NDFs)
– Average deviation (in ppm) of AU and TU
User
selectable recording of pointer events into the
event log.
Pointer
generation
Generation of pointers by:
– Single pointer
INC or DEC
or INC/DEC
Frame rate: 100 to 8000
Receive K-Byte
Capture
Captures K1 and K2 bytes
Capture trigger criteria: user
selectable
Tandem Connection Monitoring (TCM)
Monitoring
Analysis
of N1 and N2 bytes
Monitoring/display of:
TC-IEC, TC-AIS, TC-REI,
TC-OEI, TC-UNEQ, LTC,
TC-AIS, TC-RDI, TC-ODI, TC-REI
Online display
of TCM access point identifier
TCM error measurement
Incoming
B3/computed BIP comparison
Generation
Generation of N1 and N2
bytes
To create:
TC-IEC, TC-AIS, TC-REI, TC-RDI, TC-OEI,
TC-ODI,
TC-UNEQ
Signal Frequency Measurement
Receive signal
frequency is displayed and
deviation from nominal shown in
ppm.
Resolution 0.1 ppm |
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