Acterna Wavetek ANT-5 SDH Access Telecom Tester With 6 Options!

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ﾒ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ﾒsworld-class ease-of-use is based on a clearly structured operation concept: SETUP ﾖ RESULTSﾖ 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ﾒ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ﾒ tool of choice
The ANT-5 provides all of the transmission test functions required in todayﾒ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ﾒs flexible design enables it to be adapted quickly to operatorsﾒ 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

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