June 18, 2008 -- At NXTcomm, Agilent Technologies announced advanced network test options for its N2640A WireScope Pro cable certification tester. The tester now supports two new software licenses that enable network administrators and network integrators to validate and pre-qualify the quality of voice over IP (VoIP) services and to stress test Ethernet connections.
Current owners of the tool can upgrade their instrument by purchasing the license codes for the new functions and installing the latest firmware version. Every WireScope Pro comes equipped with a copper 10/100/1000 Mbit/sec test port and an SFP port that supports optical Gigabit Ethernet modules. This enables VoIP testing without carrying another tool and offers a 50 percent reduction in the price of VoIP testing and full line rate traffic generation compared to purchasing a separate tester, says the company.
License option N2640A-030 activates the VoIP test function. The test delivers MOS value and R-factor of SIP based VoIP services, according to ITU-T G.107. License option N2640A-011 activates traffic generation up to Gigabit line rate, suitable to stress-test Ethernet links, and to validate the traffic steering capabilities of the network infrastructure. Both license options require that network test option N2640A-010 be installed on the instrument.
"IT technicians and cabling installers who apply moves, adds and changes to local area networks no longer need to carry two sets of instruments to complete these tasks," comments Joachim Peerlings, general manager of Agilent's Broadband Deployment business. "WireScope Pro, supercharged with the new network test options, enables them to do multiple tasks during the same visit, like cabling installation to service turn-up and troubleshooting."
The software upgrade licenses for the Agilent WireScope Pro will be available in July, with pricing starting at $1,100.