Keysight Technologies Expands its M8000 Series of BER Test Solutions for Multi-Channel Applications

New Multi-Channel BERT Accelerates Development and Design Validation of High-Speed Digital Devices

Highlights:

• 10-channel BERT up to 16 Gb/s, with any combination of pattern generator or analyzer channel for maximum flexibility
• Each generator channel’s delay, jitter, de-emphasis, ISI and pattern sequence individually are fully adjustable
• M8070A software allows easy characterization of up to 10 BERT channels simultaneously, including channel loss emulation

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Jan. 14, 2016

Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) today introduced a multi-channel BERT solution based on a 14-slot AXIe mainframe for multi-lane testing. The BERT uses the latest version of the M8070A system software, version 3.0. TheM8000 series of BER test solutions provide faster insight into multi-channel applications.

Increasing complexity of electronic devices and systems, together with higher data rates, makes testing these devices more challenging. At lower speeds, single lane testing might be sufficient, but with higher data rates, engineers experience increasingly more crosstalk problems. Consequently, multi-lane testing with different aggressor and victim signals become more important. Examples such as PCIe® 3 can have up to 16 differential 8 Gb/s lanes, 10 Gb/s PON, 40 GbE and 100 GbE, requiring four to ten 10 Gb/s channels. The wide use of high-speed switches in test setups adds additional loss and reflections to the signals. Engineers can now omit the need for these switches with the new M8030A multi-channel BERT.

The 14-slot AXIe mainframe extends the capabilities of the widely used J-BERT M8020A from up to four channels to up to 10 BERT channels. This means the mainframe can effectively support up to eight PCIe channels simultaneously for ASIC tests. Other applications include multi-channel passive optical network (PON) system test containing several optical network units (ONU). The new version 3.0 of the M8070A software integrates all modules under the well-known M8070A user interface, thus ensuring a fast learning curve.

“Keysight’s expertise in BERT measurements is based on our long history of providing market leading, high-speed digital test solutions,” said Jürgen Beck, vice president and general manager of Keysight’s Digital and Photonic Test Division. “By continuously extending of our M8000 series of BER test solutions, we enable our customers to focus on their business requirements and spend less time addressing the latest test challenges.”

In addition to the well-established ParBERT 81250 legacy solution, the new M8030A multi-channel BERT provides integrated jitter injection, 8-tap de-emphasis and adjustable integrated intersymbol interference (ISI) for each channel individually. On the analyzer side, each channel has clock recovery and CTLE. This high degree of integration saves floor space and increases the repeatability of the test results.

The M8030A multi-channel BERT will be available in two bundles, M8030A-BU1, including an AXIe embedded controller, and the M8030A-BU2 for remote control from an external PC via PCI Express®.

More information about the Keysight M8030A multi-channel BERT is available at www.keysight.com/find/m8030a. Trial versions of the M8070A software are available at www.keysight.com/find/M8070a.

Images are available at www.keysight.com/find/M8000_images.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The solution is available for ordering on Jan. 15. The price of the M8030A multi-channel BERT starts at $269K for a four channel configuration controlled by an external PC. The upgrade to version 3.0 of the M8070A software is free.