E1 signaling has long been a legacy of circuit switched networks. However, with the advent of digital IP networks slowly integrating into these legacy networks, engineers and technicians are finding it increasingly difficult to test legacy circuits since test equipment vendors have ceased manufacturing and servicing E1/Datacom testers.
A solution to this problem can be the use of xGenius multi-technology handheld tester from Albedo Telecom, which can integrate with the traditional power, utilities and railways E1/Datacom communication lines to perform robust end-to-end circuit testing effectively. The xGenius also has the ability to perform Ethernet, BERT and one-way delay testing via its GPS timing functions.
Albedo Telecom’s xGenius is a lightweight handheld tester that can be used by field engineers and technicians for point-to-point testing. In addition, this portable and intuitive tester also supports IP / Ethernet / PTP / SyncE / E1 / Datacom interfaces / E0 and C37.94. Multiple testing modes are available which can readily integrate into a legacy power, utilities and railway network including quality, performance, end-to-end delay, and Jitter/wander test. The xGenius also features an in-built rubidium clock that is highly accurate to help in synchronisation and accurate calibration.
When used exclusively for E1 circuit testing, this last generation 10GbE tester can handle all kinds of different contra-directional E1 scenarios. The loopback port mode ensures the continuity of the test pattern in the contra-directional E1 testing conditions. Testing engineers can even introduce their own custom-made test signals into the communication line if the premade signals are not fulfilling the unique situations.
The highly optimised user interface of xGenius has ease of access to the configuration of transmission and reception signals. Impedance, line codes, clock sources, and frequency offset can be set via customizable options available in the lower sub menus in the graphical user interface on the screen.
Another clever feature of xGenius that can help test any kind of legacy communication lines, is the customization of transmission and reception frames where you can set the frame structure, live signal analysis, and testing conditions. The test patterns can be used to see the performance of frames from end to end. The xGenius can also feed signals outside of the platform with its external interface. This feature is handy for situations where the whole transmission line can be fed with a signal coming from another source. It would help to understand how the E1 communication line would respond to signals coming from different devices. The xGenius can measure end-to-end performance, delay, and quality with its easy-to-integrate ports. The results can be compared at frame by frame level as the xGenius allows analysis even at the resolutions of the bits in the frame structure. The end-to-end frame synchronisation is done by a frame alignment signal sent in every odd-number frame. For every even frame, the slot assigned for the frame alignment can be used for further testing cases in utility and railway lines such as alarms or other trigger functions. The robustness in the design of signals at the bits level, ensures that the xGenius can cover almost all critically important test cases for a typical contra-direction E1 communication line.
It is commonly known that legacy lines are lacking in support, especially when it comes to synchronizing clocks with the new technology modules. With the xGenius, the testing engineer can form the base noise level and compensate for any sort of time interval errors and clock syncs in the communication line by using the jitter generator and analyzer feature. The results of the tests can be viewed anytime by going into the summary panel which is readily accessible through the screen's graphical user interface (GUI).
The xGenius multi-technology tester from Albedo Telecom allows companies needing to support older communications interfaces and technologies to save capital expenditures by integrating legacy and the next generation communications into one platform.
The xGenius is a one time investment for complete end to end optimisation of the co-directional & contra-directional communication lines based on the modern standards. As a matter of fact, it is one of the very limited test equipment available on the market that supports the E0 Contra-Directional interface. As an added bonus, the xGenius also supports next generation technologies such as GigE & 10GigE but is also future-proof for Synchronisation protocols such as PTP/NTP and SyncE making it an excellent asset.
This innovative solution is the perfect all-in-one commissioning, installation and maintenance tester.
Interested in seeing how this multi-technology E1/Datacom Tester can perform in your network? Get in contact with us for a demo.