Test mobile has multiple handset capability

The TM500 TD-LTE Multi-UE enables TD-LTE infrastructure equipment vendors to test the performance of their TD-LTE basestations (e-NodeBs) under loaded conditions, accelerating the pace of infrastructure equipment development programmes.

After network infrastructure functional testing has been completed with a single handset (UE), the next step is to test with a second UE, then a third and so on.

System diagnosis is complicated when independent UEs are used, as each UE attempts to interact with the network separately.

The TM500 TD-LTE Multi-UE replicates multiple TD-LTE handsets in a single test mobile, simplifying complex tasks such as functional network testing with multi-UEs and performance measurement of resource scheduling algorithms.

The TM500 TD-LTE Multi-UE can be used to repeatedly generate controlled test scenarios involving a user-defined number of UEs.

The device replicates a number of programmable and fully configurable UEs that are representative of TD-LTE handsets enabling them to measure loaded eNode-B performance before handsets become available.

It provides a controlled, repeatable and deterministic test environment to operate multiple UEs on the same test platform with a single point of control.

In addition to functional multi-UE testing, the use of the same test platform enables specific tests that require UE coordination and for which it is not practical to use independent handsets.

Such tests include contention between UEs attempting to access the network simultaneously and the ability to check a network's response if multiple UEs behave unexpectedly or abnormally together.

However, each UE still provides TD-LTE functionality with its own independent software stack to ensure that it is representative of a TD-LTE handset.

Handset configuration and measurement capabilities are also included to provide infrastructure engineers with the low-level UE access and internal UE visibility they require to properly test and debug an eNodeB and network.

The TM500 TD-LTE Multi-UE can also be used to measure, optimise and demonstrate functionality such as the resource scheduler performance of an eNodeB.

TD-LTE is the Time Division Duplex version of LTE and an evolution of existing Chinese TD-SCDMA technology.

It allows the efficient allocation of downlink resources and opens up the unpaired spectrum for LTE, according to Stephen Hire, director of marketing for Aeroflex Asia.

'The TM500's TD-LTE multi-UE test capability will help infrastructure equipment vendors fundamentally accelerate eNodeB development by facilitating the engineering transition from single and multiple UEs through to performance and capacity testing,' he said.

The TM500 TD-LTE Multi-UE capability can co-exist on customers' existing TM500 LTE equipment to protect their investment and maximise test flexibility.