8960 Lab Application firmware enhancements are now available for testing UMTS Inter-RAT
(Radio Access Technologies) performance such as PS data cell reselection, handover
and cell change orders (CCO). Testing inter-RAT handovers is very important as many
dropped calls happen during a handover transition, leading to end user dissatisfaction.
The 8960 two-cell solution offers a cost-effective alternative to either live network
testing or using large, complicated multi-box systems.
The 8960 Two-cell test Solution
The two-cell configuration uses two 8960 one-box test sets configured with lab application
software to represent two cells. (E6701E/T is used for GSM/GPRS; E6703D/T for W-CDMA,
and E6704A for EGPRS.)
This two-cell configuration creates a command-based test
system, making it easier to program than a script-based protocol tester. The system
also allows the same setup to be used to stress the mobile and search for fault
conditions during regression testing.
Multi-technology networks can be emulated to validate 2G to 3G handovers and cell
transitions, enabling automated testing for a wider range of scenarios, de-bugging
of known issues or problem areas, or performing random testing within a limited
time frame.
For device manufacturers, the two-cell 8960 configuration provides the critically-needed
ability to test handovers:
- Within the same cell
- To another cell using the same technology
- Between a 2G and a 3G cell
Agilents 8960 test set provides mobile device developers with a means of cost-effectively
emulating networks so that the handover performance of mobiles can be verified in
life-like operating conditions. By being able to perform validation and regression
testing on new platforms, device developers now have the opportunity to maximize
the probability that new designs will meet rigorous conformance testing, providing
network operators with devices to capture new subscribers.
8960 Two-Cell Test System Users Guide
