Anritsu Company's MD8480C is a high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) signaling tester and the only one that meets the full HSDPA specifications. MD8480C combines physical layer testing with call processing analysis functions, so it can simulate GSM/GPRS/W-CDMA and HSDPA base stations (BTS). As a result, it is a single-instrument 3.5G tool that can be used by HSDPA chipset developers, manufacturers of HSDPA user equipment (UE), and carriers deploying HSDPA technology.

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Complying with all 12 HSDPA categories defined in 3GPP Release 5, the tester fully supports the development of HSDPA chip sets and UE and is scalable so it can support future UE enhancements. The MD8480C has uniquely high internal processing speed - as much as 30x more than other signaling testers - so it can support the maximum HSDPA data rate of 14 Mbps. It achieves a fast 200 ms response on the radio link control (RLC) layer, creating a stable connection for improved transmission during conformance tests and greatly reducing the occurrences of re-transmission requests that are common with other instruments.

An extremely flexible test solution, the tester supports all 3G/3.5G mobile communications systems in accordance with 3GPP Release 99. It can perform tests supporting HSDPA and W-CDMA BTS at the same time. Furthermore, the GSM/GPRS BTS function can be installed simultaneously, dramatically improving the use of development space. The MD8480C can support up to 4 BTS at the same time, which enables the instrument to perform handover tests while receiving diversity. The result is a near real-time network that allows tests usually made in the field to be handled much faster in the laboratory.

The MD8480C also allows OCNS (Orthogonal Channel Noise Simulation) to be loaded for each BTS. This meets the 3GPP test requirements for interference and noise tests, and reduces the time required to conduct verification tests. Additionally, the MD8480C has a new measuring function for monitoring throughput and block error rate (BLER), so the tester can efficiently conduct debugging tasks.

The tester can transmit as many as 30 channels with a maximum transmit power of -24 dBm/ch. It has a transmit power control range of 0 to -120 dB in 0.1 dB steps and has level resolution of ±1.5 dB. When in receiver mode, the MD8480C has a main input level range of -30 dBm to +40 dBm and an uplink input level range of -50 dBm to +20 dBm. MD8480C delivery is six weeks.