Anritsu Co.'s MT8212B adds a CDMA/GSM transmitter analyzer, interference analyzer, built-in source, channel scanner, and DS0/VF channel access to its Cell Master design. The integration of these additional test capabilities provides RF engineers and field technicians with a single handheld instrument weighing less than five pounds that can be used to ensure proper deployment, installation and maintenance of GSM and CDMA networks. With the Cell Master MT8212B, users can conduct all major RF measurements, such as channel power, frequency error, occupied bandwidth and noise floor, on CDMA signals. The integration of the CDMA transmitter analyzer option into the MT8212B also allows it to demodulate cdmaOne and cdma2000 1xRTT signals. Code-domain power, pilot power, channel power, frequency error, waveform quality, pilot time tolerance, pilot Ec/Io and carrier feed through can be displayed with this option. All the parameters can be displayed in graphical format or text only.

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The Cell Master MT8212B provides users with flexibility when demodulating cdmaOne and cdma2000 1xRTT signals. In addition to making measurements in the traditional manner by connecting Cell Master MT8212B to the base station, an over-the-air (OTA) measurement option allows field technicians to demodulate the cdmaOne and cdma2000 1xRTT signals while sitting in their trucks.

For GSM applications, the Cell Master MT8212B has an option that allows the analyzer to conduct traditional RF measurements for power and frequency error. The MT8212B can also display time slot information on GSM signals. A number of other options are also available with the Cell Master MT8212B. An interference analyzer measures interfering signals and displays their standard and bandwidth so that field technicians can quickly identify interfering signals to reduce dropped calls and coverage problems. The Cell Master MT8212B can also be ordered with a built-in signal source for measuring the gain/loss of two-port devices, as well as be used for antenna isolation measurements and repeater tests.

For AMPS, iDEN, TDMA, and GSM network applications, the Cell Master MT8212B can be equipped with a channel scanner to display currently available channel power. The analyzer can be used as a wireline physical layer analyzer as well. T1 and E1 tests include DS0/VF channel access monitoring. A user manually selects each one of the voice channels (DS0/VF access) and monitors with the built-in speaker.

Incorporating the same cable and antenna analyzer found in the Site Master family, the MT8212B quickly locates small, hard-to-identify faults before major failures occur. A built-in power meter performs accurate power measurements to reduce signal holes and interference.

The MT8212B's spectrum analysis capability allows users to locate, identify, record, and solve communications systems problems from 100 kHz to 3 GHz. It has dedicated routines for smart measurements of field strength, channel power, occupied bandwidth, adjacent-channel power ratio (ACPR), carrier-to-interference (C/I), and interference analysis. All of these measurements can be made on signals as low as -135 dBm.

Other features include a standard transflective color display that makes viewing easy, a built-in GPS receiver that provides location (latitude, longitude and altitude) and UTC time information so that each trace can be stamped with location information. Pricing of Cell Master starts at $13,950. Delivery is six to eight weeks ARO.