Network Communications News (NCN) July 2016

S P E C I A L F E AT U R E test equipment & tools Check mate Time team Netscout Systems has launched the next generation of the AirCheck hand held wireless tester. This tool is available through Netscout’s recently launched Connect 360 global channel partner program, and includes important new enhancements, such as troubleshooting and diagnosing Wi-Fi networks built using the increasingly adopted 802.11ac standard, access point backhaul testing, and free access to the Link-Live Cloud dashboard for more effective results management. The Netscout AirCheck G2 wireless tester is a powerful tool designed to enable front-line IT to quickly and easily identify issues responsible for spotty connections, dead zones, and slow speeds, as well as locating rogue access points and unauthorised devices. This functionality is ideal to support installation and troubleshooting of IoT wireless edge infrastructure for applications, such as the testing of the wireless infrastructure that supports patient monitoring for healthcare, industrial IoT, personalised and immersive experiences for retail, smart buildings and smart homes. This easy to use hand held tester provides technicians with a broader range of detailed insights into the wireless network than is currently available using freeware applications or other commercially available software packages. The AirCheck G2 comes with free access to a Link-Live Cloud Service, a centralised management, collaboration and archival workspace for network connectivity test results. Link-Live provides greater job visibility, project control and ﬂeet management for larger distributed environments and also works with the LinkSprinter and LinkRunner AT. For further information visit: enterprise.netscout.com/ products/aircheck-g2-wireless-tester Well stocked Blue Helix offers test and measurement solutions for both copper and ﬁbre, representing Viavi (formerly JDSU), Fluke, Ideal Networks, Electronika and KD Optics. As a stocking partner to these top brands Blue Helix can offer immediate solutions to everyday problems that people experience. Blue Helix stocks the day-to-day essentials for installing and testing ﬁbre, from end face certiﬁcation tools, visible fault locators to optical light sources and power meters. If you are installing structured cabling then Blue Helix offers cable certiﬁers, qualiﬁcation and veriﬁcation tools for all categories of cabling systems. Regular training and product updates means staff are able to advise customers on the latest tools and offer the most cost effective solution to customer’s requirements. Blue Helix offers a dedicated test and measurement sales person for direct consultation and site visits. On site demonstrations and product familiarisation sessions are also available. For further information visit: www.bluehelix.co.uk AFL is supplementing its technologically advanced Fujikura fusion splicer product line with the Fujikura 62S, an active core alignment splicer featuring exceptional splice loss performance and minimised splice time. With a conventional ﬂip-open wind protector and non-motorised tube heater, the complexity of the splicer is reduced without compromising total cycle time. Additionally, the number of steps to process splices is minimised with the auto-start feature for both the splicing and tube heating process. The Fujikura 62S ensures a high level of productivity with the 23 second shrink time using standard splice sleeves. By incorporating ruggedised features, a mirrorless optical system and impact resistant monitor, durability is enhanced. The transit case doubles as a built-in or mobile workstation and makes splicing easier. Additional features of the Fujikura 62S include a 5,000 splice electrode life; Li-ion battery with 200 splices/shrinks per charge; 5mm cleave length for splice-on connectors or small package needs; sheath clamp or ﬁbre holder operation; and Internet software upgrades. For further information visit: www.AFLglobal.com Signal minded Anritsu Corporation has extended its signal analyser MS2840A product line by adding three new frequency models (3.6GHz, 6GHz, and 26.5GHz) to its current 44.5GHz model supporting excellent narrowband measurement performance in a middle range signal analyser/spectrum analyser platform. With a dedicated low phase noise option, the 3.6GHz and 6GHz models have close-in SSB phase noise performance as well as new option functions like the built-in signal generator offered by the previous MS2830A series. Many existing signal analysers/spectrum analysers on the market have the wideband performance required to support increasing common LTE and WLAN measurements, but lack the narrowband measurement performance required for developing and manufacturing oscillators for various wireless applications. To meet the increasing demand for a low cost platform with better performance than other high end models, Anritsu has pushed development of new functions for its middle range Signal Analyser MS2840A, emphasising narrowband measurement performance by targeting more frequency options, an order-of-magnitude better SSB phase noise performance, built-in signal generator, etc., supporting a versatile measurement platform. This SSB phase noise performance upgrade has sufﬁcient margin for evaluating spurious and phase noise of oscillators in wired and wireless equipment, which could only be evaluated previously using large and expensive dedicated phase noise measuring instruments and spectrum analysers. Additionally, installing options such as the signal generator enables easy all-in-one MS2840A wireless TRx evaluations. For fur

Network Communications News (NCN) July 2016 | Page 30