Physical Layer Tester (PLT-M)

Physical Layer Tester (PLT-M)

Square Peg Communications Inc.’s fourth-generation Physical Layer Tester (PLT-M) is a generic PC based test tool which supports the testing and type approval of mobile terminals and base stations for various satellite or wireless communications networks. The PLT-M is based on Square Peg’s Multi-Channel Platform (MCP) Channel Unit, a software-defined radio providing baseband-to-RF functionality.

 

The generic PLT-M hardware platform runs software specific to the equipment type under test. The following applications are currently available or in development:

Product

Inmarsat Standards

BGAN Physical Layer Tester (BPLT)

BGAN, FleetBroadband, SwiftBroadband, SB-SAT

IsatData Pro Physical Layer Tester (DMCP)

IsatData Pro

Aeronautical Ground Data Unit (GMCP)

Classic Aero

Source

Internal / External

Physical and Environmental

Form factor 

19” / 2.5U rack mount (optional 0.5U filler plate available)

Size (with bumpers)

L 51 cm x W 51.75 cm x H 12.07 cm L 20 in x W 20.38 in x H 4.75 in

Weight (with internal high power attenuator)

 

7 kg (15 lb)

Power connector

IEC 320 male

Voltage

 

100-240 VAC, 50/60 Hz

Current (typical, with four 600 MHz DSPs)

1.5 A rms at 115 VAC

Operating temperature

10°C to 35°C

Operating humidity

20% to 75% relative humidity, noncondensing

Regulatory

FCC, CE and RoHS compliant, Safety: EN61010-1, Emissions & immunity: EN61326-1 Class A

RF

Connector

Combined RF: N female Rx In / Tx Out: SMA female

Impedance

50 ohms nominal

Receive frequency

1626.5 to 1675.0 MHz

Receive frequency step size

1 Hz

Receive level (Rx In)

-35 to +16 dBm per channel +16 dBm max total

Receive level (Combined RF)

-34 to +17 dBm per channel +17 dBm max total

Receive level (Combined RF, with optional high power attenuator)

-4 to +43 dBm per channel +43 dBm max total

Receive level measurement resolution

0.01 dB

Receive level measurement accuracy

±1.0 dB

Receiver spurious signals

≤-55 dBc

Receiver phase noise density

@ 10 Hz:     ≤-55 dBc/Hz @ 100 Hz:   ≤-75 dBc/Hz @ 1 kHz:     ≤-85 dBc/Hz @ 10 kHz:   ≤-90 dBc/Hz @ 100 kHz: ≤-100 dBc/Hz

Receiver 3rd order intermodulation

≤-55 dBc (two carriers at 3 dB below maximum, receive path attenuation adjusted optimally)

Receiver I/Q amplitude and phase  imbalance

Negligible

Transmit frequency

1518.0 to 1559.0 MHz

Transmit frequency step size

1 Hz

Transmit level (Tx Out)

-90 to -25 dBm per carrier

Transmit level (Combined RF)

-91 to -26 dBm per carrier

Transmit level (Combined RF, with optional high-power attenuator)

-121 to -56 dBm per carrier

Transmit level resolution

0.01 db

Transmit level accuracy

± 1.0 dB

Transmit phase noise density

@ 10 Hz:     ≤-50 dBc/Hz @ 100 Hz:   ≤-70 dBc/Hz @ 1 kHz:     ≤-87 dBc/Hz @ 10 kHz:   ≤-90 dBc/Hz @ 100 kHz: ≤-100 dBc/Hz

Transmit spurious

< -55 dBc or -90 dBm

Transmit 3rd order intermodulation

≤-55 dBc with two carriers at 3 dB below maximum

Transmit frequency accuracy

± 1 x 10-7

Transmit I/Q amplitude and phase imbalance

Negligible

Reference

Source

Internal / External

Connector

BNC female

Impedance

50 ohms

Frequency

10 MHz

Level

0 dBm ± 2 dB

Frequency error

≤10-7 (with yearly calibration)

Baseband Interfaces

Sync

TTL, configurable as input or output Input impedance: ≥ 1000 ohms Load impedance: ≥ 1000 ohms

Ethernet

2 x 10/100/1000 Base T

Serial

1 x RS-232, 1 x RS-232/422/485

USB

4 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.0

Video VGA, DVI
Audio Standard PC audio

Processing

Host

Core i7

DSPs

4 to 8 TigerSHARC, 500/600 MHz

FPGA

Virtex-5, Kintex-7

 

The PTL-M implements the communication channels at L-band. Up to four transmit and four receive channels are supported. It communicates with an optional Protocol Tester or network emulator as well as external test equipment and the unit under test over a LAN or serial connection. The PLT-M includes a high stability 10 MHz frequency reference and provides a local or remote Windows-based Operator Interface.

Square Peg Communications Inc.
4017 Carling Avenue, Suite 200 
Ottawa, ON, Canada K2K 2A3
Tel + 1 613 271 0044
Fax+ 1 613 271 3007
Linkedin
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