Azimuth Systems Launches New Field-To-Lab Solution With The ACE MX MIMO Channel Emulator
New Solution Enables Advanced R&D Testing and Operator System Optimization by Playback of Field-Collected Data Through the ACE MX Wireless Channel Emulator
Acton, MA--(Marketwire) - Azimuth Systems Inc., a leading provider of wireless channel emulators and broadband wireless test equipment, today announced a significant new Field-to-Lab (FTL) solution that allows dynamically changing RF conditions collected by drive test tools to be replayed in the laboratory through the company's ACE™ MX Universal MIMO channel emulator. Laboratory playback of real-world field data offers R&D teams the ability to test the robustness of products against actual channel conditions recorded in the field, enhancing their ability to deliver high quality products that will operate as expected. Operators can also utilize the Field-to-Lab solution to test devices prior to deployment as well as to troubleshoot, improve and optimize system performance.
"The timing of Azimuth's new Field-to-Lab solution is opportune as the wireless industry works to introduce next-generation LTE and WiMAX products and solutions, which will utilize MIMO technology to enhance system performance and achieve the high data rates expected," said Olga Yashkova, research analyst with Frost & Sullivan's Test & Measurement practice. "MIMO product performance will vary substantially depending on the RF environment and the use of field-based measurements with Field-to-Lab capabilities as provided by Azimuth and the ACE MX wireless channel emulator will offer a solid foundation for improving product quality."
The new Field-to-Lab solution has been designed to bridge the gap between laboratory test and field-measured test results. Current laboratory product testing is typically performed using industry-approved and standardized channel models. Statistical representations of channel conditions are very useful in representing generalized RF environments needed for testing and certification, but they do not capture the unique and specific conditions experienced by a device as it moves through RF conditions in an actual wireless network. With the new Field-to-Lab solution for the ACE MX wireless channel emulator, R&D engineers can augment current test conditions -- testing products not only using industry standard models, but with real-world conditions from actual field data collected from locations of interest.
"The Field-to-Lab solution expands the scope of lab testing through the addition of real-world field conditions to channel modeling, offering another unique testing capability for the ACE MX wireless channel emulator," said George Reed, vice president of marketing and product management at Azimuth Systems. "By utilizing measurements of field data and playing them back through the ACE MX wireless channel emulator, R&D engineers and operators can truly test device performance against the dynamics of the field before ever deploying products in these environments. This capability will be particularly important as new LTE and WIMAX MIMO-based products are delivered to the market and it will deliver measureable product quality improvements and time to market reduction."
A purpose-built, enhanced testing solution, the ACE MX wireless channel emulator is architected to meet the demanding needs of Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MIMO) and orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM)-based systems. Featuring rich channel modeling and emulation capabilities, the ACE MX wireless channel emulator enables equipment manufacturers and service providers to reliably and accurately characterize the operation and performance of MIMO- and OFDM-based systems under a multitude of RF conditions.
The Field-to-Lab solution has already been successfully deployed by a major smartphone vendor. Azimuth Systems will be showcasing the Field-to-Lab solution and the company's complete line of wireless channel emulator solutions at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, February 15-18. Contact Graham Celine (below) to arrange a meeting or for further information.
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About Azimuth Systems
Azimuth Systems is a leading provider of wireless channel emulators and wireless broadband test equipment for Wi-Fi, WiMAX, LTE and 2G/3G cellular technologies. Azimuth's products are used by the world's foremost wireless semiconductor designers, infrastructure and mobile equipment vendors, and service providers to improve wireless product quality and speed time-to-market. Azimuth's wireless channel emulation and test products and solutions enable research, development, quality assurance and systems engineers to test the performance, conformance, certification and interoperability of broadband wireless devices and networks while greatly reducing the cost and time of manual testing.
The company is based near Boston, Massachusetts and may be contacted at +1 (978) 263-6610 or at www.azimuthsystems.com. Follow Azimuth Systems on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/azimuthsystems.
Azimuth® is a registered trademark of Azimuth Systems and ACE™ is a trademark of Azimuth Systems.
SOURCE: Azimuth Systems