Option automates BroadR-Reach PHY compliance testing

17th October 2013

Tektronix

Mick Elliott

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Datasheet

The Option BRR for Tektronix oscilloscopes automates the full range of tests required for BroadR-Reach compliance testing and, says the company can save users up to 90 per cent on testing time compared to manual testing. Backed by the OPEN Alliance (One-Pair Ether-Net) Special Interest Group (SIG), BroadR-Reach Ethernet technology enables 100Mbps connections over unshielded single twisted pair cable.

t is expected to gain widespread adoption within the automotive industry over the next few years, helping to improve in-vehicle safety, comfort and infotainment, while significantly reducing network complexity and cabling costs. As this market expands, automated compliance testing will be critical to ensuring that BroadR-Reach compatible products interoperate and deliver expected performance.

To help engineers test BroadR-Reach products quickly and efficiently, Option BRR allows the use of a single Tektronix oscilloscope for the full range of tests required by the specification including power spectral density (PSD) and return loss measurements. Until now, engineers have been required to use a spectrum analyser and a network analyser respectively for these tests. Tektronix has filed unique IP for performing these tests with an oscilloscope. This “one-box” solution simplifies setup complexity and reduces equipment expense.

The Option BRR solution recommends a test fixture that provides a mechanism to add a “disturbing” signal which is needed to perform the distortion measurement, one of the most important measurements recommended by the specification. Competitive offerings do not currently offer disturber support.