The importance of test signal fidelity grows with data rate. As rates exceed 15 Gb/s, characterizing channels and receivers with anything less than instrument-quality equipment is exceedingly difficult.   Waveform inadequacies cause one of two business problems: they either make component flaws seem worse than they really are, and increase costs by forcing unnecessary redesigns, or worse, they conceal flaws and encourage you to ship products with performance deficiencies you’re not aware of until your customers detect them.

Like many test instruments, Bit Error Rate Testers (BERTs) perform several useful diagnostic and compliance tests, but unlike other test instruments, a BERT casts the final judgment of component and system performance: the BER.

Each component of a BERT plays a special role and comes with different features. At 15+ Gb/s data rates, transmitter features like multi-tap pre- and de-emphasis and multi-megabyte pattern memory are not optional. Similarly, error detectors have to synchronize quickly, stay locked even in high error environments, have fine time-delay resolution, and excellent sensitivity.

In this paper we examine the key test signal characteristics and necessary features for quick and efficient development of high quality products for emerging 15+ Gb/s applications

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Broadband, backbone and mobile wireless service providers see the cloud as an opportunity for growth. New applications running in the cloud drive new traffic to their network.  The cloud also offers new revenues from new services that can be marketed to consumers.  The complex relationship between Cloud providers and carriers is rapidly evolving, but one fact is clear: to achieve success in the cloud market, carriers and providers must actively ensure that they offer a high quality of service to cloud consumers.  Whether a cloud carrier, cloud provider or both, this white paper will explain the importance of visibility into the cloud.  It also explains the tools and metrics necessary to provide speedy delivery and high-quality of service and experience demanded in today’s environment.

Testing 100G designs for PHY layer conformance can be challenging. This new application note will prepare you to tackle important IEEE802.3ba – based measurements in your lab.

The demand for increased bandwidth is constant, and to avoid investing huge amounts in new systems, most operators, if not all of them, are looking to re-use their existing fiber infrastructure. This, however, poses a problem because the standard train of “1” and “0”, called on-off keying (OOK), simply can’t be pushed any further on most of the installed bases.

This White Paper is brought to you by Exfo.