A BER communications line quality tester for your Windows PC with a PCIe slot

Key Features

• BER testing of 1 or 2 lines from your PC using a dual port low profile PCIe adapter
• Tests lines using a set of BERT (Bit Error Rate Test) ITU recommended test patterns
• Supports tests using NRZ, FM0, FM1, Manchester Encoding & Conditioned Di-phase line signalling
• APIs from LabVIEW and Windows for test management
• Operates in loopback or point-to-point modes including interoperation with other BER Testers
• Connects to RS232, V.35, RS530, RS422, X.21, RS485 and RS449 network interfaces
• Line speeds from 100 baud to over 10 Mbits/s
• User controlled error injection facility

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Overview

The FarSync BERT provides a comprehensive, simple to use, all in one, line testing utility for testing synchronous lines from your PC. There are no extra expensive modules to buy to test different line types. All the popular standard BERT test patterns can be selected; the test period can be controlled; real time error counters and full line test statistics are provided as well as support for user controlled error injection.

Lines with network interfaces RS232 (V.24), V.35, RS530 (EIA530), RS422, X.21 (V.11), RS449 and RS485 (4 wire) can be tested with line speeds ranging from 100 baud to over 10 Mbits/s.

The FarSync T2Ee adapter is fitted in one your PC’s PCIe slots; select one of the cables provided to connect to the line to be tested; the BERT application can then be started and the line quality results are displayed in real time.

There is API access for LabVIEW or Windows applications, this allows programmatic control of when tests are run, the tests to be run, and the results obtained.

Video – operation, installation, features

Download this video on using the FarSync BERT Tester (MP4, 8.6MB)

 

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Test Modes

• The FarSync BERT Tester can act as either the physical DTE or DCE
• The tests can be run in loopback or point-to-point modes including interoperation with other BER Testers
• Line tests can be invoked manually via the GUI, via batch command files or via the API
  

User Interface

The FarSync BER Tester has a full graphical user interface (screen shot at the top of the page) that enables the user to select and configure the test to be run. The final test results are displayed via the user interface. The status of each test is reported in real-time via the GUI whilst each test is being run. A drop down window provides additional detailed test results.

Supported Network Interfaces

The FarSync BERT Tester products is supplied with the following cables, these are the most common network connector types used on synchronous lines.

• RS232 (V.24) DTE – using cable FCR2
• RS530 (RS422) DTE – using cable FCR2
• V.35 DTE – use cable FCR2 plus 2 TCV1
• X.21 (V.11) DTE – using cable FCR2 plus 2 TCX1
• RS485 (4 wire) – using cable FCR2
• RS499 (V.36) DTE – using cable FCR2 plus 2 TC449

Additional cables supporting the following other interfaces may be purchased separately if required.

• X.21 (V.11) DCE – using cable Null-MX
• RS232 (V.24) DCE – using cable Null-MR4
• RS530 (RS422) DCE – using cable Null-MR4

See the Order Information section at the bottom of the page.

Supported Line Data Encoding and Speeds

Line speeds from 100 baud to over 10 Mbits/s are supported in all the encoding methods supported by the product.

• NRZ
• NRZI
• FM0
• FM1
• Manchester Encoding
• Conditioned Di-phase

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Test Patterns

A wide variety of pseudo random and fixed test patterns may be configured on the FarSync BERT used to test the line. ITU compliant test pattern recommendations are supported, these are compatible with other industry standard BER Testers.

Synchronous Lines

The following pseudo random patterns are ITU-T compliant, they are used to test synchronous lines:

• 63: 2⁶−1 – including a max of 5 sequential zeros and 6 sequential ones
• 511: 2⁹−1 – including a max of 8 sequential zeros and 9 sequential ones
• 2047: 2¹¹−1 – including a max of 10 sequential zeros and 11 sequential ones
• 2¹⁵−1 – including a max of 14 sequential zeros and 15 sequential ones
• 2²⁰−1 – including a max of 19 sequential zeros and 20 sequential ones
• 2²³−1 – including a max of 22 sequential zeros and 23 sequential ones
• QRSS: 2²⁰−1 – modified to transmit a maximum of 14 consecutive zeros

The following fixed patterns can be used to test synchronous lines:

• 1:7 (1/8, 1-in-8) – 1 mark followed by 7 spaces
• 1/16 (1:15, 1-in-16) – 1 mark followed by 15 spaces
• 2/8 (2:6, 2-in-8) – 2 marks in 8 bits (0100 0010…)
• 3/24, 3-in-24 – 3 marks in 24 bits (0010 0010 0010 0000 0000 0000…)
• MK – all 1s
• SP – all 0s
• 1:1 – alternating 1s and 0s
• FOX (see ITU recommendation R.52 for definition)

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Line Error Reporting

The line test results displays industry-standard count values (e.g. ITU-T G.821) which help indicate the quality of the line under test. The result table shows error rates, expressed as a percentage or in scientific / engineering format.

• Bits – number of bits received
• Blocks – number of blocks received
• Block Errors – number of blocks received with errors
• Framing Errors – number of incorrectly framed asynchronous characters received
• Parity Errors – number of asynchronous characters received with incorrect parity
• Errored Secs (ES) / Unavailable Secs (US) – number of secs during which one or more errors has been detected
• Severely Errored Secs (SES) – number of secs during which > 30% of blocks are in error or for which the bit error density is >10^-2
• Available Secs (AS) / Error Free Secs (EFS) – number of secs during which no errors have been detected
• Loss of Sync (LOS) – number of times synchronisation has been lost

 

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LabVIEW API

The LabVIEW API allows the BERT functions to be invoked, and results to be read, by LabVIEW programs (VIs). A sample VI program is provided to illustrate the use of the API. All the features available from the GUI are supported by the LabVIEW API.

LabVIEW version 2010-2012 are supported.

Windows API

The BERT’s COM API allows its functions to be invoked, and results supplied back, programmatically from Windows applications. All the features available from the GUI are supported by the COM API.

The FarSync BERT can also be used in command line/script mode with the configuration being specified by command line parameters – the results are written to a log file.

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Other Features

• Single or multiple bit errors can be injected at the user’s request.
• Line data can be inverted to support lines where the balanced pair data lines may have been swapped over or the data supplied has been inverted.
• Inverted receive data can be automatically detected and converted as required.
• Using the supplied loopback connector, the FarSync BERT Tester may be self tested prior to use.
• Audible Alerts on errors and loss of sync.
• Line clock speed estimator.

 

Order Information
Name	Description	Product Code
FarSync BERT Tester – PCIe	BER (Bit Error Rate) line quality tester for testing synchronous lines from a PCIe card, tests X.21, RS232, V.35, RS422, RS485 (4 wire), RS530, RS449 network interfaces, it includes: FarSync T2Ee – dual port low profile PCIe adapter (standard and low profile PCI brackets supplied) BERT Tester – software for Windows 10, 8, 7, and Vista. TEST CABLES INCLUDED    1 FCR2 – dual port RS232, RS530, RS422, RS485 DTE connection (DB25M) cable    2 TCX1 – X.21 connection (DB15M) DTE cable    2 TCV1 – V.35 connection (M34M) DTE cable    2 TC449 – RS449 connection (DB37M) DTE cable    Loopback connector for self test. Note: Requires a PC, not supplied.	FS4205
Additional cables available
Null-MX	X.21 double shielded crossover cable, DB15F connector to DB15F connector, 0.5 metres. Converts DTE presentation to DCE.	FS6090
Null-MR4	Combined RS530 (RS422, EIA530) and RS232 (V.24) double shielded crossover cable, DB25F connector to DB25F connector, 0.5 metres. Converts DTE presentation to DCE	FS6097

16-Nov-2016