Show Highlights

NXTcomm, McCormick Place, Chicago, IL, June 18–21, 2007, www.nxtcommshow.com.

Several test-equipment manufacturers were on hand at the inaugural NXTcomm show (formerly GlobalComm, formerly SuperComm). Agilent Technologies introduced the N5575A/N5576A enhancement to its N2X multiservice test platform. The new option emulates transmission control protocol (TCP) in hardware, which increases the speed at which it can generate and analyze TCP traffic. The N2X, which consists of a chassis and line cards, implements its TCP protocol stack using FPGA rather than software and can test protocol layers 2 through 7. Agilent also introduced the N4192A network tester for testing networks at layers 4 through 7. The tester supports more than 21 protocols including IPv6. It generates and analyzes voice, video, and data traffic and also simulates network attacks.

Polatis introduced its wavelength selective switch (WSS), an ultra low-loss switching technology for DWDM networks. The WSS can attenuate or block any wavelength, and it can pass or drop any wavelength with 3 dB of optical insertion loss. You can configure the WSS for 1x9, 1x4, and 1x20 fiber drops. Ixia added Provider Backbone Bridging and Provider Backbone Transport support to its IxNetwork test software, which runs on the company’s Aptixia network testers. Release 5.30 also adds Ethernet operations and maintenance (OAM) and configuration fault management (CFM), which comply with IEEE 802.1a/g.

JDSU demonstrated the 2.5/2.7G jitter/wander module for its T-Berd/MTS-8000 mainframe. This module performs jitter measurements in the field on SONET/SDH networks. The company also announced ADSL2+, VDSL, and IPTV enhancements to its HST-3000 handheld DSL tester.

Pixelmetrix exhibited an enhanced version of the DVStation-IP video-monitoring system. DVStation-IP³ can monitor and evaluate video quality in cable, satellite, and terrestrial video streams. Tektronix announced the Unified Assurance for Converged Networks (UACN), which provides service-level diagnostics on all user sessions across multiple access and core networks. The UACN currently focuses on voice service-level monitoring and diagnostics.

Spirent Communications demonstrated its Spirent TestCenter 2.0 for testing voice, data, and video networks. The system consists of a chassis with network-interface cards that generate and analyze traffic access networks, core networks, switches, routers, and DSLAMs at protocol layers 2 through 7. TestCenter 2.0’s software includes a tool that lets you set up tests with a GUI and convert them to Tcl scripts. TestCenter 2.0 also includes prewritten test scripts for protocols such as Ethernet, Internet Protocol (IP), and Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS). The company also announced a 10GBase-T interface for TestCenter, making the tester compliant with IEEE 802.3a/n.

Sensors Expo, June 8–11, 2007, Rosemont, IL, www.sensorsexpo.com.

Sypris Test & Measurement highlighted its 4100 Series Hall-effect gauss/tesla meters. Endevco touted its Model 87 low-noise compact seismic accelerometer. PCB Piezotronics highlighted pressure and strain sensors, a calibration system, a shaker kit, and a torque transducer.

Microchip Technology announced the 40-MIPS dsPIC33FJ12GP family of digital signal controllers for smart-sensor applications. Analog Devices extended its iSensor intelligent sensor product family with a motion sensor that allows industrial designers to equip their products with full-range, multi-axis inertial sensing.

Bennington Microtechnology Center representatives announced MEMS-related alliances with Metrikos and Apogee Technology. And Kistler highlighted its PiezoSmart automatic sensor identification scheme, based on the IEEE 1451.4 (TEDS) standard.