February 7, 2008

Audit: 39% of mobile calls don't meet minimum voice-quality standard
To reach that conclusion, Ditech Networks analyzed information obtained from more than 630 million live mobile calls in 16 different networks across 12 countries using its EXi technology. Read More

Handling quality
Austriamicrosystems, a provider of mixed-signal ICs for power-management, sensor, and mobile-entertainment applications, employs innovative test and test-handling techniques to ensure the quality of the devices that it sells into communications, industrial, medical, and automotive markets. Read More

DFT, ATE drive yield improvement
As advances in IC technology have resulted in geometry and process variations, manufacturers have encountered a drop in both initial and mature yield and an increase in yield ramp-up time. Read More

Accelerate and simplify serial data testing
Serial data streams continue to increase in speed while error specifications tighten, which makes testing for jitter tolerance and bit-error rate (BER) ever more important. Several engineers have tackled the problem in different ways. Read More

Vote for the Test Product of the Year: one week left
Winners of the 2008 Best in Test Awards include a WiMAX tester, a digital multimeter, an area-scan camera, an IPTV probe, an SOC test cell, and boundary-scan software.

Read about all 12 winners, and then cast your vote for the Test Product of the Year.
Voting deadline is February 15. Read More

Spectrum analyzers process "images"
Tektronix has added its DPX waveform image processor to the midrange line of RSA3000B real-time spectrum analyzers, making it possible for you to view the time-varying characteristics of RF signals. Read More

WaveViewer software gets faster
SynaptiCAD has released a new version of its free WaveViewer waveform-viewing tool. The new version can now read both analog and digital data captured by Agilent mixed-signal oscilloscopes. It also provides support for importing FPGA timing-parameter data from Aletra and Xilinx tools. Read More

Oscilloscope Challenge: active vs. passive probes
Our February challenge question is now online:

Which statement about active and passive probes is most accurate?
Prize: TomTom ONE navigation system
Contest sponsor: Yokogawa

Take the Oscilloscope Challenge

February issue now online
Articles in T&MW's February issue look at the market for MEMS test equipment, explore how PC buses change faster than buses used for test instruments, and describe a flexible data-acquisition system that flight-test engineers use to evaluate design changes. Plus, the issue also includes the Machine-Vision & Inspection Test Report.
Read it today.

Industry calendar of events
Upcoming events include OFC/NFOEC (February), Measurement Science Conference (March), and APEX (April). For more information about these and other test-related events, visit our online calendar.