Agilent Technologies Advances Digital Transmission Testing With Complete BERT Solutions; Introduces Most Intuitive 3.6Gb/s BERT and Fastest Parallel BERT.

Business Editors/High-tech Writers

Optical Fiber Conference 2000 - Booth No. 1513

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 28, 2000

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A) today announced two high-speed bit error ratio testers (BERTs) for characterizing, verifying, and testing optoelectronic and high-speed digital components, multiplexer and demultiplexer integrated circuits (ICs).

The Agilent 86130A BitAlyzer -- a general-purpose serial 3.6Gb/s BERT, and the 81250 ParBERT -- a modular, parallel 2.6Gb/s BERT -- have been optimized to simplify a wide range of R&D and manufacturing test applications. They can perform multiplexer and demultiplexer testing for telecommunications and system area network (SAN) ICs, multiple transmitter and receiver testing in manufacturing, forward error correction (FEC) device testing, and compliance testing of optical components. Both products will be shown at the Optical Fiber Conference 2000 in Baltimore at booth No. 1513, from March 6 to 10.

"The communications market is experiencing explosive growth, and in helping manufacturers keep pace, we are aggressively responding by providing more robust digital and optical test tools which are easier to use," said Tom White, senior vice president and general manager of Agilent's Communications Solutions Group.

Telecom Multiplexer and Demultiplexer Test

Agilent offers mux/demux test solutions for devices up to OC-768 (STM-256). Engineers can test 40-gigabit devices back to back, in parallel using the 81250 ParBERT modular parallel BERT and a golden device. The 81250 ParBERT provides up to 64 parallel stimulus and 64 error-detection channels at speeds up to 2.66Gb/s.

Designers can test up to OC-48 (STM-16) without a golden device using the 81250 ParBERT. To test OC-192 (STM-64) devices without a golden device, the 81250 ParBERT can be combined with the Agilent 71612B 12Gb/s error performance analyzer. The 81250 ParBERT provides thorough testing of devices, including measurements such as setup and hold times, propagation delay or BER versus temperature.

Manufacturing Test of Multiple Transmitters and Receivers

For manufacturing test engineers responsible for testing multiple transmitters and receivers, reducing the cost-per-test is critical. The Agilent 81250 ParBERT and SpectralBER help reduce the cost-per-test by providing scalable VXI platforms that let designers customize the number of channels needed.

FEC Design Test

Verification of FEC devices and circuits is critical in submarine and terrestrial networks. The 86130A BitAlyzer allows users to simulate and analyze error correction coding schemes helping users to experiment with different interleave depths. The 81250 ParBERT allows parallel-to-parallel testing with memory-based data. This means that engineers can characterize and verify components in less time than previously possible.

Compliance Test of Optical Components

Design engineers need to verify optical and high-speed digital component performance quickly. The 86130A helps novice users set up the instrument faster, take accurate measurements and view them in more revealing ways. For OC-192 (STM-64) testing, the Agilent 71612B operates up to 12Gb/s.

Characterization of SAN ICs

For designers who need to test SAN-related multiplexers or demultiplexers, including Gigabit Ethernet, flat panel display link, Fibre Channel, and Infiniband, the combination of the 81250 ParBERT, 86130A BitAlyzer and the 86100A Infiniium DCA helps solve physical high-speed design problems.

The 81250 ParBERT provides chip control signals, divided or multiplied clock signals, 1Mb/s to 2.6Gb/s operation with proprietary formats, as well as low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) load generation or analysis.

Using the easy-to-set-up 86130A with the 86100A users can measure impedance discontinuities and crosstalk to ensure signal integrity and can check compliance with international standards using eye diagram masks.

More information about Agilent's BERTs can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com/find/BERT.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Agilent 81250 ParBERT is available now starting at $70,000. The Agilent 86130A BitAlyzer will be available in April, starting at $110,000.

       The following previously announced products are also available:

     Agilent 71612B 12 Gb/s error performance analyzer, starting at
     $427,000

     Agilent SpectralBER, starting at 64,044

     Agilent 86100A Infiniium DCA, starting at 16,500

About Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: A) is a diversified technology company, resulting from Hewlett-Packard Company's plan to strategically realign itself into two fully independent companies. With 42,000 employees serving customers in more than 120 countries, Agilent Technologies is a global leader in designing and manufacturing test, measurement and monitoring instruments, systems and solutions, and semiconductor and optical components. The company serves markets that include communications, electronics, life sciences and healthcare. The businesses comprising Agilent, a subsidiary of HP, had net revenues of more than $8.3 billion in fiscal year 1999.

Information about Agilent Technologies can be found on the Web at www.agilent.com.

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