Test and Measurement: NetScout launches handheld 802.11ac tester

NetScout Systems launched the next generation of its AirCheck handheld tester for Wi-Fi deployments, now with the ability to support 802.11ac deployments.
The previous AirCheck tester from NetScout’s Fluke Networks brand had some basic 802.11ac testing capabilities, but the new AirCheck G2 tester features an 802.11ac 3×3 radio as well as supporting Ethernet backhaul testing and integration with the company’s Link-Live cloud service for centralized management and reporting of test results. The new 802.11ac tester’s design has also shifted from having multiple buttons to a sleeker look with a large touch screen.

-Anritsu expanded its remote spectrum monitoring capability to OEM hardware implementations. The test company announced this week its MS27100A spectrum monitoring module can be integrated into OEM hardware to detect and locate illegal and unlicensed interference. The module covers 9 KHz to 6 GHz, features remote access and supports the capability for engineers to write their own monitoring programs with SCPI commands.
–Keysight Technologies reported operating results this week, meeting Wall Street guidance with mostly flat revenue results. There was a slight decline of total revenues to $731 million for the quarter. Net income was $88 million, down 8% year-over-year.
“Keysight delivered second quarter results with revenue and earnings at the high-end of our guidance range as we continued to successfully navigate a challenging market environment and execute on our strategy to transform our business. We achieved measurable progress on our key growth initiatives while maintaining our focus on operating discipline,” said Keysight President and CEO Ron Nersesian, in a statement.
Keysight reported”cautious capital spending sentiment” was balanced by its acquisition of Anite and increased “5G” technology related sales; revenues in the Americas and Japan declined, while it saw growth in European and other Asian markets.
–National Instruments launched an early access version for testing the upcoming 802.11ac standard. NI’s WLAN Measurement Suite with support for the IEEE’s Draft 0.1 version of 802.11ax, combined with the company’s vector signal transceiver is said to let engineers measure performance of 802.11ax designs along with other, existing Wi-Fi standards.
“The fast pace of evolving wireless standards demands instrumentation that can evolve at the speed of software,” said Charles Schroeder, VP of RF marketing at NI, in a statement, adding the company’s support of the draft standard “is part of the evolution of a platform that scales with changing connectivity standards.”
–The European Telecommunications Standards Institute said a workshop this week on Europe’s Horizon 2020 initiative sparked new areas for potential standardization activities for 5G, including “fog/edge computing” as an extension of its current work in network function virtualization and mobile edge computing; “cross-domain orchestration for commercial and technical” domains; “x-hauling,” or combining of fronthaul and backhaul in future mobile networks; and “tactile networking offering ultra-low latency, high availability and security.”
–Spirent Communications is part of a multicompany, collaborative workshop on over-the-air testing in Shenzen, China, being held today with participants from U.S.-based wireless trade association CTIA, ETS-Lindgren and others. More information and session materials are available here.
-Also of note this week: Google and Qualcomm are exhibiting a concept car at the Google I/O event. The car includes Qualcomm chips designed to provide built-in Android OS support. Developers and OEMs can purchase access to an automotive development platform for app development and testing for the connected car.