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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

WiMAX is still a ways off from being available to the masses (except in India and Pakistan, that is), but if you're really jazzed on the technology and are willing to go on a world-wide quest to track down some coverage, Berkely Varitonics Systems has just the product for you. The design and consulting firm has created a portable hand-held WiMAX receiver and analyzer called the YellowFin WiMAX Analyzer that allows the user to locate coverage (complete with an internal GPS), check RSSI measurements, see Carrier to Interference Plus Noise Ratios (CINR), and more as it sweeps the 2.0 - 5.9 GHz spectrums - all with accuracy to within +1.5dB. The Samsung Q1 tablet UMPC interface along with the YellowFin Data Logger software offers a data collecting capability that will log and analyze all the network data received by the device. Here's a sampling of some of the features and specifications:

FEATURES:
•WiMAX Packet Analysis
•WiMAX Spectrum Analysis
•RF Direction Finding (using optional antenna)
•RF Interference Detection
•Peak Search / Hold with up to 4 Peak Hold waveform traces
•User Selectable Power Triggers
•Waveform Snapshots of any screen

SPECIFICATIONS:
DEMODULATOR SPECIFICATIONS:
Bands Supported
2.3 - 3.8 GHz
RF Sensitivity (Wide Band)
-20 to -90 dBm
ID Cell & Segment
RSSI (Channel)
-20 to -80 dBm
Correlated Multipath Measurements
0 to -10 dBm
CINR
0 to +20 dBm
SPECTRUM ANALYZER SPECIFICATIONS:
Bands Supported
2.0 - 5.9 GHz
Average Noise Floor (no input)
< -100 dBm (reference level -70 dBm, resolution bandwidth=50 kHz)
Dynamic Range
> 40 dB
Level Accuracy
+ 1.5 dB (25º C)
Max Input (safe)
+ 0 dB
Max Input (no saturation)
-20 dB
Reference Level
-20 to -70 dBm (10 dB steps)
Display (iPAQ)
see Samsung Q1 specifications
Operating System
Windows® Tablet XP
TRIGGERING:
User Control Auto or Manual
Packet/Interefrence Trigger Trigger analyzer when input power meets or exceeds threshold (20 MHz span)
Trigger Threshold User settable in dBm
Trigger Delay User settable in mS
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Internal GPS Receiver 12-channel GPS receiver
Input Connector SMA Female 50 ohm
Power Li-PO, AC, DC
Runtime Internal Battery > 3 hours
Recharge Time <>
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS:
Weight 5 lbs.
Dimensions 1.5" H x 7.5" W x 5" L (water resistant, high-impact ABS plastic case)

The YellowFin is intended for engineers, so they can get a full picture of the wireless scope in any area and aid in installation and research, but I'm sure there will be a smattering of curious consumers and businesses interested in how WiMAX is developing. With any luck, we'll be seeing some data collected in this manner sometime soon!

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