One of the changes that modern digital communication systems have brought to radio engineering is the need for end-to-end performance measurements. The measure of that performance is usually the bit error rate (BER), which quantifies the reliability of the entire radio system from "bits in" to "bits out", including the electronics, antennas and signal path in between. In order to ensure that the bit error rate can be measured easily and quickly, you need a bit error rate tester. A bit error rate tester (BERT), also known as a bit error ratio tester or a bit error rate test solution (BERTs) is an electronic test equipment used to test the quality of signal transmission of single components or complete systems.

As illustrated below, a bit error rate tester consists of five main components:

• Pattern generator, which transmits a defined test pattern to the DUT or test system
• Error detector connected to the DUT or test system, to count the errors generated by the DUT or test system
• Clock signal generator to synchronize the pattern generator and the error detector
• Digital communication analyser is optional to display the transmitted or received signal
• Electrical-optical converter and optical-electrical converter for testing optical communication signals

An error is logged each time the received bit does not correspond to the known transmitted bit. The bit error rate tester can be defined using several test patterns, such as Quasi-random signal source, Digital data service, and so on. Quasi-random signal source (QRSS) is a pseudo-random sequence built on a 20-bit shift register that repeats every 1,045,575 bits. Digital data service (DDS) patterns are intended for testing DDS circuits with data services of 64 kbps or less. Other frequently used test patterns include all zeroes, all ones, or a sequence of 63, 511, or 2047 bits. One-in-eight (1-in-8) is an 8-bit pattern that contains a single one. 3-in-24 is a 24-bit pattern that contains three ones.

Bit error rate tester is a perfect tool for testing the quality of signal transmission of single components or complete systems. Take YGBERT 2M PCM bit error rate tester for example, YGBERT 2M PCM bit error rate tester is a pocket-sized and hand-held instrument. It'slight-weighted, fully function and among the best ones in the world. It can be used in inspection systems and supervision of digital micro-wave systems. It'sespecially useful in the installation, field operation and maintenance of digital transmission systems. With its functions of Testing and taking performance analysis on the Bit error rate and on-line code error of Single Group Digital communication system and Digital communication and the development, manufacture, construction and maintenance of the equipment, it can test bit error rate quickly and accurately.

Except for YGBERT 2M PCM, there are many other types of test equipments and tools for the communications applications, such as RJ45 tester, underground wire tracer, telephone line tester and visual fault locator, etc.

Article Source: Bit Error Rate Tester Solution