FarSync BERT Tester – USB

A Bit Error Rate sync and async communications line quality tester for a Windows Laptop/PC using a USB port. The FarSync BERT provides a comprehensive, simple to use, all in one, line testing utility for testing synchronous lines from your Laptop. There are no extra expensive modules to buy to test different line types.

FarSync BERT USB - BER line tester with shadow

Product Summary

The FarSync BERT provides a comprehensive, simple to use, all in one, line testing utility for testing asynchronous and synchronous lines from your Laptop PC. There are no extra expensive modules to buy to test different line types. All the popular standard BERT test patterns can be selected; customer supplied test patterns can be used; the test period can be controlled; real time error counters and full line test statistics are provided as well as support for user controlled error injection.

Lines with network interfaces RS232 (V.24), V.35, RS530 (EIA530), RS422, X.21 (V.11), RS449 and RS485 (4 wire) can be tested with line speeds ranging up to 2 Mbits/s or to over 16 Mbits/s with the FarSync BERT HS Tester-USB model.

The FarSync BERT adapter which is supplied as part of the FarSync BERT product is simply plugged into any of your Laptop’s USB ports; select one of the cables provided to connect to the line to be tested; the BERT application can then be started and the line quality results are displayed in real time. Multiple FarSync BERT products can be run from a PC enabling simultaneous line testing.

API access for LabVIEW or Windows applications enables the tests to be run, and the results obtained, programmatically.

Line Monitor software, which includes support for use with Wireshark, is also included in the product. Line Monitor cables are ordered separately.


Technical Functionality

Test Patterns

A wide variety of pseudo random and fixed test patterns may be configured on the FarSync BERT used to test the line. ITU compliant test pattern recommendations are supported, these are compatible with other industry standard BER Testers.

Synchronous Lines

The following pseudo random patterns are ITU-T compliant, they are used to test synchronous lines:

  • 63: 26−1 – including a max of 5 sequential zeros and 6 sequential ones
  • 511: 29−1 – including a max of 8 sequential zeros and 9 sequential ones
  • 2047: 211−1 – including a max of 10 sequential zeros and 11 sequential ones
  • 215−1 – including a max of 14 sequential zeros and 15 sequential ones
  • 220−1 – including a max of 19 sequential zeros and 20 sequential ones
  • 223−1 – including a max of 22 sequential zeros and 23 sequential ones
  • QRSS: 220−1 – modified to transmit a maximum of 14 consecutive zeros

The following fixed patterns can be used to test synchronous lines:

  • 1:7 (1/8, 1-in-8) – 1 mark followed by 7 spaces
  • 1/16 (1:15, 1-in-16) – 1 mark followed by 15 spaces
  • 2/8 (2:6, 2-in-8) – 2 marks in 8 bits (0100 0010…)
  • 3/24, 3-in-24 – 3 marks in 24 bits (0010 0010 0010 0000 0000 0000…)
  • MK – all 1s
  • SP – all 0s
  • 1:1 – alternating 1s and 0s
  • FOX (see ITU recommendation R.52 for definition)
FarSync BERT test pattern selector window
FarSync BERT test pattern selector window

Asynchronous Lines

On asynchronous lines 5, 6, 7 and 8 bit operation can be tested. The following patterns are recommended to be used:

  • 63: 26−1
  • 511: 29−1
  • 2047: 211−1
  • FOX

In addition to the standard test patterns the user can supply their own custom test pattern of up to 64Mb, test patterns do not have to be byte aligned.

Test Modes

  • The FarSync BERT Tester can act as either the physical DTE or DCE
  • The tests can be run in loopback or point-to-point modes including interoperation with other suppliers BER Testers
  • Line tests can be invoked manually via the GUI, via batch command files or via the API
  • Tests can be run for a set number of bits or for a defined period of time

Order information

Order Information
NameDescriptionProduct Code
FarSync BERT Tester-USBUSB BERT (Bit Error Rate Test) line quality tester for Synchronous and Asynchronous lines with X.21, RS232, V.35, RS422, RS485 (4 wire), RS530 or RS449 network interfaces. Maximum synchronous test speed 2 MBits/s.
Product Includes:
  • FarSync Flex BERT - USB adapter
  • BERT Tester software for Windows
  • KCR1-V2 - RS232, RS422 and RS530 DTE connection (DB25M) cable
  • UCX1 - X.21 connection DTE (DB15M) cable
  • TEST-T2U - Loopback connector for self test
  • Line Monitor software
  • API documentation

See Notes:
FS4105
FarSync BERT HS Tester-USBHigh Speed USB BERT (Bit Error Rate Test) line quality tester for Synchronous and Asynchronous lines with X.21, RS232, V.35, RS422, RS485 (4 wire), RS530 or RS449 network interfaces. Maximum synchronous test speed 16 MBits/s.
Product Includes:
  • FarSync Flex BERT HS - USB adapter
  • BERT Tester software for Windows
  • KCR1-V2 - RS232, RS422 and RS530 DTE connection (DB25M) cable
  • UCX1 - X.21 connection DTE (DB15M) cable
  • TEST-T2U - Loopback connector for self test
  • Line Monitor software
  • API documentation

See Notes:
FS4106
 Notes:

Requires Laptop or PC, not supplied.

The Line Monitor software requires a special Line Monitor cable to monitor data in both directions, to order the cables see Cable Options.

Connection to a USB 2.0 or USB 3 port is required for BERT operation.

The real-time Wireshark support works with a specific version of Wireshark. However, note that the FarSync Line Monitor application can save its captures to a pcap file; the subsequent reading and display of which is not then tied to a specific version of Wireshark.