TLF3000 RF PHY tester is a wideband, ultra-high dynamic range 2.4 GHz software-defined receiver, signal analyzer and signal generator. It captures and analyses the entire 2402-2480 MHz band simultaneously, providing RF PHY testing, signal generation, signal analysis in one powerful package.
The TLF3000 hardware supports a number of different licensing options covering a number of 2.4GHz RF technologies, and two modes of functionality for Developer and Production line test environments.
A significant challenge for wireless product manufacturers has traditionally been the daunting range of test equipment and test set-up required for thorough testing of the RF interface. Often, issues are not found until products are submitted for testing at a qualification test house. With one portable package, the TLF3000 negates the need for multiple pieces of RF test equipment, and simplifies the test set-up for executing the test cases from the Bluetooth SIG RF PHY specification. TLF3000 combines a scripted PHY tester, packetized signal generation, in-band and out-of-band interferers, and a signal analyzer all combined into one box.
Developer Configuration
The Bluetooth LE developer license provides the user with a highly portable and flexible test platform, specifically designed for use in a development lab environment.
The PHY test mode provides access to test scripts to execute all* of the PHY test cases specified in Bluetooth LE RF Test Specification without the need for additional test equipment. The test scripts are set to the requirements of the specification by default for pre-compliance testing. Individual test case parameters can be altered to test above and beyond the specification.
*Separate license is required for the AoA/AoD test scripts to execute test cases added in TCRL 2019-2.
Signal generator mode provides all the signals (packetized LE signals, in-band and out-of-band interferers) required to effectively test receiver performance. Signals as weak as -120dBm can be generated for testing Coded PHYs for long range and support for AoA/AoD signal generation.
Signal analyzer mode performs transmitter tests on conducted or off-air signals without knowledge of the payload format or hopping sequence and test coverage includes AoA/AoD supplemental data.
Advertise/Scan Mode generates advertising or scan request packets to provoke activity from DUTs that do not easy access to DTM.
The TLF3000 has been honed for speed possessing unique parallel architecture to maximize throughput. The ability to perform in-band emission tests over the entire 2.4GHz ISM band in just a few milliseconds is particularly impressive.
Production Configuration
The Bluetooth LE Production configuration provides a limited GUI allowing the user to preselect relevant test cases which, when saved as a script, can then be run remotely in a production line test environment. The TLF3000 has a native language to control test case functionality and an API that can be driven via Python or C/C++ scripts.
Production license is specifically designed for use in the Production line environment and is not suitable for hands-on lab use. Signal Generator and Signal Analyzer functionality is not accessible via GUI with the Production license.
For Bluetooth LE, there are addition licenses available to support testing of multiple (2, 4, 8, 16, or 32) DUTs simultaneously.