TM500 Network Tester

A NITRO Wireless Product

Accelerate 5G base station deployment with the TM500 Network Tester, the global standard for RF network testing, trusted by base station manufacturers worldwide
Image

The TM500 Family supports early functional, system integration, capacity, performance, and regression testing for 4G and 5G base stations.

  • 5G Testing: Supports comprehensive 4G and 5G, network testing.
  • Use Cases: Open RAN, NTN, MU-MIMO, eMBB, URLLC, Private 5G, Security, Massive IoT, MilComm
  • Device Emulation: Simulates thousands of mobile devices
  • Versatile Solutions: Available in entry-level and advanced models, and Test as a Service to suit all needs across for customers ranging from chipset manufacturers, NEMs (Network Equipment Manufacturers), System Integrators to Service Providers.
  • Advanced Features and Capabilities: 10 CC Carrier Aggregation Embedded Fast Fading Mobility Models, Real Data Applications, MU-MIMO 16 Layers, Mixed Numerologies, FR1 and FR2.
TM500 Family

TM500 offers comprehensive testing across the entire protocol stack, from the physical layer to NAS and application layers.

We provide detailed statistics and logs from various layers of the protocol stack, coupled with advanced data processing. This enables you to quickly address issues and reduce the risk of deployment delays.

VIAVI delivers a suite of solutions to enhance test strategies, maximize engineering productivity, and equip you with the right tools for rapid delivery of high-performance, ultra-reliable products. With VIAVI you can achieve your objectives and showcase exceptional quality and cutting-edge capabilities to your customers.

5G and Open RAN Lifecycle Testing

Testing throughout the lifecycle covers functional, performance, capacity, regression, and end-to-end testing, as well as system integration. This ensures your product meets expectations and performs confidently with a 5G core.

Functional testing ensures basic communication protocols and interfaces work as per the specifications including: Layer testing L1/L2/L3, 3GPP Compliance and Interoperability and data throughput verification. With "shift-left" methodologies, it helps detect issues early, saving time and reducing costly software rewrites. Top-notch debugging, logging, and measurement tools to maximize ROI.

Performance, capacity or stress testing is necessary to ensure the network works at scale (loaded with thousands of devices), works consistently over long time periods and delivers the Quality of Experience (QoE) expected by end users across each individual device. It is also vital in assuring the network is achieving maximum data rates, optimum latency per application and achieving the QoS targets necessary.

Regression testing enables the network to be validated as stable and verifies that it behaves in the same way, repeatably. A test system that can support this heavy processing of data is essential and saves time and resource for engineering teams.

Engineers who manage a live or test 5G core make changes constantly to ensure that the core is up-to-date. A constant and repeatable environment is necessary when debugging a gNB problem or trying to optimize performance. An emulated core enables engineers to insert errors on the N2 interface allowing the robustness of the gNB design to be checked. TM500 seamlessly works with TeraVM Core Emulator.

TM500 Family Diversity

End-to-end performance tests in simulated real-world environments facilitate validation of the different mobility, traffic, and handover scenarios for 4G and 5G. Such end-to-end validations continue to be particularly important when testing disaggregated RAN networks leveraging O-RAN based components.

  • Support multiple vendors with different vendor specific requirements.
  • Test against the latest specs to guarantee radio access equipment not only interoperates with equipment from other vendors but also ensure you are optimizing the performance of that equipment.
  • Test O-RAN subcomponents in phases from functional, conformance, interoperability, capacity and performance testing, check your network hits performance KPIs.
  • Test entire network from end-to-end with the full 5GNR stack.
  • Ensure the Control, User, Synchronization and Management plane messaging are validated, ensuring protocols work as they should.
  • TM500 offers a smooth test progression - using the same test tool throughout to identify issues early.
  • Align with O-RAN goals of virtualization, interoperability, and cost-effective, off-the-shelf platforms.

TM500 O-RU Tester offers comprehensive capabilities for conformance, interoperability, and performance testing. It generates real-time O-RAN messaging for IQ data streams and supports validation across various vendor O-RUs, addressing key challenges in the O-RAN test framework.

In partnership with Rohde & Schwarz

The TM500 O-RU Tester is designed with two versatile setups that offer real-time generation of the Open RAN C/U-plane messaging for the IQ data stream; flexibility to test a wide range of frequencies and bandwidths; and customizability to allow users to easily configure and modify test parameters.

TM500 O-RU Tester

The TM500 for Advanced MU-MIMO testing has a modular design, is economically scalable and future-proof for 5G-A and 6G test. In combination with TeraVM, it allows RF, O-RAN, OTA, and end-to-end MU-MIMO test.

Functionalities

Performance evaluation with core test scenarios in a loaded network environment. It supports real, stateful data applications for end-to-end data generation and analysis, configurable for thousands of data flows and diverse traffic profiles.

An intuitive graphical interface simplifies designing, scheduling, and analyzing complex test cases. Test scenarios with thousands of mobiles and various profiles are easily managed via drag-and-drop.

Data applications for thorough data generation and analysis per emulated device, with easy configuration for extensive data flows and varied traffic profiles.

Detailed measurement logs, KPIs, and protocol metrics for comprehensive performance analysis.

TM500 will be vital for 6G testing and development. Early R&D for 6G requires a flexible, lab-based approach. Learn more about the VIAVI 6G Forward program.

Key Features 

  • Emulates thousands of mobile devices on 4G/4.5G and 5G/Open RAN 
  • Advanced  3GPP Roadmap including 16, 17 and 18 including NTN and RedCap 
  • Supports 5G SA and NSA, Carrier Aggregation (DL 8 CC/4 CC UL), and 2x2 and 4x4 MIMO 
  • Vendor-agnostic across RAN and Core 
  • Realistic mobility models for accurate RF conditions 
  • Enables Multi-user MIMO testing/Beamforming 
  • Comprehensive NSA and SA mobility scenarios 
  • Supports OTA, RF, and eCPRI 
  • Reuses existing TM500 platform for O-RAN testing 
  • Stable and well proven automation capabilities with available APIs 

Benefits

  • A unified software release across the TM500 family ensures consistency and ease of use. 
  • Layered mode testing (e.g., PDCP, NAS, MTS) supports parallel gNB development and testing. 
  • Integrated mobility models eliminate the need for costly Fading Channel Model simulators. 
  • Automation is built-in and used by NEMs worldwide. 
  • Comprehensive logging and debugging with default settings maintain performance and stability during long tests. 
  • Rich 3GPP feature interactions are supported at scale without performance loss. 
  • Performance remains unaffected when mixing features, mobility models, and real data in tests. 
  • Software quality and stability are validated with real gNBs and in customer environments. 

Applications

  • 4G/5G Macro Base Station Test
  • System integration, Capacity, Conformance, Performance, Regression test
  • Massive MIMO Test
  • End-to-end test
  • O-RAN Test – component and interoperability test
  • Small Cell test
  • Private 5G test
  • Security test

Quick References

  • Repair and Calibration

    Our products live in rugged environments for over 10 years with 1000s of test connect/disconnect cycles.  We will be there to support you to ensure components that require maintenance like connectors, batteries, and software updates to ensure you are ready to test accurately for years to come. We apply factory procedures that use fast, automated calibration and functional verification, maintenance using OEM parts and the application of all engineering change orders and software updates. Services are available through contract Care plans, FleetCare or per incident as requests. 

    Top 4 Reasons to Choose VIAVI for Your Repair and Calibration Needs:

    • Minimize business disruption
    • Budget
    • Measurement Accuracy and Product Reliability
    • Measurement Compliance, TL9000 certification and OEM Standards

    Explore More

  • VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR)

    VIAVI Automated Lab-as-a-Service for Open RAN (VALOR) is a hybrid Lab-as-a-Service and Test-as-a-Service lab based on VIAVI’s industry leading NITRO® Wireless test portfolio. This solution is designed to manage and support 5G and Open RAN projects that would benefit from access to tools and expert staff with a minimal ramp-up time.

    Learn more

Support at Every Step

We provide support, services, comprehensive training and the resources you need. It’s all part of what we do to maximize the value of your VIAVI investment.

Let Us Help

We’re here to help you get ahead.