The Marconi IFR Aeroflex 2840A is a handheld transmission analyzer for installation and maintenance of 2 Mbit/s digital transmission lines and equipment. This battery-operated, portable instrument delivers comprehensive testing capabilities including bit error rate, jitter, and signal level measurements essential for network performance validation. Field-oriented design features a compact form factor and graphical LCD display for rapid setup and measurement retrieval.
Technical Specifications
The 2840A analyzes data rates from 64 kbit/s through 2 Mbit/s framed and unframed signals. Multi-channel support includes n × 64 kbit/s contiguous or non-contiguous channels, with configurable 30 and 31 channel framing systems with or without CRC4. Balanced input sensitivity accommodates terminated, bridging, and monitoring connection modes.
Signal generation covers full 2 Mbit/s framing systems (30/31 channels, CRC4 variants) with user-programmable test sequences (32-bit and 8-bit words). Error injection operates singly, at fixed rates, or by keypress using M × 10-N format (M = 1–9, N = 2–7).
– Key Features
• Simultaneous Code, Framing, Pattern, and CRC error detection
• G.821, G.826, and M.2100 error performance analysis
• Error distribution histograms with 7-day accumulation at 1-second resolution
• Bit slip and Octet slip detection
• Bipolar violation (Line Code) detection
• Long Term Mean Error Ratio (LTMER) computation
• Loss of Signal (LOS), AIS, and frame/pattern sync failure counting
• User-programmable thresholds for %ES, %SES, %DM, and %US
• High-accuracy delay measurement for 2048 kbit/s circuits (satellite and network applications)
• C-Bit Frame generation for French TAANSMIC-2G systems
• In-service voice channel monitoring within 2048 kbit/s signals
• Access to receive timeslots for analog and digital signal examination
– Typical Applications
Primary use spans digital transmission line commissioning, performance monitoring, and fault diagnosis on E1 networks and SDH/PDH systems requiring sub-rate channel analysis.
– Compatibility & Integration
Designed for 2 Mbit/s transmission networks supporting European digital hierarchy standards. Operates on battery power with field portability as a core design principle.
