The Marconi IFR Aeroflex 2842 is a portable, battery-operated communications analyzer engineered for installation and maintenance of 2 Mbit/s digital communication links. This hand-held instrument delivers comprehensive error analysis, channel-level diagnostics, and propagation delay measurement across framed and unframed 2 Mbit/s signals, as well as n × 64 kbit/s and 64 kbit/s channels. The analyzer simultaneously detects code, framing, pattern, and CRC errors per G.821, G.826, and M.2100 standards, with error distribution and alarm histograms accumulating data over 7 days at 1-second resolution. Dual receiver inputs enable clock slip measurements on two HDB3 signals. Individual and multi-channel testing supports both contiguous and non-contiguous channel selection within 2 Mbit/s digital signals, ideal for fault isolation in cross-connect switches and data networks.
Technical Specifications
• Data rates: 2 Mbit/s (2048 kbit/s), n × 64 kbit/s, 64 kbit/s, 56 kbit/s
• Framing: G.704 framed and unframed operation; 30 and 31 channel framing systems; CRC4 support with and without multiframe
• Error detection: Simultaneous code, framing, pattern, and CRC error measurement
• Analysis standards: G.821, G.826, M.2100
• Error histograms: 7-day accumulation at 1-second resolution
• Dual receiver inputs for clock slip measurement on two 2 Mbit/s HDB3 signals
• Propagation delay: Measurement on 2048 kbit/s circuits and network-to-subscriber loop delay at 64 kbit/s or n × 64 kbit/s
• Analog measurements: Frequency response, linearity, sine wave generation (1 Hz resolution, 0.1 dB level resolution), peak code, RMS level, and frequency analysis
– Key Features
• Large graphics-based LCD display
• QUICK menus and configuration stores for rapid setup
• Programmable transmit and receive parameters
• Non-volatile memory for setup retention
– Typical Applications
• Digital communication line installation and commissioning
• Maintenance testing of 2 Mbit/s equipment and circuits
• Fault location in digital data networks and cross-connect switches
• Individual channel diagnostics within multiplex signals
– Compatibility & Integration
The 2842 operates on 2 Mbit/s HDB3 signals supporting both framed and unframed transmission modes.
