The UNH-IOL SHDSL Testing Service
Our FocusSHDSL stands for Single Pair High Speed DSL, and is one of the several types of DSL (digital subscriber line) technology tested at the UNH-IOL. DSL is a broadband access technology that utilizes the unused bandwidth in the existing copper telephone network. Other DSL technologies tested at the UNH-IOL include ADSL and VDSL.The major limiting factors of SHDSL are the distance between provider and subscriber, and the electrical environment of the copper network. This network can be modeled in a laboratory setting for testing through the use of line simulators (capable of simulating long lengths of copper wire) and waveform generators (capable of simulating theoretical impairments found in the existing copper network). The UNH-IOL SHDSL Testing Service maintains a large test bed of DSLAMs, modems, and test equipment. Our test suites target both ADSL interoperability and physical-layer conformance, with reference to the following technical standards:
Our Structure and ServicesThe University of New Hampshire InterOperability Lab's (UNH-IOL) SHDSL Consortium was formed in August of 2000 to address SHDSL conformance and interoperability in a neutral multi-vendor environment. Since that time the consortium has matured to the point where it has been replaced by a standardized testing service. The SHDSL Testing Service was formed in January of 2005 and is one of five testing services at the IOL. The SHDSL Testing Service provides one-time product tests in which a company is not required to leave a product at the lab after the testing has been completed (Note: leaving a representative piece of equipment at the IOL will cause the product to be added to our testing pool).The SHDSL Testing Service currently offers four test suites that can be performed on an SHDSL product. The intent of most of the testing programs of the SHDSL Testing Service, and of the lab itself, is to isolate problems (bugs) in member's equipment before it gets into consumer's hands. It needs to be emphasized that the SHDSL Testing Service performs testing from a quality assurance point of view, not from a marketing or promotions point of view. Therefore, the SHDSL Testing Service limits the disclosure of specific product test results to the respective company only. The IOL will also design and develop additional tests on an individual basis if the areas covered by the existing test suites do not meet the needs of a given vendor. This contracted service varies with the need of the vendor, but it typically includes development or research for improving the interoperability of SHDSL network devices. |