NB-IoT Tester

●NB-IoT --- The new future of connecting things !

- Internet of Things (IoT) is the new technology for connecting gadgets, globally,

to the internet. For years it has been possible to connect computers, mobile

phones, industrial units and all kinds of other microprocessor controlled

devices to the web.

- Earlier, this has been possible to do via DSL, Fiber, 4G and other

technologies.

Issues with earlier technologies:

Most of these early technologies have been working fine but with a few

disadvantages such as:

● Services has not been available everywhere for all applications (like; lack of ● Services has not been available everywhere for all applications (like; lack of

fiber or any wired network)

● Services have sometimes become costly to use (like; connecting over a 4G

network or having to do expensive cable-installations)

NB-IoT is the network to use !

To overcome these obstacles the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has

developed the new NB-IoT technology to enable a wide range of cellular devices

and services to connect and communicate.

The main reasons for developing this new standard are:

- Devices will be easy to connect/install.

- NB-IoT transmitters will cover large areas making the devices easy to deploy.

- The transmitting/receiving parts of the NB-IoT devices are of low cost and very

reliable.

- The NB-IoT devices will be very power efficient.

Picture showing ex. of NB-IoT electrical meter

Some examples of the new NB-IoT services

- Electrical-, water- and gas- meters. These devices are ideal to connect via

NB-IoT as they are used/installed in very large numbers. It is of interest for

the provider (i.e. like the electrical company) to see the consumption of a

commodity. (and could be done almost in realtime !).

Installations of the NB-IoT devices ”en mass” can be done very fast as the

installations time, per unit, will be very short. This also mean that the

cost for deploying all these NB-IoT devices will be low.

- Facility management services (heating, doorlocks etc.)- Facility management services (heating, doorlocks etc.)

- Alarms systems for homes & commercial properties (like cameras,

microphones, firedetectors etc.).

- Health parameters -connecting people with medical services.

- Tracking of persons, animals, cars, boats and other objects.

- Smart city infrastructure such as street lamps and local traffic info.

- Connecting industrial appliances and agriculture machines

Deployment !

Most of the coming NB-IoT devices will be installed by private persons or

small installation companies working in the electrical-, TV-, telecom- and

networking- fields.

It will be a ”trial and error” installation. The installer will simply turn the

unit ”on” and learn if it is working. Most will be.

Some of them will be moving around (like object trackers). They will be

connected most of the time. Sometime they might drop the connection

but the signal coverage will be good and they will soon come back online

again.

Below picture made by EricssonBelow picture made by Ericsson

Mass installations !

On a larger scale these installations must be performed more flawless.

- As an example we can see the electricalprovider who is about to install

”millions” of NB-IoT devices in order to to connect all their costumers.

They have contracted a large entrepreneur to do this national deployment.

- The entrepreneur will send out its workforce and commence with the

installations and, again, in most cases there wont be any problems.

But sometimes...they might encounter some difficulties or even

worse...they might believe that some of the installation are satisfactory

done but in reality the NB-IoT devices are not working as they should.done but in reality the NB-IoT devices are not working as they should.

So...there are challenges !?

Yes, even if NB-IoT has a very good coverage and will connect most

devices within its area of reach there will be problems to connect them all

and these difficulties are mainly due to three things:

* The signal level will be lower in the outer reach of a transmitters

coverage.

* Many NB-IoT devices are intended to be placed in metal cabinets

and such cabinets will attenuate the signallevel quite a lot.

* Many NB-IoT devices are intended to be placed in cellars of big

buildings (where You generally find electrical-,water, and gas-

accesspoints). At such places the signallevel will be lower.

Solution – the NB-IoT Tester !

The solution is to use the NB-IoT Tester.

To measure is to know !!!

The NB-IoT Tester measure the signallevel in the air at a certain location.

It measure continuosly and show the signalstrength with both realtime

values and in the shape of thermometer scales.

Using the NB-IoT Tester will give the installer confidence and assist to

make proper documentation of each and every installationsite.make proper documentation of each and every installationsite.

Some providers will certainly demand to know about the quality of the

performed work by the entrepreneur. Using the NB-IoT Tester will satisfy

both parts.

In brief – the NB-IoT Tester !

- Measure NB-IoT signallevel in realtime.

- Presentation on Color-LCD of RSSI, RSRP and SNR as values and in

the shape of thermometerscales.

- Ping function in ms (latency).

- ”Fingerprint”-function (for doing delayed tests in closed cabinets).

- Input for external antenna (for testing with larger antennas when - Input for external antenna (for testing with larger antennas when

the built in antenna -equal to antennas of normal NB-IoT devices-

wont do).

- ”Timerrecording” -showing min/max.

- Built in, rechargable, batterypack.

NB-IoT Tester – technical specification !

3GPP Release Release 13 (LTE Cat NB1)

Downlink Peak Rate 250 Kbit/s

Uplink Peak Rate 250 Kbit/s (multi-tone),

20 Kbit/s (single-tone)

NB IOT bands B1/ B2/ B3/ B4/ B5/ B8/ B12/ B13/

B18/ B19/ B20/ B25/ B26/ B28

and B39 for Cat-M.

Signal level readout -51dBm to -135dBm

Digital readout RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ and SNR

Latency 0s–10s

Latency test Yes

Receive Bandwidth 180 kHz

Transmit Power 23 dBm

Built in SIM-card reader Yes

Input impedance SMA connector, 50 ohm

Digital readout RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ and SNR

showing strength, quality andshowing strength, quality and

min/max hold values:

Memory SD-card with built in SD-cardreader

Firmware upgrade via micro-USB

connector.

Display Color LCD 320x160 pixels.

Battery Built in, rechargeable batterypack

Battery capacity 3200mAh.

Power consumption Less than 300mA

Operational fully charged 12 hours

Charging time (drained) 6 hours

Powersupply/charger Input: 220V, output 5V, 2 amp,

micro-USB

Weight 0.3kg

Size 185x115x50mm.

Accessories: Powersupply

Rubber-case

Owners manual

SB Scandinavia AB

● A swedish company with 13 employees with its seat in Stockholm

● Mainly owned and driven by its two founders, Lars Westergren and Sven Nylund.

● The company has a history coming from the Digital-TV world and has designed and

produced (in Sweden)hundred of thousands of CATV- and Sat-TV instruments.

● Main markets in Europe and USA with customers as DirecTV in the US and Viasat in

Scandinavia.

● Later years shift focus to the Broadband/Fiber-market and produce today (still in Sweden)

their own fusion splicer; the EasySplicer.

● Their latest product; the NB-IoT Tester is expected to be the first in a range of NB-IoT ● Their latest product; the NB-IoT Tester is expected to be the first in a range of NB-IoT

products.