Tektronix BA1600 Bit Error Rate Analyzer BERT with 1.6 GHz Pattern Generator Error Detector and Eye Diagram

The Tektronix BA1600 BitAlyzer is a self-contained bit error rate test system that combines a pattern generator, an error detector and advanced physical layer analysis in one instrument. It covers serial data interfaces from 100 MHz to 1.6 GHz, making it a practical bench and production solution for high speed serial link characterization, receiver sensitivity testing and physical layer debug.

Where a sampling oscilloscope shows the eye but cannot count every error, the BitAlyzer compares the incoming data stream bit by bit against a copy of the original pattern. Every single bit error is captured and time-stamped, giving an error detection depth far beyond what a scope can resolve, and allowing the error events to be correlated with the eye diagram, pattern sensitivity, error free interval and block error statistics.

• Integrated generator and detector: controlled test pattern generation plus bit-for-bit error detection in a single chassis, eliminating the clock and cabling uncertainties of two box setups.
• 100 MHz to 1.6 GHz serial data: covers high speed serial interfaces used in datacom, telecom, storage and backplane designs.
• PRBS and user patterns: select predefined pseudo-random bit sequences defined by a generating polynomial, or load a user-created pattern built with the PATLING pattern generation language, or captured directly from the detector inputs.
• Error Location Analysis: patented analysis that pinpoints exactly which bit positions fail, exposing pattern dependent jitter and ISI that averaged BER numbers hide.
• Eye diagram and physical layer tests: built-in eye diagram view with auto centre, zoom, pan, persistence, cursors and automatic eye width and eye height measurements at 80-20 % or 90-10 % thresholds.
• Differential clock and data I/O: colour coded 50 Ω SMA front panel connections, blue for generator and green for detector, with Clock+/-, Data+/- in and out plus external clock input.
• Error injection: deliberately inject single or burst errors with definable characteristics to verify system error handling and alarm paths.
• Control and automation: IEEE-488 remote control through the USB-to-GPIB adapter and Ethernet remote control over TCP/IP, with a 1 Gb Ethernet network port.
• Large touch screen interface: 640 x 480 active matrix TFT colour display with high resolution analogue resistive touch screen, mouse and keyboard support over four rear USB ports.
• Store and recall: error detection data can be saved for later analysis and comparison across test runs.
• Self test on power up: built-in diagnostics verify computer and peripheral integrity at every start, with a factory operating system restore image on the internal drive.

• Bit error rate and receiver sensitivity testing on high speed serial links
• Physical layer validation of transceivers, retimers, SerDes and backplanes
• Pattern dependent jitter and ISI investigation using Error Location Analysis
• Eye mask and eye width verification at 80-20 % or 90-10 % thresholds
• Production and incoming inspection testing of optical and copper modules with an external clock source
• Failure analysis and root cause investigation of intermittent link errors

BitAlyzer instrument, power cord, quick start user manual, online Help system on the instrument, and a factory operating system restore image stored on the internal drive. A mouse and keyboard may be connected over USB for easier data entry.

Tell us your data rate, connector type and pattern requirements and we will confirm the configuration, calibration status, lead time and shipping terms.