Tag Archives: test

5G, News

Infovista and PCTEL collaborate to co-develop 5G testing use cases

Paris, France – July 19 2022 – Infovista, the global leader in network lifecycle automation (NLA), and PCTEL, a leading global provider of wireless connectivity, today announced a strategic collaboration to co-develop joint 5G network testing use cases for mobile operators and industry regulators.

The joint uses cases will bring together PCTEL 5G scanning receivers and Infovista’s market-leading TEMS software to create differentiated and simplified solutions that address specific customer needs and requirements. The initial set of use cases include 5G C-Band interference monitoring, autonomous testing, beamforming configuration validation, automatic site location detection and automated interference detection, and combine PCTEL’s scanners with Infovista’s AI-powered network testing and assurance software.

One of the first joint solutions sees Infovista and PCTEL combining to deliver automated interference source detection and location. Leveraging Infovista’s NLA cloud platform for automated cross-domain troubleshooting, the solution uses network and service performance data from Infovista Ativa™ and its AI/ML analytics engine to rapidly identify and geo-locate cells affected by interference. With the approximate area of the interference identified, Infovista’s precision drive testing algorithms determine an optimal drive route and diagnostics workflow, and then a tester is dispatched with a PCTEL scanner and guided workflow to quickly find the source of the interference.

Faiq Khan, President of Global Networks, Infovista, said: “Mobile operators and regulators are facing new and specific challenges as 5G spectrum is licensed and networks rolled out. Their complexity requires new approaches to network testing, using the latest in AI, automation and cloud-native technologies to reduce the time and cost of network testing and monitoring while also being more accurate and valuable to the business. The strategic collaboration between Infovista and PCTEL is driven by this customer need, and we’re excited about the future opportunities our combined customer program will unlock.”

Arnt Arvik, Vice President & Chief Sales Officer, PCTEL, said: “Today effective network testing and monitoring requires purpose built scanning receivers to measure hundreds of channels across a broad spectrum including 5GNR and mmWave. Testing needs to be fast and accurate, conducted in multiple environments, and it need to be capable of simultaneously testing multiple technologies and operator networks. We are delighted that our industry leading 5G scanning receivers including our flagship Gflex® will be paired with Infovista’s software solutions. Together we’re bringing the power of two customer-focused teams to co-develop joint 5G testing use cases that solve tangible challenges facing our customers today and in the future.”

PCTEL designs, develops and manufactures industrial-grade products that enable customers to deliver wireless connectivity. PCTEL scanning receivers are precision network testing tools, designed for drive testing, walk testing, troubleshooting, and monitoring of cellular, WiFi, IoT, and critical communications networks worldwide.

Infovista’s TEMS Network Testing Portfolio enables network and services performance quality evaluation, troubleshooting and optimization by measuring and benchmarking end user experience. For Network Operators and Regulators, TEMS delivers the ability to walk test, drive test, and dynamically analyze service performance under real-life conditions — indoors, outdoors, and around the clock. For more on the Infovista TEMS network testing portfolio, please visit https://www.infovista.com/tems

Manufacturing, News

3M™ Novec™ 71IPA Engineered Fluid scores highest in independent study of additive manufacturing cleaning

Bracknell, UK, June 16, 2022 – 3M, the science-based technology company, has shared the results of an independent study into the compatibility of 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids for precision cleaning of additive manufacturing (AM) materials. The study, conducted by Added Scientific in the spring of 2022, found that Novec 71IPA fluid showed the highest compatibility with all ten materials tested, in comparison to Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA). There was no structural damage to the materials tested at Novec71IPA’s boiling point and only minor swelling observed.

Said Rudi Van San, Senior Application Engineer, Novec fluid, 3M: “AM — or 3D printing — has many benefits, enabling manufacturers to scale processes and explore innovative ideas. Even the tiniest amount of residue could lead to problems or even product failure. Since AM is expected to be widely used in mission and safety-critical applications, superior surface preparation has to be a priority.”

Added Scientific — an independent, technology-agnostic AM and 3D printing contract research company — conducted extensive testing across AM resins, alloy powders, polymer powders, and polymer filaments. The two 3M Novec fluids (Novec 71IPA and Novec 73DE) were tested at their respective boiling points, using three samples per AM material and submerged for seven days. While 3M commissioned the study, the findings were wholly independent and unbiased. In addition to 3M Novec 71IPA fluid scoring highest across all ten materials tested, 3M™ Novec™ 73DE Engineered Fluid was also found to be compatible with some AM parts constructed from polymeric powders and all metallic powders (including titanium).

Rudi Van San added, “We are delighted by the results of this study, providing consistent data to continue proposing 3M Novec fluids for AM component cleaning. Anecdotally, we already hear from the market that Novec fluid is being used in AM processes, so this study provides those users with the confidence that it is the right choice. We continue to engage with the industry to develop best practices for AM component cleaning, sharing our experience and science-based knowledge.”

3M Novec fluids have been long-established for cleaning in manufacturing, from design and assembly to maintenance. They are widely used in mission and safety-critical applications, such as aerospace and medical devices. Suitable for vapour degreasing, spray cleaning and hand-wipe applications, Novec fluids evaporate quickly without leaving residue, penetrate tight spaces efficiently, and — when used in vapour phase cleaning equipment — consume less power and reduced fluid refill when compared to other processes.

Furthermore, 3M Novec fluids are sustainable, non-flammable solvents with low toxicity, providing a wide margin of safety, a low Global Warming Potential (GWP) and zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). 3M Novec fluids meet all current environment and safety regulations.

News

One in eight British drivers can’t identify their vehicle’s fuel warning light

One in eight British drivers can’t identify their vehicle’s fuel warning light

New study shows how much UK drivers know about car warning lights
The electronic throttle control light confused motorists the most, with four fifths (82%) unable to recognise it.

Understanding a car warning light could mean the difference between preventing a problem or breaking down on a journey. However, a new study with British drivers has revealed a surprising number don’t know the meaning of some of the most common warning lights symbols, with more than one in eight (13%) unable to recognise the fuel warning light.

The research, conducted by car parts supplier, Car Parts 4 Less, involved showing UK drivers ten different warning lights, and asking them to determine which were real and which were fake.

The electronic throttle control warning light, which goes off when the connection between the accelerator and the throttle is interrupted, proved to be the most confusing symbol for motorists, with over four in five (82%) failing to recognise that it was in fact a real warning light. The brake pad monitor also confused many drivers with only half (54%) recognising it as a real symbol.

For all of the warning lights, men proved more likely than women to correctly identify if they were real or fake.

Additionally, those aged under 24 and over 65 proved to be the least likely to recognise real from fake symbols.

Here is a selection of the warning lights, as well as how many drivers guessed them correctly:

1. Run out of fuel?

A surprising 13% of drivers failed to recognise the low fuel warning light.

2. Full throttle?

The electronic throttle control light confused the most drivers, with 82% guessing incorrectly that it was fake.

3. Real or fake?

40% of respondents mistakenly identified this as a real symbol.

4. Not falling for it

Only 13% fell for this fake symbol, the fewest of any of the fakes.

If you think you can do better, why not try the full warning lights quiz here: https://www.carparts4less.co.uk/warning-lights-quiz/index.htm