Calnex Sentinel

4G and 5G OTA / 1pps / 10G / 1G / 100M

The dedicated synchronization tester

Now with 5G Over-the-Air measurements

Verify Phase, Time and Frequency synchronization

Monitor performance and diagnose synchronization issues on
3G/4G/5G Mobile, Datacenter, Financial, Power and other Telecoms networks
PERFORMANCE AT-A-GLANCE Test Over-the-Air synchronization
Sentinel includes the Calnex Analysis
Tool (CAT) to provide a comprehensive in 4G and 5G mobile networks
measurement suite including:
Time Error (TE)
How do you know if your Small Cells conform
Time Interval Error (TIE)
to 3GPP standards? With TDD and FDD
MTIE
systems implementing newer LTE features
TDEV such as eICIC and CoMP, measuring the sync
ESMC Quality Levels accuracy of a Small Cell/eNodeB is crucial. It’s
Max 2way TE also quite a challenge, particularly when these
Dynamic Time error network devices often lack a physical 1 pps
Max Packet Selected 2Way TE output.
SyncE wander
Packet Delay Variation (PDV) However, with Sentinel’s non-invasive OTA test
Floor Packet Percentage (FPP) capability you can now measure, with precision, Evaluate OTA measurements using
the Time Error between eNodeBs or gNodeBs the CAT for detailed insight into static
Frequency Error
and UTS to ensure they meet the 3GPP’s ≤3 µs and dynamic time and frequency
phase alignment limit. synchronization.
Flexible network connection options:
As a pseudo T-TSC to measure upstream
network synchronization
As a network monitor measuring live
network PDV and TE

Clear Pass/Fail Metrics for easy analysis:

ITU-T specified masks
ITU-T, standards-based, vendor-specific limits
Detailed measurement report in pdf format

Test 3G/4G/5G and Small Cell deployments

at various points in the network, including
near to the GrandMaster (GM), and validate
Deliver the fast, stable services
network performance to ITU-T limits. your customers can rely on

GNSS GNSS

(G.8275.2) (G.8275.1)
T-BC

T-BC (G.8275.1)
Interworking Interworking End Clock
PRTC/GM T-BC Function Function

Packet Network

Easily test the performance of your network’s

Use Sentinel to make long-duration,
synchronization. Sentinel captures all data
unattended measurements to identify slow
simultaneously enabling you to correlate timing
variations in timing or sporadic transient
performance at different points in the network,
behaviours.
even between different timing architectures.
Measurements are graphed in real time
PTP 2WayTE, SyncE, 1 pps TE
allowing you to easily check the status of
an ongoing measurement, and gives you 1 pps TE
confidence of the measurement integrity PTP pktSelected2wayTE, 1 pps TE
before you commit to a long term test. Over-the-Air, TE
For detailed PTP Protocol Analysis,
download data to Sentinel’s onboard Packet
Test PTP and NTP synchronization
Capture feature or by downloading data to
the PTP Field Verifier (PFV) software.
in datacenters
Time synchronization is not new in datacenters Sentinel allows you to easily and thoroughly
but the required accuracy is increasing. This is verify and monitor the synchronization within
being driven by higher throughput, the need your datacenter, and prove time/phase
for lower latency, the movement of storage accuracy with microsecond precision.
and computation to the network edge, and
regulatory and standards body requirements. What’s more, Sentinel’s holdover performance
and transport mode allows you to move
While NTP was traditionally sufficient to around your facility and test synchronization
maintain millisecond level synchronization, without having to maintain a reference
the need for synchronization to 100s or 10s of GNSS or 1 pps signal. This makes Sentinel
microseconds, and sometimes even tighter, is an indispensable tester for deployment,
now required. troubleshooting and network maintenance.
Packet Capture and Decode
Capture and decode Signalling, Sync,
Del-Req, Del-Resp and Announce messages
to help identify: GNSS comes into the datacentre to reference Stratum 1 (S1) NTP Server
Configuration issues – such as mismatch Stratum 2, 3, 4, and so on are referenced back to S1 rather than GNSS
domain number configured for Master Each Server/Client can output a 1 pps
Clock and Subordinate Clock GNSS

Protocol Implementation issues – such

as the log interval of Del-Resp does not 1 pps Reference
STRATUM 1 from Stratum 1
reflect the real packet rate as expected
in multicast mode 10G
Protocol Signalling issues – such as 1 pps NTP (1G/10G) + 1 pps
STRATUM 2
signalling messages do not repeat after the measurement
10G
negotiated contract period
1 pps NTP (1G/10G) + 1 pps
Capture and decode Announce messages STRATUM 3
measurement
– provides detailed information about the 10G
PTP GM which is fundamental to build up 1 pps
the Master-Subordinate clock hierarchy STRATUM 4
All measurements can be made simultaneously:
2 x packet ports (2 x independent Pseudo NTP
Clients or PTP Subordinates)
4 x clock ports

Whatever your application, start

PTP Field Verifier testing in 3 easy steps
Analyze PTP protocol for conformance to
standards or user-defined profiles.
1 Connect to the network
Automatic Pass/Fail indication – check
captured PTP messages against a pre-
defined set of rules, with clear Pass/Fail
alerts
2 Run ‘Health Check’ to auto-discover
Check transmitted PTP messages for
connections and check PTP
compliance with ITU-T, IEEE and user-
defined standards and rules – areas of protocol compliance
non-conformance immediately visible
Flexible XML rules allow full customization
of pass criteria 3 Start all
Full report generation capability measurements at
the same time

Advanced capabilities and

intuitive operation means
engineers at all skill levels
can use Sentinel with total
confidence.
Use the CAT for a clearer picture ...
Get greater measurement insight
with the Calnex Analysis Tool (CAT)

LTE-A/TDD LTE
PTP/1 pps MaxITEI
PTP/1 pps dTE
pktSelected2wayTE (APTS/PTS)

LTE-FDD/3G
PDV FPP
16 ppb frequency wander
MTIE/TDEV

The CAT provides powerful insight into the customizable multi-graph window lets you
network and device performance. All your rapidly select measurements and channels for
measurement results are now in one place, detailed analysis.
and you can view multiple graphs simultan-
eously for easier correlation of your results. CAT also provides one button generation
of reports in PDF format including Pass/Fail
Enhanced graphics makes it easy to evaluate statistics and details of failures. This allows you
ITU-T metrics such as Time Error (cTE, dTE), to share captures and results with vendors for
Financial/Power Networks MTIE and TDEV against ITU-T masks. While fast, efficient and accurate troubleshooting.
NTP PDV distribution
NTP 2wayTE

Lab quality performance in an

easy-to-use, portable package

SyncE
E1/T1 wander
MTIE/TDEV
ESMC No test port? No GNSS signal? Problem in the network?
Use OTA measurements Use internal high-stability Use Capture and Replay
Perform synchronization Rubidium (Rb) clock
tests without physical Measure the network and send
Sentinel’s built-in Rb clock
connection to the measurements back to the
is both highly stable and
network. lab/vendor to replay and fix
precise. Once disciplined,
issues. Data can be transferred
4G LTE-A it has exceptional holdover
from Sentinel via a memory
5G NR performance allowing you
stick or via ftp to a remote PC.
to get to where you need
Plus, you can ftp results from
to be and to make accurate
ongoing measurements.
measurements even when
no reference 1 pps or satellite Actual network performance
TDM/Legacy signal is available. can also be downloaded
E1/T1 wander to the Calnex Paragon to
MTIE/TDEV test individual network
SSM components.
Ordering Information Related Products
Calnex Sentinel Sync Analyzer with built-in GNSS receiver. Needs minimum of one Tempo and Tempo-c
measurement option (module/port).
Included with shipment: Calnex Analysis Tool (CAT), GNSS antenna, antenna cable (20 m),
hard transport case, user manual on USB, line power cord, 1-year warranty and support.

Configurable Options
Option 610: Clock module 1 pps/E1/T1, any clock from 0.5 Hz up to 200 MHz with 0.5 Hz step.
(maximum two per instrument)
Option 615: 100M/1G packet port (PTP/NTP/SyncE). Can order maximum of 2 x Opt. 615.
Includes SyncE/ESMC analysis for 100M/1G optical and electrical rates.
(maximum two – Opt. 615 and/or 616 per instrument) Provides canned tests for quick testing
Option 616: 100M/1G/10G packet port (PTP/NTP/SyncE). Can order maximum of 2 x Opt. 616. Test PTP, SyncE and legacy networks
Includes SyncE/ESMC analysis or 100M/1G/10G optical and electrical rates.
Verify Ethernet performance in either loop-
(maximum two – Opt. 615 and/or 616 per instrument)
back or peer-to-peer mode
Option 705: Over-the-Air (OTA) Time Error measurement module
(maximum one per instrument) Simulate realistic traffic conditions
Rugged and lightweight (<2 kg)
Additional Options
Option 620: PTP and NTP PDV measurement software (one license per instrument).
Option 630: Internal battery backup for Rubidium. Calnex Paragon-X
Option 812: One year extension of product warranty.
Option 813: Two years extension of product warranty.

Optional Accessories
Option 75: 120 Ω balanced RJ45 to 75 Ω unbalanced BNC impedance converter (balun).
Test PTP (1588), SyncE, NTP, CES and
Option 133: External 1 pps/ToD/frequency converter accessory. OAM up to 10GbE
Option 511: Carry-on bag. Stress-test equipment with real network
profiles from field tests to debug network
issues
Complete standards compliance testing to
ITU-T G.826x/827x
Test PTP Ordinary Clocks, Boundary
Clocks and Transparent Clocks

Calnex Paragon-neo

Delivers high accuracy sub-nanosecond

timing measurements at rates up to 100GbE
Capture and decode PTP packets for
analysis and Time Error testing
Prove SyncE jitter and wander performance
to ITU-T G.8262.1/G.8262
Calnex Solutions is a global leader in Test and Measurement solutions for Evaluate MTIE/TDEV pass/fail results to
next-generation telecom networks. For more information on the Calnex test ITU-T G.8262.1/G.8262 masks
equipment, and to take advantage of Calnex’s extensive experience in Packet Control ESMC (SSM) message generation
Sync and OAM testing technologies, contact Calnex Solutions today: for testing to ITU-T G.8264
tel: +44 (0) 1506 671 416
email: info@calnexsol.com

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© Calnex Solutions, March 2021.
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