EX1 - the powerful Ethernet analyzer in your pocket

EX1 instrument from the Canadian company "EXFO Inc." Is a unique solution for testing and monitoring Ethernet networks, providing the user with the ability to easily solve any task that arises before him. Test the data transfer rate at the input to the subscriber's premises? Easily! Through both copper and optical cables? No problem! Run a full blown Ethernet traffic analysis? Please! Check Wi-Fi network and optimize hotspot location? It won't be difficult! To become a part of the QoE monitoring system for private or corporate customers? Sure!о!

All of the above is all the more important because the EX1 is a truly pocket-sized device measuring only 12.5 x 7.5 x 4.5 cm and weighing less than 500 grams. It is controlled using a free application from any modern Android / iOS smartphone or tablet, connected via a Bluetooth interface with low energy consumption and a pairing range of up to 30 m. Three important advantages distinguish it from analogs: FPGA hardware, built-in Wi-Fi chipset and the best in Ookla®'s Speedtest® algorithm, always giving accurate and reliable results.

Ethernet tester. The EX1 is primarily a simple yet powerful Gigabit Ethernet tester, whether optical, copper or wireless. In addition to the usual network speed check, the device is able, thanks to the Speedtest algorithm, to analyze the main traffic parameters: latency, upstream and downstream speeds, server information, client WAN IP. At the same time, the user can select a server automatically or manually, set threshold values ​​for passing a pass / fail verdict, configure operational information, and automatically generate reports in CSV or PDF formats.

Using the device, you can issue best-in-class birth certificates and transfer them directly to the customer in any modern way (thanks to the control from a smartphone / tablet), or store them in the cloud storage for future needs.

Wi-Fi tester. Another attractive feature of the EX1 is its Wi-Fi interface, with the help of which you can perform both the same Speedtest with all the capabilities described above, and other measurements of wireless networks. The device supports Wi-Fi 802.11 / ac / a / b / g / n standards in both existing 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency bands.

Communication network operators and service providers are often faced with requests from their customers to confirm whether the speed of the provided signal matches the declared one, as well as to check whether the access point is optimally located in the room. Therefore, it is important that operator / provider personnel always carry equipment to answer these questions, such as the EX1. And if in the first case the already mentioned Speedtest is used, then in the second case such a function as a channel map can help.

It provides a visual representation of all wireless networks in the range of the device, showing the signal strength of each of them, as well as information about the access point: BSSID, manufacturer, channel number, frequency and RSSI. The network to which the device itself is connected is marked with a special icon. The user has the opportunity to filter networks by frequency range (2.4 or 5 GHz), by signal strength (excellent, good, average, bad), by channel number (only for 5 GHz range).

With the help of such a card, you can find out, for example, whether the Wi-Fi signal level is the same in all rooms of a house / apartment and, if necessary, move the access point. And also check the quality of wireless networks in public transport, hotels, stadiums, concert halls, etc.

QoE monitoring. EX1 is capable of carrying the EXFO Active Verifier agent for testing the performance of services and applications at levels 3-7 using a set of 140 tests: Y.1564, iPerf, RFC-5357 TWAMP, HTTP, DNS, DHCP, VoIP, IPTV etc. In this case, the device is controlled centrally using EXFO Worx.

GPON tester. In the near future, EX1 will expand its functionality and turn into a device for testing GPON networks. With the help of a special SFP-module GPON STICK, the device will be transformed into a regular subscriber terminal ONT, with the ability to check the main parameters of the passive optical network and help with its deployment or troubleshooting in it.

The main technical characteristics of EX1 are shown in the table below.