EXFO’s EX1, paired with your Android-powered smart device, is a one-of-a-kind Ethernet tester designed to qualify broadband connections and monitor residential and business customers’ quality of experience (QoE). The pocket-sized EX1 solution enables communication service providers and MSO’s to validate delivery of full line rate Gigabit Ethernet service as well as Wi-Fi to their subscribers. The advantage of the EX1 is three-fold: it includes FPGA-powered hardware, built in dedicated Wi-Fi chipset as well as the world-leading Speedtest® by Ookla® algorithm, giving repeatable and reliable metrics, every time.

The Ethernet speed test and latency can be performed on electrical (RJ45), optical (SFP), or wireless interfaces (Wi-Fi 802.11ac/a/b/g/n) making the EX1 the ideal tool to generate birth certificates of Ethernet services during its provisioning phase. Moreover, the field technician can easily execute a Wi-Fi Channel Map analysis (2.4GHz and 5GHz) and, as a result, determine the best placement for the Access Point at the customer’s location. Service providers and MSO’s can qualify 1GE optical connections based on SFP transceivers that are typically deployed in business Ethernet services installations. The EX1 is therefore a must-have tool for troubleshooting activities that are expedited with the use of its unique graphical views and features enabled by the Wi-Fi Channel Map analysis function.

The EX1 test solution does not need a screen; all manipulations are handled via the ultra-intuitive application running on the field technician’s iOS-powered smart device. All the required tasks are performed through this application: connection, setup, report generation, and cloud-enabled firmware upgrades. Moreover, test reports can be combined providing residential and business customers the ultimate birth certificate containing all the information they require.

The EX1 uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology which enables untethered testing capabilities – connecting directly to a smart phone or tablet. With its unique BLE capability, field technicians can be up to 100 ft. away from the EX1 tester, and not confined to challenging or harsh testing environments. EXFO’s EX1 takes full advantage of BLE by extending battery time, in turn allowing technicians to test more during their typical work day.