Gfast
The story behind Gfast Certification
Ensure multi-chipset interoperability between solutions
- Certification demonstrate interoperability between multiple chipsets and product combinations
Made possible by 1000s of hours of close technical collaboration and teamwork by the participants and UNH-IOL
- Rigor or IR-337 has taken certification testing to a new level for the industry
- Represents an outstanding technical achievement
- 30 rigorous tests of the stability, functionality, control, and performance of Gfast
- Years faster than previous access certification
NOTE: As of July 2018 the list of certified interoperable products is available on the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory’s web site. This live site allows real-time availability of certification changes and easier views of interoperable products. Click here to visit see the list on the UNH-IOL site
To have your Gfast DPU and/or CPE products tested and added to this growing list, please contact the official testing laboratory: University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory
Gfast Certification Guidelines (OD-362) are available on the BBF wiki. Click here.
Gfast Certification overview
Test plan defined in Broadband Forum’s IR-337
- Three key areas of focus: baseline performance, stability, mandatory features
Verification of key features within Gfast
- Bit-swap, FRA, SRA, RPA, Retransmission, Test Modes, PSD control, TIGA, RFI controls, verification of performance counters
Basic assurance of performance
- Required operation in noisy conditions
- Required bit-rate vs. distance
- Mean time between errors (a.k.a. stressed receiver)
Certification: IR-337 elements
Seamless Rate Adaption (SRA) shifting
- Allows the Gfast line to adjust the bit rate to changing conditions while giving the customer the fastest possible connection.
First Rate Adaption (FRA)
- Gfast specific stability feature allows line to survive large, sudden changes, preventing unneeded retrains and unavailable time.
Re-Transmission
- Allows the line to re-transmit data that would normally have been discarded, improving the user’s quality of experience.
Basic minimum level of performance
- Ensure the CPE or DPU can provide data rates needed for ultra fast broadband (>600Mbps)
Verification of spectral compliance, to avoid interference with equipment FM radio, etc
- Broadband Forum PHYtx Work Area developed detailed test procedures for testing a variety of devices and chip sets.
With reference to the ITU-T specifications:
- PSD testing ensures a device will not negatively impact other systems, by violating the required mask defined in G.9700
- Testing conformance to G.fast transceiver functions, such as data transmission, seamless rate adaption, fast rate adaption, bit swap, re-transmission, TIGA, etc., as defined in G.9701
- Certification tests the control, status, and performance parameters used to configure and monitor G.fast lines (See also TR-355 Yang models) as defined in G.997
- The Program’s certification has played a significant role in understanding and improving the implementation of Gfast