Introducing the Low-Cost CX150 Analog Field Tester for Public Safety Radios
Land mobile radio (LMR) technologies, which provide public safety radio access, play a vital role in our lives. They enable emergency services to coordinate incidents, access critical data, and ensure personnel safety through reliable voice and data communications.
In the United States, the P25 (Project 25) standard is used for public safety communications. P25 supports either FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access), which utilizes 12.5 kHz channel spacing, or 2-slot TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access), also known as Phase 2, which maintains the same 12.5 kHz channel bandwidth while doubling spectral efficiency for voice traffic. Interoperability across agencies and manufacturers is a core requirement of P25, ensuring that different equipment can operate together on shared networks.
In Europe and many countries in Asia, the TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) standard is commonly used. TETRA employs 4-slot TDMA within a 25 kHz channel, providing both voice and data services with high spectral efficiency, particularly for short data packets and control signaling. Some regions, such as China, have developed their own digital trunking standards, such as PDT (Police Digital Trunking), which serve similar roles but are not based on TETRA.
Globally, there is also a transition towards secure cellular technology to supplement mission-critical data and voice communications.
Public safety communications infrastructure is, however, highly complex. There has traditionally been challenges when it comes to deploying, maintaining and troubleshooting these technologies. Field technicians need comprehensive yet user-friendly and intuitive tools to complete their work accurately and quickly.
VIAVI CX150
VIAVI has launched the handheld CX150 CommLite instrument for analog mission-critical radio networks. Building on our CX200 platform, the CX150 has been specifically developed to deliver the subset of tools specifically required for analog radios. In short, it incorporates the most popular features from our industry-leading test sets into a cost-effective field-portable package without sacrificing specs or performance.
The CX150 enables users to perform critical tests, including duplex, transmit, and receive measurements, spectrum analysis, and optional cable and antenna analysis features for measuring Distance-to-Fault (DTF) and VSWR. It also integrates with VIAVI’s VIP Tool for automated test sequences and supports StrataSync for reporting, data storage, and asset management.
The CX150 is remotely accessible and controllable via the Smart Access Anywhere software, with remote training and support available.
VIAVI CX200
The new CX150 joins the CX200, which was launched in March 2025. Both incorporate VIAVI’s industry-leading suite of test applications, which deliver fast, repeatable, and accurate test and alignment results that are trusted by radio manufacturers and service centers worldwide.
Both the CX150 and CX200 also implement individual and overall pass or fail flags to further simplify go/no-go testing, helping to eliminate errors, with the CX200 enabling field engineers to also test digital network features.
See it at APCO 2025
The CX150 will be officially launched in Baltimore MD at APCO 2025, the premier event for public safety communications. If you’d like to find out more about the CX150 or the CX200, please stop by our booth #3007.
