Rx Tests for Automotive Ethernet Secure Zone Architectures

Automotive Measurement Technology Rx Tests for Automotive Ethernet Secure Zone Architectures

2026-04-07 From | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendor

The transition to the Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) requires scalable and fail-safe on-board networks. Keysight is now presenting automated receiver tests for 10BASE-T1S and optical Ethernet (nGBASE-AU) to validate new topologies.

A receiver test for 10BASE-T1S developed by Keysight promotes the testing of function-critical receivers to ensure the reliability and safety of future on-board networks.(Image: Keysight) — A receiver test for 10BASE-T1S developed by Keysight promotes the testing of function-critical receivers to ensure the reliability and safety of future on-board networks.
(Image: Keysight)

With the increasing spread of software-defined vehicles (SDV) and highly automated driving functions, the hunger for data in the vehicle is growing exponentially. Automotive Ethernet is developing at a correspondingly rapid pace in order to map higher bandwidths and new zone architectures. The testing of receivers (Rx testing) is increasingly taking center stage in order to ensure the functional safety and signal integrity of future on-board networks (from 10BASE-T1S to 10GBASE-T1).

To support hardware developers and suppliers in these conformance tests, Keysight Technologies has expanded its portfolio with two specific test solutions for copper-based and optical automotive Ethernet.

Multi-Drop Tests for 10BASE-T1S

The first test solution is aimed at new multi-drop Ethernet architectures (10BASE-T1S), which are primarily used in zone and edge controllers. Developed in collaboration with BitifEye Digital Test Solutions, the hardware and software performs automated receiver conformance tests according to the Open Alliance TC14 PMA Test Suite 5.2.1 specification.

The focus here is on checking the bit error rate (BER) at the receiver under difficult conditions. A new 10BASE-T1S media converter, a ringing board and MDI adapters enable developers to realistically validate the behavior of the PHY layer with disturbed channels and coupled noise. Integrated functions for multi-drop tests also make it easier to validate complex zone architectures.

Optical Validation for nGBASE-AU

For applications that require extremely high bandwidths, absolute EMC resilience and communication over longer distances, the focus is increasingly shifting to optical data transmission. Keysight is launching a dedicated testbed for the nGBASE-AU optical bit transmission layer for this purpose.

The system is fully compliant with the IEEE 802.3cz standard (Amendment 7, 2023) and the test house specifications of the Open Alliance TC7. For detailed signal quality assessment, the solution includes a comprehensive TDFOM (Transmitter and Dispersion Penalty for Optical Modules) measurement suite, including measurements for OMA, ER, AOP and OAR. On the hardware side, the testbed uses the Keysight DCA-M series oscilloscopes (N1092A/N1092C) in combination with the N1077B clock recovery. It is controlled via the FlexDCA interface, which allows both standard-compliant sequences and free, developer-oriented test configurations.

Reliability As A Foundation

Thomas Götzl, Vice President and General Manager of Keysight Automotive & Energy Solutions, also emphasizes that testing at the physical layer will become even more critical in the future: "As vehicle architectures become increasingly software-driven and data-intensive, the need for fail-safe high-speed Ethernet communication is more important than ever. The introduction of the 10BASE-T1S receiver test portfolio and nGBASE-AU optical solution equips the automotive industry with the necessary tools to drive innovation and ensure robust, standards-compliant performance." (heh)

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.