Patent ID: 6891803

Claim:
A test set for testing a digital subscriber line (xDSL) communications network, comprising: at least one xDSL signal input port that connects the test set to the xDSL communications network; line qualification test circuitry, coupled to the at least one xDSL signal input port, that performs line qualification testing on the xDSL communications network; an xDSL modem module that attaches removably to the test set, wherein the xDSL modem module emulates a particular type of xDSL modem, enabling the test set to test the xDSL communications network in accordance with the particular type of xDSL modem; an internal bus that couples the line qualification test circuitry and the xDSL modem module; a processor, coupled to the internal bus, that operates with the line qualification test circuitry to selectively generate line qualification test data, and with the xDSL modem module to selectively generate xDSL connectivity test data, and that selectively processes the line qualification test data and the xDSL connectivity test data, in accordance with a user selection; and a display unit, coupled to the internal bus, that selectively displays one or more of the line qualification test data and the xDSL connectivity test data in accordance with the user selection, wherein the test set stores a software program and executes selected portions of the software program as determined by the xDSL modem module emulating the particular type of xDSL modem.