Method and apparatus for testing wireless communication channels

Techniques to test a wireless communication link. A traffic channel is tested via a test data service option (TDSO) that may be negotiated and connected similar to other services. Test parameters values may be proposed, accepted or rejected, and negotiated. Test data for a channel is generated based on a defined data pattern or a pseudo-random number generator. Sufficient test data may be generated based on the generator for a test interval, stored to a buffer, and thereafter retrieved from a particular section of the buffer to form data block(s) for each "active" frame. The traffic channel may be tested using discontinuous transmission. A two-state Markov chain determines whether or not to transmit test data for each frame. The average frame activity and average burst length are defined by selecting the probabilities for transitioning between the ON/OFF states of the Markov chain, which may be driven by a second generator.