Sunrise Telecom’s measuring equipment for cable TV network analysis

By Alexander Anufriev

Review contents:

Measure seven times Analog TV transmitters’ parameters measure Are You Producing Legal and Valid Video? “Beta TV Com” measuring equipment Measuring devices for terrestrial and cable television from Broadcast Arsenal Group of companies Measuring TV equipment from IMOS Company TV signals level measurers Measuring tools of Planar Company RAP-TV digital measuring system Kathrein TV signals measuring tools Leader Electronics measuring equipment for broadcast sphere Promax measuring equipment Recom-10 TV signal meter Sunrise Telecom’s measuring equipment for cable TV network analysis New devices from Tektronix Equipment from Wohler Company

Syrus Systems Company presents newest measuring solutions of Sunrise Telecom Company for cable TV network operators. Sunrise Telecom produces wide range of equipment from field devices to rack mounted systems:

• Digital/QAM and analog signals analyzers;
• DOCSIS modems analyzers;
• Specter analyzers;
• Monitoring systems.

CM1000 cable modems systems analyzer is designed for detail testing and fault detection in DOCSIS cable modems systems. In contrast to other devices which use for DOCSIS networks analysis the digital signals not related to this technology, CM1000 analyzer uses built-in DOCSIS cable modem dedicated to wide testing of incoming and outgoing streams.

Analyzer has modular architecture. There are some plug-n modules produced for it:

• Signal level meter providing full measure of analog and digital signal; one, two, five channel and full specter display; tilt measure; peak/cavity and adaptive characteristics with neighbor channels measure; threshold Pass/Fail measure;
• CM1000CE which provides DOCSIS systems measures at 6 & 8 MHz frequencies certificated according to ITU for international market;
• Reflection meter for CE4000 type cable investigation defining the place of cable damage which causes adaptive interference, signal leak and its level lowing. It also allows measure distances and cable attenuations, return loss and total attenuation. There are possibilities of storing measures results, output data stored, uploading them to PC, working with VOP integrated files and measuring attenuation for general purpose coaxial cables in cable TV networks. Reflection meter has color display.

CM1000 is equipped with built-in modem providing testing incoming and outgoing data streams. When testing CM1000 device links to modem’s CMTS and provides measuring quality parameters of signal transmission path in both directions. Beside traditional measures digital signal parameters like MER, BER, signal level and analysis of modulated signals distortions in right direction the device due to patented technology allows measure BkER in return direction without involving headend station equipment.

Using CM1000’s color display operator is able define link’s conformity to minimally affordable requirements at first glance. Checking different network’s points technical personnel can quickly find out which components should be replaced to ensure optimal quality parameters.

CM1000 cable modem systems analyzer

Let’s enumerate CM1000’ main features.

Incoming stream analysis:

• 64/256 QAM measure;
• QAM modulation diagram analysis with distortions diagnostics;
• MER measure;
• BER measure before and after FEC;
• Digital signal level measure;
• Analog signal level measure (option).

Outgoing stream analysis:

• BkER measure in return direction;
• Transmitted signal’s power and attenuation measure;
• Connection to PC via 10/100Base-T port;
• Digital video signal’s parameters measure;
• Status window display during connection to modem;
• Modular measuring platform.

CM100/250/500IP portable analyzers of analog and digital cable TV networks are optimal for cable TV networks testing. Operator exploiting analog cable TV network may have basic version of CM100IP signal level meter and upgrade it to CM250IP digital signal level meter with ability of measuring MER & BER to adapt itself to new requirements in field of measuring digital signals’ parameters offering new services. Or one can upgrade the same basic version to CM500IP with ability to measure MER, BER and cable modem parameters realizing high speed Internet access. Such devices provide economical growth strategy maximizing ROI.

CM250IP digital signal level meter

CM500IP cable TV networks analyzer

CM100/250/500IP devices’ main features
Measuring types	CM100IP	CM250IP	CM500IP
Analog signals measuring
Min and max career’s level	x	x	x
Video and audio levels ratio	x	x	x
Tilt and peak-to-min career’s level	x	x	x
Levels ratio in neighbor channels	x	x	x
Digital signals measuring
Min and max career’s level	x	x	x
Tilt and peak-to-min career’s level	x	x	x
MER		x	x
BER before and after FEC		x	x
Cable modem testing
Range and registration			x
Modem emulation			x
Incoming stream, career’s level, MER, BER before and after FEC			x
Data rate			x
Outgoing stream, career’s level, BkER			x
Return channel specter (option)	x	x	x

Due to organizing within networks some services provided for additional fee a need appears during installation to evaluate justification of incoming and outgoing streams. Digital systems operation is characterized by threshold connection drop. Why to risk caused by bad quality installation and expensive staff calls to household? Even inexperienced engineer will be sure in fast and quality equipment installation before he leave user’s house. Install Profiler series devices provide total automated testing during which measuring of exploitation parameters is being done guaranteeing sufficient reliability redundancy.

CM100IP provides automated measures of analog and digital signals level including specter scanning and digital signal power measure. CM250IP performs automated measuring analog and digital signals level plus MER, BER before and after FEC for signals with 64QAM or 256QAM modulation.

CM500IP performs automated measures of analog and digital signals level, measures of MER and BER for digital signals and tests point of connection a device to network at DOCSIS cable modem installation.

All three models have Smart automated testing function which is launched by pressing single button (automated tests according to selected program) with programmable limits for Pass/Fail thresholds. They guarantee compliance of operational parameters with values required for network.

Hukk CR1200R

Hukk CR1200R digital signal analyzer with ability of return channel testing provides 64/256 QAM and IF 44 MHz signals measuring, display with null interval for viewing cable modem’s return signals and transition processes. It also performs automated measures at checking all analog and digital channels. Device is equipped with hard waterproof coffer. Besides, CR1200R is full functional analog signal level meter and is fully compatible with DOCSIS modems.

CR1200R features functions of QAM diagram analysis and BER meter for modulated signal. Using it operator can quickly evaluate quality of equipment installation. Beside QAM measure CR1200R allows measure return channel path with full specter representation and gives a possibility to measure IF 44 MHz signals and fix return channel faults. Special mode with null interval gives user possibility to measure TDMA return channel signals such as 16 QAM or QPSK used in cable modems and telephony. A display with null interval can show real TDMA signals and fast transitions up to 10 µsec in duration.

Complexity of modern cable TV networks grows constantly. Every day users require new services with higher quality within the same network. Answering it Sunrise Telecom Company offers Calan N1776A portable cable TV networks analyzer. Device is a measuring platform with features according to modern requirements. It features flexibility allowing re-configure device relatively to appeared measuring needs. Calan N1776A includes specter analyzer and programmable signal source in 5 MHz…1.1 GHz bandwidth. Device allows perform automated measure of analog and digital signals and also frequency scanning in direct and return channels. Use of large 8.4" color display with VGA resolution and touch screen as well as Windows OS allow quickly learning all functions even for beginner.

Portable Calan N1776A cable TV networks analyzer

Digital signal measuring includes digital signal level in channel measure, QAM modulation diagram analysis, MER, BER and EVM measure. Device has waterproof and shake protected cabinet and weights 5.5 kg only. Time of operation from battery is up to 4 hours. Device has USB, serial and 10Base-T Ethernet ports, built-in speaker and microphone connector. Applications (CaLan N1776A) are being launched under Windows CE OS.

CaLan 3010/2010 scanning cable TV networks analyzers are designed for support all types of remote exploitation measure: from measures with scanning frequency in direct and return paths up to fault search connected to unauthorized service usage. All analyzers have possibility of measuring analog and digital signal level in 5 MHz…1 GHz bandwidth and are able to process information from 60 channels of video and audio careers in less than 2 sec.

3010/2010 analyzers include:

• 3010h — rack mounted unit supporting simultaneously up to 10 mobile 3010R devices in return path mode and unlimited number of mobile devices working as transmitter with frequency scan in direct and returns paths (052 option). This function allows operator really evaluate return path condition;
• 3010r — operational portable device providing frequency scanning for direct and return paths, return path specter analysis and SLM possibilities. 3010R can also operate as head unit for fixing intermitting problems in specific network’s segments;
• 3010b — device for direct path frequency scanning with SLM function. It can also receive information about errors transmitted by 3010H unit;
• 2010b — device with integrated possibility of comparison and analysis along with SLM measures. It can also receive information about errors transmitted by 3010H unit.

On cable TV market there are many companies which are in process of extending their networks features adding two-way transmission in purpose of realizing such services as fast data and multimedia transfer. The problem is in providing such services. Method is used based on insurance that subscribers have high quality uninterrupted data delivery for existing services. AccessCable system helps system operator provide it by means of following functions:

• Automated monitoring and remote testing;
• Return channel characteristics defining which is necessary for new services;
• Convenient GUI;
• SNMP interface for messaging about alarms to network control systems etc.

The need in fast and economical measuring in field at installation and maintenance of cable TV networks and at complex testing in all network points caused creation AT-2000R specialized specter analyzer for cable TV networks. Despite of its reach features this specter analyzer is simple and reliable.

Specialized AT-2000R specter analyzer for cable TV networks

AT-2000R’s main features:

• High sensitivity;
• Digital signal’s power measure;
• Fast specter scanning speed (100 MHz in 3 msec);
• Special modes for particular measure types;
• 60 sec setup time;
• Color LCD display;
• Moisture proof cabinet;
• Light weight, small size, ease of operation, power feed from built-in batteries (2.5 hours);
• Interface with PC.

Material is provided by Syrus Systems Company