S: 181 Ent Age Bandwidth Gave Cable Operators the Pole Position

UNICATIONS ENGINEERING & DESIGN GAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS

s: 181 ent age Bandwidth Gave Cable Operators the Pole Position. teenuge ip leg Aire' An*L But in The Race For Cyberspace Only Motorola Can Put You in The Winner's Circle.

Take The Checkered Flt The race for cyber space has reached the final lap and the stands are filled with subscribers anxiously waiting at the finish line. They won't notice who finishes second, so it's essential that you choose a vehicle that is second to none, Motorola's CyberSURFRTM cable modem. An exciting product of Motorola's CableComm technologies, the CyberSURFR modem drives data downstream at remarkably high speeds. Turning to the upstream path, it successfully outmaneuvers the inherent 114111Mit. noise ingress in HFC networks, accelerating information through at 768 kilobits per second. Thus connecting personal computers to a transmission system that delivers lightning fast multimedia communica- CyberSURFR' Cable Modem tions to your speed-hungry subscribers. And as these new speeds enable the next generation of applications and content, the protocol adapts to meet the needs. But speed alone is not enough. Unique technologies that economize precious cable spectrum, use of proven frequency agility techniques, forward error correction, and dynamic load balancing, provide your subscribers with ample bandwidth on demand. While standards based encryption protects their sensitive information. Innovation, reliability, quality and attention to detail will allow the winners to pull away from the rest of the pack. And since these characteristics are the hallmark of all Motorola products, no one else is more capable of helping you lap the competition. It's time to make your move from the pole position. Let Motorola fuel your race for cyberspace. Pull over and make a pit stop with us at the Western Cable Show, Booth #4334. See how Motorola's CableComm technology can become your system's new driving force, propelling your team into the final straightaway.

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Are these guys really ready to compete? MAGAZI NE Several of the Regional Bell Operating Companies have been caus- VP Group Publisher ing quite astir by arguing that they need new per-connection fees William McGorry from Internet Service Providers because, get this, business is too Publisher good. This is exactly the kind of thinking that has some Robert C. Stuehrk, [email protected] Editor of the RBOCs, unable to keep up with increased Roger Brown, [email protected] demand for more lines, cellular and other services, in Managing Editor trouble with local utility commissions. Dana Cer\ enka, [email protected] Specifically, Pacific Telesis, US West and Bell Associate Editor Atlantic are pointing to anew Bellcore study that says Michael Laffeny, [email protected] the increasing popularity of the Internet is clogging the Contributing Editors Leslie Ellis, [email protected] nation's telephone lines, making it much more likely Fred Dawson that callers are greeted with fast-busy signals instead of CONSULTING ENGINEERS acheery "hello" at the other end. Chairman Calls made to access the Internet average 22 minutes Wendell H. Bailey, NCTA VP, in length (and are bound to grow), vs. four minutes—the Science and Technology average length of avoice call. The frequency of these MEMBERS longer calls is chewing up telephone network capacity Jim Chiddix, Chief Technology Officer, Time Warner Cable and causing the RBOCs to take anew look at their his- Stephen D. Dukes, VP Technology, TCI torical traffic models. For example, PacTel took aclose Technology Ventures look at calling patterns in one area of the Silicon Valley David Fellows, Sr. VP, Engineering and and concluded that something like 16 percent of all calls Technology, Continental Cablevision RBOCs: did not connect, compared to the more typical one per- Tom Jokerst, Sr. VP, Engineering, Charter Communications cent rate. The problem could be exacerbated now that Earl Langenberg, Consultant America Online intends to allow unlimited access for a Dave Large, Principal, Media Connections Group Slapping flat fee. Robert Luff, President & CEO, TV/COM Instead of embracing the new demand, the telcos International seem to want to quell it by charging the ISPs—in Pete Smith, VP Engineering, Rifkin & Associates advance—to build more capacity through anetwork Joe Van Loan, Senior VP & COO, Mediacom their best LLC upgrade. To gain support from regulators, the telcos pre- Director of Sales &Marketing dictably put adark spin on the problem, suggesting that Scott C. Snyder, [email protected] customers lives could be in danger because emergency 911 calls National Accounts Managers might not be able to get through. Linda S. Sommer. [email protected] But some have already seen through the smokescreen. Already, Michael Tangney, [email protected] the service providers are crying foul—and so are several of the tele- Classified Sales Manager Tim Reeder; 800/866-0206 phone companies' largest customers. Assistant to the Publisher Intel, Microsoft, IBM, Compaq, Apple, Netscape, Digital, Michelle Pazar America Online and AT&T WorldNet, among others, have formed Production Manager the "DATA Coalition" to fight the new fee, which would ultimately Johanna McGinnis have to be passed on to the consumer. Such fees would create a Art Director chilling effect and reduce Internet demand, or so the coalition says. Don Ruth Telecom experts say the problem can be fixed by building more Assistant Art Director Anney Grossberg capacity or routing data traffic over frame relay networks. In other Address words, the telcos could simply take some of their record-level prof- 600 S. Cherry St., Suite 400 its, plow them back into their networks, and make even more money Denver, CO 80222 by selling more services. 303/393-7449; Fax 303/393-6654 Web site: http://www.cedmagazine.com The Telecom Act promised competition in telecommunications. The RBOCs will survive the new era primarily because of their Circulation Director Maria Gottlieb: (212) 887-8565 girth. But incidents like this show that their corporate cultures, based Associate Circulation Manager on monopolies, will take along time to change. Shay, nGreen: (212) 887-8564 Subscriber services CED P.O. Box 10728 Riverton, NJ 08076-0728 25ee.f)aa-frr- Telephone: 609/786-0501; Fax: 212/887-8493 CHILTON PUBLICATIONS Roger Brown Leon C. Hufnagel Jr., President Editor Christopher M. Savine, Sr. VP Finance Bill O'Brien, Sr. VP Communications Group

4 CEO : C OMMUNICATIONS E NGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 Ilaveteles Multi-User Stealth Reverse Sweep

Multi-User Capabilities... Get the latest Greater Performance... Only with the Wavetek Stealth do you enjoy in W.A. etek sweep technology. With precise measurements of forward and return path alignment and... the multi-user capabilities of the Stealth Reverse Sweep System, your sweep technicians can •Up to 10 simultaneous users simultaneously perform reverse sweeps and help eliminate the •50dBmV output to help eliminate corruption from ingress impact of ingress on the measurement. •In-service signal analyzer for C/N and hum •Noise and ingress spectrum display MOM Pffliehl... Engineered for powerful performance, the •Automated 24-hour testing capability Stealth Reverse Sweep has +50dBmV output to ensure •High-resolution, easy-viewing LCD screens measurement capability, even in high ingress and noise •Rugged/water resistant hand-held field unit environments or with high-loss test points. Sweep techs can quickly and easily perform sweeps, identify problem areas, COMM-. The Stealth Reverse Sweep System is just part of and troubleshoot with the handheld Stealth. Wavetek's complete line of quality test and measurement equipment. We pioneered the SAM ... Sweepless Sweep ... and, The Stealth is precision engineered to save time, simplify testing, Return Sweep. Each product delivers all the performance, reduce fatigue, and gain comprehensive results. No wonder the precision, speed, and ease of use you demand — at avalue you Stealth is preferred by technicians around the world. expect -from the leader. We are your signal meter specialists. Power up for the interactive revolution with the Stealth Multi-User Reverse Sweep System. In the U.S. call, 1-800-622-5515 See us at the Western Show, Booth #1518 WarldwIte Ulu Offices United States (1) 317-788-9351 Wavetek...partners in productivity for over 35 years United Kingdom (44) 1603-404-824 Southeast Asia (65) 356-2522 France (33) 1-4746-6800 Asia Pacific (852) 2788-6221 Germany (49) 89-996-410 China (86) 10-6500-2255 Eastern Europe (43) 1-214-5110 Japan (81) 427-57-3444 W AVŒTŒ http://mwimaveteLcom C ONTENTS

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56 New slant on operational issues By Andy Paff, Integration Technologies To begin an OSS development program, ops must first understand where they are now, and where they want to be in the long run.

62 Return systems 102 By Thomas J. Staniee, The Excalibur Group, aTime Warner Company About the Cover Photo by Mark Sims The second part of aprimer on the return path, this article covers issues relating to setup, troubleshooting, equipment and test systems. 76 CableNET '96 amelting pot of vendors, technology By Dana Cervenka photo by Mark Si/ny Western Show attendees can find out how to troubleshoot the dreaded cable modem installation and more at this year's CableNET '96 exhibit, produced by CableLabs. 38 Wrapping up management solutions 78 GI, Rogers test 256 QAM data over HFC By Marc Rrba and Paul Matuszak, General Instrument Corp. with OSS General Instrument reports rosy results of its first extensive field tests of the 256 QAM system, By Michael Lafferty in conjunction with Rogers Cablesystems Limited. Integrated, standards-based management solutions are critical to cable's future 92 Is ADSL roadkill under broadband's wheels? success in the competitive marketplace. By Alan Stewart Where ADSL technology is concerned, the reality and the expectation are out of whack. 48 The cost of workforce management 100 CableLabs: Mapping the industry's future By Jan Lubin and Leigh Hane.\, By Roger Brown Arrowsmith Technologies Inc. A Q&A with CableLabs President and CEO Dr. Richard Green. Workforce automation programs have been promising operational savings. Do they work? How much time and money can be 108 Power distribution cables in HFC networks saved? Br Dan Ken; Continental (ablevision; and Mark Alrutz, CommScope ini Singing the merits of the new aluminum coaxial power feeder cable.

114 Power on the fly By Roger Brown SCIE Real progress is being made in using the flywheel as an alternative to batteries for standby power.

• 116 The effects of analog and digital signals CED magazine is recognized by the Society By M. Stephen McConnell, Scientific-Atlanta of Cable Telecommunications Engineers. What effect does adding adigital tier have on analog signals, and vice versa?

01996 Capital Cities Media. Inc. All rights reserved. CED e aregistered trademark of Capital Cities Media. Inc. CED (USPS 330-510) (ISSN 1044-2871) is published monthly except twice in May by Chilton Publications. A Capital Cities/A3C Publehing Group. 825 7th Ave.. New York. NY 10019. Volume 22, Number 13. U.S. domestic subscriptions are S54. Outside USA. subscriptions are $75 for surface delivery or 596 for air speed delivery, prepaid in U.S. funds drawn on aU.S. branch bank. Periodicals postage paid at New York. NY 10019 and addition tl mailing offices. CED is published on behalf of the cable television and broadband communications industries. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to CED Circulation. RO. Box 10728. Riverton, NJ 08076-0728. MEMBERS OF THE BPA. Canadn Post International Publications Mail Product (Canadian distribution) Sales Agreement No. 649945. Punted in U.S.A.

6 CEO : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING 81 D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 uT here's the satellite and broad- how MSOs regarded frequency- innovation. And we aren't stopping YY band technology that bridges agile performance? Or our space- now. Th learn the latest about the the gap between yesterday and saving, cost-saving CSG-60 BTSC right technology for right now, use tomorrow? Right here at Standard. stereo generator? Or the CATV that old tried and true technology From our first frequency-agile industry's top-selling IRD, the one- at the bottom of this ad. receivers and modulators to the rack-high Agile IRD-II? Give us acall. breakthrough innovations of the Standard will help you cope still-emerging Stratum series of with the challenges of bandwidth The Right Technology for Right Now. advanced network modulation expansion with our new TVM550 equipment, Standard has been in frequency agile modulator and a the forefront of headend technology, changing industry with advanced Standard Communications offering value, ease of use, space technologies like our remarkable saving design and exceptional sig- Stratum Series of signal distribu- SATELLITE & BROADBAND nal quality. tion products. Stratum can put 78 PRO11:61-JCTS Cil\/ISIC>C•1 Need examples? How about our channels in asix-foot rack space, P.O. Box 92151 •Los Angeles, CA 90009-2151 Agile Omni Broadcast series, very and give you all the status moni- 310/532-5300 ext. 280 •WI Free 800/745-2445 possibly the most acclaimed com- toring, redundancy and remote Fax: 800/722-2329 ri•ea Free) •310/532-0397 (CA& Intl Only) mercial satellite TV receivers of control you could ask for. Canadian Address: 41 Industrial Pkwy S., Units 5& 6 Aurora, Ontario Canada L4G-3Y5 all time? Or our TVM series of Year after year, Standard has 905/841-7557 Main • Fax: 905/841-3693 modulators that revolutionized continued atradition of quality and Sales: 800/638-4741 All the technology you need.

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12 Color Bursts 4In Perspective Compiled by Roger Brown By Roger Brown Are the Regional Bell Operating Companies 30 FiberLine really ready to compete? Not if their recent By Roger Brown demands for new per-connection fees from ISPs are any indication. Are HFC networks at the breaking point? 124 Telecom Perspective 20 Spotlight By Fred Dawson By Dana Cervenka Web giants seek avideo streaming standard. Com2 l's VP and CTO, Mark Laubach, has a passion for standards (if not for standards 130 New Products meetings). He's on aquest to make cable Illustration by Garry Nichols. SIS modems fit into the real world. 135 Return Path 22 Frontline 137 News By Wendell Bailey, NCTA This month. Bailey sends his holiday wish list for the cable industry. 157 What's Ahead 24 Farmer's Market READER SERVI By Jim Farmer, Antec Farmer continues his discussion of bandwidth reduction by looking at how color was added to the black-and-white television system. 110 Ad Index 26 Capital Currents 111 Internet Directory By Jeffrey Krauss, Telecommunications and Technology Policy The telephone industry has raised anew complaint—that Internet subscribers are messing 138 Western Show Booth Guide up telephone networks because the networks weren't designed for that much traffic. But Krauss says the telco monopoly mindset must change to adapt to customer demand. 150 Classifieds 106 Canadian cable ops put financial house in order By James Careless PRODU After years of digging itself into debt, the Canadian cable industry is trying to dig itself out. 158 Ciciora's Corner 149 Product/Services Showcase By Walter S. Ciciora, Ph.D. Believe it or not, there has been abreakthrough in the negotiations between the cable indus- See the latest products and services showcased try and the consumer electronics industry. The compromise? To consider having two levels of in adisplay format. "cable ready" products.

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8 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 •›-dee

Is ingress making your return path a road to nowhere?

Ingress is the major roadblock to getting your return path up and running. Fortunately, there's the new HP CaLan Sweep/Ingress Analyzer. It's the only test gear that allows you to quickly and accurately troubleshoot your system, regardless of the presence of ingress.

When ingress corrupts reverse-path com- Now you can munication, the headend unit (HP CaLan 3010H) troubleshoot your senses the problem instantly, and transfers the display of the ingress problem to the field unit system at all times. (HP CaLan 3010R). That means your technicians No matter how can begin troubleshooting immediately. much ingress

And of course, the HP CaLan Sweep/Ingress Analyzer is present. offers DigiSweep, the industry's fastest, non- interfering, digital-services compatible forward and reverse sweep. In fact, reverse sweep measurements can be performed in real- time — even with multiple users.

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Home Internet access. Small business networking. Telecommuting. Metropolitan area networking. A flood of new data services will be delivered over cable net-works. The right technology partner can be areal lifesaver. And no other company is better prepared to help you reap the rewards of offering these data-over-cable services than 3Com. Data networking may be uncharted territory for you, but it's second nature to us. We invented the technology that enables networking and can offer you the most comprehensive end-to-end solutions available — from the switches and routers that manage the data on your end, to the Ethernet network interface cards and cable modems at the subscriber end. We offer scalable solutions that will grow as your business grows. Plus, 3Com service and support are close at hand to help. Along with technology, we can share with you awealth of knowledge gained from years of experience as the leader in networking technology. Before you jump into the fast-moving cable data networking market, connect with someone who See us at the Western Cable Show, booth 4747. And our cable modem knows these waters partner, Com21, in booth 4835. very well — 3Com. cable? SYSTEMS 40 COLOR BURSTS

with worst-case of 99.5 percent. S-A enters high-speed data market, The results thrilled Nick Hamilton-Piercy, Rogers' senior VP of engineering and technology, who has already ordered alarge quantity offering telco return unit for $199 of set-tops that make use of the modulation pulling back on their capital scheme. "It worked beautifully," says expenditures, Steipp says the Hamilton-Piercy. "The only place it didn't decision was agood one because work was where analog doesn't either." it allows them to offer alow-cost In fact, Rogers is enamored enough with the product that operators can product that it plans to delay its digital launch deploy, and get areturn on their until next year, when the set-tops are available. investment within 24 months. Not only that, but the company will digitize its Not only is S-A offering the entire channel lineup to make sure customers modem, but the company is also don't see adifference in quality between an touting its ability to provide a analog and digital tier. "If you can get 30 per- turnkey service, including Sun cent to 40 percent more bandwidth, why not?" servers, amodem pool from asks Hamilton-Piercy. Today, 256-QAM boxes Ascend Communications, a cost about $20 more than their 64-QAM router from Cisco Systems and cousins, but that could drop to about $5 per headend software based on box in time, he notes. Other operators, while interested to hear the Scientific-Atlanta's new telephone-return high-speed data Hewlett-Packard's Open View modem, dubbed the "dataXcellerator," will debut on the system. Furthermore, through a tests went well, plan to deploy 64-QAM tech- market next year. Florida network operations cen- nology first and save the additional bandwidth ter the company already owns, gains for the advent of HDTV. Convinced that the time is right for alow- S-A could also perform remote network moni- (For amore detailed discussion of the tests, cost, telephone return data modem, Scientific- toring functions, further reducing an operator's see the story on page 78 of this issue.) Atlanta announced it plans to build such aunit initial capital outlay. In arelated announcement, GI said it would and sell it for $199 in volume, beginning next Field trials of the units are expected to com- offer, without royalty fees, its patents to other year. mence shortly, with undisclosed operators, manufacturers who desire to conform to the Dubbed the "dataXcellerator," the unit has says Steipp. Volume production of the units ITU and SCTE standards for digital cable been designed to utilize existing, proven tech- should be available in the first quarter of 1997. transmission. Those standards, agreed to in nology in order to allow cable operators to recent weeks, will allow cable operators to offer high-speed data services over their net- purchase set-tops, modems and other customer works and realize aquicker return on invest- GI, Rogers test premise equipment that interoperates. The ment, according to Thomas Steipp, VP and agreement gets around long-standing propri- GM of high-speed data systems at S-A. 256-QAIVI in field etary approaches that created widespread com- Although the company has entered the Although cable operators are struggling to patibility conflicts. modem race late, Steipp says the entrance deploy digital set-tops in their race to offer Specifically, GI will offer up its QAM mod- appears to be timed perfectly, as more and increased channel counts, work continues to ulation and forward error correction technolo- more operators are preparing to offer data ser- improve those devices and provide even better gy to companies that agree to cross-license, on vices soon and establish acompetitive beach- economics of scale. reciprocal terms, any relevant patents they head, rather than waiting until their networks General Instrument, not content with the de may have which are necessary to conform to are two-way operational, and interoperable facto industry standard 64-QAM scheme, the standard. modems appear in the market. recently field-tested 256-QAM over several Industry observers applauded the move, In fact, S-A's decision to offer telco return cable systems owned by Rogers Cablesystems, calling it necessary for the recently-adopted represents something of atrend, as General and announced the tests acomplete success. standard to gain market acceptance among Instrument, Zenith Electronics and Hybrid The higher-order quadrature amplitude modu- multiple manufacturers, making more units Networks have also developed similar prod- lation method effectively gives cable operators available to cable operators. ucts. 44 percent more channel capacity through The new unit, the first in aplanned family more efficient use of the spectrum. of products that will eventually include aunit The tests, which were performed in August, TCI begins rollout with RF return, features a1.2 Mbps (megabits were conducted at 21 different sites served by per second) downstream signal speed that most five different headends in and around the of digital video users will find more than adequate because Toronto area. Areas tested included those Nearly four years after promising the world most personal computers can only handle a which were recently upgraded with fiber optic cable systems of 500 channels or more, Tele- 3Mbps input at best, says Steipp. gear, including one fiber link of 55 kilometers, Communications Inc. finally began deploying S-A decided earlier this year not to offer a to asystem with no fiber and 38 amplifiers in digital video to residents in West Hartford, "me too" product based on quadrature ampli- cascade. Fifteen-minute tests resulted in error- Conn. in late October. tude modulation downstream and QPSK free performance, while overnight tests aver- The roll-out of "ALL tv" is considered as a upstream. In the wake of some operators aged 99.9 percent error-free performance. watershed event, though the news has lost its

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luster over time as the cable industry was programmers for price breaks and asking pro- interval and cable-TV set-top boxes are used plagued with numerous delays. In fact, the grammers and service providers like @Home to send and retrieve the data, along with a cable industry lost its digital lead years ago and TCI Telephony Services to help pay for small, inexpensive wireless keyboard. and has had to witness DBS services deploy network upgrades or set-tops. In addition, viewers will be able to interact the technology sooner. Finally, TCI has licensed asuite of interac- with TV program content as advertisers hyper- The name for the new service was chosen tive telecommunications patents from Ronald link their commercials to their Websites. Also, because it offers consumers more choice, more A. Katz Technology Licensing to process TVOL will offer access to the "Community parental control and anew interactive program interactive transactions. Other major patent Cyber-Center," which offers avariety of local- guide, according to ICI executives. Along licensees include American Express, First Data ized content and information on local schools, with the traditional expanded basic lineup, the Corp., MCI Communications and Home churches, restaurants, theaters, retail shops and new service offers 25 premium movie chan- Shopping Network. classified ads. nels, 18 special interest channels, 40 channels Katz is the holder of more than 30 patents, Separately, WorldGate licensed Spyglass's of Digital Music Express music and 37 primarily in telecommunications and comput- Web Client Software Development Kit to enhanced pay-per-view channels with movies ing. Katz formed Telecredit Inc., the nation's provide browser technology for the TVOL starting every half-hour. first on-line, real-time credit and check cashing service. The Spyglass technology will allow The Prevue Interactive program guide is authorization system. TVOL to implement Web browsing on exist- also offered. It provides updated programming ing set-tops, making expensive hardware information, impulse purchase of PPV events upgrades in the home unnecessary. Spyglass and movies, program reminders and easy 5MSOs commit is awell-known licenser of Web client/server browsing of all the channels. technologies. In aseparate announcement, the company to test TV On-Line said it was splitting its cable operations into Five major cable TV network operators three separate groups in order to better orga- intend to field trial the "TV On-Line" data ser- GI breaks ground nize its systems into units that share similar vice from WorldGate Communications, start- needs. ing in January. on new corp. campus Group A will consist of large urban and Comcast, Cablevision Systems, Adelphia, Driven by tremendous growth and aneed metro systems that are preparing to offer new Charter and Telewest Communications to consolidate its operations from the 11 services over advanced cable systems. Barry Scotland (owned by TCI and US West) have buildings the company now occupies, Marshall, who had been executive VP, will be all agreed to test the Internet access via the TV General Instrument's Communications president of this group. service using existing General Instrument and Division broke ground on anew, 70-acre site Group B will consist of systems that are Scientific-Atlanta analog addressable set-tops that will soon feature four linked buildings in ripe for the ALL tv digital service. Marvin that are capable of receiving data at 100 kilo- acampus-like environment. The company Jones, a38-year cable veteran and formerly of bits per second. In addition, plans are being hopes to begin aphased move-in beginning Liberty Media and United Artists, will head made to test the service over digital set-tops, at the end of 1997. this group. which allow data to be sent as fast as 27 The 390,000-square-foot facility, located in Finally, Group C will encompass the megabits per second. Horsham, Pa., not far from the company's pre- Hartford, Chicago and San Francisco systems, TV On-Line will allow television viewers to sent headquarters building, will roughly dou- where All tv, "People Link by TCI" (a wire- gain access to the Internet and the World Wide ble the amount of space the company now line telephony service) and @Home (high- Web without having to purchase or use aper- occupies, but will bring employees closer in speed data service) will be offered over the sonal computer. Instead, the vertical blanking proximity while organizing them by business same network. Barbara Mowry, presently senior VP of customer satisfaction, will pre- side over those systems. The company is expected to announce management and organizational changes to fit into the new structure, and will announce which of its systems will be placed in each group. The new structure appears to fit with TCI's recent announcements to Wall Street, which said the company would scale back its capital expenditures on expensive network upgrades in an attempt to shore up its financial performance. Creditors are close to rating TCI's stock at the "junk" level, which could have serious financial implications for the country's largest cable MSO. In response to those concerns, TCI has already announced awide-ranging way to General Instrument broke ground last month for its new Eastern Operations headquarters. improve its cash flow to include reducing capi- The S70 million project will include separate buildings for the company's analog, digital and tal expenditures, arate increase, leaning on transport business units.

14 CED : C OMMUNICATIO NS E NGINEERING & DE SIG N D ECEMBER 1996 CABLE TV OFFERS AWORLD OF OPTIONS.

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units. The new construction represents an accord regarding the Tempo/TeleSat transac- Electrical connector firm Thomas & Betts investment of nearly $70 million by GI, tion. The FCC rejected TCI's bid to use Corp. is poised to acquire Augat Inc. for according to Ed Breen, president of GI's Canadian slots for aU.S. DBS service. about $550 million. The acquisition, expected Eastern Operations division. By launching and parking the bird at 119 to close by the end of this year, will make When it's finished, the new site will be able degrees, PrimeStar will have access to 11 Thomas & Betts one of the five largest con- to accommodate about 1,300 employees. If transponders, allowing it to offer between 70 nector companies ... Nynex CableComms growth continues, the company has an option and 80 channels to subscribers who install a has chosen to use Motorola's CyberSurfr on acontiguous 20 acres and could construct 13.8-inch dish. With new, more efficient com- high-speed data modem for afield trial in yet another building, says Breen. pression algorithms on the horizon, PrimeStar Britain. The trial will initially involve 200 In the new facility, the company will have officials say they will be able to offer more modems and associated equipment in Nynex's more room to do engineering and research than 150 channels ultimately. northwestern franchise areas and Manchester and development work, says Breen. For In the meantime, PrimeStar intends to nur- .Turner Broadcasting Corp. has chosen example, engineers will be able to construct ture its medium-powered service, which boasts Scientific-Atlanta's PowerVu digital video end-to-end systems and test them—some- nearly 1million subscribers. The company's compression system to deliver programming to thing that is nearly impossible to do in the plan to launch asuccessor to the GE-2 satellite Latin America. Turner will transition The present facilities. is still set for late January 1997, which will Cartoon Network and TNT Latin America to allow it to offer about 50 new channels. PowerVu from B-MAC by the end of the year. MMDS operator American Telecasting Blonder and S-A Inc. will work with MCI Zenith selects OS Telecommunications to test high-speed in patent squabble Internet access via the wireless spectrum. The Details are few, but Scientific-Atlanta has for Americast box test is expected to occur in Colorado Springs filed alawsuit against Blonder-Tongue The Americast digital set-top box that and other locations to be determined. Laboratories, alleging patent infringement Zenith Electronics will be building is begin- Cellular Vision of New York has finished related to the development of B-T's ning to take shape. Zenith recently completed installation of two new LMDS transmitters, "VideoMask" interdiction equipment. atechnology agreement with DiviCom Inc. to giving the company seven such sites. The new The interdiction gear is used by video signal design the box and will use its manufacturing cells serve roughly 340,000 residences in mid- providers to "jam" signals to unauthorized facilities to integrate its power supplies with town Manhattan and Northwest Queens.. . homes, making those signals unwatchable. S-A DiviCom decoding and modulation equipment, The International Conference on Consumer developed an interdiction system several years along with Microware Systems Corp.'s Electronics is accepting technical paper sub- ago, but cable operators never really embraced DAVIDLite operating system. missions until January 15, 1997. The ICCE is the technology because of powering, cost and The Americast consortium consists of held annually to promote atechnical exchange signal theft questions. Ameritech Corp., BellSouth Corp., GTE between engineers and scientists in the con- B-T's product has been chosen by Pacific Corp., SBC Communications and Southern sumer electronics industry. The conference is Bell Video Services for deployment in north- New England Telecommunications Corp. The scheduled to occur in Chicago, June 9-13. For ern California. This lawsuit is not expected to group recently contracted with Zenith to pur- information, contact Diane Williams at affect that purchase order, according to compa- chase up to 3million units in adeal that is 716/392-3862 ... Scientific-Atlanta has been ny sources. worth about $1 billion as each of those compa- selected by Gulf Power Co. to provide two- Blonder-Tongue issued apress release nies begins to roll out video services. The set- way, interactive advanced energy management acknowledging S-A's complaint, but said that tops will be designed with network interface through its MainGate technology. The system outside patent counsel had reviewed the suit, modules so that they can be integrated into will be rolled out to 40,000 northwest Florida the product design and prior art and advised MMDS, DBS, hybrid fiber/coax or switched homes over the next seven to eight years, B-T not to expect any liability. digital video networks. beginning next May. The MainGate system DAVIDLite is asmall-footprint version of allows communication between customers' Microware's 0S-9-based DAVID operating homes and the utility to manage energy sales PrimeStar set to go system that is used in several interactive TV during peak usage times. Customers are con- applications. The "Lite" version allows for nected via aVHF paging interface, with atele- to high-power service reduced interactive capabilities. phone return back to the utility .... Speaking Spurned in its efforts to acquire satellite As of presstime, Zenith had not announced of S-A, the company was recently awarded licenses from other interests both here in the which access control and encryption it was with an Enuny in recognition of its work in U.S. and in Canada, PrimeStar partners and planning to use. Tele-Communications Inc. plan to launch a digital video compression systems... high-powered direct-broadcast satellite at 119 NextWave, MCI and Lucent will demonstrate degrees west longitude sometime next year. Jottings and test Lucent's CDMA-based PCS equip- The company is already preparing one of its Joe Van Loan has landed on his feet again. ment. Digital mobile service trials have two Loral satellites for aFebruary launch from After ashort sabbatical caused by the buyout already started, and MCI has already installed Cape Canaveral, Fla., according to astatement of Cablevision Industries, the well-known ademo system at its Washington, D.C. head- issued by the company. engineer has taken ajob with startup cable quarters .. . Oak Industries has purchased a PrimeStar was forced to use the 119- operator MediaCom as its senior VP and chief 17 percent interest in Gilbert Engineering degree orbital slot after U.S. and Canadian operating officer. You can find him in and has agreed to acquire the 15 percent inter- trade agencies were unable to reach an Middletown, N.Y. at 914/692-9090 .. . est held by Gilbert managers.. .. CIED

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Mark Laubach became afirm believer in standards systems architect, and finally, senior engineer/scientist and interoperability early in his career. While pursuing with HP's Media Technology Laboratory in Palo Alto, a master's degree in computer science at the University Calif. In that post, one of his final projects was design- of Delaware, part of his thesis consisting an end-to-end systems architecture for next genera- ed of aproject that would cause many tion interactive video and community networks. Partly Laubach: lesser humans to rip their hair out: as aresult of that work, Laubach began to see the finding away to link aproprietary promise of broadband data access directly to the home, e-mail system to the Internet, enabling and consequently, the allure of joining Com21. Solving the e-mail messages to pass back and forth, And once Com21 becomes ahousehold word in cable where no gateway had previously exist- modems, can Laubach take abreather? "It's not like a ed. "I adapted (an existing) protocol," pen, or amousetrap, or azipper," he notes, "which peo- recalls Laubach, "and wrote Idon't ple can invent and retire off of it. This is atechnological standards know how many thousands of lines of jungle, and you constantly have to improve on the prod- Pascal in order to port the system so we uct, until you can figure out the market and what's going could get mail in and out it." to sell for the longterm: new products, new features, puzzle Apparently that experience marked new differentiation, while still trying to keep in mind the him for life, because today, as vice best interests of cable operators." president, chief technology officer and With the aim of furthering those interests, Laubach co-founder of cable modem supplier advises that operators should judge cable modems in Com2 I, Laubach has thrown himself terms of flexibility, scalability and ease of use: "Does it wholeheartedly into the standards help them get their business done better? The cable process, working with groups like the modem system has to be synergistic with their environ- IETF (Internet Engineering Task ment. Does it help them do additional things, like man- Force), the IEEE (in its 802.14 commit- age their upstream plant? Is there some robustness in the tee) and the SCIE. future, that allows them to add new services, without "I have always been a believer in having to buy yet another set of hardware?" he explains. standards, especially for the Internet," says Laubach. "It's the only way to get Communing with "The Tick" things to begin to interoperate." That Without adoubt, Laubach has alot on his profes- commitment is proven out by a number sional plate. "I don't want to say that standards meet- of accomplishments, including ings have replaced my social life, but ..," his voice Laubach's authoring of an IETF inter- trails off in laughter. "I'm trying to get back to having Mark Laubach national standard, "Classical IP and ARP over ATM." a more balanced life." He has also acted as a liaison between the ATM One of the balancing forces in Laubach's life is Lindy, Forum's Residential Broadband Working Group and the his seven-and-a-half-year-old, floppy-eared Doberman, IEEE 802.14 CATV MAC and PHY Working Group. who keeps him "sane." Another is afondness for good In his present role at Com21, Laubach handles the animation, honed, he says, by growing up on quality car- analysis and specification of the company's current and toons like the original "Looney Tunes" series, with its next generation modem system architecture. trademark overtones of adult humor. These days, when Essentially, he's responsible for how the protocols, the he wakes up bleary-eyed on aSaturday morning, interfaces and all the rest of the pieces fit together— Laubach tunes into "The Tick," while he pays bills and and that includes the design of Com21's media access checks his e-mail. (For the uninitiated, "The 'lick" fea- control (MAC) protocol. tures avariety of somewhat twisted super heroes, includ- A firm believer in ATM (asynchronous transfer ing the title character, who battle the forces of darkness.) mode) technology, Laubach clicked with Com21 Laubach, who was the first engineer hired at Com21, founder Paul Baran (the inventor of packet switching, is looking forward to the day when he can revisit some which led to the Internet) when David Farber, of his hobbies that have fallen victim to Silicon-Valley - Laubach's professor and mentor, introduced the two in startup-company syndrome. In his former life, he pursued 1994. "We know that ATM forms ageneral purpose, adrenaline rushes via skydiving, piloting small planes scalable architecture that supports avariety of services," and scuba diving. Now, because of time constraints (or explains Laubach. "And we have apassion at Com21 maybe it's the adrenaline rush from those standards for wanting to enable integrated services." meetings), Laubach is more likely to roller-blade and ride his bike around the bay and mountains where he lives. Technology ambassador But sacrificing afew hobbies to achieve his goals Laubach has more than 15 years of experience in doesn't seem to bother him abit. Laubach sums up his computing and networking technologies, the bulk of wish for Com2 l's modem offering: "That we develop a which were spent with Hewlett-Packard, where he system which best matches the flexible and entrepre- started out as a technical writer. From that position, he neurial spirit of cable operators." launched himself into becoming a design engineer, a —Dana Cervenka

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Itseems that every year about this time, people who or we might not know is an even more troubling write columns are accosted by their editors with the thought for the future. So, please, Santa, bring some plea that they produce aChristmas wish list. Where do order and sanity to this little spot. people who are trained in the journalis- Having all of these wishes granted will only help tic arts get this urge? Anyway, here we us along acertain amount to wherever we might be Bailey's are at the Western Show, and here Iam going. We can and will go further if we have more with my Christmas wish list for the two-way plant in place. So for this wish, Iwould ask cable television industry. for avigorous and sustained push by our industry to wish list for First, I wish, hope and pray for the provision and activate two-way plant everywhere we successful completion of the cable can. Today, some folks say that the amount of two- modem standards by the first moments way activated plant in our industry represents about following the dispatch of the wrapping 20 percent of our subscriber base. If that is true (I the cable paper from under the tree. The work of think that it might be), then we have agood start on CableLabs and the MCNS group is what we need to accomplish here. more important for our future than It's not just that we can offer better pay-per-view industry most of us know. The world is waiting or shop-at-home or telephony or more exciting Web for this product, and we are the ones surfing, it is all of those things and more. True, two- who can deliver it. way plant takes the cable infrastructure out of the I know that there are afew cable forward-biased model that we have and opens up the people who don't think that this is nec- possibility to sell not just entertainment but commer- essarily the best way to go, but think cial services, long-haul interconnects and other cool about it this way: If we get cable things. We have an infrastructure that is more capable modems, and data turns out to be a than any ever built. Making it complete by making it loser of abusiness, will you have done two-way just makes sense. anything to your plant that causes you Iwould also wish for an end to the endless wran- problems later? Probably not. Will you gling over the FCC-ordered interconnection rules. The have done anything to your engineer- RBOCs need to stop whining and get on with the ing, customer service and marketing game. They started this; they promised more blue-sky departments that will be useful for stuff in the last two years than the cable television whatever business you wish to pursue? industry promised in the last 30 years. So enough, Probably so. See what I mean? This is already. The FCC proposed aset of rules and regula- awin-win deal if the standards get tions that faithfully implemented the intent of By Wendell Bailey, completed, and the vendors make the modems, and the Congress. It's time to put up or shut up, and Iwould VP of Science retailers sell them to everyone who wants one. appreciate it if Santa would tell them so. and Technology, NCTA I'm sure that you all can anticipate this next one— Santa: Please, some sanity an end to the compatibility negotiations. We have made Next, I would wish for amassive and multiple some remarkable progress in the last few weeks, and at release of digital set-top boxes from any and all ven- the Western Show, we will have what I hope are the dors who make them. There is an agreement in place meetings that will move us ever-closer to the end of the that sets some standards for the basic operations of longest ad hoc committee assignment that many of you these boxes, and afew are actually in paying cus- have ever accepted. The effort is now entering its tomers' homes. Many more will be there by the time twelfth year. Please Santa—make it stop. you see this article, and many million are "on order." Icould also ask for alittle understanding from the It really is quite simple—the more of these things that FCC on the issue of Emergency Alerting Systems we have in our subscribers' homes, the fewer of those (EAS). We all care about the need for participation in subs who will consider going to an alternate provider this important national effort, but thousands of dollars of video programming. for headends that serve only 100 subs is asking too While I'm on the digital kick, how about awish much. The Commission usually understands the that the digital standards-setting groups will coalesce issues that our smaller operators have, but in this par- into asingle committee with no more than 10 engi- ticular case, we wonder if it understands the impact of neers involved? There are literally hundreds of com- rules crafted to fit one concept of acable system, Have acomment? mittees involved in setting digital standards for when those rules are applied to any and all cable sys- Contact Wendell somebody, and each of them pulls together at least tems. via e-mail at: 100 engineers (and afew lawyers) every time that [email protected] they meet—and they meet regularly. Just keeping the Peace, understanding and digital information book up-to-date is adaunting task. In the end, maybe all Icould wish for is alittle more Trying to actually figure out what each of these com- understanding from the FCC, and alittle more under- mittees is doing, and to whom, is all but impossible. standing from our management about the next request Yet as impossible as that seems, the prospect that you that we put through for anything digital. CIED

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Atthis colorful time of the year, what could be more letter Y. (Why Y? Ihave no idea.) We treat the luma appropriate than continuing to discuss bandwidth signal to alot of bandwidth, theoretically giving it the reduction in the early years, by looking at how color full 4.2 MHz of the NTSC system. This signal can be was added to ablack-and-white televi- fed to ablack-and-white TV, so we are backwards sion system. OK, so alot of things are compatible. Seasonal more appropriate, but I'm abit strange. Recall from high school algebra, that if there are The second National Television three unknowns to be solved, there'd better be three System Committee (NTSC) was con- independent equations. The receiver needs three signals colors and vened in the early '50s to add color to for the red, green and blue guns in the picture tube, so it the existing black-and-white televi- had better get three signals from which to derive the sion system. From film work, it was gun drives. One signal is the luma signal, so we are known that one could fool the eye down to needing two others. These two signals are bandwidth into seeing almost any color, if the called the color difference signals, because they are eye was presented with the correct developed by taking the difference between the luma proportion of three colors known as signal and the red and green signals. We write these sig- reduction the primary colors. When one is talk- nals as R-Y and B-Y, and we call them "RY" and "BY:' ing about producing three colors and These two signals can be filtered to alower bandwidth combining them, the primary colors than can the luma signal, because the eye is not as sen- are red, green and blue. (Hey, two are sitive to sharpness of color information. For simplicity, Christmas colors! Iknew there was a I'll leave out one step in the process at this point, dur- tie-in somewhere.) ing which the axes of these signals are rotated. An easy answer would have been to We are left with the problem of cramming these two simply transmit three pictures: one of signals into the same spectrum occupied by the luma the red scene content, one of the green signal. This can be done by taking advantage of the and one of the blue. But if you do that, fact that the luma signal has little energy in the upper you take up three channels, where you portion of its spectrum—we can sneak another signal in had one for black-and-white, so this that portion of the spectrum. We do so by modulating doesn't seem to be such agood idea. the two color difference signals onto two carriers, each Alternatively, you could sequentially at about 3.58 MHz. transmit ared picture, agreen one and How can we modulate two different signals onto ablue one. If you do it fast enough, the carriers at the same frequency, and keep them separate? eye will put the three together as one It is beyond what we can go into here, but one can By Jim Farmer, color picture. In fact, such asystem was our national show that two signals can be modulated onto two carri- Chief Technical Officer, standard, but only for ashort time. ers at the same frequency, then demodulated indepen- Antec So how does one cram three pictures in the spec- dently, IF the two carriers are 90 degrees out of phase trum of one? One trick is to recognize that the eye per- with each other. A 90-degree relationship is called a ceives sharpness primarily in the black-and-white "quadrature" relationship, so we call the two signals image, not in colors. So, if instead of transmitting three "in-phase" and "quadrature" components (usually complete, full bandwidth images, we make up ablack- called "i" and "q"). The i channel is filtered to 1300 and-white picture from the color pictures, and transmit KHz, and the qto 600. it at full resolution (bandwidth), we can transmit color information at lower bandwidth. The eye won't know Smart reduction we robbed it of sharpness. Thus, we have succeeded in taking ablack-and- So how do you make ablack-and-white picture out white television system, and adding color in away that of three pictures in the primary colors? You do it the maintains compatibility with older black-and-white way the HVS (human visual system) does it. Add each sets, and doesn't take any more spectrum than the primary color in the same proportion that the eye per- black-and-white signal. We did it by being smart about ceives it. If you look at achart of the sensitivity of the removing unneeded information from the signal. Talk HVS to the three primary colors, you see that we are about skill in bandwidth reduction! And it was done most sensitive to green, as it is in the middle of the without computer simulation. We'll talk more about the eye's optical passband (which isn't very flat, by the color subcarrier in the future. Have acomment? way). So you mix in mostly green, with smaller pro- In the October column, Ipromised avery valuable Contact Jim via e-mail at: portions of red and blue. The proportions used in attaboy (or attagirl) to anyone who e-mailed the correct [email protected] NTSC are 58.7 percent green, 29.9 percent red and answer to the question of why the field rate of NTSC 11.4 percent blue. video was shifted from 60 Hz to 59.94 Hz. The answer We call the resulting black-and-white picture the is tied in with the color signal. Congratulations to "luminance," or "luma" for short. Sometimes you Brian McFadyen of Time Warner and Randy Midkiff hear it referred to as the "luminance channel" (not a of Continental, who have received their attaboys as of new programming service). It is designated with the this writing. CUD

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Earlier this year, I wrote about the telephone indus- different that it could crash the phone network. try's complaints that the Internet is unfair competi- Wait a minute. Let's take acloser look at this tion with the telephone network because Internet argument. Sure, phone call durations might be longer telephony is "free." (See "Access when I surf the 'Net than when I talk to my mother charges for the Internet," in the in Florida, but what are the cost and engineering The Internet February 1996 issue of CED.) implications? Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are By the way, even the phone industry agrees that not paying access charges the way voice call durations have increased over the years. It long distance companies pay access used to be that an average phone call would last four and the charges. minutes; now, the phone industry uses nine minutes Now the telephone industry has as the average holding time. raised anew complaint—Internet sub- My local loop and the connection to the local telephone scribers are screwing up telephone phone switch are dedicated to my phone number, networks because the networks whether I use it or not. The cost is independent of the weren't designed for Internet connec- duration of my calls. network tions. Phone companies just can't get The local switch gives me dialtone, interprets my it through their monopoly mindset that dial pulses and arranges for apath through the net- when customer demand patterns work to be established. But that happens only when change, the service has to change. the call is dialed. After that, the switch circuitry goes They don't understand that in the new on to set up the next call. Most of the usage of the world of competition, the ability to telephone switch circuitry is independent of call offer the service that customers want duration. will be the difference between success But the phone industry is right about one element. and failure. There is apart of the network that is affected by call duration, the trunking between local switches. This is The access charge issue because the phone network assigns a circuit full time An ISP is something like along to aconnection between switches, even though you distance phone company, in that it might be sending and receiving data packets only gives subscribers access to along dis- sporadically. tance communications network. Both But rather than figuring out how these trunks can the ISP and the long distance carrier be shared among multiple Internet connections so incorporate local phone connections they can be used more efficiently, the phone compa- By Jeffrey Krauss, in their overall network. Both pay the local phone nies are now spreading scare stories about the surfing the telephone net company for, in effect, reselling the capacity of the Internet causing apossible "meltdown" of the phone and President of local phone network. But they pay different rates. network. Telecommunications and The ISP pays the same rate as any business that uses Technology Policy the phone network to make local calls. The long dis- The monopoly mindset tance carrier pays "access charges." Access charges It's the same old story, but now with the local are much higher than local phone rates, as high as phone monopolies instead of a single nationwide Ma five cents per minute. Bell. "Here's our network and our service; you must Access charges originated in the early 1980s as an tailor your demand so it fits what we have." FCC-sanctioned way for long distance service to sub- Let's look at another part of the Internet, the inter- sidize local phone service. In 1987, well before the city high-speed data circuits between ISPs. One of Internet became popular, the phone companies want- the leading suppliers of this service is MCI. MCI ed the FCC to apply access charges to enhanced ser- took its intercity fiber network, which was installed vice packet data networks like Telenet and Tymnet, for voice telephone traffic, and figured out how to but Congress objected, and everyone lost interest in use it efficiently for high-speed data. the issue. Now, with the rise of Internet telephony, MCI saw the Internet as an opportunity, not a the phone companies are at it again. They want their threat, and modified its network design to satisfy subsidies. user needs. And the company earned aprofit while The current expectation is that the FCC will over- doing it. Have acomment? haul access charges in the 1997-'98 time frame. ISPs The phone company engineering philosophy has Contact Jeff via e-mail at: will have to pay access charges. But the rates will be been stability, not agility. But the world is changing. [email protected] knocked down from five cents per minute to a few Stability fits quite nicely with amonopoly environ- tenths of acent. ment. But "brand loyalty" is on its way out. Have you noticed that in the cable industry? It applies to The network design issue the phone industry as well. The new argument from the phone companies is In the world of competition, companies must that Internet traffic is different from voice traffic, so change, or die. CEO

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directional trunk and feeder built about 15 years ago. company planned to have completed the upgrade on Using anetwork analyzer on the in-house system, it plant passing about 500,000 homes by the end of was determined that open low-value taps created 1996, Best said. unacceptable downstream group delay, varying from Farmer's own personal favorite approach is the net- about 60 nanoseconds at the high end of the spectrum work interface module located on the side of the to 100 ns at the low end. These delays could indeed house through which all services pass. In this sce- have adetrimental effect on 64 QAM bit error rates, nario, the full NTSC spectrum is passed through the making termination of taps anecessity. NIM, while the return spectrum is blocked, except perhaps for anarrow slice of RF spectrum that is used Real tools being developed for pay-per-view return signals. One testing tool that has been developed by This could allow operators to shift the return to the CableLabs and could be going commercial soon is the high end of the spectrum, which avoids the messy "Carrier Wave (CW) Tester," the brainchild of and crowded 5MHz to 40 MHz area, Farmer said. CableLabs Chief Technical Officer Dr. Richard Digital signals could be demodulated at the NIM Prodan. and either remodulated in alower-order scheme for The filtering The device helps operators determine the causes and robust delivery throughout the home, or converted to characteristics of transmission interference by trapping NTSC. Either approach would allow signals to be approach, though and storing impairments in either the forward or displayed on all TVs without aset-top (as long as the reverse paths. TV could tune all available channels). A simple RF it puts off the Prodan presented information gathered by the remote could be used to control the received digital tester in several real, live cable systems and present- channels. Data services can easily be supported with ed some general conclusions. For example, he has atelephone cable that runs from the PC's 10BaseT inevitable determined that upstream ingress is frequency local- port to the NIM. ized, of long duration and primarily comes from All in all, "the return isn't aslam dunk, but it can be "clean-up," is interfering transmitters. On the other hand, down- made to work," Fanner told the gathered audience. stream burst noise happens infrequently, has ashort gaining favor duration, is stronger than thermal noise, is constant Modulation selection can make adifference over a24-hour period and is primarily caused by Sometimes, even the choice of modulation methods intermodulation. can improve network performance, according to Dennis Picker, VP of engineering at Terayon Corp. Pros and cons of filters The Silicon-Valley-based company is touting its OK, so now that impairments can be found and Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access understood, what's acable operator to do to minimize (S-CDMA) as away to combat many problems cable their effects or eliminate them altogether? There are operators often encounter in the return band. several answers, and some will work better than others, Specifically, Picker said S-CDMA is superior to depending on system size, type and location, among other modulation formats for the following reasons: other factors. V Frequency division multiple access (FDMA) One of the most popular choices is to install a approaches are highly susceptible to non-linear distor- high-pass filter adjacent to customers' homes to elim- tions and offer no special defense against white noise inate the unwanted noise and signals emanating from or impulse noise; the home by blocking the return spectrum. Other V Time division multiple access (TDMA) schemes, choices are bandstop filters, which pass the lower both the asynchronous and synchronous variety, offer portion of the return band (where set-top boxes typi- no special defenses against white or impulse noise, or cally transmit information to the headend) while narrowband interference. They also suffer from "cleaning up" the upper portion, where advanced ser- access and equalization problems because the burst vices are likely to be placed, according to Antec's mode and contention access slots pose power satura- Farmer. tion problems, which can cause nonlinear impair- The filtering approach, though considered nothing ments from amplifier saturation. Also, the approach more than amethod to make the return band work requires precise synchronization; while putting off the inevitable "clean-up" to alater V TDMA/FDMA hybrids do offer "after the fact" date, is nevertheless gaining favor. One engineer who recovery from narrowband interference and provide reluctantly allowed his systems to use the approach is for more graceful degradation (dropping to alower- Cox Cable's Alex Best. order modulation or selective dropping of frequen- "All it does is delay the time when we have to go cies). out and clean up those homes," Best admitted, but But S-CDMA beats all those by spreading the they do allow an operator to get started sooner and spectrum and adding synchronization to minimize probably at less up-front cost. intercede interference, Picker said. Further, it pro- Cox is presently upgrading many of its systems to vides interference immunity by providing gain, a 750 MHz capacity, full two-way capability and with real-time defense against narrowband interference fiber nodes typically serving about 1,000 homes. The and impulses. CIED

34 CED:C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & DESIGN DECEMBER 1996 J A THE FEARS OF CATV NETWORK ENGINEER

BUT AS FOR THE FUTURE OF HIS NETWORK, HE HASN'T GOT A CARE IN THE WORLD.

Most people in Steve's position are forever fretting Steve get there first. This fittle alliance has enabled him that their network will become obsolete. The stakes are to design ahighly reliable, world-class network with high. And, most of the time, confidence isn't. the capacity to handle his system's current needs. Yet Enter Siecor. Because just having asupplier isn't it's flexible. So if technology changes (gee, do you good enough. Steve demanded more. think it will?), Steve can adapt quickly and effortlessly. Siecor boasts athorough understanding or the CATV And how do you suppose Steve feels about all this? industry and can anticipate where it's going. Then help FiC Well, let's just say he's on cloud nine. SIECOR What can we do for you?

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Proprietary management solutions hinder U cable's future success management solutions with OSS

By Michael Lafferty Amidst all the hype and hoopla about new broad- the customer in aseamless, effortless manner with nary band services swirling around the industry these past a glitch, blip or delay. And the complexity of doing that, few years, there's been a small, but vital, revolution tak- creating an open platform that ties such things as cus- ing place in the back rooms and back offices of the tomer service, trouble ticketing and dispatch, access industry. It hasn't received as many headlines as cable control, automated provisioning, inventory control and modems, interactive TV or telephony. Yet the success of billing, will be the determining factor in cable's ulti- those services, no matter how dazzling the core tech- mate success or failure in the converging marketplace. nologies, rests in large part on what's going on behind the scenes in cable operations around the country. Bottomline reality Cable operators are now facing what may be the Simply put, today's largely proprietary management most crucial test of their ability to compete in the solutions won't work much longer. Jim Chiddix, senior deregulated marketplace. Operational support systems vice president of engineering and technology for Time have become a lighting rod topic for operators who are Warner Cable says the growing complexity of develop- in the thick of battle with competing service providers. ing technology and the expanding number of services it Having the fastest modem in the market or the most supports demands acomprehensive operational support dynamic interactive graphics around isn't enough. system (OSS) solution. Operators have to be able to deliver those services to "We're getting into alot of complex businesses,"

38 CED: COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 010Hd A9 NLIVIN SVVIS

says Linildix. "And those complexities extend from phony and interactive TV, you've got adifferent world. Simply put, simply pro‘isioning them, getting them on the air, to If you get acall from acustomer saying his modem doing diagnostics when things go wrong, to dealing isn't working, what do you? Is it an amplifier? Is it a with customer questions and turning customers off problem with the customer's software? Is it aproblem today's largely and on. That's what an OSS does, all of those things. in the headend? Is it the database? Our traditional meth- And the systems are complex enough, that you have ods of approaching that just won't work. proprietary to do that in software with computer automation. We've got to have computers that rook at all these "Traditionally, we've done all those things in avery elements of our systems and let us turn things off and management manual kind of way. That's because our services and on, let us do diagnostics, let us talk to the customers in networks right now are relatively simple. In terms of ahelpful way and let us get bills out." solutions provisioning, we make sure all the channels are on the Another fact that's coming home to roost in the air leaving the headend and we hook up customers industry is that proprietary solutions, in many instances, won't work manually by hooking up the drop. We do diagnostics by are quickly becoming athing of the past. The drawn seeing where the phone calls are coming from. We use out, difficult effort to hammer out cable modem specifi- much longer fairly simple systems for customer billing and support. cations is only the most obvious example. A similar And, up to now, we've made all that work. change of heart is taking place in the OSS/network "But, when you've got cable modems, digital tele- management arena as well. And that change is being

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spearheaded, and in some cases forced, on vendors by CBIS -Cincinnati Bell Information Systems) which the operators who are struggling for their economic sur- NOC will interface to. Also our engineering systems, as vival against deep-pocketed telcos and utilities. far as doing capacity management on the network, that's going to be hooked together as well. So, we will Thinking smart have dispatch capability as well." Competitive pressures on the cable industry have The NOC's initial focus will be concentrated on forced operators to get smart fast when it comes to devel- major system clusters in San Diego and Orange oping integrated operations support systems. Computer County, Calif., Phoenix, Ariz., Omaha, Neb., Oklahoma technology has anumber of advantages, not the least of City, Okla., New Orleans, La., Hampton Roads, Va., which is consolidation. For example, while operators may Providence, R.I., Hartford, Conn., and Pensacola and have cable systems scattered around the map, computer Ft. Walton Beach, Ha. These clusters represent 85 per- management technology allows them the luxury of con- cent of Cox' 3.2 million subscribers. solidating their management systems in centralized locations or network operation centers (NOCs). Different approaches, same goal Cox Communications Inc. is proceeding full speed Like Cox, anumber of other operators have come to on the construction of an operations center in Atlanta, realize they have neither the time or money to totally spurred in large part, by the new competitive reality. start from scratch when it comes to developing OSS/net- "It's the new services that are driving it more than any- work management systems. Three of the country's top thing," says Mark Davis, director of engi- MSOs — Tele-Communications Inc., Continental

ftem neering/telephony operations for Cox. Cablevision and Jones Intercable — are the most rabid t121=ii=1 "We've been able to get by without awhole proponents of end-to-end management solutions. While J. 1440/01 .5.4. 67 lot of network management for cable TV in 011.1« 1242 they've each taken a slightly different approach, their the past. But now, the times have changed commitment to modular, open interface management where we'll no longer rely on the customer systems will probably make things alot easier for small- to tell us when we have anetwork problem. er sized operators following in their wake. Ca. Um. ID And with the telephony services and provid- TCI's SummiTrak system is currently in the process fteee Iderta.. 5=e•- .••••••.• [vow.« Raged 4 PO IlmeteMealm• SIS ing lifeline services, we know it's going to of being deployed. SummiTrak, like the company it -0 14•4 4 IS PS /hemmant be crucial that we know the health of the serves, is a massive system that consists of 70 modules Ora 4.1:1»4« 35,5 I.e.- m oe Mauna. 131,0 Damn. moe network. It's the same with data services. with more than 1 million lines of code. The system is sji•tij DIS..1111EI I It's a no-brainer that we have to have a net- made up of a number of task-specific systems including work operations center in place." internal corporate voice and data communications, net- Davis reports the facility is under construc- work management and monitoring, marketing and tion and is scheduled to be ready in January billing. Sadie Decker, TCI's vice president of advanced 1997. The company issued an RFP and has information technology, says SunruniTrak's digital mis- compiled ashort list of vendors. The decision sion-critical network (for internal corporate communica- on the management system should be made by tions) is complete and covers 12,000 nodes throughout the first of December. While the Cox NOC the country. may not initially be the most comprehensive The marketing system, says Decker, is being tested management facility around, it does have a for- now and will go live by the end of the year. This sys- midable task and alot of potential. tem collects, stores and processes such information as "It'll be monitoring all the major network ele- Jones' Cyber Solutions put take rates, subscriber counts and what various products provisioning at CSR finger- ments in Cox," says Davis. "Everything from HFC ele- are doing in specific markets. The billing system is tips. ments like the fiber nodes and power supplies, to things being tested in Greeley, Colo. SummiTrak is also the in the headend like lasers and receivers. (It will also mon- billing engine for TCI's digital roll out (AllTV) in itor) the Sonet gear that will be hauling the telephony and Hartford, Conn. And the SummiTrak pay-per-view the ATM gear that will be hauling most of the data. It will module, reports Decker, supports 450,000 subscribers be looking at the data headend interface terminal and the in Denver. telephony headend interface termine. We will not neces- Network operating centers are being built to monitor sarily be looking at the individual homes, even though we TCI's headend-to-the-home cable plant. This will con- have the capability of doing that, we'll just be looking at sist of three regional centers and acontrol center in major network elements. Denver to be operational in 1997. "This is how we will "Obviously, we won't have all the bells and whistles monitor our telephony, our @Home and digital sys- on day one. We'll bring things on as they become avail- tems," says Decker. "What's going to happen, as we able. But we're looking for apackage that will be capa- roll out digital, then SummiTrak goes right along and ble of looking at all those elements and giving us the replaces the existing systems." management visibility we need." Eventually, says Davis, the NOC will be tied to NOC on wood other management services in the Cox system. "We Another aggressive operator in the OSS/network have aseparate group in our MIS department that's management field is Continental Cablevision Inc., working on the customer care and billing systems (with under the direction of Rob Strickland, Cablevision's

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senior vice president for information systems. Like "Let's say there's two sides to abookshelf,' explains other operators, Cablevision is in the process of finaliz- Strickland. "On the left-hand side you've got 'Build it'; ing the roll out of its NOC in Chelmsford, Mass. on the right-hand side you've got 'Buy it.' We try to Strickland says that when he joined the company nearly work from right to left. So if it exists and we can go buy three years ago, the NOC was aforeign concept in it, we'd rather buy it. We'd rather not go and try and cable circles, but not in the information technology (IT) build it because that's very expensive and you have to world he was familiar with. acquire acore competency that you probably don't need. "When Ioriginally came to cable two-and-a-half "What we're trying to do if we can't buy it, is per- years ago," states Strickland, "not surprisingly, net- haps we can direct it. That means if somebody out work operation centers didn't really exist for cable. there is trying to build it, we tell them we want to help There really weren't many products that had the them build it. We don't have developers or armies of capability of looking out across the proprietary inter- people that do all that. In fact, what we have are the face that existed in the RF world. Those proprietary vendors doing it for us. But, what we're giving them is interfaces don't exist in the world of IT. So, we knew the first opportunity and the first customer, and quite a very quickly when we built the enterprise wide area big one at that." network for the company, we would have to build a Coming from the IT world, Strickland is also afirm network operations center." believer in standard protocols and open interfaces. The Rob Strickland As aresult of that vision, the IT staff at Cablevision proprietary mindset of the cable industry was some- quickly formed apartnership with the engineering staff thing he was determined to change not only to assist to get the NOC up and running. As far as the manage- his company's future growth and development, but that ment systems that will run in the NOC, Strickland is a of the vendors as well. firm believer in not reinventing any wheel he doesn't "That was the biggest hurdle we faced," says have to. A slight literary analogy helps Strickland Strickland. "There are certain technologies, interfaces explain his philosophy on developing management sys- and management protocols that have existed for along, tems for Continental. long time that are just finding their way into the cable

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© 1996 ADC Broadband Communications DV6000, DV6300, HWX. ISX and SM6000 are trademarks of ADC Telecommunications, Inc., Minneapolis, MN The Company That Offers More Fiber Transmission Solutio environment. We tried to find vendor partners that lenged clientele. JSC's Intelligent Customer Support wanted to help us to solve the problem first at Systems encompasses customer care, intelligent device Continental and then roll it out across the industry." control, inventory management, work management & Strickland says the company is working with anum- data collection products. The ICSS product line has ber of vendors to develop an OSS system where all the been designed for convergence and has aresidential subsystems communicate and share information on a telephony functionality as well. common platform. CSG Systems Inc. is working with Continental on its customer care and billing system Meanwhile, in the marketplace (C2IT). They're adapting aproduct called Spectrum Operators aren't the only ones trying to till in the from Cabletron for network management and working OSS/network management gap. A growing number of with Cheetah/Superior Electronics on equipment moni- telecommunication vendors are getting involved as well. toring. They are also testing Arrowsmith for fleet and GTE's Network Management Organization has recently workforce management solutions. released its WorldWin family of software products for Strickland believes his company's efforts in getting communication management. The WorldWin product these diverse vendors to work together will have abenefi- line includes InView for network operations, InService cial impact on the industry as awhole in reducing the pro- and InForm for automated services fulfillment and inte- prietary nature of the cable beast. In addition, the vendors grated customer contact, and InExchange, amediation will then have the opportunity to tout their enhanced capa- gateway for network message management. Randy Boroughs bility to communicate to other systems or applications. One feature of the WorldWin product line is aset of Jones Intercable, on the other hand, has developed its published application programming interfaces (APIs). own integrated management system through awholly- These APIs let communication providers' existing man- owned subsidiary, Jones Cyber Solutions Ltd.(JSC). It is agement systems or applications communicate and now in the process of rolling out the system in Buffalo, exchange information with WorldWin. Minn. and then in Alexandria, Va. At the same time, it's The company, says Randy Boroughs, director of taking it on the road for sale to other similarly chal- marketing for GTE NMO, has designed the system to

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provide what he calls "one-touch service," a billing inquiries handled, all with that one truly be one-touch customer care and turn on crucial selling point in the competitive mar- telephone call. The set of tools that allows a that new service if you're not tightly integrated ketplace. "There's going to be abig push for company to do that is very, very important." in an automated fashion to aprovisioning sys- what we call 'one-touch service'," says Boroughs believes that while some people tem? The customer care person has to be able Boroughs. "You touch the corporation once to may be taken by the individual management to turn on the provisioning system, which has get all your issues dealt with. That means you systems, they tend to overlook the importance of to be able to touch the network without addi- call into acompany's customer service center their integration with the other systems an oper- tional human intervention. The instantaneous and you can order new service, you can have ator has running. "You've got the one-touch turn-on of services is aresult of the fact that your problems addressed, you can have your customer care," says Boroughs. "How can you all these things are integrated. "Right now, in most of these companies, there is abig wall between the customer care people and the provisioning people. Usually it's faxes going back and forth, or some e-mail Your OSS Can Look Like This.., system. It's not an integrated system." Another recent entrant into the market is Integration Technologies. It has introduced "modelit," afully-integrated network design, engineering and management tool that docu- ments the physical layout of the communications infrastructure in an industry-standard database management technology. The company has also introduced "field.it," aWindows-based, portable software tool that allows technicians to gather accurate field data about rack-mounted equipment in headends, central offices, equipment enclosures or remote enclosures. The key, says Terry Poindexter, vice presi- Or This... dent of IT's OSS Group, is an accurate, up-to- date topology of the plant, down to the last amplifier or tap. Out of this, he says — net-

ioeED work management and monitoring, customer -r care, provisioning, trouble ticketing and dis-

Etilorre e/gi e patch, access control, etc. — all else flows. AN3I) mEN r "Our goal," says Poindexter, "is to look at Mere what's the right technology to model the key pieces of information you need for the business. The key pieces you need in this business come down to three things. You need to know your plant or network. You need to know customers. And you need to know services. With those three things, you can run your business. Sure, there are systems on the market that model* acts as your OSS foundation "The challenge is getting those things mod- say they integrate with your other OSSs. by capturing data about your inside and eled in the right information, coordinated suc- But have you tried? outside plant, from each piece of rack- cessfully in your organization and being able to Are you tired of trying? mounted equipment to all your transmission Integration Technologies introduces anew, lines and gear. Every network device, every correlate information from one to the other." fully integrated software system that does. connection, and every street address is Based on next-generation GIS/AM/FM stored in afully integrated system that Sink or swim software technology, we've developed model lt gives you unprecedented, end-to-end This ability to communicate between indi- aunique network design and engineering tool management of your network. vidual management modules or systems is the that creates an end-to-end asset inventory and Network planners, operations staff, CSRs, recurring theme in all these systems. The days . connectivity data model of your network. This accountants, executives -- anyone who needs of 'I'll do my job. You do yours.' are over in ¡Po "open," standards-based data model efficiently information about your network can get it. the cable industry. It's all interrelated. And integrates with your other back office applications. And that's powerful... because it is, everyone in acable network will either sink or swim together in the rapidly con- Integration verging, increasingly competitive marketplace. For those who would prefer to float rather Technologies than flounder, CableNET '96 (see page 76) is

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implementation. Variances in actual payback periods and returns on investment are afunction of the type of communication system used, pre- Implementing aimplementation productivity levels and number of vehicles the company actually deploys. The cable site studied and represented here consists of approximately 140,000 subscribers "):seer:::t workforce and roughly 2,400 miles of plant, 85 percent of which is aerial construction. Technicians perform acombination of trouble calls and installation-related work. Baseline perfor- management tool mance was measured during the course of By Jan Lubin, Senior Consultant; and orders, and the technicians have hand-held operations in the fourth quarter of 1995. Leigh Haney, Communications Manager, computers in their trucks. Technicians are Arrowsmith Technologies Inc. routed using ajust-in-time method in this case The baseline period Special to CED magazine study, and only their next one or two jobs are During the baseline period, technicians visible to them on their computers. were asked to complete daily logs of their When choosing and implementing awork- Dispatchers and technicians rarely speak over activities. These logs were used to develop force management system, cable operators the radio; instead, they use the handheld unit baseline measures for current performance. often wonder about the actual pay-back of the to open and close work orders, perform Additional data was collected from billing sys- product and its effect on their operations. How addressable convertor transactions, and mes- tem reports. The field data was not taken in a will this product really affect the bottom line? sage between base and other technicians. vacuum. Additional baselines were gathered An analytical evaluation of aproduct This study was done quantitatively, utilizing for production volumes, staffing, shifts, time offered by the authors' company was under- aspecific baseline period and testing that windows, scheduling and quotas to allow for taken by aleading cable TV company to help against asimilar time period after implementa- an "apples-to-apples" comparison later. The determine the impact such aproduct has on tion and training were complete. It is important baseline period included 53 work days of data operations. The Unix-based system facilitates to note that any and all variables used in this from 20 technicians who were described as routing and dispatching. Dispatchers route study will directly affect the outcome of the being representative of the workforce. jobs to field technicians using amap-based post-implementation study. Every site is differ- Quantitative measures were taken, and inter- graphical interface that shows pending work ent, and each will achieve disparate results after views were conducted to create process flows.

Figure 1: Technician log data.

Period Minutes Job count Average Minutes Average Minutes Average Adj. total Hours Jobs per Adj. jobs on job minutes in-transit" drive on break job cycle minutes logged hour per hour per job (job+drive)

Baseline 301.0 9.8 31 2,231 26 52 57 576 9.60 1.1 1.0

Mar-96 average 239.3 9.8 31 1,861 24 47 55 473 788 1.1 1.2

Apr-96 average 280.4 10.7 33 1,911 21 41 54 512 8.54 1.2 1.3

May-96 average 258.1 11.7 281 193 20 42 49 493 8.22 1.3 1.4

Average test period 259.2 10.7 31 190 22 44 52 493 8.21 1.2 1.3

Figure 2: Technician og performance changes.

Period Minutes Job count Average Minutes Average Minutes Average Adj. total Hours Jobs per Adj. jobs on job minutes in-transit" drive on break job cycle minutes logged hour per hour on job Gob+drive)

Avg. test -13.9% 9.3% -0.3% -14.8% -16.2% -16.4% -7.6% -14.5% -14.5% 12.6% 27.7% period vs. baseline

Mar-96 vs. baseline -20.5% -0.3% 0.2% -16.6% -7.2% -8.8% -3.2% -17.9% -17.9% 6.6% 21.4%

Apr-96 vs. Mar-96 17.2% 9.4% 6.3% 2.7% -13.4% -14.2% -2.3% 8.3% 8.3% 1.5% 0.9%

May-96 vs. Apr-96 -7.9% 9.3% -13.3% 0.9% -3.0% 3.9% -9.3% -3.7% -3.7% 13.7% 13.5%

Avg. test -3.8% 6.1% -2.3% -4.3% -7.8% -6.4% -4.9% -4.4% -4.4% 7.3% 12.0% period change

May-96 vs. baseline -14.3% 19.1% -7.7% -13.5% -22.0% -18.7% -14.2% -14.4% -14.4% 23.1% 39.1% (cumulative change)

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Reader Service 25 W ORKFORCE M ANAGEMENT

Figure 3: Repeat trouble calls. V Technicians averaged 1.02 jobs per hour. V Technicians were routed to "cluster" areas. V Technicians averaged 9.8 jobs per day. This was re-engineered at implementation so Trouble calls followed by a trouble call V Job assignments without routing kept tech- that technicians work their way out of areas nicians in the office and out of the field. and then back to base, in a"loop." Period % of total Change from V Job duration plus drive-to-job times did not V Break time: 9percent of total time. Average prior period equate to quota estimates. break time was 51 minutes. (Technicians are Jan-96 26.3% V First and last drive times were nearly dou- given 60 minutes of break time per day.) ble that of job-to-job drive times. V Check-out time: 7percent of total time. Feb-96 24.0% -8.8% V Tightly overlapped time windows made Check-out from base had numerous inefficien- Mar-96 21.9% -8.6% accuracy of quota estimates and job assign- cies; however, inventory was handled very effi- ments more critical. ciently. The average time spent in check-out Apr-96 16.7% -25.9% V Inefficient routing added to drive times and was 40 minutes. During this time, technicians May-96 13.9% -14.62% took away from on-job time. reviewed their work, determined the job V Twenty-eight percent missed time windows sequence and informed dispatch of job Avg. test 17.4% -16.4% at $20 per subscriber credit for service guaran- sequencing before leaving base. After review- period tee-ouch! ing job locations, they also determined if lock A detailed analysis revealed the following box keys were required and obtained them May-96 vs. Jan-96 -47.2% statistics on how the technicians' time was before leaving for the field. (cumulative spent. These percentages were based on an V Check-in time: 4percent of total time. change) average work day of 9hours, 37 minutes. V Other time: 4percent of total time. This pri- V Job time: 50 percent of total time. marily consisted of atechnician assisting anoth- This allows for aconclusive simulated model, V Drive times: 25 percent of total time, bro- er technician who was running behind or who capable of estimating results from re-engineer- ken out as follows: Average drive time to first didn't have the skills needed for aparticular job. ing scenarios presented with site-specific data. job: 26 minutes; average drive time to return V Vehicle time: 1percent of total time. Average The overall pre-implementation assessment to base: 27 minutes; average interim drive time time at the gas pump was six minutes. showed the following: between jobs: 14 minutes. Routing techniques during the baseline peri-

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Figure 4: Looped vs. clustered routes. boundaries for defining service areas, techni- These statistics are largely attributable to cian groups and other types of "zones" for reductions in both drive time and on-job time, routing purposes. Artificial boundaries can and less time required for pre-shift check-out cause inefficiencies which result in added of work. More effective routing, coupled with costs, lower productivity and less than opti- reduced radio time to support on-job transac- mal customer service. tions (updates, convertor transactions, etc.) The re-engineered operations period mea- account for these improvements. sured covers three months with an average Average drive times decreased 22 percent of 38 technicians using the system. All because of more efficient routing. results described in this analy- Increases in trouble call job lengths allow sis are the result of using the technicians to troubleshoot and perform cus- "Clustered" interactive routing and interac- tomer education, resulting in fewer repeat route requires tech to tive dispatch functions. trouble calls. As seen in Figure 3, asignificant commute to his Productivity can be mea- downward trend in repeat trouble calls has working area. sured both by quantity and been seen during the operating period. efficiency. As shown in Technicians using the system complete 98 Figures 1and 2, technicians percent to 99 percent of the jobs assigned. began completing more jobs per Overall company-wide completion rates are in "Looped" day, with steady gains averaging 6 the 81 percent to 84 percent range. routes keep the techs percent per month, while working working from point-to-point. fewer hours in the field. Routing techniques Operations have yielded an aver- Technicians, when routed in aloop, work- age reduction of 1.4 hours per day ing away from the base and then back, mini- od were significantly re-engineered in the field. Technicians average mize unproductive drive times. Before, techni- as part of the implementation process. Many 10.7 jobs per day, a19.1 percent increase in cians were generally routed to aspecific area sites, including this one, use ZIP code or town the number of jobs completed. in a"cluster," and remained there for the better

"I JUST CONNECTED DISNEY TO CHANNEL 32 WITH THE TOUCH OF AN ICON..." part of the day. This created excessive first and Routing was the Figure 5: Average drive times. last drive times. main culprit. With the artificial boundaries previously cre- Technicians were dis- Period Average drive First drive Last drive Interpolated ated for routing, using ZIP codes or town patched from asingle (includes avg. first/last) intermediate boundaries, technicians were confined to specif- location that is located drive time ic areas. As aresult, customers located on the in the southeastern fringes pose acomplicated routing problem, add one-third of the ser- Baseline 26 26 27 14.0 to the burden of time window compliance and vice area. As aresult, Mar-96 24 24 25 13.9 lower field productivity. Under the new system, many technicians had these area boundaries are softened whenever to virtually commute Apr-96 21 24 25 13.3

possible. Routing is based on technician/cus- to jobs scheduled in May-96 20 24 25 12.3 tomer proximity (Figure 4). This reduces drive the first time windows time and increases productivity. An understand- of their shifts. Avg. test 22 24 25 13.2 period ing must be reached that technician cross-over Figures 5and 6 takes place on an as-needed basis only. compare drive time When high frequency of tech cross-over is results. Baseline over- experienced, it is likely that staffing adjustments all drive times were at 26 minutes. Operating have been gained through drive time reduc- have been necessary but were never addressed. with new software, this average was reduced to tions since the baseline period measurements. During the pre-implementation assessment, slightly more than 20 minutes in May 1996. The More than a7 percent reduction in first and drive time was identified as an area requiring average drive time has shown monthly reduc- last drive times and a12 percent reduction in improvement. Job-to-job drive times averaged tions of more than four minutes per job. This job-to-job drive times have resulted. 14 minutes, with first and last drive times translates to an average reduction of two min- As dispatchers become more adept at using averaging 26 and 27 minutes, respectively. utes per tech on both the first and last drive the system's maps and work order search filters Significant deviations in the first and last drive times and about 1.5 minutes for each of their to distribute jobs to field techs, these results will times existed, with maximums reported in intermediate drive times (job-to-job drive time). show additional improvements. It's also impor- excess of one hour. Overall efficiencies of almost 22 percent tant to consider that included in the drive time

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Figure 6: Drive time changes from prior periods. are periods when techs management system due to differences in the are "available" (not way dates are viewed. Change from Average drive First drive Last drive Interpolated assigned or working). The site measures its performance in "trou- prior (includes avg. The system also ble call response" by two standards. Corporate period first/last) intermediate drive time records specific job start standards interpret same day response as with- and completion times, in a24-hour period. The site has the goal of Mar-96 vs. -7.2% 6.4% allowing for greater time using calendar day as the measure of response. baseline window compliance Trouble call volumes also saw an increase as Apr-96 vs. -13.4% -10.7% reporting accuracy. The aresult of the absorption of another site in April Mar-96 billing system uses adis- 1996. Techs covering this area implemented the

May-96 vs. -3.0% -7.5% patch-entered completion system in June 1996, after the study. Apr-96 time, which is less accu- Data supporting sameday trouble call rate. Instead, this soft- response was not available during the baseline Avg. ware uses actual period. Therefore, January/ February 1996 was test -7.8% -2.6% -2.5% -4.2% period date/time stamps to cal- used to establish trends, although the software culate response time system was partially rolled-out during that May-96 vs. totals. Total volumes time. With the new system, the site had seen baseline -22.0% -7.7% -7.4% -12.1% (cumulative vary between the billing average improvements of 11 percent per change) system and workforce month in trouble call response. Prior to full roll-out, response averaged 45 hours, as Figure 7: Sameday response on trouble calls-test period. compared to an average of 27.5 hours for the period when the new software was Work order brought on-line. Cumulative reduction of volumes response time from January to May 1996 Period Sameday +1 Day +2 Days +3 Days +4 Days +5 Days >=6 Days Total is 53.23 percent, with 150.5 percent more trouble calls being done within 24 hours. Mar-94 929 1,749 456 175 70 32 43 3,454 Figure 8is an extract from the billing Apr-94 1,508 2,015 489 176 59 33 51 4,331 system reports supporting these statistics. Differences in the calculations from the May-94 929 1,813 365 147 49 37 29 3,369 billing system to the workforce software are Percent of total the result of methods used to calculate work orders "same day" response. This is due in part to Period Sameday +1 Day +2 Days +3 Days +4 Days +5 Days >=6 Days Total techs entering acompletion code to indicate within response periods for the volumes indicated. 24 hrs. (Clock times shown by the billing system Mar-94 26.9% 50.6% 13.2% 5.1% 2.0% 0.9% 1.2% 77.5% are generated via the billing system.) This system advocates more of ajust -in- Apr-94 34.8% 46.5% 11.3% 4.1% 1.4% 0.8% 1.2% 81.3% time routing system. The role of the dis- May-94 27.6% 53.8% 10.8% 4.4% 1.5% 1.1% 0.9% 81.4% patcher, therefore, changes from one of cler- ical support to managing Figure 8: Bi ling system trouble call response. the workforce. Techs become more self-suffi- Trouble call problem/fix report cient by having the ability to perform convertor trans- Period Avg. elapsed Change from First day Second 3+ days Total First day Second 3+ days fixed time prior period day day actions and close work orders without dispatcher Jan-96 51:12:00 1,390 2,232 34 3,656 38.0% 61.1% 0.9% intervention. Feb-96 39:53:00 -22.1% 2,554 491 24 3,069 83.2% 16.0% 0.8% When choosing and implementing aworkforce Mar-96 29:18:00 -26.5% 3,479 59 7 3,545 98.1% 1.7% 0.2% management system, Apr-96 25:56:00 -11.5% 4,235 12 7 4,254 99.6% 0.3% 0.2% analysis can be done to benchmark changes in May-96 27:14:00 5.0% 3,482 13 1 3,496 99.6% 0.4% 0.03% productivity. The key is to Avg. 27:29:20 understand where produc- test -11.0% 3,732 28 5 3,765 99.1% 0.8% 0.1% tivity gains can be made, period lay out clear objectives or May-96 vs. measures of success and Jan-96 -53.2% 150.5% track these quantitatively (cumulative to determine the return on change) investment. CED

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the status of the network in real-time with the capability to initiate corrective steps toward resolving network problems or to plan needed Operational Issues enhancements to the network. Marketing personnel need tools to evaluate their initiatives and target new markets or submarkets; executives and financial personnel need their own a!II t aaro dn erogar ch n transformed set of analytical tools to manage and grow the business.

There are solutions by perspective shift Today's operational support system (OSS) solutions provide significant advantages over their status monitoring predecessors. "Best-of- class" systems provide the standards-based, state-of-the-art computing technology platforms that can be integrated with other systems. Easy-to-use graphical user interfaces (GUIs) with hands-on training in new ways to do business means everyone from customer service representatives and technicians to executives and business planners can use the new tools to establish positive customer rela- tions and improve network performance—while lowering operating costs and increasing revenues. To initiate an OSS development program, operators must first understand where they are today, and where they want to be in the long run. What new services are planned? What type of functions will the operator keep in house; what may be outsourced? Which entity

ILLUSTRATION owns what type of telephony gear (specifically, the switch)? Who's handling the onerous task of transactional billing? How are technicians alerted that new work exists, and how is

BY that work prioritized?

WARREN By analyzing the business processes that are used today and evaluating new systems that can automate and streamline these activi- GEBERT, ties, astaged and practical approach to OSS deployment can be put into place that transi-

SIS tions the organization—and its people—to new

automation tools without significant headaches or up-front costs. By Andy Paff President and Chief give customer service representatives the tools Executive Officer, Integration Technologies, they need to effectively communicate with the How do we get there? Englewood, Colo. customer—to outline new service offerings and The broadband network itself is the largest place automated service orders. Work order single physical asset most cable operators Voice. Data. Enhanced video. Operators con- managers need the tools to alert technicians in have. And yet, significant gaps exist in what templating entry into the brave new world of the field of the new order and to prioritize the current documentation indicates about the transactional telecommunications services also those incoming orders with maintenance tasks network, and what the actual reality of the net- face new and critical operational and manage- or network trouble tickets. work configuration and status truly is. ment issues. Fully automated and integrated Network planners, designers and operations When the network was originally put into service ordering and provisioning, billing, personnel need the tools to more effectively place—and through several upgrades—most of work order flow, trouble ticketing and network design, engineer and manage the now two- the information regarding the physical infra- management will all be key elements in build- way analog/digital telecommunications net- structure (roads, bridges, manholes, poles, ing and retaining areputation for high-quality work—one that requires agreater ability to ana- etc.) was documented in order to design, engi- services at competitive prices. lyze capacity use and traffic patterns. neer and construct the network. Using com- New automated systems will be required to Operations managers need the tools to monitor puter aided design (CAD) tools, the physical

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infrastructure was divided into aseries of arti- information about rack-mounted inside plant their own information—manufacturer, installa- ficially separated "drawings" that displayed a equipment and fiber and coaxial outside plant, tion date, last service call, etc. picture of the information. Once the network operators can begin to build acomplete, end- These objects can then be linked to ahigher- was engineered and constructed, CAD draw- to-end and highly accurate "data model" that level network management system that will inte- ings typically made their way into afiling will be crucial to real-time broadband network grate the data about the device with its element cabinet where they stayed until the next management. management systems (EMSs)—a system within upgrade. By then, nobody's sure if the infor- This data model, stored in an industry-stan- the device that reports its condition to the net- mation is correct. The entire documentation dard relational database, builds an end-to-end work management system. Integrating the data process starts anew—likely at the same or view of the model with the NMS means operations person- greater cost than the documentation process Labor- and network that is nel can monitor the real-time status of the net- ran the last time. accurately work in amanner superior to other providers. Accurate information about the network—its processing- located to its Further integration with systems such as work connectivity, its capacity, its layout and its ele- geocoded order management provide supervisors with the ments—is critical to the successful deployment positioning on means to geographically locate aspecific piece of two-way, interactive services. Without an intensive the local land of equipment or asubscriber's address. accurate representation of the network's base. The Integration with adispatch management system devices, its fiber and coaxial runs, its nodes activities can be operator, in means the technician can be directed to that site and subscriber addresses (among other ele- essence, sees a far more quickly than via amanual system. ments), operators attempting to deliver quality outsourced map of the service rapidly and at low cost face an incredi- network; the Aphased approach to OSS deployment ble hurdle. data itself is organized by "objects" that are re- The first phase of development relies on The solution lies in gathering accurate data used throughout the database. These objects putting in place the systems and procedures about the network. By verifying the existing link data about aparticular device to the required to document the physical network. network documentation, converting over infor- object. For example, amplifiers all have the Once accurate information is obtained, it will mation which is correct, and collecting new same object, but individual amplifiers have be critical to have the procedures in place that

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58 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 keep the data model completely accurate. ness and network management processes as levels. Previous manual systems for provision- Secondly, implementing an integrated NMS the network and customer base grows. Service ing/order management would be automated to will blend the data model with existing EMSs delivery mechanisms are critical at this stage. improve service activation, manage labor costs to perform alarm correlation across multiple Additions at this stage would include: and minimize errors. vendor systems. Integrating this with the data introduction of amodular customer manage- At this point, alevel of stability and expe- model will facilitate rapid trouble resolution. ment system that would initially provide rience in the deployment, operation and man- It's important to note that during Phase 1, GUI-based CSR screens to coincide with the agement of the voice and data access net- many tasks remain manual. The main thrust first high-volume sign-up of telephony and work will be achieved. Hence, the focus will of the phase is to establish the initial systems data subscribers; and introduction of work move toward control and automation of end- needed for operators to deploy alimited set force and dispatch management systems and to-end business functions, and expansion of of voice and data services. Labor- and pro- integration of them with the network data the service catalog. Operators seeing signifi- cessing-intensive activities can be outsourced model and trouble ticket system. These cant growth in the telephony/data business to allow alow-cost entry into the market and implementations would be timed to support could begin deploying and operating their minimize initial capital outlay; personnel are the increased installation, repair and other own digital switches; however, some level of offered amanageable learning curve by service management activities associated with automation would be needed between the keeping the focus on learning to manage net- customer base growth. customer management/service ordering and work elements and gain experience and con- The data model would be extended to be the switch/network element provisioning systems trol over the network. High-visibility sys- "source of record" for network assets and to bring network equipment on-line faster tems, such as automated service ordering and would include increased functionality for and with high-service availability at lower high-quality trouble ticket systems, could be inventory management, connectivity manage- labor costs. initiated simultaneously to establish acus- ment and engineering management. The inte- During Phase 3, the focus is on achieving tomer perception of quality and responsive- grated NMS would be expanded to provide afully-integrated service management/net- ness in the early deployment of telephony real-time monitoring and management of the work management solution capable of sup- and data services. network elements and automated reconfigura- porting rapid growth of the customer base, Phase 2extends the control over the busi- tion of the network to maintain high service network and service catalog, while providing

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exceptional customer service and "best-in- In the end, arobust base OSS architecture roll-out of services occurs. This phase will class" cost structure. has been established. At this point, the opera- see enormous growth; however, analyzing the This phase involves full integration of the tor would be able to incorporate new systems, performance of personnel and systems system solutions and achieving greater pro- add new features to existing systems or new throughout this phase will help to identify ductivity by the people using them. For network elements within the infrastructure problem areas and fine-tune the systems, example, cutting 30 seconds from the time a without disrupting or reworking existing sys- processes and integration solutions needed to CSR spends accessing and retrieving data in tems and suffering the corresponding ineffi- assure maximum effectiveness at minimal the course of signing up asingle new sub- ciency and expense that entails. cost. scriber can—with high volume penetration—cut In Phase 3, manual operations will be all CSR staff hours by thousands per year. Finally... but eliminated; keystrokes needed for use of Providing more immediate accessibility to Taking aphased approached to OSS the various systems will be reduced. Costs are relevant data by operations staff results in deployment similar to that outlined above cut; margins improve. faster customer problem resolution as well as provides significant advantages. During The final result of this type of OSS reducing outages that result in lost revenue Phase 1, operators can learn the true behavior deployment will be acomprehensive, enter- when providing ausage-sensitive service of the HFC network in providing telephony prise-wide integration of acommon database such as telephony. and data services before amajor roll-out of management system that supports established Expansion of the integrated NMS and services occurs. Personnel training is mini- service and network management systems maintenance of the highly accurate data mized; data integration begins before that may be spi 'id throughout the cable model result in better monitoring, manage- widescale customer demand commences. organization. CED ment and control of the network. Real-time Procedures can be put into place based on the network performance improves, intermediate actual systems deployed without causing the About the author and long-term planning are enhanced. Greater operation to come to ahalt to train people or Andy Paff is the president and CEO of network capacity and service expansion can formulate new internal procedures. Integration Technologies, aDenver-based net- now be staged in the most cost-effective man- By Phase 2, the baseline automation will work engineering, systems integration and ner possible to the operator. have been established, and the first major software development firm.

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laser responds from desired and undesired signals at its input. The peak level of all signals presented to the laser input must be below the Return systems 102 maximum peak power for which the laser is rated. The question is, what is maximum peak Setup, troubleshooting whatlevel for agiven laser? No one really knows. Today, manufacturers do not specify their and test systems equipment in this manner. Sometimes, the manufacturer can provide that information, but more often, information is not easily available. Manufacturers are in the process of clarifying goes around... how the specifications are written to be more By Thomas J. Staniec, VP—Network questions are new and need answers. Others helpful to the operator. Engineering, The Excalibur Group, A Time relate to issues and need refinement of past The previous article also recommended Warner Company solutions. using the input to the laser as the network While Return Systems 101 focused on basic reference level. The idea has proven sound. Return Systems 101" (see CED, August operation of two-way networks, this article At the output of the return receiver, it was 1995, p.66) opened with the theme, will cover more complex issues relating to suggested that the level be set to aconve- "Everything Old is New Again." This article setup, troubleshooting, equipment and test sys- nient point slightly lower than the output could be paraphrased as "what goes around, tems. The information presented comes from from the return receiver on the longest return comes around." As more networks are being experiences in actual deployments of telecom- fiber optic path. All other return receiver activated with operational two-way signal munications services. Some testing is designed outputs would be referenced to the same flow, more questions and ideas surface. Some to understand how aproblem impacts the net- point. The goal is to preserve as much level work, why it happens and how it is introduced at the output of the return receiver as possi- Figure 1: Laser input should be centered to the network. The great news is return net- ble to overcome losses in the coupling net- between noise on the low level side, and works work very well in supporting telecom- work behind the receiver. clipping on the high side. munications. The difficulty lies in understand- Recently, with the deployment of cable Bad ing how to set anetwork up for best operation. modems, the thought has changed somewhat. Information presented here will help with net- The level at the return receiver output should work operation decisions. reflect the input to the laser. For those who Optimal operation have already figured this out, congratulations point between The network (sometimes the old brain gets in the way of noise As previously indicated in Return Systems common sense). The reason centers around -0-- distortion - I.- 101, the return laser is the weakest link in the knowing how the network is operating. Any return path from the subscriber to the receiver signal hitting the input of the laser will be Ir in the headend. Guess what? That is still true. directly related to the established reference. Good If the network starts to deviate, it will be Low Laser inputs High The main source of the problem is how the detected quickly because the level at the out- Figure 2: The effects of corrosion. The figure shows the superimposed spectrum analyzer put of the return receiver directly corresponds image of water in afitting. to the return laser input. That's anice starting point, but not the -1.2 v yet_ dBmV Ii complete story. We need to understand where the point of clipping is relative to the lasers 1 used. Currently, most manufacturers provide a specification which does not provide adequate information on how their return lasers operate. This makes aligning the laser and, subsequent- ly, the network, much more difficult. The major concerns relate to the point at which the

-412 laser clips and where low inputs become over- dBmV whelmed with noise. Working to deploy fully operational networks, Ihave seen several instances where high numbers of impulsive hits have been recorded. This led me to take aharder look at what causes problems in networks. What was found was alittle surprising. To that end, with the help of CableLabs and -81.2 Motorola, an operational two-way network dBmV was used to test the return of the HFC net- 7.94 MHz 25.4 MHz 42.94 MHz

62 CEO : C OMMUNICATIONS E NGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 Get aClean Return Path for work. One of the first areas needing attention was aligned toward the clipping side of the were return lasers. Below is adiscussion of laser. The input to the laser should have been Your System three ways to determine the maximum peak centered between noise on the low level side input level to alaser. They differ in the sig- and clipping on the high level side. Figure 1 Pico Precision Window Traps nals used to determine how the laser func- presents the idea. For Window Specific tions and, interestingly, present non-correlat- The second method to test alaser involves Return Path Activation ing information. The first attempt at laser the use of QPSK data modems and adata test correlation was done in conjunction with set. The procedure is similar to the one above. CableLabs and is discussed below. Place the modems in the return at afrequency or sub-band eturn path point that allows you to see the second and abetween 8-10 MHz The laser third harmonic in the return band. Keep In the September 1996 issue of CableLabs' increasing the input level until the bit error SPECS Technology newsletter, an article on rate (BER) reaches 1x10 6.The difference "Testing cable return plant for clipping" between the manufacturer's specification and appears. The article, by Tom Williams of the level attained in the test suggest the peak CableLabs, is clear and will not be related in input level the laser can tolerate.

Start 0.300 Mlla .firtr;" 1.0.000 Figure 3: The response of the wrong type of connector used on the wrong type of cable, with alittle moisture thrown in. 8.8 dBm V

or sub-band return path between 15-18 MHz 1

-31.2 dBm V 1

li Start 0.300 MHz 000 MHz e k„ 111 1111 et41r1 1111

-71.2 dBmV 5.76 MHz 20.76 MHz 35.76 MHz or sub-band return path this article. The premise of the test involves a Working with that information will allow abetween 5-13 MHz primary carrier at 8MHz which is increased in for the establishment of apower-per-hertz lerl le 00 level by 2dB steps at the input to the return level allocation in the 5to 40 MHz band. laser until the second (16 MHz) and third (24 The description presented here is skeletal in MHz) harmonics appear, indicating clipping in nature. For amore in-depth discussion on the laser. The viewed harmonics could come this topic, read the paper, "Lessons for the from single-ended return amplifiers. However, interactive return system," presented by Dr. the amplifier input range is generally greater Kerry LaViolette of Philips Broadband Start 0.300 MHz than the laser and not the source of the har- Networks in the 1996 NCTA transcripts. Dr. monics. In short, the laser will most likely be LaViolette's testing differs from the above in the source of the problem. that he had data carriers fully loaded in the 5 A simplistic view of this test shows the dif- to 40 MHz return. One aspect of his testing ference between the manufacturer's rated level showed that lasers, while performing to com- specification from the data sheet vs. what level parable curves could vary widely, which fur- causes clipping at the laser input. That differ- ther enforces the idea of characterizing all ence is headroom. This test was run in con- lasers. junction with CableLabs in atwo-way network The test sequence actually used was this past summer. The results proved the tested designed by Motorola and involves the use of network operated fine but could be driven into an arbitrary waveform generator (ARB). The clipping. Further work showed the network designed waveform programmed into the ARB 800-822-7420 •315-437-1711 FAX (315) 437-7525 6315 Fly Road, Syracuse, NY 13057 RETURN SYSTEMS

Figure 4: What the network looked like after the problem in Figure 3 was found. neered test signal from the ARB put the max- 8.8 imum input level to the laser at, or slightly dBmV below, the manufacturer's specification. An interesting side result of this testing was directly visible on aspectrum analyzer. Every time ahigh-level impulsive strike entered the network, it caused CTB to show up around the ARB signal on the spectrum analyzer in the headend. The level of the intermodulation varied with the amplitude of -31.2 the strike. This proved to be asolid verifica- dBmV tion of the type of problem prevalent in this specific network. The conclusions taken away from this test are:

t. V C/N, while needing to be held high, may fi'I'llense-ji.it It ftferII el I I I 41111iirle' not be agood predictor of network operation in adata system. V Return lasers need to be characterized in a number of ways to determine the best median -71.2 operating point once the peak operating point dBmV 5.76 MHz 20.7 6 MHz 35.76 MHz is established. V C/CTB may become amore important pre- is atone sequence equally divided on each proved to be interesting. dictor of network operation than C/N. side of acenter frequency and appearing as First, the standard CW tone test showed V Increasing signal levels into the return on though it represented the peak power level of a the laser under test could operate at apeak "the more the better" mentality might be self- form of QPSK modulation. The testing was input level well above the manufacturer's defeating. run on an active network, and the results published specification. However, the engi- The testing done with Motorola on aspecific type of return laser shows this laser can only tolerate six FILTERS FOR narrow-band The simple frequencies at CABLE TV individual response is to channel levels VHF about +12 YEAR # 30** BANDPASS FILTERS dBmV, signifi- lower all carrier cantly lower Our catalog has afilter for than previous- every CATV problem. levels to apoint ly assumed. It Ask for it! needs to be We can also make your that doesn't stated that the special filter in ahurry. specifications CATV SATELLITE affect the laser on this laser Just tell us your problem. DIPLEXERS INTERFERENCE FILTERS are for one We'll answer within 24 hours! video channel with some data carriers running 10 dB below the video. In this case, there are no video channels in this return. The six frequencies combined are smaller than the one video channel. It needs to be stated that other return lasers already perform better, but points up why network laser characterization should be done in every network. PAY-TV BROADCAST Why is this information important? It sets TRAPS INTERFERENCE FILTERS the stage for awell-operating network. These BOSTICK FILTER DIVISION concepts show how to operate the network as 7395 'left Park Drise East Syracuse, NV 13057 more digital carriers are added to it. As more Slailing address: channels of the same level are added to the ** Emily & Glyn Bostick- PO Bo> 3307 Continuing ageneration Sy racuse. NY 13220 return network, the laser begins to see higher Tel: (315) 452-0709 Emily Bostick COMMUNICATIONS of personal service to Fax: 1315)452-0732 & ENERGY CORP cumulative power at its input. As the input President TV INDUSTRIES WORLDWIDE! (etude & US: 800-882-1587 power increases, the maximum power input

64 GERD :C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & DESIGN DECEMBER 1996 Get Sma

Figure 5: The node prior to filtering. With the TTHPF02 18.8 B -Return trace dBmV Mini Trap

The ITHPF02M miniature trap presses all spurious sub-low n from entering the return path o Wu- ATV system by blocking 5M (a. MHz and passing chann -21.2 Ihru.h 1 GHz dBmV Li

IYIN r.)J 1>mef1 t t I till ttll

-61.2 dBmV 3.30 MHz 18.30 MHz 33.30 MHz

to the laser will be reached or exceeded, lation schemes come in and out of phase, the which affects the network. peak power can dramatically change. The The simple response to this problem is to total power can be pushed to levels well Actual Size lower all carrier levels to apoint that does above what the laser can tolerate. This not not affect the only raises the specter of clipping and possi- laser. ble laser destruction but can show deficiencies For aUSK Unfortunately, in how the laser handles multiple high-level the simple carriers. The resulting intermodulation prob- modulated signal, answer is a lems, which can be caused by desired and little too sim- undesired signals, will definitely affect any ple. The digi- type of communications. The recommenda- the peak can he tal modulation tions are: schemes used V Characterize return lasers to understand 3to 5dB higher for modem, how they operate. telephone or V Depending how the return looks, run the than the high-speed levels at apoint that increases the margin to transmitters in interference by subtracting out headroom for RMS value the return ingress/impulse problems. need to deal V Determine levels into the laser based on a with peak loaded network bandwidth. As more carriers signals, not root mean square (rms). Digital are added to the network, correcting the whole signals have peak power points much like the mess could be difficult as penetration levels peak power point of atelevision signal. In climb. the case of the television signal, the peak is the sync tip. A 64 QAM digital signal has a The amplifier network peak signal 9to 10 dB higher than the RMS The manufacturers are getting better at value. That peak point is represented in a64 helping the industry get the most out of their QAM signal at the point farthest away from return networks. An excellent example of the origin in the signal constellation. this is shown in Figure 8. This chart, reprint- Get Pico For aQPSK modulated signal, the peak can ed with the permission of C-Cor Electronics, be 3to 5dB higher than the RMS value. The provides the operator with all the informa- concern about peak power into the laser might tion needed to align areturn network proper- Reader not be aproblem with one or two digital ly. While it is based on video channel mea- 'co Service return carriers. As more carriers are added, the surements for carrier level and C/N, it pro- PPRODUCTS, INC. 36 total power level increases just because more vides agreat tool for network setup. The carriers are present. However, the power can chart makes it easy to determine how the net- increase much higher than the power you see work should perform. 800-822-7420 •315-437-1711 as the carriers are added. In fact, as the modu- In this case, from the bill of materials FAX (315) 437-7525 6315 Fly Road, Syracuse, NY 13057 RETURN SYSTEMS

Figure 6: The node after filtering (so we thought) path is typically listed as 51+ dB for those budget losses. In atypical 500-home node 18.8 dBmV with somewhere between 32 to 64 actives, the RF C/N will be in the range of 48 dB. The combined network C/N will be in the range of 46 +dB, well above the typical low- to mid-thirties C/N often seen in operating systems. Keep in mind that a46 dB or better C/N number is based on a4 MHz video bandwidth. The C/N for amuch narrower

-21.2 digital signal will be significantly better. dBmV Keep in mind C/N may not, by itself, determine total headroom and operating range for . t the network. For all intents and purposes, the majority

A silAnilAlt44 .6rk1 of problems in the return come from the drop 14 1 systems attached to the hard coaxial networks. This has been veri- -61.2 fied by vari- dBmV The majority 3.30 MHz 18.30 MHz 33.30 MHz ous groups of problems in working with (BOM) or directly from the design maps, you should expect for the RF plant C/N based the return net- count up the total number of system and line on the 17 dBmV flat input levels into the work. Ihave extender style amplifiers. Enter the chart on return amplifiers. The reference return optics the return stated on a the proper axis for each to the point where path loss budget for most manufacturers is in number of the columns intersect. The C/N listed is what the 5to 8dB range. The C/N from the optical come from the occasions that 70 percent of drop systems the problems come from THE my unnino TE11,111 the subscribers' homes, 25 percent from the tap to THAT ilEUEh SCORES! the ground block and 5percent from the hard coax plant. Generally, the 5percent in the hard coax came from critters, craft and cata- strophe. Figures 2and 3add another word: corrosion. Both figures are from areas in a system where dynafoam cable is still in the network. Figure 2shows the superimposed spectrum analyzer image of water in afitting. This was an intermittent problem, causing the rise in the noise floor by over 30 dB. Figure 3shows the response of awrong type of connector used on the wrong type of cable with alittle moisture thrown in for good measure. Figure 4is what the network looked like after the problem was found and repaired. It does not take arocket scientist to figure out Creates beveled-edge to prevent "0" ring damage. communications can operate well in Figure 4 Removes outer conductor and dielectric in one easy step. and not at all in Figure 3. Return systems Can be used with Ratchet T-handle or drill. can, and do, operate very well. The key to how they operate is practices, procedures and Fast, safe jacket removal. personnel. Plastic guide prevents scoring. Knurled body provides positive grip. Come see us at Booth 1146 The drop system at the Western Show Ihave long held the belief that it is better to understand how something works badly than to understand how it works well. If you under- Reader CablePre For More Information Service stand the "lemon" aspects of operation, you Tools You Trust. Call: 1-800-320-9350 69 can learn how to make lemonade. With that in

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RETURN THE ATTACHED CARD TODAY • TRILITHIC The Best Thing On Cable FOR A FREE QUOTE FOR YOUR Come see us at Western Show! Booth #1407 9202 East 33rd Street /Indianapolis, IN 46236 USA SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS! 317-895-3600 /(800) 344-2412 O RETURN SYSTEMS Molex Network Solutions mind, one system Iworked with proved to be more than alittle confounding with asmatter- Provide Picture Perfect Performance ing of confusion thrown in for good measure. The network typically operated well, but there were times when trial users reported less-than- optimum performance. Viewing the nodes in question on aspectrum analyzer, at times they looked fine, and sometimes problems were apparent. The confusion came when the nodes looked fine but the trial users reported degraded operation. A clue to the probable cause came while collecting data on the modems. By varying the length of the packets sent, either 64-byte or 1518-byte, aconsistent picture started to emerge. The 64-byte packets would pass through the network with relative ease and high reliability. The story was quite different for the 1518 byte packets. They Realizing would be "hit" frequently and eing acable operator today means the trace has in some cases more than offering entertainment B multiple packages to customers. Telephone, intemet asignature times. These access and interactive services are just a "impulsive" few of your new network requirements. can aid problem(s) are difficult With all this at stake, can you afford to troubleshooting to find via trust your fiber network to just anyone? standard CATV spec- Molex Fiber Optics, Inc. designs trum analyzers because of their sweep products which impact the head of your speeds. It is highly probable that the problem system. We offer afull line of passive optical is not caught because the sweep is at adifferent point than where the problem takes place. products for fiber management which The test equipment needed to find these include SC, SC/APC, FC, and FC/APC types of problems must log the occurrence as cable assemblies, coupler and WDM soon as it happens. Further, if the problem modules, fiber drop cables, pre-terminated reoccurs, it may leave asignature trace. Realizing the trace has asignature can aid cabinets and complete frame administration troubleshooting. systems.

Digital or analog network —Molex Detective work A plan was devised to help narrow down 44 selects the right interconnect management what, how and where these problems were to give you piece of mind. coming from. The plan involved taking baseline information on nodes. The nodes had Your connectivity specialist. been balanced, and work was done to clean up ingress sources to areasonable level. Further, the plan involved purchasing two types of windowed (to pass the return carrier rnolex Fiber Optics, Inc. from home convertors) high-pass filters. \, One group of filters had an attenuation of 40 dB outside the window, while the other had 5224 Katrine Avenue •Downers Grove, IL •60515-4070 a60 dB attenuation. The window is centered

Reader (800) Al-FIBER •Fax: 630-512-8777 at 8.9 MHz for the General Instrument conver- Service http://www.molex.com tors being used. CableLabs was solicited for 38 the test equipment used to log events (hits) as See us at the Western Show, Booth #1213 68 C ED : C OMMUNICATIONS E NGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMB ER 1996 ALL GUTS= SUPERIOR ATTENUATION

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they happened. Four node Figure 7: The problem was tracked down to a battery charger for an electric wheelchair. In fact, the first visual were tested and provided Ref 30.0 dBmV at 10 dB sighting on aspectrum some interesting results. Peak analyzer came while run- Of the four, one node, far Log rota r4ut power -32.0 dBmV ning the multiple tone and away, was plagued by 10 test with Motorola. The dB/ random events. problems appeared as On aper-day basis, the beats clustered around node sustained thousands the tone test. So, where of hits which could effect were the problems com- BER. Figure 5is the node ing from in afully fil- prior to filtering. Figure 6 tered node? is the node after filtering MA SB Armed with the above (so we thought). Note the SC FC information, two people CORR low frequency end of the were dispatched to find spectrum and the drop in out. The problems were the noise floor on the high Center 20.00 MHz Span 50.00 MHz assumed to be in the hard RES BW 300 kHz VBW 100 kHz SWP 20.0 end. The carrier in the coax plant after the fil- middle of the right-hand ters. But those assump- side of the screen is used tions were wrong. After a in this testing. The actual data carrier occupies tigation was needed. full week of work, the findings were as fol- the first gradicule to the left of center screen. Discussions with CableLabs and summary lows: The highest daily rate in a24-hour period information provided the answers. There are, V About 24 drops were missed. That is, filters of time was 6,940 events. The estimated in fact, signatures left by the offending prob- were not installed. BER in the period was in the 10-3 error rate lems. Armed with the new information, a V Another group of filters were not placed before the network was filtered. The avail- closer evalua- at the tap port but at the side of the house, ability of the network, at times, was about 70 The availability tion of the leaving the drop from the tap to the house percent. No wonder the trial users would see node was open. slow operation! Once the network was fil- made. That V One radial-cracked cable in the hard coax tered with the windowed 40 dB high-pass fil- of the evaluation led was found. ters, the hit rate dropped to amaximum of to the follow- None of these problems were found using 1,572 events in 24 hours—a sizable reduction. network, ing discover- signal leakage measurements in the forward But the story does not end here. The BER ies: system. They were all detected using aCB with the filters only edged into the l0- at times, V Short-term, radio with aspectrum analyzer and an all-band range. The estimated network availability in high level CB receiver in the headend. In most cases, no sig- this node improved to an average 99.4 per- was about 70 radio ingress nal leakage from the forward system was cent over the 24 hours assuming athreshold is clipping the found at the problem sites. If leakage was of operation of lx10-5 .That number may or percent laser. noted, it was at levels well below where it may not be reasonable, but it is the point V The RF would have been investigated. where most forward error correction (FEC) output from the convertors is clipping the Instead, the predominate source of the prob- starts to operate. laser. lems was the drop system. Ihave often stated This node is hardly asterling endorsement V Very high level impulsive problems com- that asingle house or drop can mess up the for filtering. Ihad difficulty accepting those ing through the window are driving the whole network, and that's still true (except in numbers and decided amore thorough inves- laser into clipping. this case it was atotal of about 30 drops). The

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Figure 9: The problem proved to be the RG-59 cable from the ground block to the choice is to use filters, 40 dB filters appear convertor input. more than adequate. 19.8 dBmV slIf you are going to use or need awindow for aconvertor return carrier, make the window as narrow as possible and have insertion loss added at the window in the range of 6to 10 dB. This will help with the convertor/laser clipping problem, not to mention impulse strikes that bleed through the window.

-20.2 "Nobody knows the troubles I've seen" dBmV In order to shov, and present material that is helpful and informative to technical personnel on how to solve problems, Figures 7 and 9are presented only to increase the readers' knowledge as The assortment they work on return sys- -60.2 tems. They of available test do, however, dBmV 4.40 MHz 21.40 MHz 38.40 MHz represent equipment is real-life situa- CableLabs monitoring equipment was moved come from, how problems get into the net- tions. Figure back into this node and, while not complete, work and what it takes to correct them. The getting much 7was tracked the total hits in a12-hour period are now less decision to use filters is not one to take lightly down to a than 360. and should be weighted on acase-by-case better battery charg- The above was not the only node tested in basis. With filters, there are three simple er for an elec- that manner. Another, cleaner, node was also options. They are: tric wheel- tested. It had aworst-case estimated BER of V Do not use filters and keep the network chair. The main feature of note in Figure 9is about lx i0. The estimated availability at clean. It can be done. the big RF blob just to the left of center. certain intervals was around 90 percent, with a Use filters for problems that cannot be When located, the problem proved to be the 24-hour average of around 98 percent. After resolved right away. RG-59 cable from the ground block to the filtering with 60 dB window filters, the BER V Fully filter the network. convertor input. Changing the cable fixed the dropped into the 10-7 range. The estimated The choice of these options requires problem. There was no noted damage to the availability rose to 99.93 percent with aworst- through analysis. If you do choose to use fil- cable. case availability of 99.9 percent. These results ters, here are some things to think about: are more in line with expectations. V Tests show that a40 dB filter is more than Test equipment The use of high-pass filters can be a adequate to get to the combined noise floor in What adifference afew months makes. volatile subject. The use of filters in these atypical 500 HP node. The tests also show 60 The assortment of available test equipment is tests is to sort out what is happening in anet- dB filters brought the noise and impairments getting much better. The Trilithic unit operates work. They are used to find where problems to the same point the 40 dB filter did. If your well and is easy to use. Hewlett-

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Input levels Noise figures C/N

FlexNet amplifiers (bridger ports) 17 dBmV 11.5 dB 64.5 dB

Line extender (LES) 17 dBmV 6.5 dB 69.5 dB

FlexNet amplifiers 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

10 59.50 58.31 57.37 56.60 55.95 55.38 54.88 54.43 54.02 53.65 53.31 52.99 52.69 52.41 52.15 51.91 51.68

11 59.09 57.99 57.11 56.39 55.76 55.22 54.73 54.30 53.90 53.54 53.20 52.89 52.60 52.33 52.07 51.83 51.60

12 58.71 57.69 56.87 56.18 55.58 55.06 54.59 54.17 53.78 53.43 53.10 52.80 52.51 52.25 52.00 51.76 51.53

13 58.36 57.41 56.64 55.98 55.41 54.90 54.45 54.04 53.67 53.32 53.00 52.71 52.43 52.17 51.92 51.69 51.47

14 58.04 57.15 56.42 55.79 55.24 54.76 54.32 53.92 53.56 53.22 52.91 52.62 52.34 52.09 51.85 51.62 51.40

15 57.74 56.91 56.21 55.61 55.08 54.61 54.19 53.80 53.45 53.12 52.81 52.53 52.26 52.01 51.77 51.55 51.33

16 57.46 56.68 56.01 55.44 54.93 54.47 54.06 53.69 53.34 53.02 52.72 52.44 52.18 51.93 51.70 51.48 51.27

17 57.20 56.45 55.82 55.27 54.78 54.34 53.94 53.57 53.24 52.92 52.63 52.36 52.10 51.86 51.63 51.41 51.20

18 56.95 56.24 55.64 55.11 54.64 54.21 53.82 53.46 53.14 52.83 52.54 52.27 52.02 51.78 51.56 51.34 51.14

19 56.71 56.04 55.46 54.95 54.50 54.08 53.71 53.36 53.04 52.74 52.46 52.19 51.95 51.71 51.49 51.28 51.07

20 56.49 55.85 55.30 54.80 54.36 53.96 53.59 53.25 52.94 52.65 52.37 52.11 51.87 51.64 51.42 51.21 51.01

21 56.28 55.67 55.13 54.66 54.23 53.84 53.48 53.15 52.84 52.56 52.29 52.03 51.80 51.57 51.35 51.15 50.95

22 56.08 55.49 54.98 54.52 54.10 53.72 53.37 53.05 52.75 52.47 52.21 51.96 51.72 51.50 51.29 51.08 50.89

23 55.88 55.32 54.83 54.38 53.98 53.61 53.27 52.95 52.66 52.39 52.13 51.88 51.65 51.43 51.22 51.02 50.83

24 55.70 55.16 54.68 54.25 53.86 53.50 53.17 52.86 52.57 52.30 52.05 51.81 51.58 51.36 51.16 50.96 50.77

25 55.52 55.00 54.54 54.12 53.74 53.39 53.07 52.77 52.48 52.22 51.97 51.73 51.51 51.30 51.09 50.90 50.71

26 55.35 54.85 54.40 54.00 53.63 53.29 52.97 52.68 52.40 52.14 51.89 51.66 51.44 51.23 51.03 50.84 50.66

27 55.19 54.71 54.27 53.88 53.52 53.18 52.87 52.59 52.32 52.06 51.82 51.59 51.37 51.17 50.97 50.78 50.60

28 55.03 54.56 54.14 53.76 53.41 53.08 52.78 52.50 52.23 51.98 51.75 51.52 51.31 51.10 50.91 50.72 50.55

29 54.88 54.43 54.02 53.65 53.30 52.99 52.69 52.41 52.15 51.91 51.67 51.45 51.24 51.04 50.85 50.67 50.49

30 54.73 54.29 53.90 53.54 53.20 52.89 52.60 52.33 52.07 51.83 51.60 51.39 51.18 50.98 50.79 50.61 50.44

31 54.59 54.16 53.78 53.43 53.10 52.80 52.51 52.25 52.00 51.76 51.53 51.32 51.11 50.92 50.73 50.55 50.38

32 54.45 54.04 53.67 53.32 53.00 52.70 52.43 52.17 51.92 51.69 51.46 51.25 51.05 50.86 50.68 50.50 50 33

33 54.31 53.92 53.55 53.22 52.91 52.61 52.34 52.09 51.84 51.61 51.40 51.19 50.99 50.80 50.62 50.45 50.28

1:( 34 54.19 53.80 53.44 53.12 52.81 52.53 52.26 52.01 51.77 51.54 51.35 51.13 50.93 50.74 50.56 50.39 50.23

35 54.06 53.68 53.34 53.02 52.72 52.44 52.18 51.93 51.70 51.47 51.26 51.06 50.87 50.69 50.51 50.34 50.18

(u 36 53.94 53.57 53.23 52.92 52.63 52.36 52.10 51.86 51.63 51.41 51.20 51.00 50.81 50.63 50.45 50.29 50.12

37 53.82 53.46 53.13 52.83 52.54 52.27 52.02 51.78 51.56 51.34 51.14 50.94 50.75 50.57 50.40 50.23 50.08

38 53.70 53.36 53.03 52.73 52.45 52.19 51.94 51.71 51.49 51.27 51.07 50.88 50.69 50.52 50.35 50.18 50.03

39 53.59 53.25 52.94 52.64 52.37 52.11 51.87 51.64 51.42 51.21 51.01 50.82 50.64 50.46 50.30 50.13 49.98

40 53.48 53.15 52.84 52.56 52.29 52.03 51.79 51.57 51.35 51.15 50.95 50.76 50.58 50.41 50.24 50.08 49.93

41 53.37 53.05 52.75 52.47 52.20 51.96 51.72 51.50 51.28 51.08 50.89 50.70 50.53 50.36 50.19 50.03 49.88

42 53.27 52.95 52.66 52.38 52.12 51.88 51.65 51.43 51.22 51.02 50.83 50.65 50.47 50.30 50.14 49.98 49.83

43 53.17 52.86 52.57 52.30 52.05 51.81 51.58 51.36 51.16 50.96 50.77 50.59 50.42 50.25 50.09 49.94 49.79

44 53.07 52.76 52.48 52.22 51.97 51.73 51.51 51.30 51.09 50.90 50.71 50.54 50.36 50.20 50.04 49.89 49.74

45 52.97 52.67 52.40 52.14 51.89 51.66 51.44 51.23 51.03 50.84 50.66 50.48 50.31 50.15 49.99 49.84 49.70

46 52.87 52.58 52.31 52.06 51.82 51.59 51.37 51.17 50.97 50.78 50.60 50.43 50.26 50.10 49.94 49.79 49.65

47 52.78 52.50 52.23 51.98 51.74 51.52 51.31 51.10 50.91 50.72 50.54 50.37 50.21 50.05 49.90 49.75 49.61

48 52.69 52.41 52.15 51.90 51.67 51.45 51.24 51.04 50.85 50.67 50.49 50.32 50.16 50.00 49.85 49.70 49.56

49 52.60 52.33 52.07 51.83 51.60 51.38 51.18 50.98 50.79 50.61 50.44 50.27 50.11 49.95 49.80 49.66 49.52

50 52.51 52.24 51.99 51.76 51.53 51.32 51.11 50.92 50.73 50.55 50.38 50.22 50.06 49.90 49.76 49.61 49.47

51 52.42 52.16 51.92 51.68 51.46 51.25 51.05 50.86 50.67 50.50 50.33 50.17 50.01 49.86 49.71 49.57 49.43

52 52.34 52.08 51.84 51.61 51.39 51.19 50.99 50.80 50.62 50.44 50.28 50.12 49.96 49.81 49.67 49.52 49.39

53 52.26 52.01 51.77 51.54 51.33 51.12 50.93 50.74 50.56 50.39 50.23 50.07 49.91 49.76 49.62 49.48 49.35

54 52.18 51.95 51.70 51.47 51.26 51.06 50.87 50.68 50.51 50.34 50.17 50.02 49.86 49.72 49.58 49.44 49.30

55 52.10 51.85 51.62 51.41 51.20 51.00 50.81 50.63 50.45 50.29 50.12 49.97 49.82 49.67 49.53 49.40 49.26

56 52.02 51.78 51.55 51.34 51.15 50.94 50.75 50.57 50.40 50.23 50.07 49.92 49.77 49.63 49.49 49.35 49.22 57 51.94 51.71 51.48 51.27 51.07 50.88 50.69 50.52 50.35 50.18 50.02 49.87 49.73 49.58 49.45 49.31 49.18

58 51.87 51.64 51.42 51.21 51.01 50.82 50.64 50.46 50.29 50.13 49.98 49.83 49.68 49.54 49.40 49.27 49.14

59 51.79 51.56 51.35 51.14 50.95 50.76 50.58 50.41 50.24 50.08 49.93 49.78 49.63 49.50 49.36 49.23 49.10

60 51.72 51.50 51.28 51.08 50.89 50.70 50.53 50.35 50.19 50.03 49.88 49.73 49.59 49.45 49.32 49.19 49.06

61 51.65 51.43 51.22 51.02 50.83 50.65 50.47 50.30 50.14 49.98 49.83 49.69 49.55 49.41 49.28 49.15 49.02 Reprinted with permission of C-COR Electronics and based on their return equipment.

74 C ED :C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & DESIGN DECEMBER 1996 RETURN SYSTEMS

Packard/CaLan has aunit with excellent fea- tors to generate test signals and to reproduce need to be reported from sensors in the net- tures for troubleshooting, alignment and net- the problems captured on the digital storage work at the time the problem occurs. This work operation. Wavetek has come out with a oscilloscope will help to "peel the layers of will go along way to fast identification and higher power Stealth sweep which overcomes the onion back." That will allow for better correction of the problem at its source. To adeficiency in the original Stealth sweep sys- understanding date, no one has this type of monitoring or tem when used in the return network. Wavetek and control of reporting capability. also has come out with an option on its new these hybrid MicroStealth meters that allows you to look at Further, we need fiber/coaxial In conclusion the return spectrum in aspectrum analyzer networks. This brings us to the end of Return Systems mode. Investigation is being done on the unit to find abetter While test 102. It does not bring us to the end of the to see if it can be used as adrop certification equipment work that still needs to done. tool. TriSpec Communication out of Canada way to handle can help trou- We must find ways to troubleshoot and has awell-featured piece that provides a bleshoot repair networks faster, preferably before the small, useful spectrum analyzer as afield level variations these kinds of customer becomes aware aproblem exists. To receiver. problems, it do this, we need pro-active monitoring on a A short time ago, none of this test equip- in the return oath is an "after real-time basis. ment existed. Test equipment will continue to the fact" Further, we need to find abetter way to evolve and so will the way we use it. As the solution. handle level variations in the return path. network evolves, the test equipment has to Network Return amplifiers have always been treated as follow. New tools are required to trou- monitoring on areal-time, pro-active basis is something of an after-thought. Now they for- bleshoot problems. Impulse problems demon- needed. While system levels are important, mulate aposition which can produce new rev- strate that premise exceptionally well. the real problems that need attention are not enue streams. On what, and where, you set Wideband high frequency digital storage being monitored or reported. It is not your sights—along with how you control your oscilloscopes can capture impulse events and enough to capture an event at the output of a network—will ultimately determine your suc- will be needed. Arbitrary waveform genera- receiver in aheadend. Impulse problems cess. Good luck! CIED

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THE PREMIER MAGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 75 • C ABLE NET '96

tized voice and music featuring acompression rate of 27:1 over the Internet, via LANcity cable modems. CableNET '95 zeroes LANcity, which is supporting anumber of demos, has furnished modems to specific Amelting pot schools in the Anaheim area, which will send of vendors IS on data and receive high-speed data via Century's fiber network, as part of another demonstration. The data trial with the area schools will continue well after the show has drawn to aclose. The Lucent/LANcity teaming is agood net management example of what Frank Wimler, supervisor, By Dana Cervenka donated by Western Show organizer CCTA technical services with CableLabs, calls the (California Cable Television Association). CableNET "melting pot:' While the purpose of the CableNET04 exhib- As for the fiber network, it's composed of "A lot of these companies get to meet other it continues to be to show off the capabilities more than 77 fiber miles, with 20 of those lit firms which are doing things that can enhance of the broadband cable network, the focus for up and working. Of the 20, 15 fiber miles con- their own projects," notes Wimler. "It's a this year's massive demo at the Western Cable nect the exhibit to one of Century chance for them to work on applications that Show zeroes in on data and network manage- Communications' redundant fiber rings, while they wouldn't normally work on." ment applications. four miles will actually be in use inside the A number of vendors have stepped up to Produced by Cable Television Laboratories exhibition hall. provide materials and equipment worth thou- Inc. (CableLabs), CableNET '96 will show- Configured to resemble aregional fiber sands of dollars to support the exhibit, includ- case multiple demonstrations from more than ring, the network will pump two different ing: Alpha, which is supplying power supplies; 35 high-tech companies, with another dozen or so firms providing raw infrastructure and components to make it all run smoothly. The data focus is easy to understand, given cable operators' zeal to reap the boun- CARL ty of providing high-speed connections to the Internet, and the focus on network management services is alogical follow-on. Responding to feedback from CableLabs' members like Continental Cablevision and Jones Intercable, who are themselves in the thick of implementing complex network and subscriber management systems, executives at the Louisville, Colorado-based consortium decided to incorporate network management demonstrations into the exhibit as well. "We want to show that the cable industry is serious about the kinds of services it is going to Real ideas. Real results. be delivering, and there is an understanding that network management will play akey part in how it is able to handle the delivery of all these channel lineups from Century to the show Amp, which is furnishing fiber optic equip- different services over the same pipeline," says floor, and odds are good that the plant will ment; Belden, which has given CableLabs coax Mike Schwartz, senior VP of communications approach 750 MHz in signal capacity. and fiber; GI, which is furnishing modulators for CableLabs. and lasers; Philips, which has provided taps This year, CableNET will feature three Help for the modem-impaired and lasers; Bay Networks, which has ponied up separate networks—RF, fiber and data—haul- The main guideline CableLabs set up for for routers; and the aforementioned LANcity ing information around the exhibit hall and the applications to be displayed is that they all (see sidebar, "What vendors will be showcas- out to Century Communications' local cable either be already deployed in the real world, or ing," on the next page). network, as well as to servers located as far be capable of being deployed within the next While CableLabs has taken on the manage- away as that of Lucent Technologies in New 12 months. ment role, as it did last year, the consortium Jersey. The data network, composed of two On the data side, Intel will be demonstrat- has also hired aproject manager from EDS to T-1 lines, will connect the exhibit directly to ing an integrated diagnostic program it has coordinate the whole tamale. the Internet. written which is designed to help cable tech- At the beginning of November, an engi- The exhibit itself is bigger than ever before, nicians complete the dreaded cable modem neering team from CableLabs was about taking up afull 6,000 square feet of the installation. In another portion of the exhibit, halfway through with the integration of the Anaheim Convention Center, space which is Lucent Technologies will be running packe- various applications, all based out of a

76 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS E NGINEERING & DESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 What vendors will be showcasing at CableNET '96 @Home—A high-speed, end-to-end network solution for full NEC America Inc.—Graphically rich data services and video with Internet access. related data delivered via cable modem. ADC Telecommunications—Standard and enhanced telephony Network Computer Inc. (An Oracle Company)—Access to per- services, multiple levels of high-speed data delivery, tailored to varied sonalized information on the network computer using NC Smartcard. market niches, and analog and digital video services. Services will be Phasecom Inc.—Various broadband interactive applications like delivered over asingle platform which allows for efficient manage- videoconferencing, high-speed Internet access and telephony, all ment and use of the spectrum. over cable networks. Bay Networks—Data routers and hardware to support acable data Racal Data Group—How traditional telephone and video may be business and necessary software to manage the cable data service. integrated with networked interactive data services. CableData—A cable modem interface with aJava-developed Superior Electronics Group Inc.—A broadband network monitor- , graphical user interface Web page to perform business office trans- ing and performance analysis system. ctions. SkyConnect/Digital Equipment Corp.—A cable digital advertis- P--ea Com21/3COM—Interactive multimedia applications, Internet ing insertion network management software product. Separately, access of Web sites with audio and video dimensions. These rely on SkyConnect will demo astreamlined way for buying, selling and ful- ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) technology. filling ads on local cable and the World Wide Web. Convergence Systems Inc.—Convergence Systems Inc. and Terayon Corp.—A cable modem which uses code division multi- Advanced Modular Solutions are presenting aheadend computer solu- ple access (CDMA). tion designed specifically for the cable industry. The computer operates Thomson Sun Interactive, LLC —A Web browser application, on all software platforms at high speeds, while taking up little headend running on astandard OpenTV set-top and TV, coupled with an space, and will run both Internet and Intranet with afirewall in between. Internet gateway suitable for deployment by network operators at First Pacific Networks—Its system for delivering telephone ser- their headends. vice over the cable network. VideoActive Technologies Corp.—An Instant-Access NVOD sys- General Instrument—The company is showing its 256/64 QAM tem with an architecture that provides low-cost per thread movies-on- digital video compression system. demand. Hayes Microcomputer Products—Fast Internet access using a WorldGate Communications—Through its TV On-Line services, one-way cable modem and telephony return. is offering universal consumer access to the Internet via television Hewlett-Packard—High-speed Internet access services and a sets, using existing cable set-top convertors, without the need for a data network operations management system. personal computer or high-speed modem. Harmonic Lightwaves—Complete network management from Your Choice TV—Nationally delivered enhanced PPV service that headend to line extender, and from the element manager to the net- gives consumers asecond chance to watch some of America's most work manager. popular TV shows. Your Choice TV provides time-shifted program- HITS (Headend In The Sky)—Digital video compression. ming from major broadcast and cable networks. Integration Technologies, Objective Systems Integrators and Zenith Electronics Corp.—Two-way cable data delivery and data AM Communications—An integrated, end-to-end network manage- delivery using cable in one direction, and telephone lines for the ment system. return. The display includes Web pages on television. Intel—Installation and network management software utilities that may be used to install, connect and troubleshoot any brand of cable Supporting vendors providing enabling technology modem in less than 15 minutes. Alpha Technologies Inc.—Power supplies, uninterruptible power Jones CyberSolutions—Network management, customer service and technical support. system. AMP Inc.—Fiber optic equipment and telephony category 5equip- LANcity—Ethernet/ATM interoperability, network management ment. and operations support services and arange of multimedia content Bay Networks—Internet routers, Ethernet switches and technical delivered over its cable modems. support. Lucent Technologies—A packet voice and music system that Belden Wire & Cable—Fiber optic and coaxial cable, telephony works over cable networks and aplatform for delivering integrated cable. voice, data and digital video. Comm/Scope Inc.—Fiber optic cable, coaxial cable, telephony Microsoft—A family of servers and client SW designed to provide cable and shipping. cable operators with the technologies necessary to provide services to Gilbert Engineering Co. Inc.—Coaxial connectors. communities of users on both the Internet as well as Intranets. The soft- Hewlett-Packard—Spectrum analyzer. ware platform scales from hundreds of users to millions, enabling cable General Instrument—Modulators, fiber optic transmitter/receivers. operators to cost-effectively address the Internet market systems wide. Philips Broadband Networks—Cable distribution equipment, Motorola—Cable-based telephony and high-speed data service fiber optic transmitter/receivers. over hybrid fiber/coax. LANcity-1 0Mbps cable modems and technical support.

"garage" on Century Communications' prop- that their equipment will work on our internal and afew sleepless nights to construct the erty in Anaheim, Calif. network," notes Wimler. Once the actual entire exhibit and bring all of the applications "All of our headend racks, our taps, our net- exhibit setup begins, on the morning of on-line. Attendees can experience CableNET works—everything is strung out on the floor December 7, CableLabs staff and personnel '96 in the arena of the Anaheim Convention of the garage, and vendors come in and prove from participating vendors will have four days Center. CIED

THE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 77 44* QAM

GI successfully conducted the first extensive field tests of the 256 QAM system in an actual cable environment with Rogers Testing 255 OA Cablesystems Limited, Canada's largest cable operator. The field testing discussed was per- GI and Rogers report formed at 21 locations served by three differ- successful field tests ent Rogers headend sites servicing parts of transmission Toronto, Newmarket, St. Thomas and Woodstock in Ontario, Canada. New and older cable plants were chosen to test the performance of 256 QAM transmission in systems of data over HFC typical of deployment scenarios. By Marc Ryba, Senior Project Engineer; cent increase in information rate and a50 per- and Paul Matuszak, Senior Project Engineer, cent increase in video content as compared to Background GI Communications Division, Eastern 64 QAM. With it, broadband network opera- As mentioned above, the 256 QAM sys- Operations, General Instrument Corp. tors will be able to carry two HDTV channels tem's increased information rate enables alarg- instead of just one in a6-MHz space. The er number of services to be compressed in a6 Addressing industry demands for more effi- added capacity enables expanded video, MHz bandwidth. This increased information cient bandwidth utilization and building on its modem, telephony and business data services. rate, resulting from 256 QAM's added spectral experience with 64 QAM transmission over 256 QAM transmission also makes it possible efficiency, provides the opportunity for carry- cable, General Instrument has developed a to substantially increase the number of cable ing additional services such as increased quan- 256 QAM transmission system that provides services on bandwidth-limited networks tities of digitized cable channels, video-on- far more efficient use of cable system band- designed for analog video performance. This demand, near-video-on-demand, Internet width and expands channel capacity. This capability might allow deferral of costly access and interactivity-without compromising expanded channel capacity results in a44 per- upgrades/rebuilds. existing features and services-which results in additional revenues for broadband network operators. On average, for equivalent picture Figure 1: 64/256 Coded and uncoded theoretical BER. quality, nine NTSC signals can be placed in the same bandwidth, as compared with only six

1.00E-01 256 QAM uncoded theory signals for 64 QAM. Table 1provides acom- — RS(204,188), t=8 parison of 64 QAM and 256 QAM efficiencies. 1.00E -C2 — 256 FEC ITU J.83(B) theory These values are based on an average bit 1.00E -° - 464 QAM uncoded theory stream for each video service. Assuming that -64 QAM FEC ITU J.83(B) film-based services are effectively digitized at 1.00E -°4 a3 Mbps (Megabits per second) rate, and live 1.00E-°5 cc video at 4Mbps, the 256 QAM transmission results in a50 percent increase in both live co 1.00E -°6 video and movies per 6MHz bandwidth. Also, 1.00E -07 with the HDTV bit rate specified by ATSC as 19.4 Mbps, 256 QAM is able to transport two 1.00E-°8 _ HDTV signals in the same bandwidth, while 1.00E 4)9 _ 64 QAM can accommodate only one signal. The larger constellation size and concomi- 1.00E 10 tant reduced Euclidean distance associated 20 22 24 26 28 30 with 256 QAM transmission does compromise Es/No (dB) some of the signal robustness seen with the 64 QAM signal. The recommended carrier-to- noise ratio for operating 256 QAM and 64 Table 1: Comparison of 64 QAM and 256 QAM. QAM through the cable system is 37 dB and 32 dB, respectively. The theoretical BER curve 64 QAM 256 QAM showing carrier level vs. additive white Information rate: 27.0 Mbps 38.8 Mbps Gaussian noise (AWGN) is shown in Figure 1. Total bit rate: 30.3 Mbps 42.9 Mbps The carrier-to-noise ratio for the theoreti- Symbol rate: 5.06 MSps 5.36 MSps cal coded 256 QAM signal has a6 dB shift in noise performance as compared to 64 HDTV 1service 2 services QAM and is therefore less tolerable to noise. Digital NTSC signals in 6 MHz" 6services 9services The curve also shows the increase in perfor- Digitally compressed movies* 8services 12 services mance obtained by the use of ITU J.83(B) FEC over the ITU J.83(A) with a256 QAM *Values based on average bit rates for different sources, not maximum. constellation at 5.056 MSps (Mega Symbols

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per second). Parameters such as CNR, CSO plants should adhere to FCC technical stan- shown in Figure 3. A pseudorandom data gen- and CTB should be well controlled for 256 dards as aminimum. erator and FEC encoder were used to produce QAM transmission. It has been observed that the input to the Broadcom 256 QAM modula- peaking in the distortion components is apri- Test setup tor. Channel up-conversion was performed mary cause of bit errors. All tests were bit error rate tests and were using aGeneral Instrument C6M for the 256 As Figure 2illustrates, because of the conducted using Broadcom transmission hard- QAM signal and was then combined with denser 256 QAM constellation, it is less tol- ware, ¡TU J.83(B) Forward Error Correction Rogers headend analog channels for transmis- erant of these distortions. Therefore, for suc- (FEC) and prototype demodulators. A block sion. The QAM signal transmission channels cessful deployment of 256 QAM, cable diagram of atypical receive site test setup is were varied from area to area, with the test channels usually operating at the upper edge of the cable spectrum. The 256 QAM average signal power level .11111111T Lindsay Electronics was adjusted at the headend for operation at 10 dB below the adjacent analog video's peak of sync power. The proof of concept receiving equipment which was used consisted of an 860 MHz bandwidth RF tuner and a64/256 dual Creating the New Standard QAM demodulator incorporating an ¡TU J.83(B) FEC at an interleaver depth of 66us. for System Symmetry Testing was performed in selected Rogers employee homes and at pedestal taps in residential neighborhoods through 100 feet of

Figure 2: Constellation diagrams. Series 7000

64 QAM 256 QAM

coax simulating the drop to other cable sub- ,,,/ scribers' homes. Extended duration testing was ire performed in the Rogers employees' homes to both assess longer term error performance as I GHz Apartment Amplifier the cable system levels change with tempera- ..Dynofin housing for •Station gains to 42 dB ture and to determine the impact of in-home ool operation •Power doubling and wiring on 256 QAM modulated signals. vailable in 110 or ALC options volt AC Performance tests at the pedestals consisted •Tamper proof radiation everse secure housing of BER measurements and input power level variations of the QAM and analog signals. Two PCs were used for each A quarter century of proven reliability demodulator/BERT pair during the course of and performance. Revolutionary the tests: one for logging errored seconds from technologies from... the HP3784 BER tester and the other for tun- ing and controlling the demodulator. Recording of BER data was accomplished via UM/0 an RS232 link between the BER tester's print- ELECTRONICS er port and aPC. Short-term tests were performed using 15-minute gating periods. Extended duration testing consisted of one- Going the extra mile ... for the last mile Since 1953 second gating periods for the duration of the test. Each test had an associated error log that recorded the error count and the time duration 50 Mary Street West Lindsay, Ontario, Canada K9V 457 Tel: (705) 324 2196 Fax: (705) 324 5474 Tel: (800) 465 7046 (U.S. only) of the test period. The file was stored in ASCII format for later off-line analysis.

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Table 2: Extended duration test results. Test results u Initial testing consisted of alab Site Analog signal Digital signal Digital CNR % EFS Avg. BER Elapsed time trial of the 256 QAM signal over level (dBmv) level (dBmv) (dB) an ALS DV6000 (8-bit) digital fiber link. The fiber link consisted 1 -2.3 -11.4 32.3 99.97 9.74E -9 37:02:59 of a1550 nm laser and 20 km of Corning SMF28 fiber optic cable. 11.2 0.6 36.2 99.93 6.07E -7 5:36:55 2 No problems arose with transmis- 3 -1.2 -11.5 38.1 99.99 2.2E -9 13:16:26 sion of the 256 QAM signal through the link. A BER vs. broadband no'se response curve was verified for the QAM signal by introducing AWGN into the system after the modulator. Little degradation in BER vs. noise performance was seen on the QAM signal. The link was found to be trans- parent to the 256 QAM signal and ran error- free. This BER curve is shown in Figure 4. The IF-RF performance over cable vs. fiber link is virtually identical. System performance, shown in Figure 4, is degraded by approximately 0.6 dB for the following reasons: V The 64/256 QAM dual-mode Broadcom demodulator chip, which interfaces directly to the ITU J.83(B) FEC, provides seven soft decision bits rather than the eight required by the FEC in 256 QAM mode. Since the LSB is not used, this results in 0.2 This mismatch dB of performance loss; between the V In order to transmit 5.356 transmitter and MSps in a6- MHz channel, receiver adds 0.4 afilter roll-off (a) of 12 per- dB degradation cent is •The most highly selective bandpass filters available. required. A °Sharp notch filters for reinsertion with minimal loss to filter with an alpha of 12 percent is used in the adjacent channels. transmitter, but the Broadcom demodulator chip implements areceive filter with aroll off 'Pay-TV traps shipped overnight. of 20 percent. This mismatch between the °Large selection of Terrestrial transmitter and the receiver adds 0.4 dB degradation. Interference Filters to improve The first set of system tests was conducted C-Band reception. over anewly-upgraded HFC plant. Two fiber optic links were used and consisted of a55 km *Custom filters designed to your fiber link using the ALS DV6000, and 10 km specifications. AM fiber links connecting the headend to several optical hubs, as shown in Figure 5. From the hubs, coaxial distribution was used with the longest runs tested being two equally long active runs. The first consisted of seven trunk MICROWAVE FILTER COMPANY 6743 KINNE STREET amplifiers and two line extenders, and asec- EAST SYRACUSE, NY 13057 ond consisted of six trunk amplifiers and three Request our new Cable 800-448-1666 •315-437-3953 line extenders. FAX: 315-463-1467 Television Catalog Vol. 1#4 http://www.ras.cominurefilterimwfiltenhtm today! The 256 QAM signal was placed on EIA E-MAIL: [email protected] Channel 80. The lower adjacent channel supported cable modem traffic operating at 500 Continued on page 88

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New RF receiver chip set inserted on a motherboard, or as a miniature, offer the design as a reference standard for standalone 1.5-inch x3.0-inch board, the receiver all cable modem receivers. reduces the size and complexity of the RF/analog The receiver combines off-the-shelf com- By Rich Bay-Ramyon and Jim Wang, California section of cable modems. More importantly, it will ponents with a silicon IC chipset developed at Eastern Laboratories enable OEMs to assemble the RF tuner portion the joint NEC/CEL Product Design Center. A team of engineers from NEC and California of their high-speed (27 Mbps) digital cable This receiver chipset is a product of the part- Eastern Laboratories has developed a new modems for as little as $10, and in turn will nership. The receiver is designed to process miniature double conversion RF receiver for enable MSOs to field smaller, lower-cost modems inputs from 250 to 860 MHz, so it can be cable modems. Designed to be used as a chipset in their HFC networks. CEL and NEC plan to used in both U.S. and European cable modems. The CEL receiver subsystem was designed to tune and process cable TV or video channels modulated at 64 QAM (a 256 QAM version is planned). ergfietec! duaton This chipset promises to play a key role in NpletiAt..GPOLEIELEN100t4 els-oluis. t miniaturizing modems. It's designed to Tlds is to certify that Ch hOdeS .e...... ?,, , ..,;,, replace the "canned" discrete tuner modules

ltos stseeoSsédet coloteeti 'he _e now commonly used in cable data modem Advanced Technician hi (owe awarded this Diploma t, -.., designs. By packaging the entire frequency ..,--..- "edetrowll iIesoettsosr tie,s rrirhitsisand prLvileges of aSrde:fb09,bee ---; conversion function into a small group of ICs,

-..- the chipset makes it possible to assemble the ets. entire RF tuner/QAM demod subsystem on a S %4. card that measures just 4.5 square inches. The card combines these functional blocks: High pass filter, designed to reject sig- so-oer nals below 200 MHz; Pin attenuator, provides additional signal control ahead of the upcon- - vertor; the upconvertor; an intermediate 915 tiesoete* MHz saw filter; a linear UHF downconvertor; NCTI Certificate dual low noise synthesizer; 36 or 44 MHz TV saw filter; QAM IF downconvertor; and LO of Graduation crystal references and voltage regulators. is recognized throughout the industry The first two frequency conversion ICs and the synthesizer make up the tuner sec- as a solid indicator that your tion. The third frequency converter further technical and non-technical employees processes the signal to feed the 64 QAM have what it takes to excel demodulator/forward error correction ICs in in the rapidly changing the digital section of the modem. The card itself is a four-layer glass epoxy board, with CATV/broadband communications industry • an interface bus for the synthesizer and AGC. The first IC in this line-up is the upconvertor, which combines a 15 dB AGC amplifi- Call, fax or write er, a Gilbert-cell mixer, two stages of local for your FREE oscillator (LO) buffering, a VCO, and temper- NCTI Training Kit ature compensation circuitry. Available in a today. 20-pin SSOP package, the IC provides wide frequency bandwidth and high dynamic range performance, plus 5 dB to 20 dB of conversion gain with an 8 dB noise figure. The most The second IC is the downconvertor, comprehensive which is housed in a compact 8-pin SSOP package and contains a UHF mixer, a VCO cable training and an IF amplifier. It dissipates just 40 mA available anywhere. CED 12/96 from a 5V supply and features good linearity with low oscillator phase noise. The QAM IF downconvertor provides an National Cable Television Institute additional 25 dB of AGC control and performs 801 W. Mineral Ave. the final downconversion to 5 MHz. A video Littleton, CO 80120-4501 amplifier further processes the signal in (303) 797-9393 fax:(303) 797-9394 preparation for digitization and demodulation.

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(Continued from page 84) kbps QPSK. The upper adjacent channel was inactive. Five sites were tested under short- term conditions, and all ran error-free. One extended duration test was performed and resulted in 99.97 percent error free seconds (EFS). The test duration was 37 hours, 3min- utes. Table 2provides asummary of the extended duration tests performed. Threshold of visibility (TOV) also was performed at this location. TOV is defined by CableLabs as a BER less than or equal to 3", obtained in three consecutive 20-second gating periods. If a BER greater than 3E-6 occurs in one of the three 20-second gating periods, another period is allowed to be tested. The limitation in TOV testing was found to be the signal level at the front end of the tuner. TOV levels were within amplitude variations that are expected to be seen on atypical cable drop over time because of temperature. Digital carrier-to-noise ratios for all sites were found to be between 31 dB and 33 dB. Analog carrier- to-noise ratios up to 45 dB were measured. Carrier-to-noise and distortions did not present aproblem at this location. Subsequent system testing was performed at two different locations on older, non- rebuilt coaxial systems. The first system tested was specified as an "electronics drop-in upgrade" 450 MHz system. This location's longest active run that was tested consisted The SC1000 of a30-trunk amplifier cascade. The 256- Precision White Noise QAM signal was placed on EIA Channel 48. e w Both lower and upper adjacent channels were Generator present and used sync-suppression for video scrambling. Five short-term tests were run at four locations. The tests ran error-free. One 256-QAM extended duration test was per- The Fastest Way to Calibrate AND: formed and resulted in 99.93 percent EFS. Test New Cable Runs The test duration was 5hours, 36 minutes. Determine Headend Response Considerable in-band tilt, (approximately 3 -1 Check Gain and Response of Amplifiers dB), was observed on the 256 QAM signal at J Check Loss of Splitters, Taps & Couplers this site. The tilt was because of excessive ‘•teeeee2eçeJ Supply Test Signals for System Expansion system frequency/amplitude roll-off and ...i Test Existing Systems to 1GHz exceeded the specification for the demodula- Check Accuracy of Signal Level Meters tor. The tilt is the cause of the degraded BER performance. The Most Accurate Wide Band Signal Source You Can Buy: ±0.25dB White Noise from 4.5-1000MHz TOV testing was performed on one site +1.0 dB and found to be consistent with the previous 0dB measurement on the recently upgraded HFC -1.0 dB system. Digital carrier-to-noise ratios for all 1000MHz 04.5MHz 500MHz sites were found to be between 30.5 and 36.2

., s attile _vj dB. Analog carrier-to-noise ratios up to 46.6 1-800-569-6299 dB were measured. The carrier-to-noise ratio see utern 911u Sadeico did not present aproblem at this location. egoeosth #4"8 Distortions did not appear to be problematic Precision Instruments for Broadband Communications at this location and met FCC required speci- Sadelco, Inc. 75 W. Forest Ave. •Englewood, NJ •07631 USA fications. SCO2 Worldwide: 201-569-3323•fax 201-569-6285 The second fully coaxial system tested

88 GE D : C OMMUNICATIONS E NGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 A Designed to meet Bellcore GR -910 A Build-outs, bulkheads, and in-line types available A Precise values for narrowcasting Uses industry standard ferrule

For consistent performance and low reflectance, our attenuators are fiber to the core.

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•Standard values of 3, 5, •Vibration resistance: 10, 15, and 20 dB ≤ 0.1 xattenuation 3-dB SC/UPC Attenuators Direct-to- •Also available in 1dB •FC, SC, ST and D4 style Detector vs. Patchcord at 1550 nor increments as low as 1dB connector interfaces Consistent attenuation is achieved either •Reflectance: ≤-45 ,-50, •PC, SPC, UPC and APC with patch cables or when connected -55 and -60 dB end finishes directly to the detector. The attenuator •Temperature Range: •Polarization insensitive element does not strongly guide cladding -40°C to +85°C modes that would produce different loss values when connected with or without a patch cable. Atten. with Patchcord (dB)

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er-to-noise ratios for all sites were found to Figure 4: 256 QAM single channel with Gaussian noise. IF-RF coax link vs. was also an older ALS DV6000. Digital fiber link. 450 MHz system. be between 30.8 and 38.4 dB. Analog carrier- The longest active to -noise ratios up to 48.4 dB were measured. run tested consist- CNR, CTB, and CSO did not present a prob- -1 RS(204,188), t=8 ed of a31-trunk lem at this location. amplifier and one- 256 FEC ITU J-83 theory , line extender cas- Conclusions —11(— Unit S/N 2; #4 V8600 cade. The 256 Based on the test results obtained on the S/N3, CH12,+4dBmv • ik QAM signal was Rogers system, 256 QAM is a viable trans- 256 DMOD S/N 2 @ placed on EIA mission format for properly maintained new Rogers, ALS, 20 Channel 51. The and older cable plants and inside wiring. Km fiber lower adjacent Short-term tests yielded error-free perfor- channel was mance, and extended duration test results active, and the showed EFS performance of 99.93 percent or

ccLu 1.00E -6'5 - closest upper better. Test results indicate minimal degrada- co channel was EIA tion in performance when operating over a Channel 53. Three digital fiber link, such as the ALS DV6000. 1.00E -°6 locations were On the headend systems tested, for the most tested under part, RMS distortions measured were below short-term condi- the levels that would induce bit errors. tions. All tests ran Distortion levels (rms values) such as CTB error-free. Two and CSO were not the primary cause of extended duration errors, but the random peaking of these dis- 1.00E°91.00E°81.00E"°7 - tests were per- tortions was acause for concern. In HFC formed simultane- plants, shorter runs and fewer active compo- ously and resulted nents minimize the potential for these effects. in 99.996 percent The FCC technical standard for cable is still a and 99.994 per- viable guideline for implementing both 64 cent EFS. The and 256 digital transmission. At aminimum, 100E 1° II I II time duration was operators should adhere to the FCC specifica- 26.5 28.5 30.5 13 hours, 16 min- tion to ensure successful implementation of Es/No (dB) utes. Digital carri- digital transmission. =I

Figure 5: HFC plant and DUT block diagrams.

Rogers Engineering Lab New Market headend

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90 CEO : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 11111II III 101 111111!11111111 bky nnect and eta: shoulder to shoulder at the top. The field has narrowed. Digital's Alpha-based hardware that is whether they be menopolitan inter- And while some players in the digital continually earning its stripes in mission- connects or single headends. ad insertion busiris have recently critical applications worldwide. SkyConnect delivers the multi- dropped out, it's reassuring to know that Md to that Oracle, the database streaming power you need to diEtribute the SkyConnect and Digital Equipment platfcon that offers nearly-limitless commercials, classified ads, long-form Corporation connection couldn't be database management ce-abilities. infomercials and in the future, NVOD. stronger. Digital and Oracle's strong R&D Let us give you afull demonstration The reason is quite simple: Asuperior commitment wiL continue to enhance of our products and capabilities, and product. Atotal commitment to the cable the value of the Mediaplex product review our -zero-down Virtual Capital industry. And credentials second to none. line. And enables SkyConnect to financing program. We start with acore foundation: focus on serving che customer, Call 1-800-759-2583 today,

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6285 Lookout Road, Suite 101 •Boulder, CO 80301 •Tel: (303) 530-5600 •1-800.759.2583 •Fax: (303) 581-4119 al ADSL

Bell Atlantic used ADSL to enable its subscribers to order movies and other kinds of TV programming at 1.5 Mbps. The regional Bell's ADM. technology: original intention was to provide libraries of Technology's threat MPEG (Motion Pictures Experts Group) com- Dead pressed movies and other kinds of television to coax diminishes programs at aserver at the telephone exchange. Using aset-top box and ahandheld controller, users could enjoy on-demand programming, and the company didn't have to sink capital into acomplete network rebuild. in Its tracks? That relatively straightforward application By Alan Stewart bit rate subscriber line. First off the line dur- is now history. The latest idea is afamily of ing the late 1980s came HDSL (high bit rate high bit rate solutions up to 50 Mbps which Once viewed as the telephone industry's subscriber line). This is based on bi-polar utilize cell-based solutions such as ATM secret weapon in its war with cable TV 2B IQ bit coding, which lowers the cost of (asynchronous transfer mode) to provide inter- providers, asymmetrical digital subscriber line deploying T-1 access lines. It enables the tel - active broadband to the home and office. The (ADSL) seems to have been sidelined by the cos to send high-speed digital signals over trouble is that the standards for these are not baby Bells as they scramble to maintain their unrepeatered, unshielded twisted pair (UTP) in place, and many experts feel that such full local loop monopoly. In ablow to U.S. ADSL wire to business users. service solutions are best done in other ways. vendors who saw their stock value tumble, HDSL was followed afew years later by Ameritech, BellSouth, Pacific Bell and SBC ADSL, which uses advanced multilevel modu- Residential ATM Communications retained France's Alcatel lation techniques to send compressed video Returning to the Alcatel announcement, on Telecom as their future supplier of ADSL and data signals to single line residential the surface the regional Bells appear to be sup- products. At the same time, they emphasized users. ADSL was followed by VDSL (very porting the introduction of end-to-end that the deal depends on the conclusion of high bit rate digital subscriber line), designed ADSL using acombination of ATM cells and successful contract negotiations. for drop wire applications, and SDSL (sym- modems. In fact, the news probably signals a Before discussing this in more detail, it metrical digital subscriber line). These tech- delay in widespread ADSL deployment in the would be useful to review the history of high nologies have been collectively dubbed xDSL. U.S. for at least 18 months. The French vendor will need at least that long to meet emerging standards for residential ATM. "It may be technically possible to have apoint-to-multipoint physical architecture [based on ATM] in the home," observes David Thorne, technical area leader, BT Labs, and chairman of the ATM Forum's Residential Broadband working group. "However, this would require amuch more complex system and is not ascenario which the ADSL standard supports." In apresentation during the Maximizing Copper conference held in London in September, Thorne noted: "Alternatively, the access network system could be terminated at asingle point within the home and then fed into aseparate in-home distribution system. These two scenarios have become known as passive and active network termination (NT), respectively." Another problem is that it is not known whether unshielded twisted pair wiring (UTP) in most home and small business premises is capable of carrying 6.0 Mbps signals. Thorne believes the solution is to use an active NT. This presents difficulties in the U.S., where the telcos do not control inside wiring.

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VOLTEX CAT V-27 Standby battery costs only $64.95 Best high temperature battery available! Normal- PERFORMANCE ly outlasts valve regulated gelled electrolyte batteries two to one in CATV applications and pro- WIER TECHNOLOGIES vides as much as 15% longer run time. By far the best battery value on the market today. Call Per- P.O. Box 947. ROSWELL, GA 30077 770-475-3192 formance today for details 800-279-6330. AN EDWIN-ROSS COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY Circle Reader Service #84 Reader Service 85 ADSL

"The ADSL system is terminated at the NT, video-on-demand (VOD) over telephone lines, Figure 1: Active NT with which feeds into ageneral purpose, symmetric symmetric in-home installed the first paying ADSL customer in in-home distribution system," notes Thorne. transmission. Fairfax County, Va. Six months later, 1,000 "This capability needs to be maintained right customers were receiving on-demand video Symmetric in -home up (to) the customer equipment, as multiple transmission entertainment with VCR functionality, access- traffic types (e.g., video, voice and data) could ing over 600 titles including movies, sports, be delivered to asingle physical item of CPE ADSL ATM? children's programs and special interest fea- (customer premises equipment), i.e., a PC." tures. One year later, this well publicized ser- (See Figure 1.) vice, called Stargazer, was abruptly cancelled. "We found that only about half the copper Bells, whistles and delays Source: British Telecom loops were adequate to support 6.0 Mbps The reaction of U.S. vendors to the Alcatel ADSL and discontinued the service," explains announcement has been muted. "Today's using astraightforward point-to-multipoint Larry Plumb, communications director at Bell ADSL vendors must formulate astrategy for network that provided 60-plus channels to all Atlantic. "There were other problems, includ- incorporating ATM switching as soon as possi- households and did not require complex stan- ing set-top box design and inside wiring. In ble," notes Rob Faw, president of global oper- dardization. my opinion, there never will be ashrink- ations for Westell Technologies. "The deploy- Could acombination of ATM and ADSL wrapped ADSL consumer product you can buy ment of extensive services configuration and replace this infrastructure by providing broad- at your local store," says Plumb. This puts management capabilities across awide range band bidirectional multimedia to the home? ADSL in atotally different class from dial-up of access elements including ADSL will be Not if it gets bogged down in the standards modems. part of this process." process, implies Krawarik. "New applications Faw explains that a handful of telecom ven- develop consistently faster than the relevant Enter Internet dors and specialized software-centric compa- standards, and standards become more of a General Telephone uses ADSL to connect nies can offer these capabilities, but the hindrance as they are not creating, but only small businesses, stores and libraries in Irving, process will take time. "It is not clear that the responding to market applications." Texas to aweb site. "Web browsers and PCs telephone operators and service providers can have created demand for high-speed, low-cost wait for interoperable ADSL equipment to 110D stumbles Internet and LAN access," explains Bob emerge on the market during the next several Globally, telcos have field trialed ADSL Olshansky, manager, advanced service plat- years, in an environment of increasing compe- with varying degrees of success. Starting in forms for GTE Laboratories. Echoing the tition and deregulated access," views of the ADSL Forum, he concludes. Figure 2: GTE ADSL data trial in Irving, Texas. Olshansky notes that 35 mil- The problem for ADSL is lion U.S. homes will have PCs that it is rapidly taking on the in 1996, and thus, UTP pro- garb of afully fledged access vides akey entry strategy for infrastructure. As it acquires IP services. more and more complexity, the "We implemented a'proof - E likelihood that it will be Customer #1 of-concept' trial involving delayed by standards and inter- Routed service three local exchanges and 20 operability concerns increases. ADSL lines to small business- Peter Krawarik, manager of DS-1 atilif es and GTE employees," he business development and explains. "The objectives are quality, local loop transmis- Ethernet to evaluate ADSL data sion, with Ericsson Austria, switch modems, evaluate network E explains: "The impact of stan- E architecture, identify deploy- dards on new product emer- Irving West CO Customer #2 ment and operational issues, gence is complex. Bodies such 111 =ADSL modem Ethernet service and evaluate customer as the ADSL and ATM Forums response. We are testing IP 1111 =Small router promote their respective solu- Source: GTE Laboratories (Internet protocol) dialtone tions and try to influence larger router-based IP access to IP ▪E▪ =10-base T standards bodies such as ANSI hosts, IP networks and value- and ETSI. In Europe, where added IP services." telecommunications are opera- Routed service in effect February 1 These services require Ethernet service in effect March 1 tor dominated, standards routers and Ethernet switching processes are frequently used at the subtending exchange for exclusion, while U.S. standards bodies are the early 1990s with Bell Atlantic, British and small routers at the customers' premises vendor dominated and tend to promote tech- Telecom and Telstra (formerly Telecom (see Figure 2). "We use ADSL modems from nology." Australia), GTE, other regional Bells, and Westell and Amati, Bay Networks and Cisco This holds important implications for U.S. many international PTTs have tested the new routers, and GTE-provided Ethernet inter- consumers. The cable TV industry's 65 percent technology. faces and browsers. We also install special share of the television audience was gained In April 1995, Bell Atlantic, long a fan of shielded twisted pair premises wiring," says

94 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGI NEERING & D ESIGN DEC EEEEE 1996 Ad Index Reader Service # Page # Reader Service # Page #

— 3Com Corporation 10-11 Pirelli Cable Corp. 60 103

ADC Broadband Communications 21 42-43 Qintar, Inc 32 60

— ADC Telecommunications, Inc18-19 10 _ R. L. Drake Company 51 87 RMS Electronics, Inc 44 79 — Alpha Technologies 11 21 Sadelco, Inc. 52 88 — AMP Incorporated 53 89 — Scientific-Atlanta 76 160 — Antec/Network Technologies 12 23 — SeaChange International, Inc. 67 127 — Arrowsmith Technologies, Inc. 17 33 Sencore 13 25 Bay Networks ITBU 9 17 Siecor Corporation 18 35 Bellcore 26 50 — =Advertiser's E-mail or — Siemens Stromberg-Carlson 45 80-81 Web address appears on CED's Cable Prep/ SkyConnect 66 91 Internet Address Directory on Ben Hughes Comm. Products Co. 69 66 page Ill. Sony Business & — CED Magazine 115, 129, 134, 148 Professional Group 42 73 — CommScope, Inc 29 55 — Spectrum Card Insert — Communications & — Sprint North Supply 7 13 Energy Corporation 35 64 Standard Communications 3 7 — ComSonics, Inc. 27 51 Stanford Telecom 6 147 — Consultronics 63 113 Superior Electronics Group, Inc. 75 159 Di-Tech Inc. 43 75 Synchronous Group 15 28-29 General Instrument Corporation ...23, 31 45, 58-59 Telecrafter Products 4 8 Harmonic Lightwaves, Inc. 16 31 Tele Wire Supply Company 92....Editorial Index Integration Technologies 22 44 Tempo Research Corp 65 121 — IPITEK, Inc 62 109 Texscan Corporation 19 36-37 — Iris Technologies, Inc. 28 52-53 Times Fiber Communications, Inc 25 49 ITOCHU Cable Services 8 15 Toner Cable Equipment Inc. 39, 41 70, 72 — Lucent Technologies 14 27 _ Trilithic, Inc 37, 56 67, 95, Card Insert Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group 24 46-47 Trilogy Communications, Inc. 70 69 Tulsat 54, 58 91, 99 Microwave Filter Co., Inc. 48 84 — Vela Research Inc 64 119 — Molex Fiber Optics, Inc. 38 68 — Wavecom Electronics, Inc 59 101 — Moore Diversified Products, Inc 30 57 Wavetek Corporation 2, 40, 91 5, 71, Editorial Index — Motorola, Inc. -Multimedia Group 1 2-3 — Zenith Electronics Corporation 47 83 National Cable Television Institute (NCTI) 50 86

— Objective Systems Integrators 20 41 Product Showcase — Pace MicroTechnology 61 105

Performance Power Technologies .80-84 93 — ABC Cable Products, Inc 71 149

Philips Broadband Networks 57 97 Budco 72 149

Pico Macom 33, 34, 36 61, 63, 65 DH Satellite 73 149

— Pioneer New Media Technologies, Inc.49 85 — Eagle Comtronics, Inc. 74 149

110 CED: COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & DESIGN DECEMBER 1996 [f you're consolidating headends or need to hybrid fiber-coax architectures such as redun- — move your signals further down the highway, dant rings, interconnects and high performance check out our FiberTrunk XT-1550. It's apow- supertrunks. erful, externally-modulated fiber-optic transmitter IPITEK technology stems from along heritage system for avariety of cable television applications. of research and development. With alarge tech- An operating wavelength of 1550 nm and built- nical staff of engineers and scientists providing a in SBS suppression gives you the long distance strong foundation in optical technology, it's no coverage you need for today's architectures. A wonder the IPITEK products enjoy proprietary powerful, built-in optical amplifier produces up advantages. to 80 mW output and advanced circuitry assures To find out more about the XT-1550 series, very low CTB and CSO distortions. plus our expanding line of IPITEK analog and With abandwidth of up to 860 MHz, the XT- digital transmission systems and passive optical 1550 series transmitters meet your analog and components, contact us for our information digital -RF transport needs, worldwide. This is a package at 888-4-IPITEK or transmitter that is ideally suited for advanced E-mail us at [email protected].

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with three or four distributed supplies may centralize all or some of the supplies. A system with hundreds of supplies may arrange Power distribution those supplies into groups, or may only centralize asmall area. The options are endless, and well beyond the scope of this discussion. The benefits of centralized powering are also distributed systems cables as varied as the system designs, but no less remarkable. In addition to the reduction in maintenance costs associated with distributed power supplies and their required batteries, in HFC networks reductions in the actual number of power sup- By Dan Kerr, Engineering Design Manager, plifies plant maintenance and allows more plies of amagnitude as high as 20 percent is Continental Cablevision; and Mark Alrutz, efficient backup systems to be used. achievable in some areas. Perhaps the most Product Manager, Trunk and Distribution, compelling argument for centralizing CommScope Inc. Centralized power concepts power—enhanced reliability—is unrelated to these The concept of centralized powering is savings. A central supply location can be built Broadband systems are evolving to provide inclusive to many different design techniques. with generators and batteries to provide support myriad services beyond cable television. For the purpose of this discussion, centralized previously unachievable in adistributed plant. These services include high-speed data trans- powering will be loosely described as the relo- In order to take advantage of these cost and fer, two-way interactive media and telephony. cation of power supplies from adistributed reliability benefits, centralizing power does In support of these requirements, coaxial orientation to asingle location. This may require areview of the design concepts used plant has moved from traditional tree-and- encompass avarying number of power sup- for distributed power. Distributed power is tra- branch style architectures with long cascades plies, and may take place to varying degrees ditionally achieved by placing apower supply of amplifiers to newer hybrid fiber/coax throughout the network. For instance, anode in aplant location which balances the current (HFC) architectures. These fiber-rich plants shorten amplifier cascades, improving signal Figure 2: Centralized power. quality and reliability. Plant reliability is crucial to these new systems, particularly in the case of lifeline telephony service. Shortened amplifier cascades have improved the situation, but the entire

Figure 1: A simplified powering scenario.

Node

Figure 3: Comparison of cable stiffness vs. diameter.

2,000 70 system is still susceptible to power outages. 60 Calculated Traditional telephony systems provide their lbs. to own power, so telephone service is maintained C:«L> 1,500 deflect through apower outage. Traditional cable tele- o Flexural vision powering is provided by power supplies Stiffness located throughout the plant, and each is sus- ft. -lbs. ceptible to power utility failure. — 1000 30 Uninterruptible power can be provided by CD batteries or generators at the power supply location. Unfortunately, these backup systems CD 20 500 co add cost and more maintenance and reliability vi issues to the plant. A more efficient solution is 10 to concentrate all the plant power supplies and backups at one central location. 0 Centralized powering is the term used to 500 565 625 700 715 750 840 860 1125 1160 540 describe the movement of power supplies to a Cable diameter central location, perhaps near anode. Placing all the power equipment at one location sim-

108 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS E NGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 against large monoliths that are very well- Other challenges "They need cash:' financed, and we are, as an industry, highly Despite the debt implications, Canadian says Debbie Lawes, leveraged already," acknowledges Lind. "So if cable knows it has to spend its way to aviable editor of the industry you're going into acontest with all this debt, competitive position. As Craig Gibson says, newsletter Canadian what kind of achance do you stand?" "Without the technology at the front end, we Communications Referring to the recent Videotron U.K. sell- can't deliver, for instance, the high-speed Reports. "They can off, Craig Gibson adds, "Chagnon's statement Internet services that we want to deliver." sell off as many sys- in the paper that he will be the least-leveraged As well, top executives like Phil Lind also tems as they want; it company in Canada is absolutely accurate as far accept that they're going to lose customers really doesn't matter. as cable is concerned, as far as the Big Ten when new offerings such as MMDS, LCMS, They have to raise (MS0s). And that's wonderful, because he'll DBS and telephone-delivered video become Phil Lind, vice money in the market- need that breathing room to finish his fiber available to their subscribers. chairman. Rogers place, and if you ask optic builds, to change out his amplifiers to go "Many of us think we're going to lose mar- Communications them, this is what Inc. to two-way, to move up the reliability levels so ket share," he says. "But we also think that we they're saying is their that when (he) gets into the telephony-like can't just lose share; we have to have replace- biggest challenge right products, whether it be data or voice, (there will ment revenue. We have to be out with anew now." be) the same level of reliability that Bell has." array of products which we can sell to people She adds, "You can and gain additional revenues." only raise so much Some constraints to restraint However, getting those new products to money in Canada, and Unfortunately for Canadian cable, there's a market is also going to be costly. you tap out the mar- limit to how much debt reduction can be It's not just the network rebuilds. It's also kets here, so they're achieved. That's because although corporate the cost of new technology like the digital going for high-yield takeovers have played arole in pushing it up, set-top box, whose estimated pricetag has bonds in the United they're not the major driving force. gone from C$300 to C$650. States." Instead, what's causing the debt is system Says Lind, "We always knew they were Of course, the upgrades, says Gibson, "the amount of capital going to be a Jim Shaw Jr., amount Canadian president and COO, being expended on new technologies and (the) lot higher than cable can raise is lim- extension of existing services." Canadian cable Shaw that. We told Communications ited by Canada's for- "Did we end up incurring alot of this debt the eign ownership laws. because of the acquisition of Maclean has to balance Commission at Currently standing at amaximum of 33 per- Hunter?" asks Phil Lind. "No. The debt is the first hear- cent, the push is on to raise that limit to 49 primarily because we've been expanding the its needs for ing that the percent for telecommunications companies, shape of the network within our cable sys- price was says Lawes. "If that happens, it's guaranteed tems. We have been pouring money into expansion going to go up the cable industry will be right there as well, facilities for the last several years to try and dramatically." saying, 'raise us to 49 percent.' And if that upgrade them, to ensure that they're two-way against its Then happens, you're going to see alot of new interactive, WAVE-ready (WAVE is Roger's there's the money coming into this country from abroad, Internet service, which is already available in question of basically from the United States, and that limited deployment) ... so that they can bottom line the so-called might their saving grace." compete with telephone companies and the "level playing satellite companies and wireless cable com- field" between cable and the telcos, or the The future panies." potential lack of it, if cable's worst fears One thing is clear: to succeed in this brave This is also the case with Shaw, says Jim come true. new world of competition, Canadian cable Shaw Jr. "Right now, Shaw is getting ready for "I think we face some difficult times as an has to balance off its needs for expansion competition:' he says. "We're spending all our industry," Lind says. "That's why we're and new services against its bottom line. As money improving our HFC network, and struggling so hard with the CRTC (the Phil Lind says, "The biggest challenge in the designing competitive products for new Canadian Radio-television and next five years, Ithink, is to be able to com- entrants to compete with. Telecommunications Commission, the plete the transition into acompetitive envi- "There are customers to lose now, and Canadian regulator) and with the federal ronment without being drowned in the we're getting ready so that we don't lose government to persuade them not to allow process. them." the telephone companies to enter cable TV "Two things have to happen: we have to get In fact, upgrading is away of life for the on across-subsidized basis: i.e., letting the our networks completed ... and we have to entire industry, Lind adds. "Over the last five telephone ratepayer pay the freight into the get the government to recognize that, to have years, cable companies generally have been video business. And not (to allow their entry) sustainable competition, we can't have that spending alot of cash trying to improve their until they clear out all their self-imposed well-financed, privileged phone company systems:' he says. "And now that competition debris which stands in the way of us being apparatus being able to cross-subsidize its is coming along, they're going to have to able to compete with them in their market." entry into cable." increase the rate of expenditures." Faced with all of this, it's no surprise that "There's no way that there's afuture guar- Hence, "When cable companies get the Canadian cable is cleaning up its books, and anteed to us," Lind adds. "We've got to go out opportunity to reduce their debt level, they do." looking for new money where it can. and earn it." CIED

T HE P REMIER M AGAZINE OF BROADBAND C OMMUNICATIONS D ECEMBER 1996 107 • C ANADIAN C ABLE

America, and to reduce our indebtedness in Canada," said Videotron Chairman and CEO André Chagnon in anews release. Canadian cable Meanwhile, number three-ranked Shaw Communications Inc. has also moved to tidy up its books. Says Jim Shaw Jr., president and Operators housesindustry putin ordertheir COO of Shaw Communications, "You've seen is awhole bunch of announcements where we've rejigged all our debt, and redone our terms, and such." That debt currently stands at about C$1.2 billion. tightening its belt "The first thing we've done is we went out and renegotiated our main banking facility, which is abillion-dollar facility that Shaw has with 26 banks around the world:' explains CANADIAN Shaw. "So we went out and renegotiated that, CABLE and changed the terms on that, and in turn, got some increased flexibility on what we could spend our money on ... For the first time, we asked for some flexibility to be able to spend on telephony from the banking community, and we received that."

Why the big debt payoff? Across the industry, there's clear agreement as to why Canadian cable is getting its financial house in order after years of acquisition and growth. The industry's attitude is best summed up by Pierre Gagne, Cogeco Cable's vice president finance, who says, "Basically, people in the cable industry have sat down and said 'bigger may be better, but not necessarily so'." The reason that "size at all costs" has fallen out of fashion is because big growth incurs big debts, and too much debt is a major drawback when facing bigger, more solvent competitors. In plain language, we're speaking of Canada's telephone companies, who coordinate their actions nationally through the "Stentor" group. (One crucial fact: In 1995, Canada's "larger telephone companies had total revenues of C$13.2 billion," says arecent Canadian Cable By James Careless Corporation, and—in astunning reversal to Television Association document entitled RCI's history of relentless expansion-300,000 Cable Competition: The Facts, "six times the Note: All financial figures here are in "non-core" cable subscribers to Cogeco Cable. revenues of C$2.3 billion for the larger cable Canadian funds; the conversion rate is The reason? "Our debt is in excess of television companies.") U.S.$1.00 = C$1.32-1.35. C$4 billion (to be exact, C$4.7 billion)," says "The only problem the (cable) industry has, RCI Vice Chairman Phil Lind, "and in the quite frankly, is that it's probably too highly After years of digging itself deeper into debt, last several months, we reduced it by C$800 leveraged," notes Craig Gibson, apartner in the Canadian cable TV industry is trying to million." the Information, Communication and get its financial house in order. Proof of this Rogers isn't alone in cutting its debts. Entertainment Practice of the professional ser- new frugality is everywhere. Recently, Le Groupe Videotron ltee—Canada's vices firm KPMG. "When you compare tele- For instance, consider Rogers second-largest MSO—reclaimed C$825 million phony (to cable), any of the Stentor companies Communications Inc., Canada's largest cable from its investments by selling off its 56 per- or anything of that nature, they are in much system owner. In recent months, it has sold off cent controlling interest in Videotron Holdings more solid financial shape as far as the bal- its Sun newspaper chain, its Davis + Plc (U.K.) to Bell Cablemedia Plc. ance sheets are concerned." Henderson check-printing division, its U.S. "This sale allows us to repatriate the funds "The knock on the industry generally is that business forms subsidiary, Transkrit needed to fuel our economic growth in North the cable industry has been facing competition

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CED: What's the number-one reason for to manage that. We share asmall part of the through all that and have aplan to try to going through such aprocess? revenues of that group. implement it. We'll meet with the committee Green: One of CableLabs' major efforts is again soon to go over that plan to make sure to get hardware as soon as possible because CED: What exactly will it do? we're doing what they want us to do. It'll it's not sufficient to simply know how to do it. Green: It will monitor the use of MPEG probably be mid-December before we can go We're charged, as one of our missions, with and collect revenues and look for infringe- public with that. tech transfer, and that means getting it in the ments. It's agood job for alawyer like Baryn. But Ithink we've been useful to the indus- field in areasonable and useful time period. The other part is to take this group of manu- try as acentralized forum for the specification We look pretty carefully at how long it will facturers and melding them into aunited issues on data modems, digital video compres- take to get these things deployed—and suppliers whole, and that isn't easy, either. sion and in the deployment (of those services). are the best source of information on that. We also have some work of our own. Ithink that our relationship with our members There are alot of reasons for partnerships with There's the CW Tester, which is adevice used is as strong as it's ever been, and getting vendors on these kinds of things, but that's one for measuring and monitoring the error statis- stronger all the time because of that role. of the major ones. tics caused by random ingress. We've used it as adevelopment tool for quite some time. CED: We seem to be standing on the CED: How would you describe your rela- threshold of deployment of digital video and tionship with US West, which is about to be data, but what about telephony? the third-largest cable operator? Green: We're testing telephony modems in Green: We've always had afriendly and the same way we're testing data modems. We cooperative association, because we're located have them in house. Telephony really consists in pretty close proximity to its laboratory. of three things: wired telephony, wireless Over the years, we've had regular meetings (PCS-type) and CAP services. We're doing with them to discuss technology and direc- work in all three, but primarily in wireline and tions. We've talked about having joint pro- wireless. We have atelephony switch and jects, but have never really done it. We know we're doing alot of work on remote antenna the people, and we're expecting them to have drivers and doing some field testing in that alot of interest in our activities. They have area. attended our conferences even though they're There's acertain amount of overlap with not members at this point. data when you're talking about the physical layer. They're not identical, however. CED: Iimagine you're working to turn Telephony requires very low latency from a them into members. network, whereas data can allow alittle less, Green: Yes. Ithink it's on track. We have generally. So there are certain synergies, and continuing discussions and they've shown an we try to dwell in those areas. The high-speed interest, but we'll have to wait until the data modem effort may have been more visi- Continental deal is completed before there are "One of the highlights of ble, but we're certainly committed to the tele- any changes. But we'd welcome them. phony technology. the year was the executive CED: It seems that with their advanced CED: It seems that now would be agood technologies lab right down the street that committee retreat" time to develop some type of network manage- there may be some interesting synergies. ment standard. Would you agree? Green: Right. We assume that if they're Green: We're working on that, too, under going to be acable company, they'd be very This is apretty comprehensive hardware and Pam Anderson. That will probably be one of interested in the very best in cable research, software package that collects data and tells our major efforts next year, after having been which is going on at CableLabs. you what your error statistics are, which is in the background this year. Hardware deploy- very important in operation as well as prepar- ment has taken precedence so we can get CED: What about 1997? What will be the ing the plant. We've been building these our- equipment working in the field, but we do big projects? selves, but we going to try to go commercial have an effort on network management, net- Green: There have been some interesting with that. work monitoring and network integration. outgrowths of our work. One was aspin-off, We're also looking at some new areas, but We also have two RFIs: one on status which was MPEG LA. It's alicensing it's abit too premature to talk about them, but monitoring and one on the "Internet device" authority for MPEG that's under (former they're new initiatives and new directions. to explore and understand the next genera- CableLabs COO) Baryn Futa. In the early tion of home appliance that will be used on days of MPEG work, we wanted to reduce CED: Looking back over the past year, is the cable system and the Internet. The intent any barriers to the implementation of MPEG, there anything that sticks out? is to create adialog with industry to get a so Baryn formed agroup of the intellectual Green: One of the highlights of the year feel for what they see. There are several key property rights-holders and worked with was the executive committee retreat in June. It players, including Oracle and others, who them for acouple of years. Then those peo- was an exciting experience because we had all have different ideas on how the TV, the PC, ple wanted to form an organization to admin- of the CEOs talking about what we ought to compression and the digital connection to the ister the rights, so we spun off this company do next to expand our role. We've sorted Internet all interact. CND

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to be an advantage to having amodulation and into next year, is on the TCI work and scheme that addresses all services, not just (supporting) other MSOs who are actually video compression. It would be nice to have deploying the hardware. We have several an integrated modulation approach for telepho- efforts. One is adeployment subcommittee ny, data and video. Rich Prodan (CableLabs that Tony Werner is chairing. It has the CTOs senior VP and chief technical officer) has been working together to identify the technical and very busy with that. economic issues and to assist other operators who haven't begun deploying yet to give them CED: Does it appear as though that will be aheads-up. They're developing ahandbook possible? that will be available to our members. Green: Oh yes, it's very possible, it's just a matter of figuring out exactly what spec you CED: So, this is a"how-to" handbook? need. The spec has been developed and was Green: Yes. (It covers) how to get prepared approved by the SCTE (recently). What that for it, what you need for test gear, all that kind does is to allow variable interleaving, so you of thing. Doug Semon is the guy to talk to on can get the kind of protection you need for that. It's pretty important for all members, but video images and adjust the interleaving to especially those who are just getting started. But reduce latency that you need for data. even the leaders can transfer what they learn in one place and apply it somewhere else later. CED: Is this the spec that General The other very important thing is the Instrument and Scientific-Atlanta have pledged modem standard, which has been worked on to work toward? all year with the MCNS group to bring that to Green: Yes. In the SCTE meeting, there fruition. That seems to be well on track. Part was agreement, and S-A and GI were there. of our September board meeting was dedicated The SCTE is in the process of approving that. "It's very important going to areview of the standards process and all of So, finding the solution for integrated modula- the modem data we had. tion, Ithink, is done. forward because it allows Data modems have been avery high priority all year, and that's been an extensive test pro- CED: What is the value of reaching such an any manufacturer to be gram. The results were presented during the agreement on interoperability? Summer Conference on how the modems we've Green: It's probably even more significant compatible with cable" tested performed. And that process continues. than even Irealize because it's adefinitive There are two parts to that testing: the physi- specification that's pretty much based on exist- cal layer, which is the modulation up- and ing standards. There are some small excep- that we in the cable industry really do have our downstream and error correction; and then the tions to that, but it tells the manufacturing act together vis a vis the technical specifica- other part is the Mac layer, which is more or community that if it takes all these pieces and tions of equipment. We're able to speak as an less the software and how it interfaces with the puts it all together, that will be our operating industry—to me, that's the most significant ele- application. That's the computer data side—how standard. That's significant in that it's all ment. That's been our goal at CableLabs since many bitstreams can you get and what's the available and the intellectual property is avail- our inception. traffic loading and those sorts of issues. Bob able as well. So it eliminates most of the barri- Cruickshank has been working on that. ers to getting hardware and sends aclear sig- CED: What about new initiatives? nal that this is the way we're going to do it. Green: We have anew department, called CED: CableLabs has issued acouple of press It also addresses, for the first time, the issues strategic assessment, that's under David Reed. releases, one saying that the spec is on track and of encryption and access control and allows What his group is doing is looking at technolo- amore recent one regarding cable modem man- multiple types. It doesn't restrict it to just one gy from our point-of-view to understand the ufacturers and their intellectual property. system. It eliminates stumbling blocks to economics of the cable industry's deployment Green: When you're developing apurchase deployment because it permits scale economics, of various services. And he also looks at com- specification, you need to work closely with multiple suppliers and tells the financial competitive deployments. Most of that, of course, suppliers to do that, because what you're doing munity that this is real, this is going forward. is not releasable, as you can imagine. is taking the requirements of the industry and It's very important going forward because it matching it with what can be built. So, the allows any manufacturer to be compatible with CED: What kinds of things does he look at? Hell Week we had was that kind of intercable. That has always been aconcern, espe- Green: All the competitors. DBS, ADSL, change with suppliers. The suppliers who were cially from the consumer electronics industry, MMDS and PCS. It helps us to understand our there (Com2 I, Motorola, General Instrument, which didn't know what adecoder for our sig- business as well as understand our competi- Hewlett-Packard and LANcity) were willing to nal would look like. Ithink you'll find many tors.' business and what their technical and agree to aprocess of working together with us, manufacturers that were not traditional suppli- economic strengths and constraints are. We which includes making available their best ers interested in the set-top spec. It's also pos- don't do business models; we do economic thinking on the subject. We've done the same sible to begin thinking about building this modeling and insight. Those things have been thing with digital video compression because directly into receivers. occupying our time up to now. it's important to have (input from) suppliers Ihope it sends asignal to the manufacturers Our emphasis now, for the rest of the year like GI and S-A and others.

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Over the past several years, the work under- taken by Cable Television Laboratories has often defined the future directions of the cable apping the TV industry in general. From digital video compression to high-speed data, the industry's CableLabs supports key services have first been explored and digital deployment defined by work done at CableLabs. To get cable some idea of where the industry might be headed, CED Editor Roger Brown interviewed CableLabs President and CEO Dr. Richard Green. What follows is an edited transcript of industry's future that conversation.

CED: What are CableLabs' current key initiatives? Green: Our primary initiatives for this year are to assist the deployment of digital services in three basic categories: digital video compression, digital data modems and digital telephony. Earlier in the year, we focused on the return path—making it work, determining what the problems were and helping to find solutions to that. Our winter conference was the culmina- tion of aseries of events all focused on trying to determine the best solutions to the return path. We had avery good presentation by our key members outlining what the best approach is. The bottom line is that it can be made to work, but the issue is doing it at areasonable cost. Ithink everyone came away feeling, "OK, well, that one's in the bag. We've crossed that hurdle, we know how to make it work and have agood handle on the economics." From the first quarter (of 1996) on, we've been focused on the hardware that is going to be deployed. We've focused on the encoders and decoders for video compression. Ithink we have one of the best facilities in the world for checking bitstreams for MPEG compliance. We've tested alarge number of encoders, almost any encoder that exists, that we can have access to.

CED: Do you contact the manufacturers to request tests, or do they contact you? Green: It works both ways. The manufacturers know we're doing it, and many of them get ahold of us and want to be tested. In some cases we go out and request to test. We can take all the data and compare it. But the real issue is how to make compression work for the cable systems and with the best possible economics. We've tested the decoders as well and the modulation schemes for digital video compression. We've been very active in the standards process. One of the issues we've been trying to address is the modulation scheme in the downstream. We have selected amodula- CableLabs President and CEO Dr. Richard Green. tion scheme (two years ago), but there appears

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speeds of 6.0 Mbps for loops less than three technology planning for Bell Atlantic, who e/ Internet connectivity at higher speeds over miles in length, or should it move to higher spoke at NCF/InfoVision in October. Albers cable modems, ADSL or MMDS. speeds (up to 50 Mbps) on shorter loops that proposes afull-service digital video dialtone In the October 31 edition of USA Today, access fiber nodes? The author believes that the platform that consists of acombined central Kevin Maney reported that ADSL could play a VDSL approach makes more sense when office and host digital terminal supplying cus- major role in speeding access to the Internet viewed in the context of an evolving access tomers over HFC, fiber and copper, and cop- once problems of distance, radio interference network (see below). per only. Multipoint microwave distribution is and PC compatibility are solved. High-speed This network will use many different tech- also used (see Figure 5). access consists of many related parts, and what nologies, notes Ray Albers, vice president of What is ADSL's role in adistributed archi- happens in one part can adversely impact other tecture such as this? Probably, it parts of the network. PacTel says it plans to would become one option among provide ADSL service to its Silicon Valley

Figure 6: Dataquest market projections (U.S.). the several that make up the customers late next year, but by that time, cus- Annual sales in thousands of units xDSL family listed earlier. Over tomers will have other choices, including cable the next few years it is likely modems and broadband wireless. CED Modem 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 that the access network will ISDN 130 220 344 481 636 accommodate: References s/ Medium-sized business users Some of the information in this article was Cable 13 25 80 210 540 connected using HDSL data pipes obtained from the Maximizing Copper in the xDSL' 50 350 1,000 1,700 3,700 Smaller businesses and work- Access Network, IIR conference held in 'ADSL, HDSL, SDSL at-home customers connected London on September 16-17, 1996. over coax or copper drop wires 6.8 Million xDSL unit sales projected by year-end 2000 using VDSL About the author 1.8 Million cable modems Residential customers supplied Alan Stewart is afreelance writer who spe- 2.6 Million ISDN lines with cable TV over HFC cializes in telecom issues.

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Olshansky. The latest rumor heard on the presented in London indicates awide discrep- "Strong vested interests can become propri- street is that GTE is re-evaluating ADSL for ancy between vendor expectations and carrier etary in nature, and we should insure that we this application. forecasts for xDSL systems (see Figure 3). see interoperable network managed systems at Australia's regulatory framework allows "The supplier industry, in an environment the user and network interface level if we are Teistra the freedom to build and operate both a of low ADSL sales, has invested an estimated to succeed," Faw concludes. telecommunications and subscription broadcast $150 million in the development of signal pro- Dan Arazi, vice president, marketing at pay TV network. The company has chosen to cessing technology, access and network man- Orckit Communications, believes that the best deploy ahybrid fiber/coax (HFC) network plus agement systems for ADSL," says Faw. "At application for ADSL is VOD integrated with explore the video and data delivery capabilities the present moment, no one is making any Internet, as this will provide benefits to both of ADSL using NEC Australia as its vendor. money in this industry, yet huge investments business and residential users. Internet service A decision on ADSL is not expected until will continue to be made." providers want faster access over copper, but next year at the earliest and is dependent on The danger here is that new technology can before this can be done, some key data access favorable cost comparisons with other archi- become self-sustaining, irrespective of its questions must be answered: tectures. "The greatest cost reduction impact is potential for meeting the real needs of users. V Will IP be the only common protocol for expected to come from lower the Internet? equipment prices due to the V Will IP be sufficient for a Figure 4: Rate adaptive ADSL, DMT. Probably the only way to cover a development of aglobal ADSL network running at 50-times a high percentage of carrier service area. market," explains Symon regular dial -up modem speed? Rozenthal, ADSL manager for USA average local loop length V Is ATM ready to replace IP? 100 Telstra. "Current models indi- Because of differences in cate that costs for ADSL 90 local loop quality, achievable deployment are similar to HFC bit rates will vary widely 80 deployment for the penetration across the access network. To levels expected in Australia." 70 accommodate this, the data rate must be able to drop back to a 60 Market miscues default speed just as it does in Unrealistic marketplace 50 high-speed dial -up modems today. "Rate adaptive ADSL is expectations have dogged 40 ADSL since its inception. probably the only way to cover Unlike HDSL, which provides 30 a high percentage of CSA (carrier serving area) loops today, telcos with immediate cost sav- 20 - ings, ADSL offers only vague notes Arazi (see Figure 4). expectations of future revenue 10 Changes in the access net- streams. Westell's Faw admits work and the emergence of that most ADSL forecasts are 0.5 1.5 2.5 3.5 4.5 5.5 6.5 xDSL presents the industry based on RFPs (requests for Distance in km with a dilemma. Should it pro- Source: Orckit proposal) by the telcos. Data mote asymmetrical solutions at

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3Com Corporation Harmonic Lightwaves, Inc. Siemens Stromberg-Carlson http:www.3com.com http://www.harmonic-lightwaves.com http://www.ssc.siemens.com ABC Cable Products, Inc. Integration Technologies SkyConnect http://www.abc-cable.com http://www.integrationtech.com E-mail: [email protected] ADC Broadband Communications IPITEK, Inc. Sony Business & Professional Group http://www.aecom Email: [email protected] http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/bppg/videostore- ADC Telecommunications, Inc. Iris Technologies, Inc. index.html http://www.adc.com E-mail: [email protected] Spectrum Alpha Technologies Lucent Technologies http://www.spectrummhz.com http://www.alpha-us.com http://www.lucent.com Sprint North Supply AMP Incorporated Lucent Technologies Microelectronics Group http://www.sprintnorthsupply.com http://www.amp.com http://www.lucent.com/micro Stanford Telecom Antec/Network Technologies Microwave Filter Co., Inc. http://www.stelhq.com http://wwwantec.com http://www.ras.com/mwfilter/mwfilter.htm Superior Electronics Group, Inc. Arrewsmith Technologies, Inc. Molex Fiber Optics, Inc. http://www.cheetahnet.com http://www.arrowsmith.com http://u ww.molex.com Synchronous Group Bay Networks ITBU Moore Diversified Products, Inc. http://www.syngroup.com http'://www.xylogics.com http://www.mooredp.com Tele Wire Supply Company Bellcore Motorola, Inc. -Multimedia Group http://telewiresupply.com E-mail: [email protected] http://www.mot.com/multimedia Texscan Corporation Budco National Cable Television Institute (NCTI) http://u ww.texscan.com http://www.budcocable.com http://www.ncti.com Times Fiber Communications, Inc. Cable Prep /Ben Hughes Comm. Products Co. Objective Systems Integrators http://www.timesfiber.com http://www.cableprep.com http://www.osi.com Toner Cable Equipment Inc. CED Magazine Pace MicroTechnology http://www.tonercable.com Http://www.cedmagazine.com http://www.pace.co.uk Communications & Energy Corporation Pioneer New Media Technologies, Inc. Trilithic, Inc. htfp://www.cecorp.com http://www.pioneerusa.com http://www.trilithic.com CommScope, Inc. Qintar, Inc. Trilogy Communications, Inc. http://www.commscope.com E-mail: [email protected] http://www.trilogycoax.com ComSonics, Inc. R. L. Drake Company Vela Research Inc. http://www.cfw.com/—comsonic http://www.rldrake.com http://www.vela.com Consultronics Scientific-Atlanta Wavecom Electronics, Inc. http://www.consultronics.com http://www.sciatl.com http://www.sask.trlabs.ca/wavecom/index Eagle Comtronics, Inc. SeaChange International, Inc. Wavetek Corporation http://ww w.eaglefilters.com http://www.seachange-tech.com http://www.wavetek.com General Instrument Corporation Siecor Corporation Zenith Electronics Corporation http://www.gi.com http://www.siecor.com http:/twww.zenith.com

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THE PREMIER MAGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS POWERING

flow and voltage drop in two directions. In a node, and while 90 volt operation and greater used for power distribution, but it is limited in simplified scenario, apower supply might be current handling capacities of electronics help, terms of DC resistance. Coax is designed with a placed halfway between the node and the last some simple tenets remain: 75 ohm input impedance, which matches the active, with current being inserted and directed V When powering coaxial networks, the load RF gear operating in the system. In order to toward and away from the node. This position- needs to be balanced in the circuit, particularly maintain this impedance, the dimensions of a ing "balances" the system-providing roughly if there are line-powered devices at the home; coaxial cable are fixed for agiven diameter-the equivalent voltage levels at the first and last V The current generating capacity of an effi- center conductor and shield must be held in a actives in the RF plant (see Figure 1). cient powering system can exceed the current specific relationship. This fact makes the design Centralized powering removes the distrib- carrying capacity of acost-effective coaxial of alow resistance cable difficult-once metal is uted supply from this balanced location, and plant design; and added to the center conductor, the input imped- places it at aspot central to the area served V In an HFC network with short cascades, the ance changes. With traditional coax, the DC loop resistance can be reduced by using alarger cable, but with the Table 1: A comparison of weight, size and loading. structural stiffness of coax increasing to the 4th power of the shield Pair of #1 Cu Pair of 2/0 AI 1160 coax Pair of 750 coax PF 625 coax Cable configuration diameter, plant installation and

DC loop (ohms/1,000 ft.) 0.320 0.318 0.300 0.380 0.290 maintenance quickly become an issue (see Figure 3). Removing the With 1/4-inch support strand constraint of 75 ohm impedance is necessary to allow minimized resis- 0.492 0.579 0.750 0.820 0.468 Bundle radius tance in amanageable package. Bundle weight (lb/ft.) 0.793 0.477 0.552 0.519 0.405 Coaxial cables with low DC Ice and wind loading loop loss have also been built using (NESC rule 250 in lb./ft.) copper rather than aluminum. Copper center conductor cables Heavy 2.139 1.971 2.280 2.348 1.749 Medium 1.476 1.269 1.483 1.517 1.109 have for years been available for Light 1.133 1.041 1.303 1.380 0.860 just this reason. The DC resistance is lower because copper is less resistive than aluminum, but it is and in common with other relocated supplies. fiber cable effectively isolates portions of the also heavier and more costly than aluminum. This may be at the node, but can be anywhere plant from amore centralized power generat- Standard power conductors could also be appropriate for alarge power supply, such as ing source. used to deliver power, because the power an industrial or secluded area. Once moved, In short, there is abest location for the inserter isolates any impedance mismatch. the system design must be reviewed to deter- power inserter and abest location for the They also offer an interesting view of the rela- mine how appropriate voltage and current lev- power source, and they are not on the same tive advantages of copper and aluminum. A els can be maintained (see Figure 2). pole. This implies that some type of cable is comparison of weight, size and loading quickly Moving the system power supplies to acen- required to put power where it is needed. shows that copper, while occupying asmaller tral location does not necessarily change the package, is much heavier and creates greater point at which power must be inserted into the Power distribution cable options pole loading (See Table I). Power conductors network. Should power be inserted at the node, The choice of acable for power delivery also present acraft issue: how do you terminate for example, additional current must be deliv- requires one to consider many factors. The a2/0 pair into apower inserter? ered on the first trunk cable to deliver adequate reduction of cable resistance is simple Having considered power cables and tradi- power to the feeder legs. This high current will enough-either add metal or use aless resis- tional coax, having removed input impedance have ahigh voltage drop associated with it, so tive metal. As is the case with most simple as adesign criteria, and having identified care must be taken to ensure that adequate input situations, the impacts of the change are aluminum as the metal of choice, the devel- voltage is used to withstand alarge drop and still somewhat more complex. opment of acoaxial cable with DC loop provide adequate voltage at the last actives with- Traditional cable television coax could be resistance below 0.30 ohms per 1,000 feet in out overloading any devices in the current path. This large voltage drop can be dealt with in Table 2: Coaxial cable comparison. several ways. The input voltage can be raised, Coaxial cable comparison 625 625 1inch to 90 volts, for example, so there is more voltage available to work with. A system with a90 standard power feeder trunk volt input voltage can better manage an early 20 or 30 volt drop than can asystem with a60 volt Center conductor diameter, inches 0.137 0.325 0.220 Diameter, inches 0.625 0.625 1.000 input. The voltage drop can also be negated by reducing the resistance of the cable carrying the Shield wall, inches 0.031 0.055 0.055 high current. This has traditionally been done Loop resistance, ohms/1,000 ft. 1.10 0.29 0.40 by using alarger cable than is necessary for the Impedance, ohms 75 23 75 138 284 362 RF design, such as aone-inch trunk cable. Weight, lbs./1,000 ft. Even if power is inserted apart from the

112 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS E NGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 Table 3: DC loop resistance of available coaxial cables. a0.625 size feeder mance advantages for power insertion appli- Diameter Center conductor DC loop seemed feasible. A cations. inches material ohms/1,000 ft. shield thickness of 0.055 inches was Conclusions 0.625 aluminum, power feeder 0.29 1.160 aluminum 0.30 suggested because The new aluminum coaxial power feeder 1.000 aluminum 0.40 of available materi- cable has the lowest DC loop resistance and als, and the center pole loading available; asignificant advantage 0.875 copper 0.41 conductor, which over copper, coaxial or traditional power cables. 1.125 aluminum 0.42 0.840 copper 0.46 bears all the for- Using this cable, adesigner need not limit ward path current, power supply location to the balance point in 0.625 copper, 50 ohm 0.46 was greatly the network, or to the node, or to anything. 0.860 copper 0.53 increased in size. Supplies and insertion points can be placed 0.875 aluminum 0.55 Connectors with where they make the most sense. Best of all, 0.750 copper 0.56 insulators in place this can happen over coax, which has craft 0.840 aluminum 0.60 of RF sleeves have familiarity from years of use. From ultra-low- 0.860 aluminum 0.72 also been devel- loss, power-only feeder cables to 50 and 75

0.750 aluminum 0.76 oped, and are capa- ohm solid-copper-center conductor cables to 0.625 copper 0.79 ble of passing 25 traditional cable television coax, cable alterna- 0.700 aluminum 0.84 amperes of current tives are now available to meet the needs of vir- while managing the tually any application. CED 0.715 aluminum 1.00 additional stress 0.625 aluminum 1.10 0.500 copper 1.20 this cable design Acknowledgments may exert. As the The authors would like to recognize the 0.565 aluminum 1.30 data tables reveal, efforts of Joe Hohlmayer, William R. Kerr, 0.540 aluminum 1.61 0.500 aluminum 1.72 this cable offers Gilbert Engineering and many others within significant perfor- our own companies for their contributions. ATTENTION Telecom Engineers!

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THE PREMIER MAGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 /› BACK- U P POWER

control. The challenge to convert that knowledge into this product chiefly consisted of engineering out costs, something the company Taking back-up claims it has done. "It (the $2,000 per unit price tag) is an Flywheels move aggressive target, but we're confident we can power do it," says Peter LeBlanc, business develop- closer to deployment ment manager for SatCon's Energy Systems Division. "There are challenges, but it's what we're driving toward." The $2,000 figure comes from the project- underground ed 10-year cost of buying lead-acid batteries By Roger Brown officials say they already have letters of and maintaining them, according to intent amounting to about $11 million in Hamilton-Piercy. Once considered little more than atechnical equipment, or roughly 5,000 units. Since the first of the year, the concept has curiosity by some engineers, it now appears moved from technological promise to areal that backup electrical power from high-speed How It works product. In fact, the company demonstrated a flywheel technology could be aviable option SatCon first burst on the cable TV scene working prototype, showing how when com- for telecommunications network providers in January 1996, when company VP and mercial power is cut off, the spinning flywheel within the next 12 to 18 months. chief technical officer Richard Hockney converts its stored kinetic energy to electrical After more than ayear of development, delivered a energy that can power anetwork node. Cambridge, Mass.-based SatCon Corp. paper on fly- The unit is said to last at least 20 years, debuted its flywheel-based uninterruptible The concept has wheel tech- with scheduled maintenance necessary only power supply during apower industry confer- nology at the every seven to 10 years to keep the unit oper- ence in early October, aiming the new product moved from SCTE's ating efficiently, according to Bauer, who has squarely at cable TV and telecom network Conference seen the company's working prototype. operators who for years have had to rely on on Emerging The flywheel module, which is designed cumbersome and unreliable lead-acid batteries technological Technologies. to spin at asteady 30,000 revolutions per for backup power when commercial power The presenta- minute, is stored in an underground concrete suffered an outage. promise to areal tion surprised vault for safety reasons. The flywheel itself SatCon, which demonstrated the flywheel many and had is made of afiberglass-like composite to at Intelec '96 in Boston, intends to repeat the product others curious insure safety to craftpersons as well as the demonstration at the Western Cable Show in but doubtful general public. Anaheim later this month. that the solu- "A lot of people think that this thing could But already, several top-level cable TV tion could work economically. explode and become shrapnel if it's made of engineers are excited about the flywheel's SatCon is leveraging its research from vari- metal," says Bauer, who notes that those con- possibilities and intend to be among the first ous space program contracts it has worked on cerns should be obviated now that the fly- to field test the units. "I'm very gung-ho on over the years. That work was designed to wheel has been re-designed to be made of the project," says Bill Bauer, who heads tiny control spacecraft attitude and momentum fiberglass and spins on magnetic, not WindBreak Cable in Nebraska, but mechanical, bearings. Tests are already Figure 1: Flywheel cut-a-way. who is considered to be one of the underway at SatCon to determine exact- industry's most forward-thinking engi- ly what happens when the flywheel neers. "It appears to be astrong, viable module fails, but the unit should just Axial magnetic delaminate, or "end up looking like cot- way of doing things." bearing Nick Hamilton-Piercy, senior VP of ton candy," says Hamilton-Piercy. Bauer believes that anetwork moni- engineering and technology at Rogers Vacuum Cablesystems, is likewise optimistic—and housing toring system also provides new benefits looks forward to the day when he can to him and his cable colleagues. cease purchasing batteries that often Through internal sensors, software can don't work as advertised without alot of show how much energy has been stored, maintenance. how much is left (if the unit has gone Motor/ Flywheel Other operators who intend to test, into abackup mode), the speed at which generator rotor and perhaps deploy the units, provided the flywheel is spinning, and other they can be manufactured for about information. "This is the first time we $2,000 per unit and deliver the neces- can really find out what's going on with sary specifications (1 kilowatt of power Touchdown our power," he notes. for two hours), include: Cox Radial bearing Although the technology has been magnetic Communications, Comcast, Tele- designed for cable and telecom net- bearing Communications Inc. and Buford works, it has application elsewhere in Cable, among others. In fact, SatCon such systems. In fact, Bauer intends to

114 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 eventually gang several flywheels to provide backup power to his headend. "It (the fly- Figure 2: Flywheel installation. Pole-mounted wheel) will replace the batteries we currently power supply use," Bauer emphatically states. "And with the cable industry getting into the telephony business, we have to be able to provide reliable service. This gets us there." "This is the best alternative that's come for- Safety Electronics vessel Flywheel module ward so far," says Hamilton-Piercy, who notes module other options include fuel cells and large generators. "The flywheel still seems to be the best, easiest to deploy" option. Will two hours of backup be enough? With most cable operators backing off full- Cable scale lifeline telephony deployment for the connector time being, Hamilton-Piercy says it ought to be plenty. Research has shown that 95 percent or more of all outages have aduration of four hours or less. While SatCon is busily doing final design work and preparing for full-scale mass production of the unit, it's already working on an installation manual as well. "This is way past emerging technology," he notes. "It's much further along than most people realize." Maybe not for long. CED We Guarantee You 365 Dates in 1997

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T HE P REMIER M AGAZINE OF B ROADBAND C OMMUNICATIONS D ECEMBER 1996 115 A NALOG Eic D IGITAL SIGNALS

ly compress and transport up to 6, 6-MHz AM VSB signals. If acable operator chose the upper tier for 64 QAM digital signals, the Effects of anal() operator could pack an additional 192 AM VSB channels into this region. Can they an This addition of the digital tier presents various situations that will be discussed in this happily coexist? U article. The following issues will be analyzed and tested. 11. What is the correct amplitude delta between the analog and digital channels (6, or digital signals 9dB) to operate the 64 QAM digital signals in order to obtain the best performance of both By M. Stephen McConnell, Associate Staff band that is unused by the analog channels. As the digital and analog signals? Applications Engineer, Scientific-Atlanta more systems are being built or upgraded, the 2. What effect does the digital tier have on frequency range is being extended as well. As analog signals (CNR, CTB, CSO, and X-Mod)? The cable TV industry has always been look- of this writing, the forward frequency spec- 3. What effect do the analog signals have ing for ways to expand channel capacity, trum is 50 to 750 MHz. Normally the cable on the digital tier (CNR and BER)? therefore increasing revenue, while at the operator reserves the 50 to 550 MHz spectrum 4. What effect does CIN have on the total same time expanding the viewer's choice. The for analog signals. This leaves the 550 to 750 system? latest method is through the addition of 64 MHz spectrum open for future digital signals. QAM channels. The digital channels can be A 64 QAM signal has asignal bandwidth of 6 Test parameters placed anywhere in the plant's usable forward MHz: this would allow the cable operator to Tables 1and 2detail the test parameters spectrum from 151 to 749 MHz. Typically the insert up to 32 QAM modulators in the 550 to (see pages 118 and 120). digital tier is placed in the upper frequency 750 MHz range. One QAM signal can digital- Each series of tests were divided into three sections: fiber, distribution, and fiber +distribu- Figure 1: RF signal equipment diagram tion. Each of these sections were broken down e into two tiers, analog and digital. Each tier was 50 -550 MHz broken down into four individual tests: noise, Step attenuator Matrix generato r J distortion, cross modulation. and Bit Error Rate 11 dB (BER was performed only on the digital tier tap using modulated 64 QAM modulators). IL 10 dB DC Different channel lineups were utilized in each tier to characterize their effects. The following is alist of those channel lineups and 50 -750 MHz the tests that were performed for each of the Step attenuator HPF QAM modulators > > To three sections (See table on page 117). module The Modulated QAM channels begin at 555 distortion

attenuator MHz and are spaced on 6MHz centers up to test and including 741 MHz.

Step The CW analog channels include 55.25, 61.25, 67.25, 77.27, and 83.25 MHz. The To test set-up <.< <•.< analog channel alignment then begins at for reverse testing Flat in linear 109.25 and continues up to and including tilt out Reverse input 547.25 MHz spaced on 6MHz centers. 12 dB DC The digital tier signals were supplied by 32 Scientific-Atlanta, Model D9470 64 QAM modulators. Stealth The analog tier signals were supplied by a sweep input 11 dB Matrix Test Equipment Inc., Multiple 4-way tap Reverse output 20 dB DCs Frequency Signal Generator. In order to analyze the data, apples must be Stealth compared to apples. Therefore what is happen- reference ing in the digital tier cannot be used to deter- ••>••>. REV input mine what is happening in the analog tier (as To test set-up < >Fiber or < > FWD an example, noise degradation in the digital for forward testing 12 dB DC distribution cascade I/O section cannot be used to determine noise degradation of the analog tier). But an analysis To computer with Diagport software for HCT can be performed on each tier (analog and dig- bit error rate testing ital) and comparisons made within that tier.

116 CEO : C OMMUNICATIONS E NGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 The tests performed were to determine what Figure 2: Fiber cascade diagram effect the digital tier (550 -750 MHz) had on the analog tier (50 -550 MHz) and what effect the analog tier had on the digital tier. A num- 6dB fiber ber of tests were performed to help in deter- - mining the effects of noise, distortions and Bit 6460 optical transmitter 1x 4, 7dB 6920 optical receiver Error Rate (BER). optical coupler The following Scientific-Atlanta test proce- 6. +0.75 MHz: CSO analog fall within a6 MHz band of aQAM channel dures were utilized during the test program. 7. +1.25 MHz: CSO analog that are of concern are as follows: -1.75, -1.0,- These test procedures are similar in concept to 8. +1.75 MHz: CTB digital, & CTB analog 0.5, 0.0, +0.75, +1.25 MHz. The beats are the NCTA testing procedures, and have been ±analog ±digital. comprised of the following: modified to allow testing of CW carriers in a 1. -1.75 MHz: CTB analog & CTB analog ± non-active plant. digital ±digital Test S-A Part Digital tier measurements The following tests were performed to number 2. -1.0 MHz: CSO analog determine the digital tier (550 -750 MHz) per- 3. -0.5 MHz: CSO analog Setup: 545913 formance. The first test was to determine what 4. 0.0 MHz: CTB digital & CTB analog ± CTB: 545914 effect the analog tier (50 -550 MHz) had on analog ±digital CSO: 545915 the digital tier CNR, and the second test was to 5. +0.75 MHz: CSO digital ±analog XMod: 545916 determine the effect the different A/D deltas 6. +1.25 MH: CSO analog ±digital CNR: 545917 have on the BER of the digital tier. Note: The output of the QAM modulators in Analog tier measurements For the CNR measurement of the digital CW mode are very spurious, there are spurs that tier, each section was tested as follows: 78 CW fall ± 1.0, ± 1.75, ±2.0, ±2.5, & ±3.0 MHz The following tests were performed to matrix carriers +no digital, and 78 CW matrix from the center of the QAM channel. This is determine the analog tier (50 -550 MHz) per- carriers +32 modulated QAM modulators at just apoint of observance; none of the tests formance, (CNR, and distortions). First the each of the A/D deltas. were performed with the QAM modulators in performance of the analog section was mea- For the BER test each section was tested as this mode. It should also be pointed out that the sured with no digital tier (550 -750 MHz). follows: 78 CW Matrix carriers +32 QAM modulators were never designed to be Next the performance of the analog section Modulated QAM modulators at each of the operated continuously in this mode. was measured with the digital tier added at the two A/D deltas. Digital Transmission of 64 QAM: two A/D deltas. The last test was to determine Although no distortion measurements were Correction scheme: Reed-Solomon Forward the CIN of the analog section with digital tier made of the digital tier, it is important to Error Correction. loading at the two A/D deltas. Rate of transmission: 30 Mbps. Compression scheme: MPEG. Analog tier Digital tier Analog test Digital test Frequency range: 550 MHz to 750 MHz. 78 CW channels None Noise, distortions, xmod None 1Block of data: 204 Bytes (1,632 Bits). 78 CW channels 32 Modulated 64 QAM Noise, distortions, xmod Noise, BER Cascade losses understand that distortions as well as CNR all The distribution cascade diagram has reel The analog tier was tested with the following determine how well the digital tier is perform- numbers shown between the amplifiers. The channel loading: 78 CW Matrix carriers +no ing. The overall performance of adigital chan- losses of these reels as well as the passive loss digital, 78 CW Matrix carriers +32 modulated nel is measured by the BER of that channel. In between the amps are given in Table 3. QAM modulators at each of the two A/D deltas. order to better understand the distortions, it is V 50 -550 MHz analog tier CNR data com- Each of the above tests were performed on important to know what combination of carri- parison. For the CNR graph, afrequency of the fiber, distribution, and fiber+distribution. ers are creating the distortions. The beats that 547.25 MHz was selected to analyze because In order to better understand the CTB and CSO distortion measurements, it is important to know what combination of carriers are cre- Figure 3: Distribution cascade diagram ating the distortions. The beats that fall within No. 1 No 2 No. 3 a6 MHz band of an analog channel that are of concern are as follows; -1.75, -1.25, -0.75, -12 dB -12 dB 0.0, +0.0, +0.75, +1.25, +1.75 MHz. The beats are comprised of the following; Type 1 Type 1 Type 2 Reel #11 Reel #22 Reel #12 1. -1.75 MHz: CTB analog ±analog ±digital Reel #16 2. -1.25 MHz: CSO analog, CSO digital, & Alpha 90 Vac 15 amp

CTB analog ±digital ±digital No. 6 No 5 No 4 3. -0.75 MHz: CSO analog, & CTB analog To patch ±analog ±digital panel -12 dB I -12 dB 4. 0.0 MHz: CTB analog, & CTB analog ± digital ±digital Type 3T I Type 3A Type 3T 20 Ft Reel #10 Reel #17 5. +0.5 MHz: CSO analog ±digital

T HE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF B ROADBAND C OMMUNICATIONS D ECEMBER 1996 117 < A NALOG & D IGITAL SIGNALS

of the greatest Table 1: Test parameters analog tier and there is amount of degrada- no apparent phase can- A/D deltas: 6,9 (dB) tion in CNR due to cellation caused by the the digital tier (see Analog test frequencies (MHz): 55.25, 77.25, 211.25, 331.25, 439.25, 547.25 (MHz) digital tier. Figure 4). The fiber +distribu- Digital test frequencies (MHz): 555, 603, 651, 699, 741 (MHz) (with QAM channel loading) The CNR for the tion plot of Figure 5 graph is un -correct- Optical link: A 6460 110-channel Tx to a 6920 optical receiver depicts the degradation ed. The correction Total optical loss: 13 dB total optical loss = a glass loss of 6 dB + a coupler loss of 7dB from the 78 CW only factor is -23.25 dB. point to the 6dB A/D The 23.25 dB cor- Distribution cascade: A 6 amp cascade consisting of three (3) SAlls and three (3) LElls delta point to be approxi- rects for the mea- mately 0.6 dB. There is a surement bandwidth, slight improvement (0.2) resolution bandwidth filter shape, log amplifi- A/D delta is added to each system, then varied in the CTB at the 9dB A/D Delta point. cation and IF detection. Please see the section from 6to 9dB. The graph contains a plot for For the +1.25 MHz CSO comparison, atest on "Measurement Uncertainty." the fiber, the distribution, and the fiber + dis- frequency of 439.25 MHz was selected to ana- The graph contains aplot for the fiber, the tribution test data. lyze because of the greatest amount of degrada- distribution, and the fiber +distribution test The fiber, distribution, and fiber +distribution in CSO. The distortion used for compari- data. tion plots of Figure 5depict the analog tier son was +1.25 MHz in relation to the 439.25 Figure 4 shows the differences in the CNR with 78 CW matrix channel loading and the MHz carrier. of the analog tier as the digital tier is added, digital tier with 32 modulated QAM channels. Figure 6 shows the differences in the CSO then the analog to digital (A/D) Delta is The fiber plot of Figure 5 depicts only a of the analog tier (50 - 550 MHz) when there changed from 6to 9 dB. The graph shows the slight degradation from the 78 CW only point to is no digital tier (78 CW only), and then when increase or decrease in the analog CNR. the 6dB A/D delta point of 0.5 dB, and aslight the digital tier is 32 modulated QAM modula- By observing in the CNR graph achange improvement of 0.7 dB from the 6dB point to tors and the A/D delta is varied from 6to 9 from the 78 CW only point to the 6dB A/D the 9dB point (instrument or test variation). dB. delta point, adegradation of CNR is noted. The distribution plot of Figure 5depicts a The graph contains aplot for the fiber, the This degradation occurs when the digital tier is slight deviation from the 78 CW Only point to distribution, and the fiber +distribution test added to the 78 CW analog tier. What also the 9dB A/D Delta point. The graph is fairly data. might be expected is an improvement in the flat (0.1 dB) again, because the digital tier has The fiber plot of Figure 6shows that when CNR as the A/D delta is increased. A very very little to add in the form of CTB to the the digital tier is modulated QAM, there is no slight improvement in analog CNR is seen improvement or degradation of the analog Figure 4: 50-550 MHz analog tier CNR data comparison from the 6dB point to the 9dB point. This CSO. The slight deviation from the 78 CNR le 547.25 MHz is due to the amount of intermod created for 78 CW matrix analog + 32 modulated QAM digital CW only point to any point on the graph by the digital tier being reduced as the dig- 80 may be due to variations in testing. 79.0 ital tier amplitude is being reduced. By 78 -•- Fiber CNR The distribution plot of Figure 6 shows examining the graph closely, the change is -a- Dist. CNR that when the digital tier is modulated 76 less than 0.5 dB. This may be attributed to -e- Fiber + Dist. CNR QAM, there is only aslight deviation from equipment error, or the point within the 3 74 75, the 78 CW only point (0.4 dB). This indi-

MHz frequency span where the measure- 72 71.6 72.4 cates that the digital tier has little or noth- 71.0 ment was taken. • • ing to add to the +1.25 MHz CSO of the 70 ----. What causes this degradation of CNR may 70.4 analog tier. 69.7 70, be explained as a6 MHz "wide" beat (the 68 The fiber + distribution plot of Figure 6 power of aQAM channel is spread out over 66 shows aslight deviation from the 78 CW a6 MHz area and contains no residual carrier 78 CW 6dB only point to the 9dB A/D delta of only power, whereas a single 6MHz AM VSB only A/D Delta 0.2 dB. As can be seen by the graph, the carrier has the power concentrated in avery CSO is fairly constant; this is because the small spectral area, thus creating a"narrow" Figure 5: 50-550 MHz analog tier CTB data comparison digital tier has very little to add to the beat), mixing down into the analog section. CTB 55.25 MHz for 78 CW matrix analog +32 modulated QAM digital +1.25 MHz CSO of the analog tier. When this occurs, the "wide" beats appear to 71 For the XMod comparison, atest fre- 70.4 70.5 combine in 6MHz "humps," thus creating b a 70 70.6 quency of 331.25 MHz was chosen to ana- what appears to be araised noise floor. •69.0 69. lyze. The change in CNR as shown by the 69 Figure 7 shows the differences in the graph would indicate that the CNR 68 68.5 XMod of the analog tier (50 - 550 MHz) improvement/degradation is caused by the 67.3 67 when there is no digital tier (550 - 750 addition/level change of the modulated digi- • MHz) and when the digital tier is added 66 66.7 66.5 tal tier. -e- Fiber CTB and the A/D delta is varied from 6 to 9dB. -IF Dist CTB For the CTB comparison, a test frequen- 65 The graph contains a plot for the fiber, the -e- Fiber + Dist. CTB cy of 55.25 MHz was selected to analyze. distribution, and the fiber + distribution test 64 Figure 5shows the differences in the CTB 78 CW 6dB 9dB data. only of the analog tier (50 - 550 MHz) as the ND Delta The fiber plot of Figure 7 shows that the

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XMod improves from 63.2 to 64.0 Table 2: Test parameters output levels as 1x 10- 10 ). dB when the modulated QAM is In the fiber +distribution plot added to the system at an A/D 55.25 MHz 547.25 MHz 749 MHz of Figure 9, the BER degraded delta of 6dB. The graph then Optical node 26 dB 35 dB 38 dB from the 6through the 9dB A/D shows adegradation from 64.0 to Delta point. The amount of 63.8 dWas the A/D delta is Driver amp 24 dB 31 dB 34 dB degradation went from a BER of increased from 6to 9dB. This 3.3x10-9 to a BER of 1.2x10-8. SAII (JBT 26 dB 35.5 dB 38.5 dB may be due to due instrument error At this error rate, there still were

or testing methods. SAII HGD and LEH 35 dB 44.5 dB 47.5 dB no un -corrected blocks or errors. The distribution plot of Figure Figure 10 depicts the carrier 7shows that the XMod improves and degrades loading is added to the analog tier, there is a to composite intermodulation noise (C/CIN) of slightly when the modulated QAM is added to slight degradation of noise in the digital tier, as an analog channel located at 547.25 MHz the system at any of the A/D deltas. The differ- would be expected. This measurement was performed with the ence from the 78 CW only point to the 6dB The CNR for the graph is un -corrected. A/D delta at 6dB. point is 0.4 dB. This slight deviation may be The correction factor is -23.25 dB. The 23.25 The C/CIN in the fiber section of Figure 10 contributed to test variations. dB corrects for the measurement bandwidth, is the greatest because the effect of the QAM The fiber +distribution plot of Figure 7 resolution bandwidth filter shape, log amplifi- is not as great. The actual drop in the total again shows that the XMod improves and cation and IF detection. Please see the section noise floor was 1.75 dBc. One reason there is degrades slightly when the modulated QAM is on "Measurement Uncertainty." little effect of CIN is the low CNR of the opti- added to the system at any of the A/D deltas. Figure 9depicts the Bit Error Rate (BER) of cal link, 71.5 dB (un -corrected). The difference from the 78 CW only point to adigital channel located at 555 MHz. The ana- The C/CIN in the distribution plot of Figure the 6dB point is 0.7 dB, and from the 6dB to log tier remains at aconstant level of 0dBmV 10 is beginning to show the effects of the the 9dB point adeviation of only 0.9 dB. at afrequency of 547.25 MHz as the digital tier QAM loading. One reason there is alarger For Figure 8, afrequency of 555 MHz was levels were changed. effect of CIN is the high CNR of the distribu- selected because of its close proximity in fre- In the fiber plot of Figure 9, the BER tion link. The actual drop in the total noise quency to the analog tier and because it would degrades from 1.7 x10- 9 to a BER of 3.5 x10- floor was 3.75 dBc. exhibit the greatest degradation. 8. At this error rate, there still were no un -cor- The C/CIN in the fiber +distribution plot of The initial starting point for Figure 8at 1CW rected blocks or errors. Figure 10 is beginning to add up. The total only also includes modulated QAM channels. In the distribution plot of Figure 9, the system C/CIN is 71.3 dB (un-corrected). The Figure 8shows the differences in the CNR BER remained constant at the 6and 9dB actual drop in the total noise floor was 4.6 of the digital tier (550 -750 MHz) when the A/D deltas-no errors (depicted on the graph dBc. In theory, the CIN of the fiber +distribu- digital tier is 32 modulated QAM modulation should be the 201og 10 addition of the tors and the A/D delta is varied from 6to Figure 6: 50-550 MHz analog tier CSO (0 +1.25 MHz data comparison fiber and distribution CIN numbers. 9dB. CSO e 439.25 MHz for 78 CW matrix analog +32 modulated QAM digital The graph contains aplot for the fiber, o.r Summation the distribution, and the fiber +distribution, The results for a"real world" (fiber + 63 _ 63., test data. distribution) cascade appear to point to s 62.6 62.7 As can be seen by the fiber plot in 62 one A/D delta. By reviewing the data, an 61.2 61.1 Figure 8, the CNR at 555 MHz degrades 61 A/D delta of 6dB seems to allow the 60 • 61.6 approximately 1dB for each 1dB that the -a- Fiber CSO +1.25 best performance of both the analog and A/D delta is changed. When the 78 CW ___ -0- Dist. CSO +1.25 digital tiers. This A/D ratio enables an matrix loading is added to the analog tier, 59 -sr. Fiber +Dist. CSO +1.25 operable BER based upon digital tier 58.5 there is aslight degradation of noise in the 58-7 i 58.6 • 58 i CNR and distortions. This ratio also digital tier, as would be expected. 78 CW 6dB 9dB allows for good CNR and distortions of only As can be seen by the distribution plot A/D Delta the analog tier. in Figure 8, the CNR at 555 MHz remains The digital tier has aprofound result constant from the 6dB point to the 9dB Figure 7: 50-550 MHz analog tier XMod data comparison on the CNR as well as the distortion lev- point. XMod 43 331.25 MHz els of the analog tier. The less the A/D for 78 CW matrix analog +32 modulated DAM digital In the distribution plot of Figure 8, 66 delta (6 dB), the greater the impact on when the 78 CW matrix loading is added 64.0 the CNR. This is attributed to intermod 64 63.8 to the analog tier there is aslight degrada- distortions. s63.2 tion of noise in the digital tier as would 62 -a- Fiber XMod The analog tier does not appear to have -4- Dist. XMod be expected. 60 as much of an impact on the digital tier. -e- Fiber +Dist. XMod As can be seen in the fiber +distribu- The only impact is in the form of analog 58 tion plot of Figure 8, the CNR degrades 56.5 56.9 56.5 CTB (CTBA), located -1.75 MHz in rela- as the A/D delta varies. 56 • tion to the digital carrier center frequency. 54.8 In the fiber +distribution plot of Figure 54 54«1 53.9 The effect of the CTBA is not apparent in 8, the plot depicts aone-for-one degrada- the BER measurements. The one factor 52! tion in CNR as the A/D Delta is varied 78 CW 6dB 9dB having the greatest impact on BER is the from 6to 9dB. When the 78 CW Matrix only A D Delta amplitude of the digital carrier.

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Table 3: Cascade losses. level is +38 dBmV, and the digital carrier level is +32 dBmV, then the AID delta is 6dB). Coax/passive loss Coax/passive loss Coax/passive loss Analog test frequencies: The video carrier Description Reel # @ 50 MHz 550 MHz Œ 750 MHz frequencies as produced by amultiple signal Launch amp to amp 1 11 7.7/1.5 22.7/3.6 26.5/3.3 frequency generator.

Amp 1to amp 2 22 7.5/0.6 22.5/1.3 26.3/1.6 Digital test frequencies: The center frequencies of the 64 QAM carriers as produced Amp 2 to amp 3 12 7.7/0.6 22.8/1.4 26.6/1.7 by the Scientific-Atlanta Model D9470 64 Amp 3 to amp 4 16 5.1/0.6 15.4/1.3 18.0/1.6 QAM modulators. SAIL Short for system amplifier II. An Amp 4 to amp 5 17 7.3/0.6 21.5/1.3 25.2/1.6 SAII is typically used as an express amplifier. Amp 5 to amp 6 10 5.7/0.6 17.2/1.3 20.2/1.6 LEH: Short for line extender II. An LEII is typically used to extend express runs for the Note: All coax is 0.5-inch Comm-Scope Pill. All passives are Scientific-Atlanta DC-12s. purpose of feeding drops. All of the BER measurements, even without theoretically be 0dBmV for the analog tier at UBT: Short for unbalanced triple. This is a Forward Error Correction (FEC), were not at a the highest analog frequency, typically 547.25 type of SAII containing three RF outputs. level that created un -corrected errors (split sec- MHz. This would yield adigital tier input HGD: Short for high gain dual. This is a ond still pictures). level to the HCT of -6 dBmV based on an AID type of SAII containing two R.F. outputs. As stated above, the greatest impact on ratio of 6dB. AM: Amplitude modulated. BER was the amplitude of the digital carrier. VSB: Vestigial side band. This also translates to the amount of RF input Definitions and explanations into the Home Communication Terminal CIN: Random noise in adistribution system Measurement uncertainty (HCT). If the plant is designed in accordance arises from the thermal motion of atoms in all The NCTA definition of carrier-to-noise ratio with FCC specifications, this number would components. Composite intermodulation noise uses the noise power in a4 MHz bandwidth. (CIN) is created when The resolution bandwidth specified in this pro- Figure 8: 50-750 MHz digital tier CNR data comparison pseudo-random digital cedure is 30 kHz. To convert the 30 kHz band- CNR @ 555 MHz signals are mixed with width of the noise power displayed on the spec- for 78 CW matrix analog + 32 modulated QAM digital analog carriers due to 70 trum analyzer to the 4MHz needed for the 69.5 device non-linearities. NCTA specification, the following conversion is 68 68. A quantitative value of used: 67.0 67.0q CIN can be defined as 66.5 10Logio[4 MHz 66 the difference in level .30 kHz =21.25 dB. 64.5 64 between noise caused by digital carriers and The noise level measured by the spectrum 62 61.7 the thermal noise of the analyzer is also corrected for resolution band- 60.3 device under test. The 60 width filter shape (-0.5 dB), IF envelope detec- -.- Fiber CNR carrier-to -noise ratio -ai- Dist. CNR tion, or Rayleigh distribution (+1.05 dB), and provides adescription 58 logarithmic amplification (+1.45 dB) for a total -.- Fiber + Dist. CNR of the noise floor of a correction of 23.25 dB. 56 system, regardless of The other correction factor used in the mea- 1CW 6 dB 9 B how the noise was gen- surement of carrier-to -noise ratio is the noise- only A/O Delta erated. Specifically, the near-noise correction. This accounts for the carrier-to-noise ratio is addition of noise power by the spectrum ana- "the power in asinu- Figure 9: 50-750 MHz digital tier BER data comparison lyzer and post amplifier. soidal signal, whose Bit error rate @ 555 MHz The measurement of carrier-to-noise ratio peak is equal to the for 78 CW matrix analog +32 modulated QAM digital consists of two relative measurements, from the peak of avisual carrier peak carrier to the system noise floor and from -a- Fiber BER during the transmission 1.00E°6 the system noise floor to the spectrum analyzer Dist. BER of synchronizing puls- Fiber +Dist. BER noise floor. The accuracy of ameasurement 1.20E °' es, divided by the asso- 1.00E 47 made with the spectrum analyzer's A marker ciated system noise 3.50E °8 mode is equal to "the sum of scale fidelity and power in afour mega- 1.00E" 3.30E 4° frequency response uncertainty between the two hertz bandwidth. This markers."2 The cumulative scale fidelity of the ratio is expressed in 1.00E log scale is less than or equal to ±1.0 dB from 0 dB." , to 80 dB on the display. The noise floor mea- A/D delta: The dif- 1.00e° surement for carrier- to-noise is close enough in 1.00E 4° ference in the analog frequency to the carrier that uncertainty in the carrier level and the frequency response of the analyzer is negligible. 1.00E" 111 digital carrier level (i.e., The relative measurement from the system noise AID Delta If the analog carrier 6d13 9dB floor to the spectrum analyzer noise floor need

122 CED : COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 only be considered if the drop in noise CIN calculation level is less than about 10 dB. With the Figure 10: 50-550 MHz analog tier CIN data comparison Composite intermodulation noise @ 547.25 MHz In the absence of well-defined standards spectrum analyzer display scale set to 10 for 78 CW matrix analog +32 modulated DAM digital for measuring the effects of digital channel 76 dB/division, this measurement covers one loading on analog carriers, ameasurement division or less; therefore, only the incre- 75 has been defined internally that estimates mental display fidelity of ±0.1 dB/div is 74 the noise level that can be expected when used. The bandwidth accuracy of the reso- intermodulatul digital noise is taken into 73 lution filter contributes to the accuracy of account. The CIN measurement defined in this measurement by way of the noise 72 this test procedure gives the level of the power bandwidth conversion. The speci- 71 noise generated by digital intermodulation fied accuracy of the resolution bandwidth 70 relative to the peak analog carrier level of filter is ±10 percent. This will change the the device under test. The correction factor 21.25 dB bandwidth correction to 21.25 ± 69 is necessary due to the inability to measure 0.45 dB. If digital (quasi-noise) channels Fiber Distribution Fiber & distribution digital intermodulation noise directly. See are used in addition to CW carriers, the Figure 11 for asketch of the various noise second and third order non-lin- levels. earities of the amplifier under test Figure 11: Sketch of noise levels Note that only the solid lines will cause the digital channels to Analog carrier peak represent noise levels that can be mixed into the analog carrier be measured directly. The ratio frequencies. The modulated digi- à, is the difference between the tal channels will degrade the measured noise level due to overall carrier-to-noise ratio of Correction Noise due to digital, thermal and system digital intermodulation, thermal the amplifier. Composite inter- rom Noise due to digital and thermal noise of the DUT and thermal modulation noise (CIN), as this noise of the measurement sys- Digital intermodulation noise effect is known, is dependent on tem and the measured noise the power level of the digital sig- Noise due to thermal and system level due only to thermal noise nals at the input to the amplifier. Thermal noise of DUT of the DUT and the measure- Therefore, the accuracy of the ment system. The near-noise output power level measurement correction of à,, found in the Noise due to measurement system. contributes to the accuracy of the table, is the difference between carrier to noise measurement. the measured digital, thermal The uncertainty in the output scale-10 dB/div. and system noise and the digital power level when adjusted according to the Set the reference level of the analyzer to the intermodulation noise alone. CIN, defined as method described here is ±0.75 dB. Third order peak carrier level with the marker functions the relative level of the digital intermodulation CIN will change the noise power of the amplifi- NORMAL, PEAK SEARCH and MKR-4REF noise to the peak analog carrier level, can be er 2dB for every 1dB change in output power LVL. Place azero reference marker at the peak calculated using the equation: level. The total measurement uncertainty from carrier level using the marker mode àkey. Turn CIN dB =( 9N) T+Correction(A,)-23.35 log scale fidelity (due to the two relative mea- the carrier signal at the test frequency off at the The 23.25 dB corrects for the measurement surements) and resolution bandwidth accuracy is matrix. Turn on video averaging by pressing bandwidth, resolution bandwidth filter shape, ±1.0 ±0.1 ±0.45 =±1.55 dB. When the effects SHIFT VIDEO BW and enter 10 (dBm) for the log amplification and IF detection. Once the of CIN due to mixed analog and digital channel number of averages. Place the marker about I CIN is known, its impact on the overall carri- loading are considered, the total measurement MHz above the carrier frequency for the chan- er- to-noise ratio under different carrier to uncertainty becomes ±1.55 ± 1.5 =±3.05 dB. nel under test. Using the adjustment knob, noise conditions can be calculated with the fol- search for the average noise level. Record the lowing formula: du measurement procedure drop from the carrier peak to the average noise Tune the bandpass filter so that the carrier gf.alieniud level as C/NT.With the marker still at the aver- C/N= 10Log [10 in +10 0 CIED being tested is maximized and approximately age noise level reading, place areference mark- in the center of the passband of the filter. er using the marker mode àkey. Disconnect the Adjust the variable attenuator so that the peak digital carrier input from the device under test. References 1. NCTA Recommended Practices for level of the carrier under test is between -5 and Record the drop in level as z. Calculate the OdBm (43 to 48 dBmV). Increase the attenua- noise-near-noise correction factor for à, from Measurements on Cable Television Systems, Second Edition, revised 1993. tion setting of the variable attenuator by 10 dB the formula below. Calculate CIN using the fol- 2. HP 8568B Spectrum Analyzer Operator's and verify that the level of the carrier drops by lowing formula: 10 dB on the 8568B display. Return the vari- Handbook, 1984. able attenuator to its original setting. Use the CIN = (CIN) r+Correction(A i)-23.35 following settings on the spectrum analyzer: The following formula should be used to Acknowledgments Center frequency—carrier frequency of channel; calculate noise near noise correction factors: Thanks to Kevin Murphy for his assistance in frequency span-3 MHz; reference level—peak the CIN theory, and measurement techniques. carrier level; input attenuation-10 dB: resolu- 10Log(1-(10 1- dn'P'''')) Thanks also to Dan Cleere for his assistance in tion; BW-30 kHz; video BW-100 Hi. the many hours spent gathering the data.

THE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 123 0 TELECOM PERSPECTIVE

be incorporated into the streaming protocol. The Netscape/Progressive initiative, backed by 40 companies, seeks to persuade the Internet Web giants hope Engineering Task Force to endorse RTSP as astandard way for clients and servers from multiple ven- Video streaming dors to deliver real-time media over the Internet. But to bridge Microsoft and Intel, as well as the leading supplier of standard sought video streaming software, VDOnet Corp., were missing from the agreement. "RTSP will do for streaming multimedia what HTTP (hypertext transport protocol) did for text and graphics multimedia gap publishing," said Rob Glaser, founder and CEO of Progressive Networks, which co-developed the proto- By Fred Dawson Amoment of truth has arrived in efforts to forestall col with Netscape and is the supplier of RealAudio, the balkanization of the customer base for Web-distributed leading Internet audio streaming software. Supporting video, audio and high-end graphics. Fortunately, there's him in that claim are such giants of the hardware and reason to hope the differences can be overcome. software communities as Apple Computer, 3Com, In anutshell, the question boils down to whether a Adobe Systems, Cisco Systems, Digital Equipment large group of companies led by Netscape Corp., Hewlett Packard, IBM, Macromedia, Silicon Communications and Progressive Networks who are Graphics and Sun Microsystems. backing an approach to standardizing multimedia For Netscape, the initiative represents an opportunity streaming over the Internet known as RTSP (real-time to raise the comfort level for businesses that are build- streaming protocol) can come to terms with demands ing their data communications networks on IP-based by Microsoft Corp., Intel Corp. and their allies that the protocols, said Atri Chatterjee, Netscape's director of video conferencing capabilities of the H.323 standard server product marketing. "As the walls break down between what exists behind the corporate intranet fire- wall and on the Internet, people will look for solutions that span both boundaries and are compatible with a variety of different appliances," he said. As described by Martin Dunsmuir, general manager of Progressive's server product group, the protocol performs two key functions—call set-up, which establishes astreaming connection between the host site and the user's PC; and data activation, which lets the client know what approach is taken to supplying the content, whether it be Xing Corp.'s Streamworks, RealAudio, VDOnet's Live Media or something else. RTSP does not eliminate the requirement that each user be equipped with aspecific plug-in software package to access aparticular audio or video clip at aparticular Web site, but it does have the ability to ensure that the approach taken to setting up streaming sessions is universal. Standardization would give content and site developers confidence that the entire market base will use the same means for on-demand access of stored audio/video files, live real-time feeds or stored non-real-time feeds, Dunsmuir said.

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for Internet platforms at Microsoft. "There's no dis- RTSP also works with the two main Web content agreement on the principle of finding an open stan- development formats, Microsoft's ActiveX and the dard, but there needs to be more time spent on weigh- Netscape-backed Sun Java, Glaser noted. "RTSP ing the options." makes it easy to integrate content with video stream- Dunsmuir suggested this interpretation was mislead- ing plug-ins:' he said. "By agreeing on asingle ing, because Microsoft has been privy to the discussion approach, we're creating an opportunity for all suppli- about standardizing on RTSP since Progressive and ers to drive growth, which means we create abigger Netscape decided to push the idea about two months pie for all of us." ago. "Microsoft and Intel waited until the very end to Backers of the initiative were slated to hold an ad say whether they'd join in the announcement or not, hoc meeting in November to review suggestions on any and therefore we hoped they'd come in," Dunsmuir modifications of RTSP and then to submit the protocol said. "We think it's possible they still may join." for consideration by the IETF at its meeting in Indeed, Irving said RTSP "is very interesting" as a December. "If all goes well, RTSP would become a candidate for the streaming part of the standard envi- draft (proposal) at that meeting and go out into circula- sioned by Microsoft, although it is missing some essen- tion as part of the formal standardization process," Backers of the tial items, such as fast forward and reverse. "We see Dunsmiur said. value that can be added to RTSP through the capabilities VDOnet offers:' Irving said. The financial aspect initiative were But RTSP "will never be arobust telecommunica- Clearly, now is the time for an agreement to be tions protocol," which means H.323 must be brought reached. What's at stake can be seen in the effort by slated to hold an into the equation, Irving said. "There is no call control US West's Media Group and Microsoft to drive content mechanism and no means of bridging an H.323 call development for broadband access through their new ad hoc meeting into other conferencing domains over the switched tele- affiliation with VDOnet. If all sides don't go down this phone network," he noted. road together, it will be hard to persuade content devel- in November Microsoft's position appeared to reflect more flexi- opers to exploit the full potential of atechnology like bility than some in the RTSP group anticipated. To VDOnet's. them, the problem with Microsoft's stance was that it US West and Microsoft said they have invested went too far in pushing H.323. undisclosed amounts in VDOnet, giving each aseat on "We looked at H.323 very carefully and concluded the board of ayear-old firm that has already played a that while it could be extended to support the broadcast major role in bringing video to the Internet. As previ- environment, to achieve that through the standard-set- ously reported ("Does broadband data need eye ting process of the ITU (International candy?" CED, Oct. 1996, p.78), VDOnet is moving to Telecommunications Union) would create major new levels of performance in the narrowband realm delays," Dunsmuir said. "Besides, we don't think you while offering ameans to ensure even better perfor- can just jury-rig H.323 and get an optimum approach to mance from agiven Web site if aparticular user has broadcast, although Microsoft and Intel might believe access to the site over awide- or broadband link. otherwise." Last month, VDOnet president Asaf Mohr said his firm was about to demonstrate anew generation of its Room for agreement technology that enables delivery of afull-screen Apparently, they don't, which means there's room video image to PCs at about seven frames per second for compromise. "This is awelcome initiative, but it over conventional analog modems, with smaller requires avery thorough engineering evaluation before screen sections operating at much faster frame rates. we can give it our full endorsement," said Yuval Cohen, Assuming new 56 kilobit-per-second modems per- vice president of marketing for VDOnet. form up to advanced billing, the improved VDOnet While RTSP is "not exactly what we have" at that performance would move narrowband video to a level in the streaming transport hierarchy, VDOnet is level which surpasses what can be done with current willing to make adjustments in its system to accommo- versions of the technology at 128 kbps, which is the date astandard approach, Cohen said. What's impor- combined rate of two ISDN (integrated services digi- tant, he added, is that all parties take ahard look at all tal network) B channels. the options, including H.323, to ensure that the stan- "We have some of our next-generation capabilities in dard approach is the best one possible. place now and are already getting roughly 60 percent "The issue is market acceptance:' Cohen said. "It's improvement in performance:' Mohr said. "The tech- important that everyone be willing to comply with nology is moving very fast." whatever approach is taken, and we're not there yet." The three companies said they expect the strategic Netscape and Microsoft, along with 14 other Internet relationships to accelerate development of awide range interests, afew weeks ago did come to terms on anoth- of capabilities that are now taking shape around er part of the streaming equation by agreeing to support VDOnet's and Microsoft's technologies, including IP Multicast as the protocol for setting up multicast ses- Internet live multicasting, video conferencing and sions on the Internet. RTSP is compatible with IP group activities as well as more video-rich Web sites. Multicast, officials said. They all pointed to the scalability of VDOnet's video

126 CED:C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING 6e D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 See IMIediaCluster Western Show Booth 1562

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stream, which adjusts automatically to fit the band- sion as multicast audio/video from aserver while per- width limitations of the user's access link, as the most mitting direct interaction between the on-line audience attractive component of the technology. and the commentators. The protocol suite would "As we provide cable bandwidth to our customers, include H.323, the Web conferencing standard of the the video quality and speed of delivery automatically International Telecommunications Union; aprotocol for improves," said John O'Farrell, president of US West capturing the video at the server, and aprotocol for Interactive Services, aunit of the Media Group, which delivering amulticast stream to end users. is the division that oversees US West's cable holdings. VDOnet's strength in this scenario lies in the ability "This sets VDOnet apart and is pivotal to our strategy." to capture the conference material at the server and pre- One of the reasons interactive television proved to pare it for mass distribution, Irving noted. "Their archi- be anonstarter was the fact that network operators tecture and scalable codec means you can author once could not deliver alarge enough audience base quickly and stream over multiple feeds to thousands of people Latency will be enough to justify content developers' investment in the over links that run the gamut from 28.8 kbps to ATM medium, O' Farrell noted. "It's extremely important to (asynchronous transfer mode):' he said. cut to close to have an environment where content offerings can span Presently, the combination of low bandwidth access the range of delivery speeds so that the content is not and the time it takes to store and set up the captured solely dependent on the availability of customers for video feed for scalable streaming produces latency of a that of alive TV broadband access:' he said. few seconds, making interaction with alive conference To date, much of VDOnet's efforts have been on the scale suggested by Irving very difficult. But the broadcast focused on encouraging video-enchanced content latency will be cut to close to that of alive TV broad- development for users accessing the Web at 14.4 or cast with audience response call-ins once high band- with audience 28.8 kbps, which has meant developers typically width access is implemented, Irving said. encode for apresumed top access speed of 128 kbps at response call-ins best. But, "for alittle extra money," developers could Some final pieces readily encode to take advantage of cable modem and Another piece of the equation that must come DSL (digital subscriber line) access speeds of 1 together to make standardized conferencing platforms megabit per second and higher, making asingle site with these capabilities areality is the means of priori- viable for users across the full spectrum of access tizing the bits as they pass through routers on their way speeds, O'Farrell said. to end users, Irving noted. Version 6of the Internet "Part of our agreement with VDOnet includes asig- protocol, now under discussion at the Internet nificant commitment from them to customize their Engineering Task Force, is likely to include a"band- applications for delivery over cable modems:' he width reservation" protocol, RSVP, which would added. "VDOnet can play abig role in encouraging address this capability, but it will have to be imple- content developers to encode to the higher rates:' mented in routers, which will take time. As part of the agreement with Microsoft, VDOnet Making it more friendly has licensed the software company's NetMeeting con- The companies will also work on ways to make ferencing software, which is based on H.323, and video streaming easier to use, officials said. For exam- NetShow, which provides live multicasting of audio ple, where today, auser must download software (the and video streaming in keeping with the IP Multicast "client plug-in") to enable delivery of aVDOnet- protocol backed by Netscape and others as well as enabled video stream, in the future, cable modems used Microsoft. "The combination of streaming and confer- in US West's systems might come with the software encing technologies opens the opportunity for develop- installed, O'Farrell said. ment of very powerful applications," O'Farrell said. Other efforts aimed at making the video-enhanced All parties stressed they are intent on pushing appli- content as consumer-friendly as possible include devel- cations built around open standards. US West's Dive In, opment of advanced navigation tools and inclusion of aset of Web-based services, and the content it's foster- means to block access to sexually explicit or other con- ing for broadband access will be made widely available, tent that is unacceptable to the user. "The availability of O'Farrell said, although he acknowledged there may be sexual content over the Internet is one of the big con- "most-favored-nation" price breaks for US West cable cerns when we do market research," O'Farrell noted. systems that distribute the media-rich content. Along with promoting development of multimedia- But without concurrence on an overall streaming rich content, VDOnet's new backers expect the deals to standard, it will be hard to persuade content developers accelerate progress in Internet-based video conferenc- to invest what it's going to take to make the media-rich ing and other forms of telephony-like services. "Our broadband version of the Web areality. Ironically, tech- vision is to tie together communications and streaming nology and the on-line market momentum behind it applications into one set of standardized protocols," have reached apoint where the old chicken-and-egg Microsoft's Irving said. problem that stopped ITV in its tracks is no longer the As an example of how the system might work, issue. Instead, it's now amatter of whether ashootout Irving suggested a"Meet the Press" type of program- between Microsoft and Netscape is going to claim ming format might be set up to stream the live discus- chicken and egg alike. CIED

128 CED :C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & DESIGN DECEMBER 1996 • • • • •

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• Introducing: CED Magazine...Online! http://www.cedmagazine.com CED COMMUNICATI6NS ENGINEERING & DESIGN THE PREMIER MAGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS N EW PRODUCTS

New scope ‘£) MI Scientific calibration source Atlanta SEATTLE, Wash.—Novatech Instruments Inc. has introduced the Model MTS529 Scope mum k ram> Calibration Source, which is battery-operated rserz ',rate rnealte and small enough to fit in the palm of the hand. It has aBNC plug at one end and is

Continuum. Continuum, ,11,111,t11 ,1 ' ,.1,1t1111111,1 c'',11111,t1teln‘. Lontinti.1. ....1•01..1.10 ueute...111111 MOM» len.11.1t1 11.1.1Édian11.111

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Novatech's Scope Calibration Source

designed to be directly connected to the BNC input of an oscilloscope. The MTS529 generates acrystal-controlled, Headend system to debut at show 125 IcHz squarewave that has afast rise time and calibrated amplitude. The period of the ATLANTA, Ga.—Scientific-Atlanta Inc. is advanced client/server element manager generated squarewave has atime accuracy of introducing its new Continuum Headend and new analog and digital hardware. 0.05 percent and is used to test the horizontal System product family at the Western The Continuum products feature anew timebase. The squarewave rise time is less than Cable Show. The system includes an space efficient, modular, vertical packaging 500 picoseconds, and this enables the unit to test oscilloscope bandwidths beyond 500 which adds volume control. The decoders also inside the body of the seal, where it is securely MHz. The unit's amplitude accuracy is 5per- feature program tiering and have special events locked into place. The devices cannot be acci- cent and can be used to verify the vertical and pay-per-view capabilities. dentally opened, according to information amplifier of the oscilloscope. All decoders in the series operate from the released by the company, and require atool for Circle Reader Service number 96 SIGMA Control System, which allows opera- removal. tors to add various levels of features and capa- The environmentally-safe seals contain no Decoders feature TOSS bilities, such as interactivity, and to migrate to lead and can be serialized, color-coded, or date SCaT, Bombay—TV/Corn International Inc., a the next series without the expense of chang- stamped and are available in two sizes. The subsidiary of Hyundai Electronics America, ing headend components. Sterling Senior features a5/16-inch diameter has expanded its SIGMA analog product line Circle Reader Service number 97 shackle, with a2 3/8-inch outside diameter, with the addition of afamily of low-cost, while the Sterling Junior has a1/4-inch diame- video scrambling set-top decoders. The ter shackle and a1 13/16-inch outside diameter. SIGMA "X" Series decoders offer Time Security seals Circle Reader Service number 98 MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.—Engineering Domain Sync Suppression (TDSS) and are the Unlimited Inc. has introduced Sterling One- first products in the line with enhanced pirate Shots, which provide security by combining protection. Mini variable attenuator elements of apadlock and of aseal. The The decoders are well-suited for use in BERKELEY, Calif.—DiCon Fiberoptics Inc. durable, single use permanent seals are zinc- countries which are building their cable infra- has announced its Miniature Variable plated for cor- structure, according to TV/Com officials. The Attenuator, acompact, 2-port fiber optic com- rosion resis- "X" Series decoders are part of the company's ponent used to set attenuation levels in the tance and are SIGMA analog product line of addressable range of 0to 60 dB. The attenuation level is not affected by encryption systems for cable, satellite and screw set, offering continuous adjustment with heat or cold. MMDS. The series includes three models: the better than 0.1 dB resolution. The user sim- CX add-on decoder module for use with set- The new attenuator features low back- ply rotates the top convertors; the DX set-top decoder for use reflection (-50 dB) and low PDL (0.05 dB shackle until in the homes of subscribers who do not have max.). Measuring 46 x12 x10 Trim (LxWxH), the opening is an existing convertor; and the LX set-top, Sterling One-Shots the durable aluminum package is designed for

130 CEO : C OMMUNICATIONS E NGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMB ER 1996 type.), high isolation (80 dB min.), low back- Scientific-Atlanta is introducing its reflection (-55 dB max.), manual, RS-232 and Continuum Headend system product GPIB control. family at the Western Cable Show. Circle Reader Service number 99

Singlemode WDMS design, which is expected to reduce typical BUENA PARK, Calif.—Selco Products is now rack space requirements by more than 50 offering Sifam Ltd. WDMs (wave division percent, according to S-A executives. The multiplexers) in a variety of standard and cus- Yuasa-Exide Inc. 's HT Series batteries are designed for harsh-temperature rack-mount chassis will accommodate up tom wavelengths. Sifam's singlemode fused applications. to eight, independently functioning appli- WDMs are available for any two wavelengths cation modules and one controller module between 780 nm and 1700 nm with aminimum operate in temperatures ranging between -40 with integrated universal AC power supply spread of 25 nm. Typical insertion loss is under degrees F and 176 degrees F. and -48 volt DC power backup. 0.3 dB, and isolation ranges from 12 dB to 25 Yuasa-Exide also manufactures the NP26-12 The first products in the Continuum dB, depending upon wavelength range. Various battery, which provides a26 Ah (20 hr.- rate), Headend System will be the Series 9810 package sizes are available, and WDMs can be making it the highest capacity battery within the controllers, Series 9820 NTSC modula- concatenated for higher isolation. industry-standard case size, according to Yuasa- tors, Series 9830 PAL modulators and Standard WDMs include 980/1550, Exide. Its high density makes it suited for back- Series 9890 stereo encoders. The 9810 1480/1550, 1300/1550, 1550/1650, 1017/1300, up use in UPS and other applications where controllers support chassis functions such and 1064/1550; examples of custom WDMs reliable backup power is required. Also, the as power conversion and distribution, sta- include 780/1550, 1245/1319, 1117/1240 and company manufactures its NP18-12B battery, a tus monitoring and control, backup con- 800/1060. In addition, the standard versions high -capacity, lead -acid unit. The battery's trols and inter-module communications. have passed Bellcore 1209 and 1221. New capacity is rated at 17.2 Ah (20-hour rate). It To reduce costs and increase flexibility applications include EDFAs and other types of provides reliable performance and its ergonomi- in channel lineups, the modulators will be fiber amplifiers. cally-designed handles ease installation. frequency agile up to 860 MHz. Circle Reader Service number 100 Finally, the company manufactures the Continuum's element management "Phoenix" Series of sealed, valve-regulated software will be a client/server applica- batteries, which range in capacity from 90-150 tion utilizing the latest LAN/WAN net- Electrical tester Ah. They also provide interim sizes between working technologies, says S-A. POWAY, Calif.—Time Motion Tools introduces small VRLA batteries and large, flooded cells. Circle Reader Service number 95 Fluke's 7-300 They are suited for use in remote sites and out- Electrical Tester, afast, side plant applications. I IT-71 compact troubleshoot- Circle Reader Service number 102 ing tool. When the user turns the tester on, it automatically switches Single flex clips to the correct LAKEWOOD, Colo.—Telecrafter Products is setting—volts AC or introducing Single Flex Clips at this year's DC, continuity and Western Cable Show. Designed to attach single ohms—and shows the cable from RG-59 Standard through RG-6 results on a4000 count Quad, the new Single Flex Clips provide long- lasting, damage-free holding power. Fluke's 7-300 digital display. DiCon's Miniature Variable Attenuator electrical tester The Fluke 7-300 Manufactured of adurable, UV-stabilized measures AC and DC polyethylene, the flexible clip wraps around panel and circuit board mounting. voltage to 300 volts. In addition, it's user- the cable, adjusts to size and holds securely, Also new from DiCon is its MxN Matrix friendly, rugged and reliable. with no compression or crimping of the cable. Switch, a fully passive fiber optic switch that Circle Reader Service number 101 Because the pliable clip will not damage the routes signals without optical to electrical con- cable, signal integrity is not compromised. versions in dense WDM, FDDI, Sonet and This is increasingly important as more and fiber channel networks. Two models are avail- Power backup more operators migrate to digital signal tech- able in up to 16xI6 simplex or duplex configu- READING, Pa.—Yuasa-Exide Inc. has nology and upgrade for increased bandwidth. rations. Directional matrix switches connect announced its new HT High Temperature The company has had system operators each input to one out- series of VRLA batteries and its NP series bat- and cable installers testing the clips for put. Distributional teries for back-up power applications. months, according to Warren West, sales matrix switches con- The HT series batteries are specifically manager for Telecrafter. nect each input to one, designed for back-up power in applications Another feature of the product is ascrew several or all outputs where harsh temperatures will affect the life that accommodates Phillips -head, slotted-head simultaneously. of the battery, such as cable and telephone or hex-head drivers, and which comes pre - DiCon's MXN Features include: locations in remote sites. The HT series inserted into each clip. Matrix Switch insertion loss (1.5 dB offers 28 and 40 Ah of capacity and will Circle Reader Service number 103

THE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF B ROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS D ECEMBER 1996 131 N EW PRODUCTS

Frequency convertor Amplifier and multitaps Handheld UDR INDIANA, Pa.—Quintech Electronics and HORSHAM, Pa.—Toner Cable Equipment Co. PARSIPPANY, N.J.—Boonton Electronics Communications Inc. has introduced the announced the availability of its new TDA-R- Corp. has introduced the Lynx, alight, hand- newest members of its family of PLL fre- 115 I-GHz Broadband Drop Amplifier and its held Optical Time-Domain Reflectometer quency conversion products. Model PUL SMT-10 Series I-GHz Multitaps. (OTDR). It measures loss and locates faults 070D (70 MHz to L-band) and PDL 070D The TDA-R-115 drop amp is designed for in singlemode optical fiber communications (L-band to 70 MHz) are data grade deriva- long cable drops or multiple subscriber outlets tives that feature improved phase noise and and amplifies signals with minimal increase in stability performance that exceeds the IESS noise. The unit's low noise figure on the for- 308/309 standard. The units are suitable for ward bandwidth is 3.0 dB, typical, and 4.0 dB, all currently-used high-speed data transmis- maximum. sion rates and advanced digital modulation The drop amp's forward bandwidth of 54 schemes. MHz to 1 GHz provides forward gain of 15

Boonton's Lynx OTDR

networks operating at either 1310 nm or 1550 Ouintech's single channel up/down nm at adistance of up to 80 km with accura- convertor cy of +/-1 m (+/-10-4)of instrument range. The operating L-band frequency is factory Dynamic range is 22 dB at 1310 nm and 20 preset to any customer specified L-band chan- dB at 1550 nm, and loss resolution is 0.1 dB. nel, within the 950-1450 MHz frequency The Lynx can measure the location, loss range. The units also make it easy to build Toner's TDA-R-115 1-GHz Broadband Drop and reflectance of every splice in the network Amplifier Application Specific Satellite Communications and display them on its backlit 320 x240 pixel Links by simply selecting one single RF carri- dB ±1 dB and has apassive reverse band- LCD display. The instrument automatically er frequency for the up or down link. This is width of 5-40 MHz. On both the forward and numbers faults, their position from the instru- then converted to auniform IF frequency of 70 reverse bandwidths, flatness is 1dB and fre- ment in meters, attenuation and reflection in or 140 MHz. quency response is ±.75 dB. dB, and link budget. Circle Reader Service number 104 The unit features integral reverse diplex fil- Measurement times range from 30 seconds ters and the ability to use coaxial cable to 10 minutes, depending on the complexity of between the amp and its 12 VDC/110V AC the test. Up to 25 sets of measurements can be Marking stake decals plug-in transformer. (A 220V transformer is stored internally in nonvolatile memory. HOUSTON, Texas—VIP Products has intro- optional) This last feature allows the drop amp Measurement data can be downloaded to aPC duced its Marking Stake Decals which feature to be relocated at aremote site up to 120 feet via the instrument's RS-232C serial communi- black lettering on atelecommunications away from the installation. A six-foot RG-59 cations interface. The serial interface can also orange background and are screen-printed jumper is also provided with each unit. be used for producing hard copy on aprinter. with UV resistant inks to enhance their dura- Toner's SMT-10 Series 1-GHz Multitaps Circle Reader Service number 107 bility. utilize surface-mount technology for true 5 Printed on durable .004-inch vinyl, the labels have atough permanent adhesive that Underbed boxes will withstand temperature extremes from -25° CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill.—Knaack Manufacturing Co. is featuring its new Weather Guard underbed boxes made of heavy .100 thick diamond plate aluminum. All seams on the boxes have been fully arc welded for extra strength. Other features Toner's SMT-10 Series 1-GHz Multitaps include arotary-style, Weather Guard MHz-1 GHz bandwidth and minimal insertion two-position "safety" underbed box loss. The taps are available in 2-, 4- and 8-port catch latch system to Visual Identification Products' Marking configurations with factory-installed termina- prevent accidental opening. The door also fea- Stake Decals tors. They are designed for aerial strand tures awelded-on reinforcing channel for to 165° E The 3x13-inch labels are available mounting and underground cable applications increased rigidity and aweather-tight seal. in three stock legends, in custom or reflective in pedestals and vaults. Other features include Aircraft type cable with swedged fittings sup- formats. The decals are available individually removable tap plates and solid brass "F' ports port the door when open, or they can be dis- or with VIP's 66-inch fiberglass marking stake. with drip wells. connected to allow afull drop down position. Circle Reader Service number 105 Circle Reader Service number 106 Circle Reader Service number 108

132 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGI NEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 F-connector Accommodating both multimode and sin- and labels, coax cutter, tape dispenser, fiber glemode fibers in the same splice, additional WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.—Trompeter scribe, hook blade knife, micro fork & reamer, hardware such as splice trays or factory-loaded Electronics Inc. has debuted its one-piece, penlight, pliers, polishing film and plate, fiber modules are not necessary in changing field terminable F-connector (PL130C) for optic scissors, spudgers, adjustable wrench, between modes. The broadband applications. wire strippers, tweezer and more. Buyers can system also accom- The new one-piece body and integrated supplement the selection with the fiber termi- modates the addition center pin have been designed to provide high nation tools and accessories of their choice. of optical splitters, performance, two-way transmission for all The JTK-4000 adapts easily to any combi- couplers, attenuators indoor headend applications. The return loss of nation of SMA, AT&T, ST, FC/PC connectors, or WDMs all on one the PL130C is <-36 and to other fiber technologies. The optional 3M's FibrMax 2700 connector card. dB at 1 GHz and <-23 System enhancement package also provides acom- The remateable dB at 2 GHz, complete FiberVue microscope kit, acuring oven connector technology used in the fiber man- pared to the typical <- and an AMP crimping tool, plus two fiber agement system has been designed to decrease 18 dB at I GHz. cable test instruments (all-in-one model 410 technician time while requiring only splicing Built in compli- and ST source-only model 420) from Darkstar Trompeter 's broad- skills to terminate. ance with both Technologies. band F connector 'Ircle Reader Service number 11 I Bellcore GR1503 and Circle Reader Service number 113 SCIE indoor specifications, the connector accommodates standard strip dimensions and Wire management panel Relay interface unit existing industry crimping tools. PAWCATUCK, Conn.—Ortronics has intro- CONOVER, N.C.—Norscan Inc.'s 2000 Relay Circle Reader Service number 109 duced its new Wire Management Panel which Interface Unit (RIU) has been designed to has been designed to provide organized create maximum efficiency for rack-mounted Video link movement for horizontal and vertical distribu- CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. —Force Inc. has announced the availability of the CATVLinx Model 2811 VSB/AM Broadband fiber optic video link. Applications for the link include cable TV narrowcasting, campus video distribution, satellite back-haul at 70 MHz IF, multimedia retrieval and videoconferencing. The CATVLinx provides alaser-based Ortronics Wire Management Panel transmission system for 10+ video channels tion of patch cables. This allows defined over singlemode optical fiber with complete Norscan's 2000 Relay Interface Unit routing of individual cables on all standard EMI immunity. The link offers analog band- 19-inch EIA relay racks or hinged stand-off office tone location transmitters and cable width from 5MHz to over 330 MHz. brackets. monitoring systems. The panel is constructed from 16 gauge In normal operating mode, the 2000 RIU steel, with each panel featuring four vertical grounds the cable armor as per NESC code, and four horizontal distribution rings. Each while allowing cable monitoring signals to panel also has 24 individual routing clips to pass. When remotely activated, the switch provide greater cable management for adds, allows tones generated from rack-mounted CATVLinx Model 2811 moves and changes. equipment to be placed on the armor which Circle Reader Service number 112 allows for remotely activated tone and fault In conjunction with VCRs and camcorders location. with standard cable TV modulators, or acable television feed, the Model 2811 can transport Fiber optic tool kit Circle Reader Service number 114 10 or more TV channels (within 1octave) over PHOENIX, Az.—Jensen Tools Inc. is now adistance of 15 km at 1300 nm. CNR typical- offering its JTK-4000 Fiber Optic New software version ly exceeds 55 dB, but varies with distance and Termination Kit with an enhancement pack- SALT LAKE CITY, Utah—FrameRate Corp channel loading. age that gives the kit has released Version 2.0 software for its Circle Reader Service number 110 all the versatility of a Millennium and Chameleon products. complete fiber optic Through Microsoft ActiveX Internet tech- workbench in the nology, the software now imports and broad- Fiber management system field. The kit has casts Internet Web pages. It also supports AUSTIN, Texas-3M Telecom System been designed for Web pages containing Java scripts and Java Division has introduced the 3M FibrMax engineers who work applets. With this new version, operators can 2700 System. It has been designed for use Jensen Tools' Termination Kit with avariety of broadcast and advertise their own Web pages with 96 or more fibers and holds up to five fiber applications. over television and use Java scripts to enhance times the number of connections found in The kit contains astandard selection of 38 the action. other fiber optic housings. basic tools. This includes acable tie tool, ties Circle Reader Service number 115

THE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS D ECEMBER 1996 133 A made in D (7=' ÍJÇ1 n

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The issue: Status monitoring ee_44t‘t i

Monitoring network performance and achieving ronment. Yet cable TV operators have traditionally unprecedented levels of reliability are the kingpins of avoided use of such monitoring systems. This survey telecommunications networks in acompetitive envi - is designed to determine if that's changing. leW The questions: Fax us at 1. Does your system presently utilize any network sta- 7. Would your system prefer to purchase amore expen- 303-393-6654 tus monitoring devices? sive and complex monitoring system, or aless expensive system that offers simple alarms? Make acopy of this page El and fax it back to us at the Yes No Don't know number above, or mail it to Complex system Simple system Don't know CED, 600 South Cherry 2. If so, what type of status monitoring system is used? Street, Suite 400, Denver, 8. Which features of status monitoring systems are Colo. 80222. more important: Internal hardware info (temperature, *Every month, we'll pick Power supply End-of-line bias, etc.) or external info (carrier-to-noise, etc.)? one response from those we receive and award $50. See official rules below. Internal info External info Don't know Entire system Don't know Names won't be published if you request your 9. Do you think astandard communications protocol 3. If not, why are such devices not used in your sys- name to be withheld, but fill should be developed for all status monitoring systems? tem? out the name and job information to ensure that only Yes No Don't know one response per person is Too costly Don't work Other tabulated. 10. Should amonitoring system just provide data, or 4. How important will status monitoring systems actually be able to control and manage asystem become to you in the future? Your name and title through modules for fleet management, spare parts inventory, etc.? Very Somewhat Not at all Provide data only Help manage Don't know 5. Is your system's management more interested in status monitoring as aconcept now than it was afew System name: years ago?

Yes No Don't know Your comments: Location:

6. Have the FCC technical standards sparked an interest in using status monitoring equipment in your sys- Your MSO: tem?

Yes No Don't know Your job function:

Daytime phone #:

Official rules: No survey response necessary .Enter by returning the completed survey via fax against CED magazine, Capital Cities Media Inc., Capital Cities/ABC Inc. and its affiliated and independent con- or mail to the locations indicated above, or print the words "CED Return Path" on a3"x5" card and mail it along tractors for any injury or loss which may occur from participation in this sweepstakes or receipt of the prize. with your name, address, daytime phone number and signature. To be eligible for the drawing, entry forms must Winner consents to publication of his/her name for publicity purposes without further compensation. Participants be received by 5p.m. on January 31,1997. CED is not responsible for lost or misdirected mail. One entry per must be 18 years of age or older. Employees of CED magazine, Capital Cities Media Inc., Capital Cities/ABC person. Forms mutilated, illegible or not in compliance with these rules shall be considered ineligible in the sole Inc. and its affiliated and subsidiary companies, and their respective employees, agents and independent con- discretion of the judges. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. A random drawing from eli- tractors, and their immediate families are not eligible to participate. Void wherever prohibited, license required, gible entries will be held on or about February 1, 1997. Winner will be required to provide his/her social security restricted or taxed by law. Sweepstakes sponsors reserve the right to change or modify the sweepstakes rules number and proof of identification and is solely responsible for all federal, state and local taxes incurred. Prize is while the sweepstakes is in progress. Participation in the sweepstakes constitutes acceptance of all sweep- not transferable to any other person. Sweepstakes participants agree to waive any and all claims of liability stakes rules.

THE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF B ROADBAND C OMMUNICATIONS D ECEMBER 1996 135 • RETURN PATH

RESULk The issue: Emergency alerting A recent FCC rulemaking that overhauled the ticipant in the new, modern Emergency Alert System. Emergency Broadcasting System has adirect impact on MSOs have until July Iof next year to comply. Are cable operators, most of whom now have to be pre- you ready? pared to add headend equipment and be an active par-

Every one of the respon- The results: dents to this survey was aware that the cable indus- 1. Is your system active in the current EBS locally? 8. If so, does it override audio only, or audio and video try is expected to be an inte- signals? gral part of the new emer- Yes No Don't know gency alerting system, and 38% 62% 0% Audio only Audio and video Don't know roughly half plan to add 60% 40% 0% emergency alerting hard- 2. Is your local geographic area prone to numerous ware in the next year, but emergencies on an annual basis? 9. If your system has such equipment, does it override they remain concerned all channels, including broadcast? about the potential costs. Yes No Don't know For example, alarge 25% 62% 13% Yes No Don't know majority expect to spend 80% 20% 0% more than $1,000 to comply 3. Are you aware of the FCC proceeding that made the with the new rules, but a cable industry part of the new national alerting system? 10. If you have emergency alerting equipment, how substantial number aren't often has it been activated and/or tested? even sure how much it's Yes No Don't know going to cost. Monthly Few times ayear Don't know As expected, only about 100% 0% 0% four out of 10 respondents 40% 40% 10% say their systems are cur- 4. Does your franchise agreement require emergency rently active in the EBS pro- alerting capability? gram, although amuch greater number say their Yes No Don't know franchise agreements with 62% 38% 0% local authorities require that Your comments on EBS: they have emergency alert- 5. Do you have plans to add emergency alerting equip- "Most systems have no idea what is needed to comply, ing gear in their systems. ment to your headend in the next year—or have you or how much it is going to cost. The smaller systems Those who already have already done it? are going to have problems with the cost." installed program override equipment have chosen to Planning to Already did No —Larry Langevin, Greater Media Cable, Ludlow, Mass. purchase hardware that over- 50% 38% 12% "Who plans to pay for it? We have no intention, with rides all channels, while a headends serving as few as 60 subs and phone line huge majority test it regular- 6. How much will your system have to spend to com- access charges over $60 per month." ly, either weekly or monthly. ply with the EAS rules? —Name and location withheld by request

Congratulations to Steve More than $1,000 $500 to $1,000 Don't know "We have one main headend that fibers out to five cities. Pacheco of TO Cable in 62% 0% 38% Each transmitter has its own EBS that is tested weekly. Merced, Calif, who won $50 City officials find these helpful." for responding. To become 7. Does your system presently have programming over- —David Walker Continental Cable, Elyria, Ohio eligible for afuture drawing, ride equipment in place in the headend? fill out the survey on the previous page and send it in! Yes No Don't know 62% 38% 0%

136 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 IN THE N EWS •

In 2000, 69 percent of plant will be HFC In other news, AM Communications provide interactive services to Paragon cus- announced that it has been awarded aproject tomers. The project, which began in 1996 OYSTER BAY, N.Y.—By the year 2000, and is expected by be completed by the end about 69 percent, or one million miles of the to deliver its OmniStat system to the Time of 1998, will result in ahybrid fiber/coax cable industry's total plant mileage, will be Warner, Memphis organization. The project network that will pass approximately configured as part of hybrid fiber/coax net- will consist of the delivery and integration of 510,000 homes. works, according to areport that has been OmniVU element management and control software, supporting Alpha 9061 power sup- released by Allied Business Intelligence. Axicom announces ADvantage beta site "CATV Systems Design Changes: Advances ply transponders, 1 GHz 9016 end-of-line OVERLAND PARK, Kan.—Axicom says and Implications for CATV Equipment transponders, 9013 Echo end-of-line that its ADvantage digital ad insertion system Markets," takes alook at the historical develop- transponders, the Scanning Ingress Management System (SIMS) and the integra- is running at asecond location in beta mode. HFC upgrade growth tion of ADC's Homeworx, HWX and ISX The company was scheduled to begin ship- products. ping the system by the end of last month. ADvantage is an integrated solution which Oriel acquires piece of China venture consists of hardware, software, installation, ALHAMBRA, Calif.—Ortel Corp. has maintenance and training. acquired an interest in Photon Technology,

1.2 M based in Shenzhen, China, for $2.4 million. Motorola modems go to Korea (-2,) Photon was established in 1993 to manufac- ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, 111.—Motorola ture fiber optic components and systems and Inc.—Multimedia Group has been selected to

cb has been adistributor of Ortel's linear fiber provide cable modems to Korea Electric Power 800 K optic products. In conjunction with the invest- Data Network Company (KDN), awholly- (.) ment, Photon will begin an expansion of its owned subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corp. 600 K manufacturing operation. KDN will deploy Motorola's CyberSurfr "Photon is one of very few companies in modems to establish broadband services over China that has alow-cost manufacturing its two-way HFC network, which currently structure," said Wim Selders, Ortel's presi- covers 70 percent of the Republic of South dent and CEO, "and the technical capability Korea. Scheduled for introduction in mid- to manufacture fiber optic components. 1997, it's the first deployment of high-speed Photon sells avariety of devices and modules data services, which KDN plans to offer Source: Allied Business Intelligence for digital communications systems, as well nationwide. The Multimedia Group will also provide ment of the cable industry and defines its rela- as optical transmitters and receivers for cable cable modems to Marubeni Corp., aTokyo- tive financial, technological and market posi- TV applications. based general trading company which is tions in relation to the communications world in general; then, it uses that data to make forecasts. Siecor moves TE operations backing alarge broadband network in Japan. Motorola will provide Marubeni with 1,000 ABI's report looks at trends in the full HICKORY, N.C.—Siecor Corp. has relocat- range of headend equipment, optical electron- ed its Fiber Optic Test Equipment Operations of its CyberSurfr modems by the first quarter of '97. Those modems will be deployed ics, RF electronics and the coaxial and fiber from its corporate headquarters building to: sometime in mid-year, as the first installation cable markets. 1978 8th Ave. Northwest. The new location, which was specifically of aphased rollout of cable modem service AM, ADC collaborate on sourcing designed for the fiber optic test equipment in Japan. QUAKERTOWN, Pa.—AM Communica- manufacturing facility, doubled in size to tions has announced ajoint marketing and increase efficiency of operation. The division's HP, Turner team on server solution product sourcing agreement with the research and development department also PALO ALTO, Calif.—Hewlett-Packard Broadband Division of ADC Telecommunica- increased by nearly 50 percent. Company and Turner Entertainment Networks tions Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, The test equipment operation, owned and (T.E.N.) announced that an HP Broadcast AM will develop status monitoring based on operated by one of Siecor's parents—Siemens Video Server will launch Turner Broadcasting its OmniStat System for ADC's Homeworx, Corporation—manufactures fiber optic test System Inc.'s new Cartoon Network Brazil. HWX and ISX video distribution equipment. equipment under both the Siecor and The server will assist TBS in expanding and In addition, AM will be providing ADC Siemens brand name. customizing its spot insertion for the new net- Broadband Communications with transponder work and is part of the company's strategic units for Homeworx, HWX and ISX that are C-COR to supply Paragon with 750 MHz move toward digital technology. compatible with other third-party video distri- STATE COLLEGE—C-COR Electronic The server will be controlled by Pro-Bel's MAPP automation software, amedia man- bution equipment. Inc. is providing FlexNet 750 MHz equip- AM is currently shipping element management to Paragon Cable in San Antonio, agement system. ment transponder products to the Broadband Texas. FlexNet trunks, bridgers and line In early 1997, T.E.N. Network Operations Division of ADC Telecommunications Inc. for extenders will be installed in a3,400-mile plans to integrate HP's next-generation the Southern New England Telecommunica- upgrade that will occur over the course of broadcast servers, the HP MediaStream tions network management and integration three years. The equipment is being installed Server—Broadcast Series into the broadcast effort. with active return capabilities in order to facility. QED

THE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 137 • 1996 W ESTERN S HOW T ECHNICAL FLOOR PLAN

The 1995 Western Show

ABC Cable Products. Inc 1127 displaying optical nodes and wireless PCS equipment, and aresidential services area that includes video, voice and cable data modem Broadband Communications demonstrations.

ADC Broadband 3Com Corporation 4747 Telecommunications Communications 1444 408-764-5533 800-504-4443 3Com will be demonstrating complete end-to- ADC has created alive end-to-end video, tele- end system solutions for cable data network- ADC Telecommunications, Inc. ...1444 phony and data transport and distribution net- ing services such as Home Internet Access, 800-366-3891 x3475 work at booth 1444. This real-world display Small Business Networking, Telecommuting, ADC's HomeworxTM access platform will be demonstrates how alive signal feed is trans- and Metropolitan Area Networking at the featured at Western Cable's CableNET '96. ported through aworking headend, over adis- Western Cable Show. 3Com offers complete The Homeworx platform's ability to deliver tribution network and into an actual home. solutions from the switches and routers in the integrated high-speed data and telephony over Equipment includes digital video supertrunks cable infrastructure through the cable modem, asingle platform using advanced OFDM mod- and acomplete headend area with alive Ethernet network interface cards and LAN ulation technology will be demonstrated. In demonstration in conjunction with CableNet, a solutions at the subscriber side. Come and addition, ADC will introduce its new RF Cable Labs sponsored group, that integrates see our solutions at booth 4747. Call (408) WorxTM system, aline of modular, high-perfor- video, voice and data onto an HFC distribution 764-5533 for more information. mance RF distribution and management prod- network. There's also an outside plant area ucts designed to meet changing headend

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138 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 requirements. For more information, call 1- video and data communication systems. 800-366-3891 ext. 3475. Alpha's full line of power products include: standby, non-standby and uninterruptible ALCOA power supplies, surge suppressors, status Alcoa Fujikura Ltd. monitoring, enclosures and batteries. Visit flOTEC Telecommunications Division Western Show booth #3326 for the latest- breaking news on broadband powering — Adtec Incorporated 1114 Alcoa Fujikura Ltd. 1206 including the all new Centralized Power 615-256-6619 800-235-3423 Systems. Adtec, Inc. is amanufacturer of automated Alcoa Fujikura Ltd. is ahighly recognized video controllers and commercial insertion leader in the manufacture of fiber optic cable AM Communications. Inc. 3421 equipment. Our new Ad-Maestro and Soloist and accessories. We offer awide variety of Ampex Corporation 4322 Digital Video Player provides an economical fiber optic products for your fiber management and easy mechanism for providing commercial system including patch panels, splicers, cou- insertion on multiple networks. A complete dig- pler modules, connectorized assemblies, con- ital commercial insertion system designed to nectors, and adapters, as well as offering the Amphenol insert commercials on as many as 512 cable services to install. Look for demonstration of networks can be purchased for less than the FSM-30S and FSM-15S fiber optic fusion Amphenol Communication & Network $3,000 per network. splicers at our booth. Products Division 3138 800-881-9913 Alcatel Telecommunications Cable ..4482 Amphenol Communication & Network Products Division manufactures acomplete line of semiflex/hardline and drop cable connectors, adap- tors and tools for broadband communication ALPHA TECHNOLOGIES interconnect applications. Semiflex connectors feature aunique non-rotational three piece Alpha Technologies, Inc 3326 design with aminimum 40 dB return loss at 1 800-421-8089 GHz. Meeting all SCTE, Bellcore and other Alpha Technologies is the world's leading industry performance and environmental speci- manufacturer of power solutions for voice, fications. Call 1-800-881-9913, fax: 203-796- 2032. Web: http://www.amphenol.com.

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T HE P REMIER M AGAZINE OF B ROADBAND C OMMUNICATIONS D ECEMBER 1996 139 • 1996 W ESTERN SHOW TECHNICAL FLOOR PLAN

Alignment. Measurement performances up to Amphenol® 1 GHz, greater than 70 dB of dynamic range Fiber Optic Products A m-Eic Network Technologies and abuilt-in frequency counter with 200 Hz

Illuminating the ivorld offiber optics's , accuracy. Come and see us at the Western Antec/Network Technologies ....2602 Show in Anaheim at booth #4724. 847-439-4444 Amphenol Fiber Optic Products ..3138 ANTEC Network Technologies specializes in 800-944-6446 engineering and manufacturing products that Amphenol manufactures interconnect products deliver your signal from headend to home. We for telecom, CATV. datacom and test & mea- BARC devote more engineering resources to this crit- surement systems including fiber management ical link than any other company today. We systems (wall and rack mount): couplers (split- Barco Inc 4382 manufacture acomplete line of rock-solid ters and WDMs); fixed and variable attenua- 770-218-3200 products — Laser Link® Optical Transmitters. tors; complete termination tooling kits; single Barco headends combine hardware and soft- Gateway Optical Receivers, LightLink Fiber mode and multimode cable assemblies; FC, ware capabilities that improve both the quality Management System, ANTEC Fiber Cable, SC, ST, and SMA connectors; and distributes and reliability of signal delivery. Barco head- Fiber Pak® Family of Splice Closures, Fiber Ando test equipment. Amphenol also ends incorporate advanced capabilities to Apparatus, ANTEC RMT Network Passives, announces the addition of 4channel dense remotely monitor and control signal distribution Regal Drop Passives and DigiconTM F- wavelength division multiplexers (DWDM) to system-wide, maximizing up-time and sub- Connectors. its coupler product line. scriber satisfaction. These performance monitoring/remote provisioning features, coupled Applied Digital Technology 1135 with superior signal processing, are key to Applied Instruments, Inc. 4939 Barcos reputation as ahigh value equipment Applied Signal Technology 4767 ISIV-Taa provider worldwide. ARCOM 2731 ARNCO 2747 ANTEC Corporation 2602 die 847-439-4444 or 800-TO ANTEC (862-6832) . ANTEC Corporation is an international com- ere munications technology company that special- TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Bay Networks izes in the design, engineering and manufac- LANcity Cable Modern Division turing of hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) broadband Arrowsmith 4732 networks and the engineering, manufacturing, Bay Networks 1048 800-330-8920 product development and distribution of prod- 800-8BAYNET Arrowsmith's workforce management system, ucts for these networks. Publicly traded on the Now approaching one full year of active FLEETCONTm, provides routing, dispatch and NASDAQ exchange with the symbol ANTC, deployment, the LANcity cable modem division mobile data communications, which enable ANTEC has an employee base of 2,000 with of Bay Networks has developed the industry's users to improve customer service while several office and warehouse facilities located highest performing, easiest installing, lowest reducing operating costs. FLEETCON uses an worldwide. maintenance cable modems. Bay Networks is embedded GIS, GPS, and an intuitive map- the only vendor offering aone-hundred percent based GUI to enable operations personnel to end-to-end solution for cable access that is proactively manage the scheduling and dis- available today, the industry's best-selling 1 patch process. The system offers managers cable modem technology from LANcity and Integration access to real-time and historical information market-leading routing and switching equip- L7' Technologies about operations with its powerful management for your head-end from Bay Networks. ment reporting tools and robust application Answers you need. From people you know. interface. Belden Wire & Cable Company ... 2269 Bellcore 4207 Antec/Integration Technologies ..2602 Ben Hughes/Cable Prep 1146 800-211-8424 Blonder Tongue Intergration Technologies is avendor-indepen- Laboratories, Inc 2102 dent network engineering, systems and soft- Broadband Networks, Inc. 1215 ware integration firm focused on providing "best of class" solutions for operators seeking to provide advanced services to consumers. Avantron 4724 We provide analog and digital network design, 514-725-6652 facilities and applications engineering, techni- Avantron is proud to announce the 2000 series Budco cal services, industry research, technology as atruly portable RF spectrum analyser review, project and program management, and weighing under 19 pounds including the inter- Budco 2104 advanced software products and Operational nal battery with options such as Non- Support System integration services to clients 800-331-2246 Interfering RF Sweep system and CATV return worldwide. Budco is amarketing and distribution company

140 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS E NGINEERING & D ESIGN N OVEMBER 1996 for installation tools, construction supplies, Carlon Telecom Systems 4293 plete line of quality remote controls. For more marking, identification, and security products Channell Commercial information, please call your Account for cable plant and equipment. Budco's dis- Corporation 3338 Representative at 800-382-2723 play includes products from the following man- Channelmatic, Inc 1044 ufacturers: Aervoe Pacific, Arrow, Benner Chyron Corporation 4312 Nawman, Cable Maid, Cable Prep, Cable Pro, Contech Systems, Inc .2219 Coast CATV Supply, Inc. 3465 Cable Ready, Cable Tek, DFS, Diamond, CSG Systems, Inc. 1552 Com21, Inc 4835 Engineering Unlimited, F-Conn, Jameson, CUO, Inc. 1700 Klein Tools, Lemco, Lowell, M & B, Masterlock, dB-tronics, Inc. 3420 Morrow, Preformed, Redington, Repnet, Ripley CommScope Diamond Communications Cablematic, Sargent, Sturgeon Bay, Tech Products, Inc. 1212 Products, Times Fiber, Tyton, and Work Area eGeneral Instrument Digital Equipment Corporation 4464 Production. And, as always, the taplock, the Digital Video -Division of Arris CommScope - industry standard for marking drops. Interactive 2602 General Instrument 2406 Display Systems International 2773 704-324-2200 or 800-982-1708 Business Systems, Inc. 4876 DiviCom, Inc 4490 CommScope is an ISO 9001 registered quality Drake 4828 manufacturer of cables for telecommunications DSC Communications 3370 and for voice, video, data and other digital applications: the only US manufacturer of a DX Communications, Inc. 4520 complete line of coaxial and fiber cables for use ELECTRONICS INC in HFC networks and aworld leader in cable cm el innovation. Products include; NEW PowerFeederTM; aNEW family of Cables-in- C-COR Electronics, Inc 2360 Conduit; QR@; PHI(); Optical Reach® and afull _EA 800-233-2267 line of drop cables including many that are COMTRONICS INC . C-COR offers digital and AM fiber optics, RF available in EZ-Pak® packaging. Web: amplifiers, network management systems, http://www.commscope.com, Fax: 704-328- Eagle Comtronics 2100 modems, passives and 90 Volt powering 3400. options. Services include network design, field 315-622-3402 or 800-448-7474 engineering, technical training, equipment Come and see us at the Western Show, Booth repair, 48-hour emergency repair service and a 2100, and let us show you: Improved ESN series of negative traps, improved ESD jam- 24-hour emergency hotline. C-COR is ISO 9001 Registered. CoAlSomcs.itic. ming carrier decoding filters, newest positive We set the standards. (non jamming carrier) decoding filters called Sideband Interdiction System (SIS), encoders, Cabelcon Connectors 4771 ComSonics, Inc 1536 channel droppers, metal shields, telephone CABLE AML, INC. 3264 540-434-5965 ingress elimination filters and diplex filters, end Cable Innovations 4540 ComSonics, Inc. impacts the Western Show in user and OEM. Let Eagle Comtronics show Cable TV Supply, Inc. 4520 apowerful way with the introduction of two new you the solution of an industry wide problem — CableData 1700 products — WindowLite Digital and TDR Tech. "Elimination of offensive language of premium Now — measure digital, C/N & HUM on active services" by offering split tuned traps.Web carriers without intrusion, and see alarger, Site: http://www.eaglefilters.com, E-mail: higher contrast display on the new WindowLite [email protected] Digital. The TDR Tech is the new hand-held fault locator that makes finding cable faults both quick and easy. Both at ComSonics booth =1 =C:TROLINE Cadix International 1536. Incorporated 4690 Electroline Equipment, Inc. 3164 714-223-8881 800-461-3344 CADIX International develops Fiber and RF CONTEC Electroline, number one worldwide in cable plant Design and Management Software. First in Converter Repair Broadband Off-Premises Addressable CADIX's unique "Single Pass Design Process" Systems, will be featuring its 1 GHz combined with asuperior graphical user inter- Contec, L.P. 2757 "SuperTap" that can be used as astandard face allows cable plant design speeds up to 12 518-382-8000 x144 multitap or, with asimple change of faceplate, miles/day utilizing ascanned base map. The Contec is an authorized General Instrument as an addressable tap. It will be showing its management software uses the plant design Warranty Repair Service Center with its 7loca- "CLEARPath" that locates reverse path ingress itself as the graphical interface into adatabase tions nationwide, it can provide fast turn-time immediately. It will be showing its 1 GHz ultra containing inventory, network and subscriber on all types of converters from General low-noise drop amplifier ("DROPAmp"), as well information. Instrument, Scientific Atlanta, TV/Corn, as its Compact Addressable Tap ("CAT"), an Panasonic, Zenith, etc. We also provide acorn- addressable splitter. Electroline will be exhibit-

THE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 141 1996 W ESTERN SHOW TECHNICAL FLOOR PLAN

ing its upgraded state- of-the-art Multi-Tier tems for the delivery of video, voice and data System ("MTS"), aimed at MDU's and resort over hybrid fiber-coax broadband networks. applications. On display will be Electroline's Harmonic's products include the MAXLinkTM Addressable Drop Extender ("ADEX"). 1550 nm transmission system, the PWRLinkTM DFB transmitter, the YAGLinkTM transmitter, Ericsson, Inc 4376 optical receivers and accessories for bi-direc- ITOCHU Cable Services Inc. EXECUTONE Information tional communications and asophisticated Systems, Inc 1404 Windows-based network management system. ITOCHU Cable Services (ICS) ....4520 Exide Electronics, Emerging 800-327-4966 Techologies Group 1763 Headend in the Sky -(HITS) 4530 iCS is anew leader in the field of CATV suppli- FamilyWare, Inc. 1001 ers. iCS is the reliable partner you need for the full range of products and repair services. iCS FONS Corp. 1334 sales and service centers are located through- Force Incorporated 1402 HEWLETT out North and South America. iCS unites the FrameRate Corp 4859 LiI PACKARD resources of Vuescan, Cable TV Supply, Kelly Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. 4765 Cable Services and DX Communications. GAD Line Ltd. 1015 Hewlett-Packard 3454 Booth 4520. GE American Communications .. . .3148 800-452-4844 xHPTV Hewlett-Packard will have on display acom- 'media Corporation 4782 prehensive offering of cable TV test and mea- e Insulation Systems, Inc 1204 surement products as well as awide variety of INTEGRATED SYSTEMS, INC. 3411 General products that will enable customers to enjoy Intel Corporation 4483 two-way services in the home. At our booth Instrument Interaxx Television Network, Inc. .. 1662 you will find the HP CaLan Sweep/Ingress International Billing Services 1700 Analyzer and the 8591C Cable TV Analyzer as General Instrument Corp. 2502 IPITEK 1639 well as our new data management software & CableNet '96 IRIS Technologies 1021 which will help you to find trends and predict 888-GEN-INST or 215-674-4800 failures in your cable TV system. Also on dis- Jameson Corporation 1338 Enter the mall of technology for today into the play will be cable modems, video servers and Jones Broadband International .. . .1752 new century when you approach the General more. KGP Telecommunications 1350 Instrument area in Hall B. You'll experience a LANcity Corporation 1048 live digital system and see the only digital ter- @ Home Network 4756 Laser Technology, Inc. 4564 minals now being delivered for Cable TV. Hoti Electronics Co., Ltd. 4854 Lavender Cable TV Services 1708 See demonstrations of interactive services on Hughes Communications, Inc. 2460 Leaming Industries 2259 digital and advanced analog CFT-2200 termi- 4300 Lemco Tool Corporation 4165 nals. Witness the introduction of Hybrid Networks, Inc Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space _3004 NETadvantage systems and services. Compare two digital compression systems. LSI Logic Corporation 1011 View aspecial Wink Communications presen- Lucent Tech-Microelectronics Group 4213 tation. Play some Sega Channel games. Get IBM an update on the progress of the SURFboard Ma cable modem. You'll have abetter under- V standing of how General Instrument stays A MACEIOTISION years ahead in technology. Web: IBM Telecommications and Media http://www.gic.gi.com Industry 2470 908-885-3552 Gilbert Engineering Co., Inc. 1638 IBM will be featuring an end-to-end solution Macrovision Corporation 3407 Graybar Electric Company Inc. .. . 4544 showing how the needs of cable operators are 408-743-8600 Great Lakes Data Systems, Inc 1210 met. The booth will show typical cable content Macrovision Corporation develops and markets moving through various functions used by technologies to protect electronically transmit- MS0s. The Internet is used to manipulate and ted and prerecorded video programs from deliver content. The booth starts with web unauthorized copying or viewing. The compa- design and creation, and includes video server to„ ny's PPV copy protection is becoming astan- solutions as well as both headend and sub- dard feature in digital set-tops, and is designed Harmonic Light waves scriber functions for MS0s. to allow operators to obtain the earliest possible PPV windows without threatening studios' Harmonic Lightwaves 4557 downstream revenues. 800-788-1330 Harmonic Lightwaves is aleading supplier of Main Line Equipment 2249 highly integrated fiber optic transmission sys-

142 CED : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 NCA Microelectronics 4625 NorTel 1768 el) PIONEER

Pioneer New Media Technologies. Inc.

MEGA HERTZ Pioneer New Media Technologies, Inc. 4346 Mega Hertz 4840 OBIEC11VE SYSTEMS INTEGRATORS 310-952-2111 800-525-8386 In the rapidly evolving world of cable televi- The Mega Hertz "Sub-Alert", on display, is the Objective Systems Integrators sion, Pioneer continues to make advances first complete "Audio and Video" Emergency (OSI) 3332 and develop innovative products. Pioneer will Alert System specifically designed to interrupt 916-353-2400 be displaying its latest advanced analog baseband "AudioNideo" sources, composite "Command Station" with Wink applications "IF" or separate NV "IF" loops, as well as, 4.5 Objective Systems Integrators (OSI) is the and aprototype of an interactive digital set-top MHz audio loops individually or jointly and industry leader in the design, development, unit. Plus, an Advanced Home Entertainment simultaneously. The "Sub-Alert" can be acti- implementation and support of integrated Center with DVD-Video and large screen pro- vated via touch tone telephone or automatical- Operational Support Systems (OSS), and network management solutions. NetExpertTM, jection receiver. Come see how Pioneer is ly by the sage "ENDEC", encoder/decoder. OSI's flagship product is apowerful standards- helping set tomorrow's CATV standards today. based software framework that provides appli- Western Show Hall D, Booth #4790. Microphase Corporation 4566 cations including: network management; data collection; electronic bonding; service manage- Pirelli 4370 ment, including provisioning and activation; Polotec Inc. 1200 'N'Iteltoti/a« change control, and fault management. Power & Telephone Supply Company 2739 Optibase 4864 Microware Systems Group 4316 Ortel Corporation 4113 •••• 515-223-8000 Pace Micro Technology USA, Inc. . 3700 Mal 7 11 =

Microware is the creator of the DAVID system 11••••.,- PCI Technologies, Inc 2769 = =. software standard for digital television. DAVID Phasecom, Inc. 1006 has been licensed by over 20 manufacturers Philips Broadband Networks, Inc. .. 2300 of digital set-top decoders for use in full-ser- Photonic Components, Inc. 1356 vice and broadcast networks around the O world. Stop by to learn more about DAVID and PPC (Production Products Company) 4340 new extensions that add Internet access to the TM television. 315-431-7200, 800-800-6652 pzca PPC is ahigh quality manufacturer of aluminum connectors for coaxial trunk and distri- Midwest Cable Services 4735 bution equipment, brass universal "F" fittings, Molex Fiber Optics, Inc. 1213 both crimp and compression type, indoor Monroe Electronics, Inc. 4541 Pico 1703 Pico Macom 818-897-0028 /800-421-6511 reusable push-on "QUIK-LOK" connectors, Motorola -Multimedia Group 4334 Pico Products 315-437-7525 /800-822-7420 Fiber Optic applications, and afull range of Pico Products offers acomplete line of PT mini negative and positive notch filters in the low traps, filters, tier traps, lifeline tier traps, low- band, mid-band, high-band and superband pass and high-pass filters, Promo ranges. Encode/Decode system, CATV security accessories, low-noise drop amplifier line. At the Progressive Electronics, Inc. 3153 show, Pico will be featuring its new line of win- Qintar Inc. /Allied Bolt / MultiLink, Inc. 1663 dow traps for return plan problems. Pico Scott Cable 2273 216-366-6966 Macom offers afull line of 1 GHz drop and Multilink is aquality manufacturer of fiber optic installation passives, splitters, couplers, switch- enclosures and accessories. Also aprovider es and connectors for CATV/MMDS/SMATV. of MDU steel security enclosures, steel and Pico Macom is afull line manufacturer of plastic molding, plastic demarcation enclo- headend components, and will be featuring a sures and drop material products. New prod- new agile modulator, commercial satellite receiver/descrambler, agile demodulator, and ucts that are featured are acompression tool Quality RF Services, Inc. 4471 for LAC snap and seal connectors, adjustable an agile signal processor. Pico Macom will 561-747-4998 Sno-Shoe for fiber optic cable, premise wiring also be debuting anew controlled access pay "NOW OFFERING ISOLATION AMPLIFIERS". patch panel cabinets, and anew high count TV system. Quality RF Services, Inc. produces replace- fiber optic enclosure. ment RF modules/circuit board upgrades for NaCom 4542

THE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF BROADBAND C OMMUNICATIONS D ECEMBER 1996 143 • 1996 W ESTERN SHOW TECHNICAL FLOOR PLAN

modem, and operates over one-way plant. Original Equipment Manufacturers (Jerrold/GI, have questions about any of Sencore's new CoAxiomTM telephony over HFC system — SA, Philips/Magnavox &Texscan) line ampli- line of cable system analyzing equipment call Your rapid, field-tested route to more rev- fiers, indoor multi-dwelling amplifiers plus 1-800-SENCORE today. replacement OEM equalizers and pads. QRF enues. Developed in cooperation with Siemens is also one of the largest Independent distribu- to meet your most stringent requirements. A tors of replacement electronic components for full range of top quality, reliable transmission RF amplifier repair. Our latest products products including SA Ill system amplifier, LE include 550 MHz replacement modules and Ill line extender, 1310 and 1550 optoelectron- SIECOR base chassis for "SJ" trunk stations, two-way ics, and Multimedia stretch tap. And the new ContinuumTM headend system for analog and 550 MHz replacement modules for SLR/SLE Siecor Corporation 2753 digital applications, flexibility, and frequency line extenders, anew 600 MHz circuit board 704-327-5963 agility. Plus the 8600xTM advanced analog set- upgrade for Scientific Atlanta Distribution Siecor Corporation, owned equally by Corning top and other products for acomplete end-to- Amplifiers and 750 MHz quadra-powered Incorporated and Siemens Corporation, leads end solution. headend amplifiers. (ORAM750) the industry in developing and manufacturing fiber optic and copper communications prod- Quintech Electronics & ucts for voice, data, and video applications. Comm. Inc. (QEC) 1130 SEA C HAN GE Siecor is the largest manufacturer of fiber Racal-Datacom 4836 TECHNOLOGY optic cable in the United States and is amajor Radiant Communications Corp. .. . 1324 supplier for cable television operating compa- Raychem Corporation 1002 SeaChange International 1562 nies, telephone companies, customer premise 508-287-4499 x267 communications systems, intelligent trans- SeaChange International provides integrated portation systems and utility applications. RELTEC systems to manage, store and distribute digital video for the television industry. With installations in over 130 cities, SeaChange is the RELTEC 1463 world leader in video server-based systems. SIEMENS 216-460-3600 SeaChange demonstrations include its patent- Siemens 2542 RELTEC is aglobal provider of abroad range ed MediaCluster software technology, fault tol- of wireline and wireless communications prod- erant, node resilient, with linear scalability-plat- 561-955-6054 ucts and services to companies servicing the form for the new NVOD/PPV Movie System; Siemens, with its partner Scientific Atlanta will local subscriber loop. The Company operates SPOT ad insertion system; and VOD movie feature CoAxiomTM, their jointly developed manufacturing plants in the U.S., U.K., delivery with partner IPC Interactive. cable telephony product. Siemens also pro- Canada, and Mexico and is aparticipant in vides afull range of telephony solutions from joint ventures in China and Japan. Its busi- SecaGraphics, Inc. 3602 advanced switching services with EWSDia to ness units include Lorain Products, Reliable POS via GSM and PACS EdgeTM, all man- Electric, RTEC Systems, RELTEC Services aged by Siemens Service CoordinatorTm. and Rainford Group. C)1=1 E Web: http://www.ssc.siemens.com

Signal Vision Inc 1762 Ripley Company /Cablematic 2711 Sencore, Inc. 2743 Society of Cable Telecommunications Riser-Bond Instruments 1208 605-339-0100 x204 Engineers 2719 Ronco Industrial Supply, Inc. 3465 Sencore has been in the business of designing Sony Electronics, Inc. 3618 RR Enterprises 4276 and manufacturing test instruments for the South Wold Enterprises Co. Ltd. .. 1701 Sadelco, Inc. 4288 electronic service industry for over 45 years. Sargent Quality Tools 1125 During that time one aspect has always been Satcon Technology Corporation .. . 4873 of the utmost importance: "Provide aquality, highly accurate and reliable instrument that will be abenefit to the technician at aprice they eetrel! 7,11 Scientific can afford." Sencore's new line of cable analyzed testing equipment feature innovative r././1. Atlanta tests specifically designed to give the engineer Spectrum 4840 or technician the information they need for 800-628-0088 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. 2542 complete system performance testing or just Spectrum is proud to announce the digital ver- 800-433-6222 getting the customer back on line. Sencore sion of Adtec's Ad-Maestro. This full- featured Go digital with the Explorer 2000TM set-top — knows the importance of keeping your cus- commercial inserter is now capable of full-ran- On-target, reasonably priced, with abuilt-in, tomers satisfied with your service, after all dom digital insertion using the Soloist digital real-time reverse path. Shift into overdrive with they've been doing it for over 45 years. If you video player. With the Ad-Maestro's Conductor dataXcelleratorTM cable modem — Low cost, software version 7.0, scheduling and verifica - times faster than the fastest telephone

144 CED : COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN DECEMBER 1996 tion has never been easier. Like the analog version, this Ad- Maestro offers built-in network tone cards, AGC audio circuitry, and remote access. Ttellabs -Sprin t. Superior Electronics Tellabs 4565 Group, Inc. 3364 630-378-8800 Sprint North Supply 941-756-6000 Tellabs is aglobal company applying leading- Superior Electronics Group, through its edge technology to worldwide communications Sprint North Supply Hall D, 4620 Cheetah® product line, is the world's largest problems. Our CABLESPANTM telephony- 800-639-CATV, Fax 800-755-0556 provider of network monitoring systems. The over-cable system allows cable operators to Sprint North Supply is aleading nationwide Cheetah solution includes CheetahNet, aUNIX deliver traditional telephone (and other new) provider of integrated solutions for voice, data, or Windows NT software package for fault services to residential and business cus- videoconferencing and cable television prod- detection, resolution and analysis. Cheetah tomers. TITAN® cross-connects economically uct needs through its 11 strategically located monitors multi-vendor plant including headend provide SONET capability at headend, hub or distribution centers. The company offers more and distribution devices, and fully integrates point-of-presence locations and provide a than 30,000 products and represents over with third-party operational support systems. seamless, end- to-end SONET solution. 1,200 manufacturers. Sprint North Supply Only Cheetah provides afully integrated per- offers customized Materials Management formance monitoring system that includes non- Terayon Corporation 4400 Services and turnkey solutions. E-mail: interfering distortion measurements, return Texscan Corporation 1726 [email protected] path analysis and automated FCC compliance Thompson Sun Interactive Alliance 4774 testing. Cheetah improves plant reliability and Time Warner Cable's Road Runner 4628 facilitates the successful delivery of new rev- Standard enue generating services. Communications Times Fiber Communications, Inc. Synchronous Group, Inc. 1754 e Division of Amphenol Corporation Tektronix, Inc. 4358 rFC Standard Communications Telecorp Systems, A Suntellect Co. 2713 Times Fiber Corp. 2332 Telecrafter Products 4546 Communications Inc 3138 800-745-2445 or 310-532-5300 Telect 1201 203-265-8500 or 800-677-2288 Standard Communications Corporation is the Telelynx, Inc. 1330 Times Fiber Communications, Inc. is an ISO industry's leading manufacturer of rebroadcast 9001 registered manufacturer of coaxial quality satellite reception and RF broadband cables for the telecommunications industry. products. At this year's show, Standard will Committed to quality, service and technology, showcase its new DSVR-8800 and DSVR- TeleWire SUPPLY TFC is standardized on 1 GHz bandwidth for 9000 digital IRDs. Standard will also be •• APSTIMC compare, trunk, feeder and drop cables, featuring T10 demonstrating the self-healing, 80-channel Semi-flex, TX10 Low-Loss and T10 Drop Stratum Modulator. System along with the TeleWire Supply 2602 cables with lifeTime. With over 40 years of complete line of CATV headend products 1-88 -TELE WIRE experience, we continue to lead the industry in including satellite receivers, frequency agile TeleWire Supply, an ANTEC company, is a product advancement and innovation. TFC is modulators, integrated receiver descramblers leading nationwide distributor of products proud to be apart of bringing information and and BTSC stereo generators. Stop by booth needed to build and service communications entertainment into the homes of your cus- #2332 for acomplete demonstration of quality networks. It stocks an expanded selection of tomers in the United States and in over 30 Standard Communications Corp. products. brands from numerous manufacturers to meet the changing requirements of today's commu- countries around the world. Stanford Telecom, nications networks. A centralized National Service Center, located near Denver, Titan Information Systems 4262 Telecom Comp. Prod. 3415 Colorado, and multiple warehouse locations Toner Cable Equipment, Inc. 2763 StarNet 1755 provide enhanced customer service capabili- StarSight Telecast, Inc. 2534 ties to network providers. Summit Software Systems, Inc. .. . 4392

THE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF B ROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 145 • 1996 W ESTERN SHOW TECHNICAL FLOOR PLAN

its new SIGMA "X" Series decoders and P2000 Series of Integrated Receiver TRILITHIC Decoders. W AVETEK TVC Incorporated 1524 Wavetek Corporation 1518 Trilithic 1407 U.S. Electronics Components Corp. 1668 317-788-9351 800-344-2412 Ubiquinet Inc. 1132 Now you can conduct home wiring, leakage, For over 25 years, Trilithic has been atrusted Underground Service Alert 2203 ingress and digital tests with alow-cost supplier of Cable TV and RFLAN test equip- Universal Electronics Inc 3155 installer meter! Stop by to see Wavetek's new ment. At this year's show, Trilithic is featuring Model CLI-1750 and Model LST-1700 Signal afull-range of products including Trilithic's Transmitter. This new Home Wiring Test new EAS compliance system and EAS-AB1 latela Research,,., System performs signal level and sweep mea- switches, Trilithic's 9580 Return Path Sweep surements, reverse ingress scan, and leakage and Ingress Monitoring System, arugged fiber tests. In addition, the new Multi-User Stealth optic power meter and laser source, and the Reverse Sweep System will be featured. Now, Vela Research Inc 3706 complete Tricorder SLM family of products. up to 10 sweep technicians can simultaneous- 813-572-1230 x7186 Stop by our booth for afull demonstration of ly perform reverse sweeps. When used in con- Vela Research Inc. designs and manufactures these outstanding Trilithic products. junction with the 3ST Transmitter, the new broadcast quality MPEG-2 encoders and 3HRV Headend Reverse Sweep Receiver pro- decoders. Vela's Centaur and Argus MPEG-2 vides afull forward and reverse sweep align- encoders digitally compress raw video into ment solution. Wavetek's full line of signal MPEG-2 compliant video data streams which level and leakage meters will also be featured, TrilogYle are stored for later retrieval. Vela's MPEG-2 along with the CMS1000 Central Monitoring decoder boards are single board, audio/video COMMUNICATIONS INC. System. decoders that reconstruct the compressed Trilogy Communications, Inc.....2223 video and output NTSC or PAL. The decoders 800-874-5649 are designed for SCSI-2, PCI, EISA and VME l‘* Manufacturer of low-loss, air dielectric MC2 bus architectures. Vela also has afour channel A ) WEST END trunk &feeder cables, featuring up to 13% SCSI-2 decoder. ANewbridge Company lower attenuation. Ideal for all CATV architec- West End Systems Corp. 1669 tures. Also offering afull line of quality MVP Video Data Systems 4840 drop cables and latest 50-Ohm AirCell Vikimatic Sales Inc. 2725 703-707-9600 or 613-623-9600 Radiating & Non-radiating transmission line West End Systems, an affiliate of Newbridge VUESCAN, INC. 4520 cables for wireless and RF communications. Networks Corporation, develops and markets Trilogy is ISO-9001 registered at all facilities. access and transmission products for the Stop by booth #2223 to find out how Trilogy Cable TV and Telecommunications sectors. cables can wire your system at lower cost. The WestBound 9600 Family of Broadband Fax: 601-939-6637 Communication Products incorporates WAVECOM advanced RF transmission technology ELECTRONICS INC. Triple Crown Electronics, Inc. 1747 (OFDM) to deliver robust, reliable VOICE, DATA, ETHERNET, INTERNET communica- Wavecom Electronics Inc .4855 tions for business and residential applications 306-955-7075 via HFC (Hybrid Fiber/Coax) networks. To WaveCom is aleading Canadian designer and complete the picture, West End's 9600 manufacturer of cable television modulators. Element Manager delivers full, sophisticated WaveCom also does research, development, NETWORK MANAGEMENT capabilities. Web: TV/COM and manufacturing of electronic communica- A Subsidiary of Hyundai Electronics http://www.westendsys.com tions products including, but not limited to, TV/COM International, Inc. 2450 CATV equipment, high speed spread spectrum Westec Communications, Inc. 3149 modems, bi-directional amplifiers, digital video 888-998-8266 Western CATV Inc. 2217 TV/COM International, Inc., asubsidiary of modulators, MMDS/LMDS equipment, and Zenith Electronics Corporation 2632 Hyundai Electronics, is aworldwide leader in cable modems. Fax: 306-955-9919 supplying broadband communications for the cable, satellite and terrestrial industries. Products include digital compression systems, headend equipment, conditional access systems, and analog scrambling/encryption systems for subscription, pay-per-view and interactive entertainment. TV/COM will introduce

146 CED :C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 51AfiliCle.) e'r2e,1rOPX

To Your Future Cable Modem Designs Are Avaiïable TODAY!

Return Path Modulator /

Demodulator Products from Stanford Telecom

A NNOUNCING Two N EW

STEL-9 2 5 7 PRODUCTS THAT W ILL STEL-1 109 Headend Demodulator Assembly Subscriber Modulator ASIC ENHANCE YOUR CABLE Our new hybrid fiber/coax headend Our new modulator ASIC offers acomplete M ODEM PERFORMANCE FOR receiver for demodulation of return path solution for the transmission of return path THE U PSTREAM TRANS- signals provides full programmability for data from your subscriber cable modem. compliance with IEEE 802.14 and MCNS MISSION AND RECEPTION OF The STEL-1109 includes: industry standards. D ATA IN FIFC N E- WORKS. * Selectable QPSK or 16 QAM * The STEL-9257 headend demodulator modulation formats

assembly offers acost effective * Reed-Solomon encoder approach for your headend receiver requirements * On-chip 10 bit DAC

* Burst QPSK signal demodulation * Direct RF output covering 5 to 65 MHz. * Variable 256 Kbps to 5Mbps data rate range

* Tunable 5to 65 MHz RF input frequency

* Selectable packet lengths

* MAC friendly features See Us At The Western Show, Booth #3415 Contact Us Today for Complete Information on Our Cost Effectim Cable/Internet Access Pmducts.

Stanford Telecommunications Inc. * 480 Java Drive *Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Tel: (408) 745-2660 • Fax: (408) 541-9030 * E-mail: [email protected] * Internet: www.stelhq.com You Need the Right Equipment

www.cedmagazinuom Introducing CED Magazine Online While there are thousands of sites to surf, •Build your reference library through CED's there's only one convenient place you need to Editorial Index of past feature articles! look to gather the information tools you need to •Tackle serious network technical challenges build tomorrow's network...today—CED Magazine with this month's feature editorial! Online. •Hyper-link to other technology sites as you see •Evaluate the hottest new products and request them! info instantly with CB's Literature &Source Guide! •Subscribe online! Check Out CED Magazine Online Today! CED COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & DESIGN THE PREMIER MAGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS .FRODUCT SHOWCASE D ECEMBER 1996

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PRODUCTS, SERVICES Lk EQUIPMENT DIRECTORY QUALITY CABLE & ELECTRONICS INC 1950 N.W. 44TH STREET • POMPANO BEACH, FL 33064 RIPLEY COMPEDCO JERROLD SYLI:›IN1.1 SCIENTIFIC AMANTA LEMCO .110-PED

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Ervin Cable Construction, Inc. 1800-232-7155 Communication Construction Specialist Fiber, Aerial and Underground Construction Fiber Splicing Upgrades Design and Mapping New Builds Directional Boring Coaxial Splicing Top Quality Workmanship and Equipment 260 N. Lincoln Blvd. East •Shawneetown, IL 62984

White Sandi Are You Looking llIlIIIIll ItlIllIlil for Installers?? 'McColl' I 1-800-Jumpers budding Gonmonuallon Spternt Throughout An. co CUSTOM MADE CABLE ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING NaCom, acontractor offering F to F, N to N. BNC, RCA, F-81 outstanding customer service for: GILBERT AHS RG-56 BELDEN • Residential Premise Wiring LRC RG-59 TIMES • MDU's OFF SHORE RG-11 COMM/SCOPE • Drop Buries PPC RG-213 INTERCOMP RG-214 • Primestar • Broadband Modems We will make any cable assembly. Quick delivery on all colors and lengths. Nationwide Fax: (602) 582-2915. Ph (602) 581-0331 Call (800) 669-8765, Ext. 3046 335 W. Melinda Drive, Phoenix, Az 85027 Services

CABLE CONSTRUCTORS, INC. DESIGN 3 COMPLETE TURNKEY CONSTRUCTION 1-800-338-9299 EXTENDER • Coaxial and Fiber • Emergency Fiber THE M APPING INNOVATORS • Mapping and Design Restoration Est. 1982 • Make Ready •System Sweep A Division of GLA Insp.-national Strand Mapping • Splicing and Activation • Proof of Performance FTF-FTSA Design As Built Mapping Fiber Optic Design • Fusion Splicing •Turnkey Headend Rebuild Mapping Lode Data -AutoCad • Material Supply • Complete Turnkey Fiber Optic Routing Lynx, Focus, CableView •Aerial, Underground & Project Management MDU Surveys Microstation (DGN) Experts Fiber Construction Map Digitizing File Conversions DWG -DGN -DXF System Design CAD System Sales if. Training quality service performed on a timely basis 17998 Chesterfield Airport Rd. •Suite 100 •Chesterfield, MO 63005 Phone: 314-579-4627 or 500-875-8786 Far :314-579-4628

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150 CED : COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN DECEMBER 1996 PRODUCTS, SERVICES & EQUIPMENT DIRECTORY

Mappintg arid nrigincerring Soluticms

"Mapping the 21st Century's Information Super Highway" 350 Indiana Street, Suite 200, Golden, Colorado 80401 Cable TV •Power •Gas •Telephone •Water/Waste Water (303) 279-7322 •fax: (303) 279-2546 •email: mappingeseca.com

Services include: Consulting • Data Conversion • GIS/Facility Mapping Data Base Design • Field Walkout • Fiber/Coaxial Design Focus"' EAS "SUB-ALERT" Emergency Alert System

FCC & LOCAL FRANCHISE COMPLIANT CADDSTAlr 1st COMPLETE AUDIO & VIDEO E.A.S. GIS Software "Solutions" Not Just Products... 800-628-0088 For more information contact: (Audio Only Also Available) reelt 405 N. Reo Street • P.O. Box 20112 • Tampa, FL 33622-0112 Telephone: (813) 289-4119 • Facsimile: (813) 287-3674

FIBER OPTIC Satellite Antennas •Design •Installation •Testing 'Full Turn Key Services • One piece spun aluminum • C & KU high gain • Easy installations • Delivery Worldwide APPLICATIONS: Telephone •Cable TV, PO. Box 571 Danielson. CT 06239-0571 Az‘el, Polar, Horizon & motorized Dual Axis Mounts 802 Networks •Process Control •Security • Tel: 860-774-4102; Fax: 860-774-4783 IVHS •Educational Networks Planes 1057 CALL OR FAX FOR BROCHURE AND PRICING SERVICES INCLUDE: System Engineering & (1405) Buenos Aires Republica Argentina Design •Outside Plant Construction •Project Tel: 582-2915; Fax 582-1372 DH Satellite 'Management •Aerial &Underground Cable 600 N. Marquette Rd. Installation •Systems Integration •Premises ,Wiring •Splicing •Termination •Testing • Prairie du Chien, WI USA 53821 Activation •Training •Emergency Service Phone (608) 326-8406 or Fax (608) 326-4233

ProPesigri WE BUY SCRAP RR6, Boy 20, Metamora, IL 61548 inc. CATV CABLE Your One Stop Design Shop! Full Service Design Construction MIDWEST CABLE SERVICES Mapping Aerial Digitizing Underground 800-852-6276 Lode Data and Lynx (FOCUS) Directional Boring File Conversions DWG-DGN Splicing 10 YEARS OF NATIONWIDE SERVICE •All Architectures/Upgrade/New Builds/Extensions • PO. BOX 96, Argos, IN 46501 Contact Tony Lasher at (309) 383-2655

TEST EQUIPMENT Reconditioned Wavetek, HP, Tektronix and more. Signal Level Meters, Sweep Systems, IDR's, Power Meters, Spectrum Analyzers, Frequency Counters It's A d, But and Fiber Test Equipment. Guaranteed to meet/exceed Call 1300-866-0206 manufacturers specs. 90 day warranty standard. CE Site SATELLITE ANTENNAS to reserve space! Used Scientific Atlanta, Andrews, Vertex, PSI and others. 7meter Aup. Has lore! PTL Cable Service, Inc., USA http: tiOtt.COM Phone (561) 747-3647 Fax (561) 575-4635 BUY-SELL-TRADE

THE PREMIER MAGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 151 e C LASSIFIEDS

PRODUCTS, SERVICES & EQUIPMENT DIRECTORY

CED C.IASSIFIFD WE BUY AND SELL Menge WE CATV EQUIPMENT CALL US MAKES DOLLARS LINE AMPLIFIERS, TAPS, CONNECTORS CONVERTERS -ALL TYPES AND MAKES HEADEND EQUIPMENT AS `Pin! As FAX US YOUR SURPLUS IN LIST PH: (619) 631-2324 • FAX: (619) 631-1184

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If You Have Any Of This... We SPACE. Have A Check For You! BOLIGHT/SCILD/SERVICED %Jr.10-6e.J-0')06 MAG Station GI Station MA1EJKA CABLE RECOVERY INC. 450 SA Station $349- MHz C-COR Station Coast to Coast Service MAG LE Si LE 1-800-831-2925 Fax: 507-931-6060 450 SA LE $85- MHz C-COR LE e ALL TYPES OF EQUIPMENT WANTED Industry Roc KY MOUNTAIN Custom Made Jumper Assemblies -Fax List- Service All Brands Fittings/Cable WE SERVICE WHAT WE SELL Since JUMPER CABLES •F Male •RG -59 •F Female SINCE 1966 •RG -56 •BNC •RG- 11 P.O. BOX 9737 •HELENA MT 59604 •PL •Other AUCSÁ 1982 se-12•'MCF S., INC- Our jumpers never leave our plant during construction, insuring inspection of each phase of construction. Our 1-800-98-ARENA Fax 1-610-279-5805 quality control insures you the lowest RF leakage possible. Call for pricing and free sample. (406) 458-6563 •--1 EMERGENCY %1t a lit el,_ dB-tronics BUY SELLq REPAIR PM UPGRADE % leI ALERT SYSTEMS 1 By Upgrading or adding channels? Contact us for all your equipment needs. Idea/onies 1 TO MEET THE FCC MANDATE Cie 0,411,4mpg fiker_Optics *Vldeoc/pbers a 1 or For local franchise requirements Complete Audio and Video (AIL- Addressable (*cg_r_d_C-CON 01%'" Metal« 1 %Ur Caiiverters 'utf EQ's ‘quir Upgrades or Audio only systems available . Compatible with all headends 864-574-0155 • Fax 864-574-0383 • e-mail [email protected] Affordable http://www.dbtronics.com The pioneers inIdea/ornes Emergency Alert Systems CAREER OPPORTUNITIES (701) 786-3904 FAX (701) 786-4294

+++ SERVICE TECHNICIANS 444 Qualified Service Technicians wanted for system activation/sweep. Various locations in U.S. Must be willing to travel. Minimum 1year experience. +4+ MAPPERS/SURVEYORS 444 Qualified walk-out personnel/supervision wanted. Must he willing to travel. Prefer 1year experience but may train right individuals. Send/fax resumes to: Communications Services, Inc. PO, Box 17 • 14815 Gratiot Road Hemlock, MI 48626-0017 Fax: (517) 642-3132 • Tel: (517) 642-2966

152 CED: COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & DESIGN DECEMBER 1996 CAREER O PPORTUNITIES

CABLE SEARCH ASSOCIATES HOTEL Professional Search NETWORK SERVICES. INC and Placement Engineering Sales Management Marketing the nation's fastest growing HFC Technicians Construction network design contractor, is presently

Call or Write accepting applications for the Wick Kirby following positions:

Phone: (630) 369-2620 PAID S33d Fax: (630) 369-0126 BROADBAND DESIGNERS PO. Box 2347 Naperville. IL 60567 FEES CADD DRAFTERS CIIVd ;-• DATA ENTRY PERSONNEL SYSTEM PROOF/SWEEP & Synchronous Group Inc., a leading Fiber Optic Equipment BALANCE TECHNICIANS Manufacturer for the CATV and Telecommunications industry is FIBER SPLICERS expanding its staff. FIELD ENGINEERS Sr. RF Technician ›. FIELD MAPPERS We are seeking Sr. RF Technicians with 4+ years of experience in testing and aligning high linearity, low noise Broadband systems up to 2 Excellent Compensation & Benefits GHz. Knowledge of analog and digital electronics as well as strong Moil Resume to: component level troubleshooting in the MHz to 2.5 GHz range. DIGITEL NETWORK SERVICES Experience with video signaling and/or semiconductor lasers, pin detec- 1335 Old Norcross Road. Lawrrenceville, GA 30245 tors, avalanche photodiodes, AGC circuitry and PLL circuitry is a plus. or fax to: (770)682-45M Synchronous Group Inc. offers exceptional benefits including health care, dental care, paid vacations, etc. For consideration mail your resume, indicating position to: Synchronous Group Inc.

Aftt/n: aMs ailo5lintaop l[e rfj Synchronous f C se CfMlc, San Jose, CA 95119 CD' Telecommunications, Inc is hiring experienced people for the following positions:

DESIGN ENGINEERS e nvisioningt aNew Market. Design Fiber 8( Coax Broadband Routes. Moving with It's Growth Our mission is our day-to-day business: becoming our customers' single source for quality, cost- TECHNICIANS effective telephone, video and information services. And we're successfully meeting the demands of an increasingly competitive market. Now get ready, because this is aplace where aggressive thinking Installation, Cut-over, creates acontinual state of expansion and growth for you and the company. RCN is growing tremendously in Boston, New York, and Princeton, NJ and soon enough we'll be coming to your area. Testing, Upgrades We're on the constant lookout for awide array of technical and management talent, especially field service and line technicians, from the telephony, cable, and broader telecommunications industries. Call: (800) 669-1890 Individuals accomplished in their areas of expertise with the interest and drive to jump right in, feet first, into arapidly changing, exciting telecommunications environment. Whether you're an entry level Ext. 895 go-getter or an accomplished manager, RCN has an opportunity to best apply your technical know how.

Fax: 800-875-1904 If you'd like to be considered for adynamic opportunity in Boston or New York, please fax or send your resume with salary requirements to: RCN, 105 Carnegie Center, Princeton, NJ 08540, Attn: Attn. C8895 Human Resources/ Dept. CED; Fax: 609-734789. ME, M/F/H/V.

Mail resume to: P.O. Box 4056, Dept. 95 Scottsdale, Arizona 85261-4056

THE PREMIER MAGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 153 # C LASSIFIEDS

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

SCIE Member LAN International, Inc. Peter is seeking forward -thinking, customer-oriented people who thrive in the fast-paced environment of new product introduction. If you are familiar lich with client-server software applications and/or the business of Cable oehlich & Co. Advertising and want to play a significant role in the deployment of the FrFroeh search new generation of Media Management platforms, we want to hear from you. Our company is well established, publicly traded, offers a generous PO. Box 339 Weatherford, TX 76086 benefits package, and plenty of room for growth and advancement for the (800) 742-4947 FAX (817) 594-1337 right people. We are currently selecting:

All levels of Technical Director of Implementation Positions -Corporate to Ideal candidate will be highly organized, detail oriented with experience in Imanaging installation teams or other highly complex, time sensitive group Hourly. Operators and efforts. Knowledge of computer networks and relational databases. Strong communications skills amust. Manufacturers Responsible for developing installation processes, hiring and coordinating Call or Write. Fees Paid. efforts of installation teams.

Director of Training and Documentation Ideal candidate will possess exceptional oral and written communication skills Need some Help? and have minimum of 5 years operational experience with advertising sales fulfillment systems. Let CED Classified's Responsibilities include developing and implementing training programs, V;;IrMIFTTRITITTcIT,T ri developing documentation, hiring and supervising training and documentation recruit it for you! staff, implementing successful training programs. With CED's circulation to Installation and Training Teams cable television Ideal teams will include experience with the installation of NT, Novell and professionals, reaching the Unix networks, and also with client/server solutions based on SQL Server, right candidate is as easy SQL Base and Oracle; will possess strong communication skills and enjoy as... CED. working with people in various locations around the US. To reserve classified space in the next Support Personnel available issue of CED, please call Ideal candidates will have working knowledge of client-server software Tim Reeder at: applications, possess exceptional people skills, strong telephone presence and 800-866-0206, 610-964-4982 or enjoy the satisfaction of assisting clients. Fax to 610-964-4663.

Sales Consultant Ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3 years successful cable advertising sales management or media software product sales experience. Strong conceptual and verbal skills amust. Understanding of Cable advertising sales tt preferred. Responsibilities include developing and servicing new and existing clients, conducting needs assessments, producing customer oriented proposals. tt tt Mail or fax resume and salary history/requirements: Finding A Needle In A Haystack Is Easy When You Place Your Employment Opportunities Or Employment Services Advertisement In

CED Classified Call 610-964-4982 To Place AnA d! 3300 Irvine Ave., S320, Newport Beach, CA 92660 fax: 714-221-0951

154 CED: COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & DESIGN DECEMBER 1996 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Washington, DC Area

This rapidly growing DC area Cable MSO is seeking qualified applicants to fill the following positions in the Engineering and Technical Service Department.

CONSTRUCTION PROJECT SUPERVISORS — (requires 3years experience) Two individuals to be jointly responsible for coordination of men and materials for aerial and underground cable television. Must be experienced with installation, splicing, and activation of high-tech cable television systems in an MDU environment. Telephone construction experience aplus. Experience with telco distribution systems (copper, fiber, and coaxial cables) highly desirable.

STRAND MAPPER /DESIGNER — (requires 3years experience) This position requires training and experience as afield engineer able to design cable and telephone distribution systems in both franchise and private cable (MDU) systems. Must be familiar with strand and as-built mapping, design techniques, CAD systems. Coaxial, HFC, fiber, analog and digital, plus upstream design experience desirable.

HEADEND TECHNICIAN — (requires 3years experience) Experience with 70-channel headend environment is amust for this position. New, upgrading and rebuilding of headends will require aworking knowledge of off-air, satellite and local channel carriage, PPV techniques, scrambling, data links, microwave, digital and analog delivery and aworking knowledge of power distribution.

TRUNK SWEEP /BALANCE TECHNICIAN — (requires 3years experience) Applicants should be familiar with trunk /distribution sweep systems working in Scientific-Atlanta and Magnavox environment. Must be able to align, sweep, proof test and trouble shoot using HP and Calan equipment.

TELEPHONE OSP TECHNICIAN — (requires 1-3 years experience) Applicants should be experienced with telephone installation, trouble shooting, and installation of customer premise equipment.

CHIEF TECHNICIAN /SUPERVISOR — (requires 3-5 years supervisory experience) Applicants should have skills with all facets of cable television /telephony distribution systems in MDU environments. Will supervise fleet of technicians and installers to provide hands-on instruction, assistance and quality control of installations and trouble shooting. Experience with POTS aplus.

MICROWAVE LINK TECHNICIAN — (requires 2years minimum experience) Position requires experienced technician to perform pre-license due diligence, purchase, install, activate and proof test 13 and 18 GHz microwave links (one and two way).

Competitive salary, excellent benefit plan and 401 K are offered. Send resume to: MID-MANTIC Attn: Personnel Director CABLE 5335 Wisconsin Ave., NW #750 Washington, DC 20015 or fax to (202) 364-3520 Equal Opportunity Employer Applicants may be required to complete drug testing.

THE PREMIER M AGAZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 155 e CLASSIFIEDS

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Utility Consultants, Inc. Immediate Openings We have openings in the Southeast for talented telephony professionals. Opportunities for Retirees Early Incentive Takers. and Experienced Pros New Contracts Engineers Project Management OSP, CATV, BICS, ROW, Makeready, OSP Construction, BICS, REA 515 Facilty, REA, Network and Transmission Design, Fiber, Broadband, Cellular, Broadband Designers, Hybrid Coax, FOCUS Node Implementation

CAD: Microstation, IDDS, AutoCad, Experienced Professionals (Full time/Longterm) (Insurance/Vacation) Call for Assignment Details and Immediate Consideration (401k/Paid Holidays) Recruitment: 1810 Water Place, Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30339 Ph: (800) 676-6970 Ext. 350 Fax Resume to: (770) 955-9955 *Equal Opportunity Employer

CABLE SYSTEMS TECHNICAL.SUPPORT - CATV TECHNICAL SERVICES INC. BASEd iN ATLANTA, GA If you're ready to capitalize on your cable TV experience, then you're ready to find out about Scientific-Atlanta, headquartered in metro Atlanta, is at the forefront of your exciting future. We are looking for indi- today's telecommunications revolution, with sales in excess of $1 billion. viduals to join our teams in locations across We currently have exciting opportunities for CAN technical support Canada and the USA. professionals in avariety of positions:

Broadband Sweep Technicians • Manager, Field Support Equipment Splicers • Systems Support Engineers • Sr. Service Engineers You must have at least 2years relevant CATV • Service Engineers • Customer Service Representatives technical experience. You need the ability to • Application Engineers lift 75 pounds, climb and carry aladder and have a valid drivers license with a good All positions listed above require a BSEE, BSCS or equivalent and driving record. You must also be willing to experience in one or more of the following areas: travel or relocate. In return, we offer: Addressable CAN subscriber systems, HFC networks, Telephony, QAM, •an excellent benefits package •opportunity to earn above average wages QPR, and/or QPSK modulation techniques, computer/data networks, basic RF and SATCOM systems. Bilingual skills are aplus. Please forward your resume to the Operations Manager by: We offer a competitive salary and an exceptional benefits package. For •FAX: (888) 805-2282 immediate consideration, mail, fax or e-mail a current resume to: •e-mail to [email protected] Scientific-Atlanta, Attention: Staffing Department - CKRP, 4311 Communications Drive, MS ATL 30-K, Norcross, GA 30093-2990; or mail to: FAX: (770) 903-3902; E-mail to [email protected]. See our Home PO. Box 13072 Newark, NJ 07188-0072 Page at www.sciatl.com. We regret that only candidates selected for an

intenieiv will be contacted. We are an equal opportunity employer dedicated to diversity in the workplace (M/F/D/V) Scientific .4. Tr- Atlanta Call Tim Reeder to reserve space in the next Your Advertisement + CED Classifieds = available issue of CEO! A Winning Combination! 800-866-0206 Call 800-866-0206

156 C ED : C OMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN D ECEMBER 1996 W HAT'S AHEAD •

Training. Location: Hickory, STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION DECE m8/4\ER Trade shows N.C. Call (800) 743-2671 ext. (Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685) 5539 or 5560. December I. Title of Publication: CED 11-13 The Western Show. 2. Publication No.: 330-510 Fiber Optic Technician 2-13 Location: Anaheim, Calif. 3. Date of filing: October 1, 1996 Training, produced by 4. Frequency of Issue: Monthly except twice in May Call the California Cable JANU FiberLight International. 5. No. of Issues Published Annually: 13 Television Association at 6. Annual Subscription Price: S54 Location: Dublin, Calif. Call Telecommunications (510) 428-2225. 13-16 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of (970) 663-6445. Engineering/Operations Publication: 825 Seventh Avenue. New York. NY 10019 ComForum. Location: Dallas, 8. Complete Mailing Address of the Headquarters or January 4T-1 Technical Seminar, pro- Texas. Call the International General Business Offices of the Publisher: 825 Seventh 8-10 SCIE Conference on Avenue, New York, NY 10019. duced by ADC Telecommuni- Engineering Consortium (312) Emerging Technologies. 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Address of cations. Location: Minneapolis, 559-4100. Publisher. Editor and Managing Editor: Rob Stuehrk. Location: Nashville, Tenn. Minn. Call (800) 366-3891, ext. 600 S. Cherry St.. Suite 400, Denver. CO 80222; Roger Call SCTE National Brown. 600 S. Cherry St., Suite 400, Denver. CO 2040. Basics of Telephony. Headquarters (610) 363-6888. 16-17 80222; Dana Cervenka, 600 S. Cherry St., Suite 400, Produced by C-COR Electronics Denver, CO 80222. Fiber Optic Technical Inc. Location: Orlando, Fla. Call 10. Owner: Chilton Company, 825 Seventh Avenue. 4-5 February Seminar, produced by ADC C-COR Technical Customer New York, NY 10019. Stockholders owning or holding 3-6 ComNet '97. Location: one percent or more of total amount of stock: ABC Telecommunications Inc. Services (800) 233-2267. Washington, D.C. Call IDG Media, Inc., 77 West 66th Street. New York, NY 10019; Location: Columbia, S.C. Call Cede & Co., P.O. Box 20, Bowling Green Station, New World Expo (800) 545-3976. (800) 366-3891, ext. 2040. 22-24 Women in Cable & York, NY 10274; Cede Fast, Cede & Co., P.O. Box 20. Telecommunications' Bowling Green Station, New York, NY 10274: Bass 11-14 Expo Comm Management. 2700 Fill! City Bk Tower. 201 Main 4-6 Hand-Held & PDA Expo Leadership Conference. Telecomunicaciones Mexico Street. Fort Worth, 1X91521; Roy E. Disney. The Walt and Forum, hosted by PDA Inc. Location: Loews Coronado Bays Disney Company, 500 S. Buena Vista Street, Burbank, '97, organized by E.J. Krause Location: San Francisco Bay Resort, San Diego, Calif. Call CA 91521. & Associates Inc. Location: II. Known bondholders, mortgagees and other security Area. Call (415) 252-8008. Molly Coyle (312) 634-2353. World Trade Center, Mexico holders owning or holding 1percent or more of total City. Call Caroline Ruggieri amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities: none. 5-6 Competition in Local Fiber Optic Training, 12. For completion by nonprofit organizations autho- or Steve Sasse (301) 986- 27-30 Telco & Cable Markets, pro- produced by The Light Brigade rized to mail at special rates. The purpose, function and 7800. nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt sta- duced by Strategic Research Inc. Location: Tampa/St. tus for Federal income tax purposes has not changed Institute. Location: The Loews Petersburg, Fla. Call (800) 451- during preceding 12 months. 16-21 OFC '97. Location: L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, 7128. 13. Publication Títle: CED Dallas, Texas. Call the Optical 14: Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: Sept. '96. Washington, D.C. Call (800) Society of America (202) 416- IS. Extent and nature of circulation: 599-4950. 1980. Average No. Copies Actual No. Copies Each Issue During of Single Issue 9-12 Fiber Optics 1-2-3: Preceding 12 months Published Nearest 19-21 Texas Show '97. to filing Date Installation, Design & Location: San Antonio, Texas. A. Total No. Copies Maintenance. Produced by The (Net Press Run) 27,065 26,175 Call the Texas Cable & 3-6 Hands-on Fiber Optic Light Brigade. Location: Installation, Maintenance and B. Paid and/or Requested Circulation Telecommunications I. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors Sunnyvale, Calif. Call (800) 451- Association (512) 474-2082. Restoration for CATV and counter sales 7128. Applications. Produced by 2. Paid or Requested Mail Subscriptions Siecor Engineering Services 22,710 22,774 9-12 Fiber Optics 1-2-3: C. Total Paid and/or Requested Circulation Training. Location: Hickory, (Sum of 150(1) and I5B(2)) Installation, Design & Produced by ICM Conferences N.C. Call (800) 743-2671 ext. 22,710 22.774 Maintenance. Produced by The Inc. Location: Orlando Marriott 5539 or 5560. D. Free distribution by mail, samples, complimentary Light Brigade. Location: Downtown, Orlando, Fla. Call and other free 930 0 Portland, Ore. Call (800) 451- (312) 540-3854. E. Free Distribution Outside the Mail 16-19 CompTel '97. 2.045 625 7128. Location: Palm Springs, Calif. F. Total Free Distribution 11-12 Fiber Optic Technical Call the Competitive (Sum of I5D and 15E) 2.975 2.625 G. Total Distribution 11T-1 Technical Seminar, pro- Seminar, produced by ADC Telecommunications Association (Sum of I5C and I5F) 25,685 25,399 duced by ADC Telecommuni- Telecommunications Inc. (202) 296-6650. H. Copies Not Distributed cations. Location: Phoenix, Ariz. Location: Salt Lake City, Utah. I. Office use, leftovers, spoiled Call (800) 366-3891, ext. 2040. Call (800) 366-3891, ext. 2040. 24-26 Cable Television 1.380 776 2. Returns from News Agents Technology. Produced by C- o o 11-12 Integrated OSS for 16-19 Hands-On Fiber Optic COR Electronics Inc. Location: I. Total (Sum of I5G, I5H( I) and I5H12)) ATM Broadband Technologies. Installation, Maintenance and Pittsburgh, Pa. For more informa- 27,065 6, I75 J. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation Ensuring Operational Efficiency Restoration for CATV tion, call C-COR Technical (15C/I5Gx100) 88.42% 89.66% for On-Demand and Highly Applications, produced by Customer Services (800) 233- William G. Mc Gorly, Vice President/Group Publisher Dynamic Quality Services. Siecor Engineering Services 2267. October I. 19% THE PREM IER MAG AZINE OF BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS DECEMBER 1996 157 C ICIORA'S CORNER

The issue of cable/consumer electronics compatibility portant. If it were the other way around, consumers has seemed almost endless. Much like the movie, would be satisfied with the basic cable service and be -Groundhog Day," it seems to never end. But recently, thrilled with the joys of their remote controls, Picture-In- there was asort of breakthrough. The Picture, etc. Because this is not the case, the consumer is breakthrough came at ameeting of the angry over being sold features that can't be used with the Finally, aCable Consumer Compatibility services he wants. He feels "taken." Because the con- Advisory Group, called C3AG. The sug- sumer electronics sale is aone-time relationship and the gestion was made to consider having cable subscription is renewed monthly, the cable operator cable/CE two levels of "cable ready" products. is the only one who is available for retribution. The consumer electronics side of this negotiation is very concerned about cost How two levels solve the problem break- and about being able to use the terminol- These two polar positions seemed to be beyond solu- ogy "cable ready" on as many products tion. Having two levels of "cable ready" has the potential as possible. The cost pressures are due to to solve the problem by allowing alow-cost, low-end set the competitiveness of the consumer of models which are appropriately named to avoid confu- through electronics industry. That competitive- sion, and ahigh-end line of models which provide access ness stems from tremendous over capaci- to nearly all services while using nearly all features. ty to produce. Simply put, the consumer The level-one product will be that which is defined electronics industry has more production by the current draft standards, IS-105.1 and IS-105.2. capacity than customer demand. Level two will be defined in extensions to the standard. Because of this over capacity, it is These will be IS-105.3 and IS-105.4. Level one will be impossible to raise prices, yet there is a restricted to just one video and one audio line serving need for features to cause consumers to as inputs to the TV or VCR. Level two will have multi- select products. Products which did not ple bi-directional video and audio lines and the direct have the name "cable ready" would have pass-through of remote control signals. asignificant disadvantage compared to Appropriate naming of the two levels is crucial. If it is those which could be advertised as conceded that the management of expectations is acriti- "cable ready." Of course, price is critical. cal element of this process, then the names applied are as The consumer electronics industry critical. The names must be fully descriptive without simply wants to use the terminology being negative. The lower level should have an adjective "cable ready" and spend the absolute that distinguishes it from the previous usage of the term minimum to be. illowed to do so. Prior "cable ready." To continue just using the term "cable By Walter S. Ciciora, to the 1992 Cable Act, using the terni "cable ready" was ready" is to invite continued confusion. One suggestion Ph.D. aunilateral decision. No permission was iequired from has been to call the lower level "basic cable ready." the cable industry or from any governmental agency. Because subscribers know what basic cable service is, The Cable Act changed that. The FCC is required to and because the lower level of "cable ready" will work determine atechnical definition for "cable ready." well with this level of service, this name is appropriate. The cable industry is anxious to get the consumer The second level should be inviting, yet include the interface problem solved. The problem is one of manag- terminology "cable ready." The reason for including ing expectations. When consumers buy a"cable ready" this terminology is to ensure that the FCC's technical product and are told (or it is implied) that the product definition authority applies. Without "cable ready" in will work when directly connected to cable, they expect the name, all control is lost, and the features and speci- that this applies to all cable services and all features in fications included can be anything that can be sold on the product. The salesperson either doesn't understand the retailer's floor. The critical aspect of managing the distinction or sees no reason to give anegative mes- expectations will be lost. Suggested names include sage. Consumers thus find that they must make some "advanced cable ready" and "media cable ready." hard choices when they get home. Either they must be The C3AG is in the process of drafting an FCC ex satisfied with just basic cable service, which is unscram- parte filing to advise the FCC of the recent progress. IS- bled (and maybe atrapped pay service), or they must 105.1 is essentially complete. Some sections are being forego certain features on their new TV or VCR. If they drafted to explain how this draft standard satisfies the are aware that these choices need to be made at the time requirements of the 1992 Cable Act. The additional pur- Have acomment? of purchase, they can make intelligent decisions. But the pose of this text is to demonstrate that nothing short of Contact Walt via e-mail free market is impaired when information is either not this standard will accomplish that result. IS-105.2 still at: [email protected] available or not understood at the time of purchase. has work to do. Then there is the engineering require- If you consider which are the "ends" and which are ment to field test the standard. the "means," you quickly conclude that the TV or VCR These additions to IS-105.1 and IS-105.2 are non-triv- is the "means" and the cable services are the "ends." ial, but not nearly as large atask as the original work. That is to say, consumers want access to programming. Of course, the FCC must find all of this acceptable The TV's or VCR's features are secondary—but not unim- for the job to be finally done. CIED

158 CED : COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING & D ESIGN DECEMBER 1996