Supercomm '93 '-Troubleshooting the Distribution System

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Official trade journal of the Society of Cable Television Engineers

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• • •Architectures for tomorrow's networ •--;••"- •.Cable was there --- Supercomm '93 '-troubleshooting the distribution system

- '.:June 1993 There Are Three New Ways To Provide Your Customers With Better Service

Sencore's "CHANNELIZERS" are designed to pinpoint RF video problems and performance test any RF Distribution System faster and more accurately than ever before.

Inspect (SL 7501) Monitor (SL 750M)

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• Exclusive "on-channel" tests for C/N and HUM. No need to tune off-channel or remove modulation to make these important tests parameters. Gives you the reading you need when you need it.

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Best of all, Sencore's "CHANNELIZERS" are designed to stand up to everyday field use. The rugged light-weight cases protect your instrument from all types of conditions.

To find out more on how the "CHANNELIZERS" will make adifference in your testing, troubleshooting, and system maintenance call 1-800-SENCORE, and talk with your Area Sales Representative about putting aunit in your hands and finding out for yourself. See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 4103. Reader Service Number 2.

rilCC)1= 1 Call 1-800-SENCORE Ext. 604 Today! 3200 Sencore Drive, Sioux Falls, SD 57107 (736-2673) Direct:(605) 339-0100 Fax: (605) 339-0317 The Perfect Marriage of LIGHT and AIR.

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Digital directions 52 Expo wrap-up 20 CATV hams 64 Features A listing of amateur radio operators in cable. Expo wrap-up 20 An intro to what happened AC power 68 at Cable-Tec Expo '93. Tom Osterman of Comm/net Systems de- Engineering Conference 22 scribes AC power quality Expos coverage of digital, for mobile vehicle PPV, new technologies, applications. more. Supercomm wrap-up 72 Expo awards 30 The CATV slant is taken by Find out who the SCTE Advanced Transmission honored this year. Technologies' Steve Macke.

Expo workshops 34 ,-, CT Daily wrap-up 123 A rundown of the techni- New products from the CT cal smorgasbord at Expo. 0 Daily at Cable-Tec Expo '93. Back to Basics 109

1993 by CommurficatIons Technology PublIcations Corp a subsIchary of Transmed:a Partners I-L P Ai; nghts reserved CommunIcahons Technology. (ISSN 0884-2272) Is publIshed monthly by CommunIcabons Technology PublIcatIons Corp.. 50 S Steele St . Surte 500. Denver. CO 80209, (303) 355-2101 May 199.3. Volume 10. Number 3 Office of publIcallon Is 50 S. Steele St . Surte 500, Denver, CO 80209 Second-class postage pold at Denver. CO. and addihonal marlrng offices POSTMASTER. Send address changes to CormounIcatIons Technology, 50 S Steele St Surte 500. Denver, CO 80209

Not only does the new RB-2 Clip Gun save you money by installing drop cable quickly, accurately, and permanently, The RB-2 Clip Gun now has • more power • less weight • a lower price For more information on the improvements to the RB-2 Clip Gun System call 800-548-7243. _ ICIIC- 111‘1111LC! F .! Products creatively designed for the cable industry

Reader Service Number 6 4 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY • 1 mooing C -1131e

Need Flexi le Platt rms

When Optical Networks International and AT&T introduced VV the first LASER LINK system in 1988, the benchmark in optical transmitters was set. As your needs changed, we developed the modular LASER LINK II and LASER LINK II PLUS to meet the demands of today's emerging networks. Now, amore 1111100"' flexible and powerful system is just amodule away. Modular Upgrades The new LASER LINK II PLUS has been enhanced with expanded capabilities. AFeed Forward Drive Amplifier that can drive multiple transmitters. and new return data/video modules can all be configured into our "plug and play" platform.

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Advanced Network Planning It's not just products anymore —it's anetwork. And the complexity of today's emerging cable networks requires advanced planning. Our design team, the most experienced optronics engineers in the industry, can help develop your unique rebuild or upgrade plans. More importantly, you'll have confidence that your networ is certain to meet the imminent opportunities in voice, deo and data.

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Reader Service Number 8

• See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 2207. Reader Service Number 10 110re""i« EDITOR'S LETTER eVX See us at the NCTA Show. Booth #4117. Reader Service Number 14. Cablematic Outstrips COMMUNICATIONS The Competition TECHNOLOGY A CT Publications Product The fast, easy way to strip & core cables is Vice President-Editorial, Toni I. Barnett with Cablematic cable preparation tools. Safe, Executive Editor, Wayne H. Lasley Assistant Managing Editor, Laura K. Hamilton accurate and durable from start to finish. Look Associate Editor, Shelley L 011ig Editorial Assistant, Eric Butterfield to the leader in design, quality and service. Senior Technical Editor, Ronald J. Hranac East Coast Correspondent, Lawrence W. Lockwood CALL NOW 1-800-528-8665 President,Group Publisher, Paul R. Levine for a Vice President-Sales, Charles M. Castellani NEW Full-line Catalog Account Executives, Patricia McCollum Barbara Allen Miller Bill Parker Linda Sommer Classified Sales Manager, Mike Elmer Advertising Coordinator, Marla Sullivan Special Events Coordinator, Paula Turner

Art Director, Brad Hamilton Artist, James Watts Circulation Manager, Mary Sharkey Production Traffic Manager, Mary Felker Production Traffic Assistant, Mike Ellis

Controller, Kenneth W Edwards Jr. Credit Manager, Cathy Sabo Executive Assistant, Clndy Tandy Administrative Assistant, Maureen McDonald

Managing Director, Harry C. Gerhart Cablematic Division CT Publications Corp. Ripley Company A subsidiary of Transmedia Partners-I, LP. 50 S. Steele St.. Suite 500. Denver, CO 80209 46 Nooks Hill Road (303) 355-2101 Fax (303) 355-2144 Cromwell, CT 06416 Tel 203-635-2200 Fax 203-635-3631 The Cable Tool Innovators Advisory Board

Paul Barth, Tele -Communications Inc. Austin Coryell, Time Warner Cable Richard Covell. Texscan Corp. Len Ecker, The Len Ecker Corp. James Farmer. Electronic System Products Inc. Robert Luff. Scientific-Atlanta Inc. Tom Osterman. Comminet Systems Inc. Dan Pike, Prime Cable William Riker. Society of Cable Television Engineers Get your money's worth Clifford Schrock. CableBus Systems Corp. Michael Smith. Adelphia Cable A.H. Sonnenschein. Consultant Raleigh B. Stelle Ill, Philips Broadband Networks David L. Willis, CATV Consultant with Budco Taplocks. Doug Wolfe. Corning Inc. No other cable TV marker out-sells, SCTE Board of Directors

out-lasts, or out-performs the At-Large Directors Wendell Bailey, NCTA Tom Elliot. TCl/CableLabs Buda) Taplock. Wendell Woody. ANTEC

Regional Directors Steve Allen (Region 1), Jones Intercable Pam Nobles (Region 2), Jones Intercable Norne Bush (Region 3). Columbia Cable Bill Arnold (Region 4), Texas Cable TV Association Jennifer Hays (Region 5). Digital Cable Radio 1 Robert Schaeffer (Region 6). Star Cablevision Group %440, „ Terry Bush (Region 7), Trilithic Inc. ">441N\ Jack Trower (Region 8), WEHCO Video Inc. Hugh McCarley (Region 9). Cox Cable Communications Michael Smith (Region 10). Adelphia Cable Diana Riley (Region 11). Jerry Conn Associates Walt Ciciora (Region 12). Time Warner Cable Since we invented the Taplock in 1970, more Budco Taplocks have been sold than all competito - drop marker products combined. FTE ) VEIPA Buy the best Choose the original in cable The Taplock Company. Setting The TV markers. The Budco Taplock. Industry Standani In Drop Markers.

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Reader Service Number 16 8 JUNE 1992 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Harness the power of astar..Jerrold's The world's first STARFIRE" 750 laser is now available for your 500 channel laser network. 500 channels! The STARFIRE 750 provides a750 MHz has arrived. passband allowing, for example, up to 60 analog channels...with 500 more channels using 10:1 DigiCable" video compression. Like its STARFIRE predecessors, the 750 provides superior picture quality and analog performance — even with the added digital loading. All on one fiber. Combining the advantages of bandwidth expansion, digital compression and STARBURST architecture, the STARFIRE 750 is ready when you are. Once in place, it helps make an easy transition to an analog/digital channel line-up. It's the next generation of lasers. Only Jerrold could introduce a500 channel laser designed exclusively for cable TV And we're not stopping there. We help you prepare for tomorrow by working with you today For more information, pleace call 1800 523-6678 (in the U.S.), 215-674-4800 (outside the U.S.), or fax 215-956-6497 (anywhere).

J rrolci 0 General Instrument

See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 1701. Reader Service Number 18. NEWS

HDTV attributes as the "economic and technical locomo- Paragon Cable of San Antonio or- tive" that will drive the next step in the dered $1.4 million in distribution equip- recommended by Labs evolution of the cable networks. ment to upgrade its 4,500-mile plant to BOULDER, CO — Cable Television 550 MHz with a base for further expan- Laboratories made two specific recom- S-A announces sion to 750 MHz. Paragon says it antici- mendations for attributes it would like to pates its needs may reach atotal of $10 see in any newly proposed high defini- several contracts million in S-A distribution products over ATLANTA — In one of the first moves to tion TV (HDTV) transmission system the next five years. Time Warner Cable bring the benefits of the electronic super- that might be offered by an alliance be- of Houston ordered $16 million in fiber highway directly into the home, Cablevi- tween the four current HDTV system and distribution equipment to be used in sion Systems Corp. ordered 50,000 digi- proponents. upgrading its 5,000-mile plant to 550 tal-ready Scientific-Atlanta Model 8600x According to Craig Tanner, vice presi- MHz with afoundation for further expan- home communications terminals for its dent of advanced TV projects at Cable- sion to 1 GHz. Yonkers, NY, system to deliver avariety Labs, "We have identified multilevel ves- Vyvx, the nationwide TV services affil- of new and future video services. tigial sideband transmission to be of iate of WilTel, and IDB Communications, Time Warner selected S-A as the strategic value because it can be ex- a transmission services provider, or- subscriber equipment supplier and inte- tended to higher bit-rate performance dered an MPEG-based digital video grator for the full service network, the in- over cable systems. We also would like compression system from S-A. Terms of teractive electronic superhighway it will to see an interlaced scanning format for the agreement were not disclosed. high definition video, with plans for a install in the Orlando, FL, area late this year. S-A will provide digital home termi- later migration to progressive scanning." ANTEC makes In more news, CableLabs sponsored nals and headend equipment to handle a conference on multimedia and poten- ATM-based two-way digital video and stocking agreements tial interactive business opportunities in audio, telephony and other interactive In an exclusive agreement, ANTEC Washington, DC, in late April. The con- multimedia services. Toshiba will work Communications Services committed to ference was a forum in which Labs jointly with S-A to develop the high ca- stock 10,000 DigiCipher commercial members examined interactive services pacity terminal. IRDs with ongoing delivery commitments by General Instrument to satisfy 24-hour deliveries to customers. The agreement also covers the developing product family for commercial compression equip- IS YOUR HEADEND ment that is evolving through input from the cable industry and the CableLabs process. PROTECTED? ANTEC also will carry the entire line of optical and metallic cable test equipment manufactured by Tektronix. mat As well, ANTEC Network Systems made exclusive agreements with Har- rasa Guarantees monic Lightwaves to market the new YAGLink Plus (YL+3200) and the new protection from lightning YAGLink Network Manager Expander in North America. and utility power switching The Network Systems division also announced Rhinelander, WI-based Mid- surges to your headend west Video's purchase commitment for Laser Link II and 16 miles of 6, 12, and 18 count LXE fiber-optic cable to support regional interconnect projects and expansion of the existing optical plant. Three nodes also will be added to Mid- ✓ Fail Safe Protection west Video's cable TV system.

✓ Warranty Assurance Program fir AT&T is the first manufacturer to ✓ State of the Art Technology specify a maximum level of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in its conventional single-mode fiber in an effort to reduce Voli-“gc Cori trot r_Jy7)tfciiii; htc. the distortion this transmission attribute Charlotte, NC 704-523-7270 has on AM video signals used by CATV. ir The National Cable Television Institute Reader Service Number 20 10 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Light up your fiber with the bOst broadcast quality video possible.

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Wth more broadcasters and CATV operators realizing the benefits and switching to fiber optic networks. th9 demand for "signal purity and higher signal quality transmission has increased.

DX sheds anew light on high performance fo , today's cable operators with the new DIR-657 integrated receiver descambler. With along list of features. including RS-250B broadcast quality performance and optional RS-232C interface fo- remote operation. the new DIR-657 outshines all other satellite receivers in delivering the sharpest video and soundest audio signals possible. For more information write to DX Communications Inc.. 10 Skyline Drive. Hawthorne. NY. 10532 or call (914) 347-4040.

I IT:ITCI

ANTENNA

See us at the NCTA Show. Booth # 3743. Reader Service Number 22. Reader Service Number 24 IIIIMMMMMMMMM

Leadership announced a new course titled "CATV in the Age Tests & Measurements." This course not only takes technicians through testing of Change procedures step-by-step, but explains NaCom is the one contractor you can count on to respond to industry why ameasurement must be made. changes and new technologies. NaCom leadership sets the standards isr CompuServe has renamed the CATV for excellence in: subsection of its broadcast professional • Installations forum to include SCTE in the title. Com- •Fiber & Coax Construction puServe, the nation's largest computer in- a Engineering Including CADD Services formation access service, can be used Call with a PC and a modem. If you're not a INaCom I CompuServe member, call (800) 848- (800) 669-8765 8199, ext. 175 for a free introductory package with $15 on-line credit. •Ir Electronic System Products Inc. (ESP), the Atlanta-based company that specializes in the design of cable TV hardware and custom integrated circuits, "picture this... and Probita Inc., the software development and products company in Boulder, CO, announced an agreement to jointly the future of fiber pursue business opportunities with MSOs that can benefit from the companies' combined expertise in addressable technologies, digital compression, interactive cable ma N and system services. or Superior Electronics Group relocated the company's general offices and manu- (tod facturing facilities of Cheetah Systems. The new address is 6432 Parkland Dr., Sarasota, FL 34243. The new phone is (813) 756-6000 and the fax is (813) 758- 3800.

LIONTWAVI INTEGRATED NE TWO RK El CONNECT SYSTEM le Tektronix announced its own TV equipment rental program. The new fac- The future in fiber optic cable managemen has arrived today in the form of Telect's tory-direct program covers all TV instruments the company sells and includes a new LINXSTM featuring: unique option to buy. ir Harmonic Lightwaves' YAGLink Net- •High-capacity distribution for all types of fiber optic cable. work Management system is now com- •Entirely modular fiber patch, patible with standard cable TV networking products such as AT&T transmitters and splice, & storage components. Alpha power supplies. •Complete fiber protection via or American Lightwave Systems received innovative KutschLinxTm system an order for several DV6000 16-channel eliminates crushing, kinking, & bend radius problems. uncompressed digital fiber-optic video transmission systems from Continental •KutschLinx hardware snaps together easily for exact fit. Cablevision of New England. Equipment •Total fiber accessibility via orders are expected to total $5 million-$6 KutschLinx gates & posts. million. ge Gail Snyder started her own business, •Adapts to your present & future needs and is compatible Rock Distributors Inc., based in Castle with existing systems. Rock, CO; (303) 660-1553. Initially it will offer a variety of compatible remote con- Call 800-551-4567. trols. The company also entered into a because the "cat"... contractual agreement with Authorized is out of the bag! Parts Inc. to offer its complete line of converter parts and specialized repair tools. Long Systems signed areseller agree- USA ment with ALR computers. The full software line of Long Systems will be bun- dled with the ALR computer at special package prices.

Reader Service Number 26 12 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY FOR CABLE OPERATORS WHO LIKE To MAKE SOME \41\liY NOW AND THEN.

EXPAND REVENUE TODAY EXPANE REVENUE TOMORROW Pioneer's new BA-9000 addressable The BA-9000 also opens up new converter is designed to immediately increase your profit avenues of profit potential. The Expan- potential. Our field-proven Near-Video-On-Demand sion Port means that it's future-ready, making it capable capability provides you with increased pay-per-view of accommodating evolving multimedia applications. revenue opportunities. Plus, Pioneer's Icon-Driven On- With Backwards Compatibility, the BA-9000 delivers Screen Menuing makes the system extraordinarily user- the flexibility to replace converters gradually, avoiding friendly. And our Advanced Digital Scrambling ensures large capital outlays. For more information, call Pioneer. you asecure revenue stream. It's the best investment you can make today—for tomorrow. (V) PioNicen 1 The Art of Entertainment 1993 Pioneer New Media Technologies, Inc , Business Systems Division. 600 E Crescent Ave ,Upper Saddle River, N J 07458-1827 (201) 327-6400

See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 2025. Reader Service Number 28. CORRESPONDENT'S REPORT

Frame rates and flicker

By Lawrence W. Lockwood Inhere has been much discussion President, TeleResources and some controversy over what East Coast Correspondent r- Interlaced scanning Second half Line 264, of Line 263 Field 2 Line 1, Field 1 Line 265, Field 2 Line 2, Line 266, Field 1 Field 2 Line 3, Field 1

the frame rate of high definition TV should be. Currently all four of the digital HDTV systems under consideration are proposing a 59.94 frame/field rate. There are a number of challengers to this rate — especially those in the computer camp (who incidentally carry sub- First half / Line 262, stantial political weight) — who decry of Line 263 Field 1 carrying over a standard imposed

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See Us at the NCTA Show. Booth #5542. Reader Service Number 30. 14 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY See us at the NCTA Show, Booth #4114. Reader Service Number 32. when color TV was developed and now /1/1//1/11/1/11/1//IIIIML----4, unnecessary in the digital world. But first a review of some fundamentals in the illusion of motion in films and television.

Human perception The illusion of motion in films and television depends on some quirkiness of human vision that determines necessary frame repetition rates. Basic to television and motion pictures is the presentation of a rapid succession of tie slightly different still pictures ("frames"). Don't mess Between frames the light is cut off briefly. The visual system retains the image during the dark interval so that with Gel Filled under specific conditions the image appears to be present continuously. Loose Tube... e Then, any difference in the position of an object from one frame to the Expand your fiber plant next is interpreted as motion of that object. with Tight Wrap • For this process to represent visual reality two conditions must be met. Fiber Optic Cable First, the rate of repetition of the images must be high enough so that the motion is depicted smoothly with no sudden jumps from frame to frame. If you're expandir gyour fiber Second, the rate must be high enough plant. there's only one way to splice it... so that the persistence of vision ex- clean and simple! tends over the interval between flash- Tight Wrap fibers are individually coated with a90C micron buffer es — no flicker. The magnitude of the to protect them from moisture. No gel filling is required , Ind -as aresult - flicker effect depends on two parame- no cleaning is needed for termination. The result is big avings in both time ters, the field repetition rate and illumi- and labor costs. nation of the eye's retina by the image. Tight Wrap Fiber Optic Cable has many more berm fits, including Flicker can be reduced and ultimately better protection and consistent performance in hot or .-:,old environments. made unnoticeable by increasing the Don't mess with gel. Call today for complete information on Tight field repetition rate or reducing the reti- Wrap Fiber Optic Cable. nal illumination. The retinal illumination is determined by the image brightness Marketed exclusively by: and the size of the pupil's aperture. The Channell Commercial Corporation latter, in turn, depends on the brightness U.S. Sales: OMICAL CABLE 0 I rorttriov 800/423-1863 around the image, the surround bright- 113- ness (ambient light), as well as that of International Sales: V 5290 ;oncourse Drive the image itself. Channell Commercial Canada, Ltd. P.O. B)x 11967 In a darkened motion picture the- 800/387-8332 •416/567-6751 Roanoke, VA 24022-1967 ater, the surround brightness is low, the pupil aperture is relatively large as the eye automatically adjusts to the low light level, and the retinal illumination is Table 1: TV and theater display parameters high in relation to the screen bright- Screen ness. In a typical home environment, Field rate luminance Contrast Ambient the surround brightness is higher, the fields/s (fli) ratio fc Resolution pupil aperture smaller, and the retinal Receiver 60 60-120 30:1 5-15 275 TVL Theater 100:1 illumination is lower in relation to the 48 16-25 0.1 4,800 TVL image brightness. As a result, the •ft.L x3.426 =cdtrn 2 =nit image brightness can be greater without causing visible flicker in a home TV Motion picture frame rates per second (fps) as a standard, a rate set than with motion pictures in a the- Early in the development of motion still used in home movie equipment. ater. The difference is increased still pictures it was found that motion could Experience in production for theaters further by using the lower field rate of be depicted smoothly at any frame rate showed that very rapid motion, so 48 per second in motion picture sys- faster than about 15 per second. This prevalent in the Wild West, could not tems. led to the establishment of 16 frames be faithfully shown at 16 frames per

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 15 film and the screen. When this shutter Table 2: Typical light values was synchronized with the film ad- Luminance Luminance vance, it shut off the light briefly while Source (ft.L) Source ft.L the film was stationary — each frame Sun at meridian 4.8 x10 8 Overcast sky 650 receiving two blasts of light. The flash Sun near horizon 1,750,000 Candle flame 2,900 rate was thus increased to 48 per sec- Moon 750 Inside frosted Clear sky 2,300 60-W bulb 27,000 ond, allowing a substantial increase in screen brightness. No adverse effect second. So despite an increase in film a serious problem. As previously noted was produced on the appearance of costs of 50%, the frame rate was the brighter the picture the more rapid moving objects since the frame rate re- changed to 24 fps. This remains the the frame repetition required. To in- mained at 24 fps. In due course, wider worldwide standard. crease the frame rate without other- and brighter pictures became available As theater projectors became more wise subjecting the system to change, and a three-bladed shutter is now powerful and the images correspond- a two-bladed rotating shutter was available, increasing the flash rate to ingly brighter, flicker at 24 fps became added to the projector, between the 72 Hz.

TV frame rates No such simple interruption of im- I emm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,/, ages suffices for television. To obtain two flashes for each frame, it was ar- In the air, or ranged from the beginning of public TV service in 1936 to employ the technique of interlaced scanning. Interlaced scan- underground... ning permits the frame repetition rate, Integral's Messenger-on-Duct (MOD -) and hence the bandwidth, to be reduced and Drop-on-Duct (DOD -) accommodates by one-half with very little increase in your future fiber requirements. flicker. Thus, interlacing achieves two 1Messenger-on-Duct In the air: Messenger-on-Duct with fiber optic cable goals — reducing flicker and saving bandwidth. Each frame is divided into andprovides prelubricated abuilt-in aerialsupport duct strand for ' l'j Drop-on-Duct two fields, with the even and odd lines continuous fiber optic cable pulls. with preinstalled scanned on alternate fields. (See the Underground: Drop-on-Duct accom- ' -, pull string accompanying figure on page 14.) modates today's drops and provides , The perception of large-area flicker is aprelubricated empty duct for future sle based on the field rate (60 fields/s) but fiber-to-the-curb requirements. the bandwidth requirements are based Whether you're in the air, or ' , on the frame rate (30 fps), which is one- underground, Integral has a / 4; c, /e oo half the field rate. The specific frame/field long-term solution for your fiber or • Q rate was chosen initially not only be- architecture. Call toll free today for Q•o 0 cause the values were sufficient to elimi- complete details. / nate flicker but also because at that time Marketed exclusively by video circuits were made with vacuum Channel! Commercial Corporation tubes and to reduce visible 60 Hz power U.S. Sales: 800/423-1863 / interference — or "hum bar" — in the pic- International Sales: ture it was easier to lock the sweeps to Channell Commercial Canada, Ltd. the 60 Hz and thus "freeze" the hum bar. 800/387-8332 •416/567-6751 A stationary hum bar was far less objec- ‘)4 tionable than one non-locked and "float- Extra-high strength ing" through the picture. A comparison of strand wire TV and motion picture system parameters is shown in Table 1on page 15. The light values shown in Table 2 present typical brightness conditions seen daily.

Coax drop wire Computer display frame rates r415 51 ' Problems associated with inter- Prelubncated duct

Prelubricated Table 3: Some computer display duct UV radiation ntnk6re Basic Horizontal protected er INTEGRAL mode Resolution sync HOPE duct um P.O. Box 151369 Text 720 x400 Negative Dallas, TX 75315 EGA 320 x350 Positive 800/527-2168 VGA 640 x480 Positive

See us at the NCTA Show, Booth #4114. Reader Service Number 34.

16 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY See us at the NCTA Show, Booth #4114. Reader Service Number 36.

laced scanning arose when comput- r LeIttleftIMM11/17/71717/7/1717 er-generated imagery was first displayed on interlaced TV monitors. While the total area of the image Carson Industries flashes at the rate of the field scan, twice the frame scan, the individual lines repeat at the slower frame rate Grade Level Boxes giving rise to interline flicker. When High quality grade level boxes for computer-generated text is displayed underground applications on interlaced TV monitors the letters Carson Industries, Inc., aleading manufacturer of utility boxes for the blink at a very disturbing and unac- Telephone and CATV industries has developed afull line of grade level ceptable rate. This led the computer boxes (GLB1 for underground plant. These high quality grade level boxes world to use progressive scanning in include avariety of features and options: its displays. Of course progressive scanning at 60 fps doubles the band- Constructed of Hot-dipped CATV or Telephone HOPE or ABS galvanized steel identification width, but for text it doesn't matter structural foam bracketry available molded into covers since a computer-generated page of plastic for below grade text is not sent as a display but at the Box bodies tapered enclosure Optional to prcvide stability extremely slower data rate of a se- applications quence of ASCII characters. anti-skid covers and eliminate In olden days when IBM set stan- available in _ ground upheaval plastic or dards it developed several for com- polymer puter displays: CGA (color graphics concrete • adapter), EGA (enhanced graphics adapter) and VGA (video graphics array). Table 3 shows some of their

parameters.' L-10" czes '` Enter more computer display standards. VESA (Video Electronics rA rA Standards Association — comprised of VGA manufacturers) produced some new standards prompted by b, higher resolution requirements. Table 4 shows several of the VESA standards. 2 One further complication of TV display standards came with the intro- ...eeee---I • duction of color in 1953. There is an irrevocable relation between the scan rate and the value of the color sub- Take agood look at Carson's carrier. Either one will determine the grade level boxes. Cat toll free today for complete infcrmation. other. If the value of the subcarrier Marketed by was determined by the then-used Channell Commercial Corporation U.S. Sales: scan rate of 15,750 scan lines/sec- CARSON 800/423-1863 INDUSTRIES ond (60 fields/second), then that sub- International Sales: CI carrier produced a beat with the Channell Commercial Canada Ltd. INC. sound carrier. Either the sound carri- 800/387-8332 •416/567-6751 1925 "A" Street, La Verne, CA 91750 er or the color subcarrier had to be shifted enough to avoid the beat. It was decided to shift the color subcar- Conclusions in the FCC HDTV Advisory Commit- rier and the new scan rate became As previously noted there has tee on "North American HDTV Pro- 15,734.264 Hz (59.94 fields/second). been considerable discussion over duction' has been formed to work on Table 5 on page 18 shows some typi- the specifics of an HDTV scan stan- recommendations. Because in the cal monitor parameters for various dard that, of course, includes the digital signal there is no longer any display systems. 3 frame rate. In fact, a task force with- need to shift the scan rates there are idards Table 4: Several VESA standards

Vertical Horizontal Vertical Refresh Typical sync frequency frequency Standard Date Pixels (Hz) application Positive 31 5kHz 70 Hz VS901101 11/90 640 x480 72 14- monitor Negative 31.5 kHz 70 Hz VS900603 6/90 800 x600 72 14- monitor Positive 31.5 kHz 60 Hz VS910801 8/91 1,024 x768 70 Approved for up to 17- monitor

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 17 would be far more straightforward. Table 5: Typical monitor parameters for various display systems The program production group also favors the 60 Hz. 2,000-line 1,000-line VGA Conventional However, the broadcasting camp is computer computer HDTV computer high-end adamant in its opposition to 60 Hz. Characteristic monitor monitor monitor monitor TV monitor Broadcasters insist that, because for Pixels/horizontal 2,048 1,280 1,920 640 440 Lines/vertical 2,048 1,024 1,035 480 485 years to come, they will have to fre- Viewing distance 18-30" 18-30" 5-15' 18-30" 5-15' quently downconvert HDTV to NTSC CRT size (in.) 20 x20 19 34 13 27 to integrate HDTV program material (typical) square diagonal diagonal diagonal diagonal into their NTSC broadcasts, they must Luminance (fL.) 23 25 160 35 160 stick with the 59.94 rate (even though they admit that a conversion from 60 those who favor returning to the 60 feel that for the upcoming multimedia to 59.94 could be made at the broad- Hz vertical rate because it is simpler world and for any further, as yet un- cast site). In separate interviews with to handle and the computer people determined applications, conversions the leading engineers in each of the four proposed digital HDTV schemes IIIIIMIIIIMIIIIIIIM111/111/1 each emphasized that as far as their systems were concerned the systems would work equally well with either Channell Commercial's 59.94 or 60. In the task force a sug- gestion was made by the broadcasters to start HDTV at 59.94 and when Signature Series TM NTSC is phased out to change to 60. Since by the time NTSC is phased out Enclosures... there will be a huge number of HDTV receivers in place already operating at 59.94, these receivers would have to Flat out better! be capable of operating at 60. Receiv- er manufacturers in the task force meeting said that capability could be incorporated in the original receiver manufacture for a very low cost (perhaps a dollar or two) as long as it was a requirement from the beginning. What change will finally be adopted is as yet unpredictable but perhaps a quote of inventor Charles Kettering should be kept in mind by all involved — "The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress." CT

References '"Economical PC to Video Conver- sion," S. Wood, AVC presentation, February 1993.

2 "Flicker Science and the Consumer," C. Maxwell, Society of Information Dis- play, November 1992. Channell Commercial—the world's largest manufacturer of plas- 3 "HDTV: Good Enough For Data?" D. tic enclosures— has acomplete line of Signature Series enclosures for Eccles, G. Romands, J. Held, Society CATV buried plant with more features than any other pedestals cur- of Information Display, January 1993.

rently available. All enclosures feature 360° access for splicing and 4 HDTV: Advanced Television for the maintenance; space for active 1990s, B. Benson, D. Fink, Multi- and/or passive equipment; science Press, 1991. interchangeable bracketry; CHANNELL 5 Video Engineering, A. Inglis, McGraw-

COA11.1FPC.“ CORPORATION Hill, 1993. heat dissipation (HDC )tech- 6 Television and Audio Handbook, B. nology; various enclosure U.S. Sales CHANNELL COMMERCIAL CORPORATION Benson, McGraw-Hill, 1990. cover colors; and aselection of 800/423-1863 7 Electronic Engineers Handbook, D. locking options. International Sales: Fink, D. Christiansen, McGraw-Hill, Call for complete information. CHANNELL COMMERCIAL CANADA, Ltd. 1982. 800/387-8332 •416/567-6751 6 Television Engineering Handbook, B. Benson, McGraw-Hill, 1985. See us at the NCTA Show, Booth #4114. Reader Service Number 38.

18 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Read It And Reap

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By Laura K. Hamilton Photos by Bob Sullivan

CTE, you've improved your successful Cable-Tec Expo every Syear with burgeoning attendance, packed technical forums, more ex- hibitors, and all those receptions and parties. What are you going to do next? We're going to DisneyWorld (and Uni- versal Studios, MGM, Sea World, etc.). That's right, the Society of Cable Television Engineers Cable-Tec Expo '93 took place in the hometown of Mick- ey, Minnie, Donald, Shamu, King Kong and E.T. ... and you can put your favorite character from your favorite at- traction here. It's been called "the most popular tourist city in the world" — Or- lando, FL. So, make sure the safety bar is firmly locked and hold on, here's the wrap-up of the best investment you can make in CATV technical training and ed- ucation. It's become redundant to call Cable- Tec Expo "successful," but take a look at the following highlights and try to call it anything else:

• Once again attendance was up. There were 2,300 registered attendees, which marks a 15% increase over last year's 2,000. 20 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY fflommi Cable-Tec Expo 13

1) The hub of Cable-Tec Expo 93 action was at the Orange County Conven- tion Center. 2) Expo Evening boasted a fireworks spectacular at Sea World. 3) SCTE President Bill Riker kicked off the Expo prior to the Engineering Conference. 4) As always, Cable-Tec Expo T-shirts were hot items at the SCTE membership booth. 5) Pam Nobles of Jones Intercable refereed the Cable-Tec Games. 6) Continental Cablevision's David Spallinger was Expo 93 co-chair. 7) With a 15°o increase over last year. Cable-Tec Expo registration was up again. 8) Bill Grant accepted his Member of the Year Award at the Annual Awards Luncheon.

see the members and friends the Soci- ety chose to honor. •What really makes Expo Expo is its heavy emphasis on technical training. On page 34 you can read about workshops that covered everything from fiber-optic architectures to safety to the • Exhibitor personnel was up 6% new Federal Communications Commis- from last year with 1,700 people an- sion regulations and much more. swering questions and demonstrating • All work and no play is never a their company's products on the show good way to approach Expo. Turn to floor. You can read more about the exhi- page 46 and relive the Arrival Night and bitions on page 44. Welcome receptions, as well as the In- • Coverage of the Annual Engineer- ternational Good Neighbor and ham oping Conference begins on page 22. If erator get-togethers. And don't forget you weren't one of the conferees pack- the memorable Expo Evening at Sea ing the forum, you missed a great World and the many other chances chance to catch up on digital, cable/tele- there were to relax. phony, new technologies' effect on subscribers, and pay-per-view technology. This wrap-up was written with assis- •Lunch time at the Engineering Con- tance from Eric Butterfield, Ron ference always means the SCTE Annu- Hranac, Wayne Lasley, Shelley 01lig and al Awards Luncheon. Turn to page 30 to TeleResources' Lawrence Lockwood.

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 21 Annual Engineering Conference: How will we integrate the technology boom?

Weeping cable TV engineers up to IX date with tomorrow's technology today is a big part of what the Society of Cable Television Engineers is all about. And this year's Annual Engi- neering Conference (the day before the official Cable-Tec Expo began) took on digital technology, cable/telephony integration, effects of technology on the subscriber, and video-on- demand. As is tradition prior to the Engi- neering Conference, SCTE President William Riker welcomed the regis- trants and outlined the schedule of the upcoming Expo. He whet everyone's appetite for the technology feast laid out before them over the next few days as well as recom- mending attractions and sites in Or- lando for after-hours and after-Expo fun. So with visions of workshops and Space Mountain dancing in their heads, conferees settled back for a full day's indulgence into cutting edge CATV technology.

The wonderful world of digital The first session of the Engineering Conference, "Applications of Digital Technology," was moderated by Roger Brown, editor of CEO. This session planned for implementation in Orlan- was scheduled with three presenters, do, FL, in 1994. He presented a Tom Elliot, vice president of TCI, Scott video tutorial on the background of Bachman, vice president of CableLabs communications from telegraphy and Jim Chiddix, senior vice president through telephony and television to of Time Warner Cable. Chiddix was un- the present day use of fiber-optic able to attend and his material was cable and video compression in presented by Jim Ludington. CATV to eventually provide interac- Tom Elliot reviewed various technol- tive sources. ogy drivers in the modern world of He also had a slide presentation of technology, e.g., showing the progress a concept of the magic buzz word of capabilities in the computer world "multimedia." Within that concept he from mainframes to minis to PCs and addressed ideas for the use of ATM the latest RISC (reduced instruction set (asynchronous transfer mode) of data computing). He also discussed in some (including video) at gigabit rates in detail comparisons of capabilities of CATV network architectures that per- competitors to CATV — RBOCs, DBS, mit transmissions from many sources MMDS and broadcast, which clearly to many destinations. 1) Attendees swarmed into the Engi- showed many of CATV's performance Scott Bachman of CableLabs made neering Conference. Speaking at the advantages over them. a presentation that essentially was an "Applications of Digital Technology" Jim Ludington discussed in gener- overview of the business history and session were: 2) CableLabs' Scott alities the Time Warner "full service analysis of cable vs. many competi- Bachman, 3) Time Warner Cable's Jim network" proposal, which is initially tors, e.g., print, broadcast, etc. Ludington and 4) TCI's Tom Elliot. 22 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ...e111Mt

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See us at the NCTA Show. Booth # 1425. Reader Service Numb ?r 42. 1) "Cable and Telephony Integra- tion" Moderator Dean DeBiase, ANTEC, chats with outgoing SCTE Chairman Ron Hranac prior to the session, which included speakers 2) Dawson Communications' Fred Dawson, 3) AT&T's Carl McGrath, 4) Brooks Telecommunications' Larry Lehman and 5) Jones' Chris Bow- ick.

Keeping up with evolution for access to local exchanges, cus- be the winners, regardless of which 'In 2002, we won't be in the cable tomer service would improve, and it technology is used. "Cable's window business (and) the RBOCs won't be in would provide route diversity and spe- is short — maybe two years — to get the phone business ...,' said ANTEC's cial routing options. To determine an its act together to compete in the Senior Vice President of Marketing operator's role as a competitive ac- telecommunications industry," he Dean DeBiase. He was the moderator cess provider, Bowick said basic mar- said. for "Cable and Telephony Integration: ket parameters must be evaluated, Lehman examined the graceful evo- Balancing Revenue Opportunities and network architecture must be de- lution of cable's broadband networks Network Evolution," which featured signed and business plan criteria as- from coax to fiber/coax, analog to digi- presentations by Jones Intercable's sessed. Because there are deficien- tal/analog, tree-and-branch to star/bus Group Vice President/Technology cies in both cable and telco capabili- and video entertainment to information. Chris Bowick, The Cable Telco Re- ties, "we're going to see a lot more Filling the growing demand for informa- ports Fred Dawson, Brooks Telecom- synergies being exploited between tion services (such as distance learn- munications' Senior Vice President the CATV and telco industries," he ing, video telemedicine, residential in- Larry Lehman and AT&T's Technical said. teractive services and point-to-point Manager/CATV Systems Carl Mc- Indeed, if cable wants to be a data services) requires connection with Grath. player in the growing telecommuni- many locations. Lehman said that there Bowick began with a look at future cations field, its next step is "to build will be competing telecommunications telecommunications opportunities in- the expertise to make that full-ser- networks in major cities and urban cluding competitive access, personal vice network operate," said Dawson. areas because there is enough busi- communications networks, two-way He examined the telcos' efforts in ness to justify multiple infrastruc- interactivity and data communications this direction, focusing on ADSL as a tures. However, there need to be co- services. Competitive access is an too; for transporting video down operative infrastructures in rural especially important issue because twisted pair. He also said there will areas to justify modern telecommuni- long distance phone service providers be many opportunities in bandwidth cations infrastructure. This way, all have had to pay the RBOCs and allocation, and those that are there communities, large or small would other independent carriers large fees first, offering the best services, will have access to all telecommunica-

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Make check payable to SCTE. APPLYING FOR: CI INDIVIDUAL @ $40 0 SUSTAINING @ $250 Mail to: Please pont or type information. Data will be used excctly as it is submitted here. SCTE 669 Exton Commons MR. Ul MRS. 01 MS. TITLE: Exton, PA 19341 NAME: TEL # First Initiai Last Include Area Code Ihereby apply for membership in the Society of Cable Television Engineers, Inc., EMPLOYER: FAX # and agree to abide by its bylaws. Addditional Company Name Include Area Code member material will be mail to me CO. ADDRESS, within 45 days. Payment in the U.S. funds is Street/PO .tity State Zip enclosed. Iunderstand dues are billed annually. USE HOME ADDRESS? Street/PO City State Zep

0 Please send me further information on YOUR SIGNATURE DATE the Society of Cable Television Engineers Complete the information. Enclose full payment or clarge to MasterCard/Visa shown below.

SCTE is a 501 (c) (6) non-profit professional NAME ON CARD: EXP • membership organization. Your dues may be tax deductible. Consult your local IRS office MASTERCARD NO • or your tax advisor. VISA NO.:

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Reader Service Number 44 works, since it focuses on multiple described interfaces to the consumer services. via software-selected displays on the TV screen and controlled by a hand- Pleasing the sub with technology held remote. The New Technologies and Their Jim Farmer discussed some of the Effects on the Subscriber" session current and possible future complexi- was moderated by Michael Smith, di- ties facing the CATV subscriber in his rector of engineering, Adelphia Cable paper "The Subscriber Quandary." He Communications. The presentation briefly reviewed the history of the had four speakers, Claude Baggett, "cable box" — the home converters director, consumer electronics sys- and current problems in their relation tems of CableLabs; Vito Brugliera, to new TV set capabilities. He particu- vice president, Zenith Electronics; larly noted cable-ready sets with their James Farmer, vice president, ESP own remote controls that are often Inc.; and Judson (Judd) Hoffman, vice negated with a converter. Farmer said 1) "New Technologies and their Ef- president, Panasonic Technologies. that with the advent of delivery to the fects on the Subscriber" was moder- Claude Baggett delivered a paper home of compressed digital TV, these ated by Michael Smith of Adelphia on "The Impact of Outside Influences problems appear to be ongoing be- Cable. Among those speaking at the on Cable Delivery Systems" in which cause of the requirement for a home session were 2) Jim Farmer of ESP, he discussed the relations of the "decompressor" box. 3) Vito Brugliera of Zenith and 4) CATV industry to the consumer manu- Judd Hoffman, in his paper "Cable Judd Hoffman of Panasonic. facturers, i.e., TV set makers. He out- and CEBus in the Home Environ- lined some of possible demands that ment," reviewed some of the history of may come from the computer industry the Electronic Industries Association because of future multimedia require- Consumer Electronic Bus (CEBus) ments. He made note of special re- Committee, which was formed in 1984 quirements of the expanding "work at with the intention of finding and stan- home" or telecommuting activities in- dardizing a method of networking con- cluding the need for wide enough sumer entertainment and telephone tions, information and entertainment bandwidth capabilities to accommo- products in the home. The CEBus services. date the growing business involving committee has developed an in-home McGrath discussed digital trans- imagery manipulation and transfer. type of wiring of coaxial cable and port for video and communications Vito Brugliera gave a paper on "On- telephone twisted pair with software systems and how networks are evolv- Screen Display — A New Technology that allows multiroom control of these ing toward this capability. He also ex- for the Consumer Interface," in which functions. Hoffman described these amined the extremes between analog he d:scussed in some depth work networks and their components in and digital technology. He then pro- done at Zenith to provide what is com- some detail, particularly emphasizing vided a view of the cable network of monly called an on-screen program the flexibility of the CEBus to grow the future based on the large number guide. With newer CATV systems of- with new businesses that may be in- of tools currently available, which will fering an ever-growing number of troduced into the home. grow larger. Finally, McGrath looked channels, an organized methoa for the at ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) viewer to select his programming be- How near is video-on-demand? as an important part of the new net- comes very important. The system he The potentials of video-on-demand 26 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Keep Your Revenue Flowing

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(VOD) are staggering, to say the a new world of in-home equipment" competitive and user-friendly. That least. The billions of dollars being must be developed, which might in- means on-screen menus, prompts racked up by the video stores are ripe clude several different pieces of hard- and simple selection of movies. for cable to take a bite, but how do we ware that would be tailored to specific We have analog near-video-on-de- get there from here? The final session customers needs. mand (NVOD) being tested around of the Engineering Conference, "Pay- "We're in an excellent position to the country now. Harr says digital Per-View Technology Update" gave capitalize on VOD," Roman conclud- NVOD should appear by next year some definite clues. ed. and an information superhighway with Paul Levine, president/group pub- "We're by far the only high-volume full digital storage of movies by 1995. lisher of CT Publications Corp., mod- video provider today and if we intend to TCI's Terry Wolf finished off the erated the session and kicked it off by stay so, we must move toward video- Engineering Conference. (He's the di- reminding everyone that the people in on-demand," said Paul Harr, marketing rector of addressable technology for the cable TV technical community are manager for Scientific-Atlanta. the company.) He likened address- the ones who'll develop this "super- He warned further that if we don't ability and pay-per-view to a wagon. highway" we've heard so much about do it first, our competitors will. The trick is to not let the wagon fall in cable's not-so-far-off future and The system must be both analog apart because one or more of the VOD is a big part of that. and digital, Harr added, because an many communication links necessary General Instrument's Vice President operator must have the ability to re- to make the wheels of the wagon turn of New Technology and New Business tain current subscribers while provid- breaks down. Development Geoffrey Roman started ing the services that digital allows to Wolf reiterated Harr's remarks the discussion with ideas on how cable the ones who want it. He also thinks that VOD must work as a VCR systems' networks, headends and in- the VOD system "must look and feel would, but he added that you should home equipment must change to reach like a VCR." That is, the subscriber remember that many of your sub- the full VOD goal. must have the ability, for example. to scribers can't even set the time on Obviously, digital compression and stop the VOD movie if the phone their VCRs. Therefore, educating fiber optics are two enabling technolo- rings just as if he were getting it off customers will be an integral part of gies for VOD, Roman added. As well, his VCR. The system must be price- VOD. — LH, LL, SO

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SCTE excellence prevails over Awards Lunch

Every year the Society of Cable Televi- 1) SCTE President Bill Riker presided sion Engineers membership gets the over the awards. 2) Outgoing board chance to break bread together and rec- members Rich Henkemeyer (left) and ognize excellence at the Annual Awards Ron Hranac (right) with Riker. 3) Tom Luncheon. And the winners were ... Elliot of TCI (left) accepts on behalf of •William Grant was the 1993 recipi- John Malone CT's Service in Technol- ent of the Society's Member of the Year ogy Award. CT's Paul Levine (center) Award in recognition of his service to the gave a check to Riker for the SCTE's Society. Among his SCTE activities are Scholarship Fund in Malone's name. speaking in a series of SCTE videotapes 4) Hewlett-Packard received the Chair- based on his book, Cable Television. man's Award from Hranac. 5) TCI's El- • Expo Program Subcommittee !iot (new SCTE chairman) accepted the members William Riker and Dave gavel from Hranac. 6) Riker and Bill Spallinger (co-chairmen), Roger Brown, Grant, SCTE Member of the Year. Dean DeBiase, Jim Farmer, Paul Levine and Mike Smith received awards for their efforts in Cable-Tec Expo '93. • The following were recognized er (1993 North Central Cable Show). •The Program Subcommittee of the for their contributions as technical pro- • SCTE Personal Achievement Emerging Technologies 1993 conference gram coordinators at regional cable Awards, which were established (based was recognized for its efforts In the plan- shows: Dan Pike (1993 Texas Cable on the SCTE Outstanding Achievement ning of the successful January 1993 con- Show); Diana Riley (1992 Atlantic Award) to recognize technical personnel ference. Receiving awards were: Tom Cable Show); Tom Elliott and Bill Riker in our industry for outstanding job perfor- Jokerst (chairman), Walt Ciciora, Tom El- (1992 Western Cable Show), and mance, were presented to Robert Baker liot, Dan Pike, Bill Riker and Kevin Smith. Ralph Haimowitz and Rich Henkemey- and Charles Nydegger. -4

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See us at the igaidlideigart •The former Adirondack, Northern year's honoree, TCI's John Malone was New England, Ozark Mountain and Shas- unable to attend, but sent avideotape ac- ta/Rogue Meeting Groups all were elevat- cepting the award. He praised the Soci- ed to full chapter status in the Society. ety's educational presence in the industry •Outgoing members of the SCTE and stressed its work toward training and board of directors: Tom Elliott (Region 1), certifying the CATV technical community. Ron Hranac (Region 2), Mark Wilson CT Publications Corp.'s President/Group (Region 5), Rich Henkemeyer (Region 6), Publisher Paul Levine presented acheck Jim Farmer (Region 9) and Richard Cov- to SCTE President Bill Riker in Malone's ell (at-large). name for the Society's Scholarship Fund. •Richard Abraham, Jerry Kittelson, 1) Riker (left) and Diana Riley (right) Jonathan Kramer, Joe Van Loan and New board members, officers with Hall of Fame inductees Steve Bell, Dane Walker were elevated to senior Also recognized were the newly elect- Jim Grabenstein's wife, Kathleen and member status in the Society. ed board members that officially took their son Mark (accepting for Jim who was •Hewlett-Packard was the recipient seats at the Society's board of directors posthumously inducted). 2) Hranac of the 1993 Chairman's Award. meeting held the day before the awards (right) with new SCTE Senior Mem- •Mel Welch of Genesis received first were presented. The new board members. 3) Riker (left) with Hranac, who place in SCTE's third annual Field Opera- bers, beginning their two-year terms, in- presented the Chairman's Award to tions Award competition. Dick Hall of TOI clude Wendell Bailey, National Cable H-P's Duane Hartley and Rex and Enrique Lomas of Times Mirror were Television Association, At-Large; Wendell Bullinger. 4) Jack Trower (center) ele- the second and third place winners. Woody, ANTEC, At-Large; Steve Allen, vates meeting groups: Adirondack, •Steve Bell was inducted and James Jones Intercable, Region 1; Pam Nobles, Northern New England, Ozark Moun- Grabenstein was posthumously inducted Jones Intercable, Region 2; Robert Scha- tain, Shasta Rogue. 5) Riker with Field into the SCTE Hall of Fame. In 1988, effer, Star Cablevision Group, Region 6; Operations Award winner Mel Welch. SCTE created its Hall of Fame and hon- Hugh McCarley, Cox Cable Communica- ored Cliff Paul as its first inductee. The tions, Region 9; and Diana Riley, Jerry Bush, Trilithic Inc., Region 7; Jack Trow- second inductee, Len Ecker, was hon- Conn Associates, Region 11. er, WEHCO Video, Region 8; Mike Smith, ored at Cable-Tec Expo '91, and at last They join the eight SCTE board mem- Adelphia Cable, Region 10; and Walt Ci- year's Expo, Rex Porter, Jim Stilwell and bers currently serving their terms: Tom El- ciora, Time Warner Cable, Region 12. Dave Willis were inducted. liot, TOI, At-Large; Norrie Bush. Columbia The board elected officers at its meet- Cable, Region 3: Wayne Hall, Warner ing and these people were recognized. CT's Service Cable, Region 4; Jennifer Hays (who re- New officers are: Elliot, chairman; Ciciora, in Technology Award cently replaced Multimedia's Mark Wil- eastern vice chairman; Nobles, western A highlight of the luncheon was the son, who stepped down because of a vice chairman; Bush, secretary; Arnold, presentation of Communications Technol- transfer that took him out of the region), treasurer; and Bailey, additional executive oes Service in Technology Award. This Digital Cable Radio, Region 5; Terry committee member. — LH

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See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 2201. Reader Service Number 52. Cable-Tee Expo '93

Expogoers indulge in CATV technology banquet

able-Tec Expo '93's technical plate 1) 'Introduction to Digital Technolo- Cwas full. The Society of Cable Tele- gy" with ONI's Randy Reynard and vision Engineers never forgets the AT&T's Kenneth Metz. 2) -Tech Re- main sustenance of Expo is technical Act" with the FCC's Michael Lance training and this year attendees loaded and John Wong. 3) "Using Basic up on workshops, engineering meet- Test Equipment" with Coaxial Inter- ings, technical demonstrations and national's Ron Hranac and Time more. Warner Cable's Steve Johnson. 4) Ten workshops were offered to sat- Hranac explains CATV measure- isfy all kinds of techy appetites. Confer- ments. 5) Cablevision of Central ees brought in their proceedings manu- Florida staffers videotaped Cable- al (a book of technical papers from the Tec Expo 93 workshops. workshops and Engineering Confer- ence) and hot cups of coffee courtesy of the National Cable Television Insti- tute. However, even the heartiest of you could only attend six of them over most of which were absolutely pre- peal, since almost every case of ap- the two days they were offered, so ventable. peal results in a reduced or eliminated here's a rundown of all of them. One major problem is that man- fine. To prevent problems from occur- agers are putting technical personnel in ring in the first place, the SCTE is offer- Getting serious about safety the position of "safety coordinator," ing the new Health and Safety Manual. Do you think you know all you need when it's actually an administrative- Some new concerns have arisen to about safety? If your answer is yes, type job involving the filling out of forms among cable personnel, one of think again. Although we're starting to and procurement of appropriate litera- which is the question of what to do do what we need to, there's still a lot to ture. Technical personnel should be in about the risk of contact with blood- learn, and some things were still not charge of the actual training portion of borne pathogens, especially Hepati- doing right, said SCTE Director of a safety program. Haimowitz also de- tis B and HIV. OSHA's recommenda- Training Ralph Haimowitz during "Safe- scribed what would occur during an tion is that employees be informed of ty: NEC. NESC ano OSHA Regula- Occupational Safety and Health Ad- risks and preventive measures, but tions." This is evidenced by the 22 ministration visit and suggested that if mainly that helping an injured co- recorded on-the-job deaths last year, your system is fined, you should ap- worker is to be considered a "good 34 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ELECTRONICS, INC.

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RMS ELECTRONICS, INC., 41-51 Hartz Way, Secaucus, r‘h. 07094 Phone: (201) 601-9191 FAX: (201) 601-0011 Toll Free: (800) 223-8312 1) "Improving Your Interpersonal examine sag and tension issues. This Fluck, Jerry Green and Bill Morgan, Communications Skills" with TKR is available to system operators from presented procedures to provide oper- Cable's Jim Harley. 2) "Fiber-Optic Comm/Scope. ators with maximum flexibility to obtain Architectures and Construction Prac- Tele Services President Jim Stilwell information on system performance, tices" with Adelphia Cable's Joe Sel- finished with a look at the NEC and the comply with new standards and create vage. 3) Scott Bachman of CableLabs NESC. The NESC is published by the a minimum of inconvenience to sub- at "Outage Reduction Techniques." NESC Committee and the IEEE, its scribers. "Safety: NEC, NESC and OSHA Regu- members are mostly lobbyists and Fluck began by discussing the tests lations" featured 4) Chris Story of trade groups. and the publisher must and measurements required under Comm/Scope and 5) SCTE's Ralph often be contacted directly for a copy. 76.605 technical standards, which in- Haimowitz. The NEC is published by NFBA; its clude carrier frequency, signal level, members include insurance compa- signal level variations over time, in- nies, power companies, consultants, channel response, carrier-to-noise, dis- Samaritan" act, with the inherent risks. etc., and is available in most book- tortions, hum, baseband video and Chris Story, director of research stores. leakage. He then focused on in-chan- and development for Comm/Scope, fo- The NEC is not a regulation or law nel response measurement, providing cused on NESC rule changes for sag by itself, and must be adopted by a examples. He suggests taking mea- and tension, how they are applied to state, county, city, town, etc. It serves surements on 10-20 of each type of cable installations, and tools available electricians and electrical inspectors converter used in the system, with min- to simplify compliance. NESC Rule and is revised every three years. Stil- imum interruption resulting. 250 involves general loading require- well said one of the most severe prob- Green concentrated on carrier-to- ments and maps; Rule 251 more lems recently is grounding. As water noise (C/N) ratio measurements, specifically deals with conductor load- utilities begin the switch to plastic me- stressing the differences between C/N ing; and Rule 232A covers verticaJ ters, the cable companies must turn to and signal-to-noise (S/N). The NCTA clearances of wires, conductors, ca- other grounding methods. He then in- recommended method is: 1) measure bles and equipment above ground. vited participants to share their carrier level, 2) turn carrier off, 3) mea- Story listed the three types of cable grounding problems and solutions with sure noise level at minimum RBW of loading (cable weight, ice loading and the group. 300 kHz and UBW of <300 Hz, and 4) wind loading) and gave examples for subtract the correction factor from the the latter two. He then highlighted Responding to rereg delta level. Correction factors to be Spanmaster, which is a software creat- "Test Procedures Under Technical taken into consideration are the 4 MHz ed to provide CATV operators a tool to Reregulation." featuring Calan's Syd noise bandwidth, peak detector vs. 36 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AOFR Rcouplers will support you on the front line,

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RMS detection and the noise floor of impairments occurring in current tures. The attributes and the draw- the measurement device. Green also CATV networks. Using a TV set to backs of the following architectures provided an example of how to do show recorded images of noise and were covered: trunk and feeder, back- this, and highlighted the narrowband distortion, Little covered C/N picture bone fiber, cable area network, fiber- tunable filter procedure. quality degradation, composite triple to-the-feeder (FTF), fiber to the ser- In light of the new regulations, op- beat and composite second order pic- vice area, neutral networks and pas- erators should try to ensure that the ture quality degradation. sive networks. customer receives a quality picture, Among the distortion analysis top- Selvage called the passive network and not worry so much about following ics that Rick Jaworski (product mar- "FTF to the extreme. It's taking it to its the regs letter-by-letter, said Morgan. keting manager RF and cable TV logical conclusion." He then went into When measuring distortions, the oper- products at Tektronix) offered infor- detail on the neutral network that is ator should determine the converter mation on were spectrum analyzer being set up by Adelphia. It's a web- contribution, make the plant measure- distortion free dynamic range, effects style architecture with no predefined ment before the converter, then com- of adding a preselector, measuring "root" locations and movable node lo- bine the measurements. "These mea- noise or signal close to the instrument cations. It has a separate transporta- surements aren't trivial," Green said, noise floor, checking and improving tion and subscriber transportation "and there are a thousand ways to instrument noise floor, C/N, calculat- system and dual tier transportation screw them up." However, if the man- ing the C/N correction factor and system. The network has a lot of in- ufacturer's specifications are used more. tegrity and is designed, but the only "you should be pretty safe," he said. thing still standing in the way is cost. Finally he covered the three methods Fiber architecture, construction of plant measurement: traditional, ex- If you wanted to get into the "Fiber- Keeping fiber up and running trapolation and CTB with CW carrier, Optic Architectures and Construction The three presenters — F.E. which allow use of simple test equip- Practices" workshop, you had to show (Gene) Bray, a consultant for ANTEC, ment. up early. It was a popular one and William Morris of Corning and Billy standing room only. Pyatt from Siecor — delved into what it Distortion and noise tackled Adelphia Communications' Joseph takes to keep your fiber-optic plant up Scientific-Atlanta's Engineering Selvage (manager of systems engi- and running in the "Fiber-Optic Docu- Department Manager Frank Little's neering) took a look back at how mentation, Restoration and Testing" portion of the "Distortion Analysis and we've arrived at the fiber architectures workshop. Troubleshooting" workshop was an we have now and gave some in-depth Morris discussed the history and in-depth demonstration of many of the details on possible future architec- some of the optics fundamentals of 38 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Freedom package.

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See us at the NCTA Show. Booth # 5143. Reader Service Number 58. 1) The NCTA Engineering Committee met prior to the expo. 2) The SCTE In- terface Practices Subcommittee was headed up by Jack Radzik, George Bollinger, Brian Bauer and Jim Haag (chairman). Discussing details after the SCTE Design and Construction Subcommittee meeting were 3) Sally Kinsman (co-chair of upgraderebuild working group) and 4) Keith Burkley (chairman of the subcommittee). fiber developments. He also reviewed work). franchising authorities from adopting some current problems with fiber han- Metz also reviewed much of the ba- more stringent standards; however, dling operations. sics of digital signal processing and they must get FCC approval to do so. Pyatt, in his presentation on "Opti- transmission, especially directed to- This alone should give our industry an cal Cable System Documentation and ward the requirements for a video sig- indication of the importance that Restoration," outlined many require- nal. He reviewed in some detail Congress sees in the local connection. ments for CATV in a number of signif- methodologies involved with digitiza- Noting that the Cable Act is now law icant areas, i.e., personnel, equip- tion of video standards such as the in- and that any challenges must prove its ment, training and what he called ternationally accepted CCIR-602. unconstitutionality, Wong continued by "Lights (Out), Camera, Action" having providing the commission's time-line to to do with maintaining a fiber-optic in- Tech Re-Act achieve the conditions of the act and stallation. Gone are the days of just worrying covered in detail what the cable indus- about CLI when it comes to our try has in store to be in compliance. Our digital future thoughts of the Federal Communica- Throughout the presentation it be- As was the case with several of the tions Commission, as was the case in came apparent that compliance will workshops, "Introduction to Digital the workshop on "Tech Re-Act" pre- not always be a piece of cake. In refer- Technology" was extremely crowded sented by the FCC's John Wong and ence to rate regulations, Wong said, "I — less than even standing room only. Michael Lance. Not that CLI wasn't a looked at the formula and it makes the It had two presenters: Randy Reynard, topic of this session. It was. (By the CLI formula look easy." manager of training programs at Opti- way, the commission still favors fly- cal Networks International and Ken- overs as giving the best representation Outage reduction neth Metz, a distinguished member of of leakage effects with regard to air Scott Bachman of CableLabs host- the technical staff for AT&T. navigation interference.) But as ex- ed an outage reduction techniques Both speakers presented material in pected much attention was given to workshop, warning of the future when fundamental formats regarding the the new regulations resulting from the there is "going to be less tolerance for new technological world we are now Cable Act. an outage or disruption in service." entering. Reynard reviewed some of Lance began by covering each of Mike Miller of Viacom demonstrated the history of information transmission the measurements required in the new that likelihood with survey results of capabilities, i.e., copper wire ,coaxial technical standards, including testing customers whose service evaluations cable, microwave, satellite and the location, effective dates, when and directly reflect the number of outages newest technology of fiber optics. He how many times each test should be suffered. Consequently, those cus- went into some depth regarding vari- performed, and the number of chan- tomers will switch companies. Miller ous aspects of the present and pro- nels to be tested. suggested an objective tracking sys- posed standards for digital data trans- Emphasizing what he referred to as tem that doesn't rely on human judg- mission including a brief review of the "one big change," Wong said that ment, a system that is reliable and not SONET (synchronous optical net- the FCC may no longer pre-empt local labor-intensive. The system should be

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Fun in the Orlando sun

1) Sea World, site of this year's Expo evening. 2-3) Guests enjoying the hospitality of the International Lounge. 4) Shamu in action, star of Expo evening. 5) The purple hat brigade invades Sea World, waiting for Shamu's next big splash. 6) The next generation of cable techs and engineers enjoying the thrill of Sea World.

n Orlando, FL, you have the happy and the Society of Cable Television sors were as follows: Cable Splicing, • dilemma of having more attractions Engineers. Comm/Scope and Gilbert Engineering; to choose from than you could possibly TDRs and Signal Level Meters, Corr- visit, and Cable-Tec Expo 93 parties Third Annual Sonics and Riser-Bond; Go Fetch, and receptions made the dilemma that National Cable-Tec Games Time Warner Cable; and Cable Jeop- much harder. As an award for a hard The highlight of the Welcome Re- ardy, NCTI. day's work, expogoers got the opportu- ception was the Cable-Tec Games, co- Doug Lanham of Century Cable won nity to socialize with fellow technical ordinated by the SCTE Cable-Tec the overall competition and was award- types from all over the country, and for Games Subcommittee, emceed by Ron ed the gold medal, Steve Allen of that matter, the world. Wolfe of Times Warner and sponsored Jones lntercable won the silver and Wavetek RF Products mugs are by ANTEC and Communications Tech- Tom Lockwood of TCI took the bronze. now a familiar and popular souvenir nology. Stephen Jaworski of NCTI em- Individual event winners were as fol- from Expo. Attendees hunkered down ceed the games' most popular event, lows: on beer, soda and chili dogs at the Cable Jeopardy, while Pam Nobles of •Cable Jeopardy: David Dulin, Cen- company's Arrival Night Reception. Jones Intercable refereed and Coaxial tury Cable (gold); Doug Lanham (sil- The next night everyone headed International's Ron Hranac supplied ver); Steve Allen (bronze). over to the Grand Ballroom in the Clari- additional commentary. Keeping track • Go Fetch: Doug Lanham (gold); on Plaza Hotel for the Welcome Re- of the scores were Robert Hagan of Tom Lockwood (silver); Steve Allen ception sponsored by AT&T Network Don Rey Cablevision and Radiene (bronze). Systems, Power Guard, Times Fiber Watson of Pyramid Industries. •Cable Splicing: Steve Allen (gold); Communications, Zenith Electronics Scheduled events and their spon- John Minginas, WEHCO (silver); Tom

46 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY The Easiest Test You'll Ever Take

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Reader Service Number 61 1-2j Big turnout for the Welcome Reception, complete with musical entertainment. 3 and 5) Cable-Tec Games, held at the Welcome Recep- tion, challenged the skills of today's techs and 4) provided entertainment for onlookers in the bleachers. 6) The flashing hard hats of Cable Jeopardy, the most popular of the Cable-Tec Games. 7) Emcee Ron Wolfe awards Doug Lanham of Cen- tury Cable with the overall individual gold medal.

Lockwood (bronze). munications, Scientific-Atlanta and Internationals • TDRs and Signal Level Meters: SCTE sponsored. The interest in cable internationally Doug Lanham (gold); Paul Eisbrener, Desserts, coffee and soda were was highly apparent at the Internation- Columbine Cable (silver); Tom Lock- served at the Shamu Pavilion and then al Good Neighbors Reception as well wood (bronze). conferees filled the stadium to ooh and as at the International Lounge. aah over the Shamu "Night Magic" The International Good Neighbor Expo Evening Show. Kids of all ages donned their Reception allowed technical types With more Expo attendees bringing waterproof Cable-Tec Expo hats pro- from all over the world to meet face to along their families than ever before, vided by Communication Technology face and socialize. The reception was Expo Evening at family-oriented Sea to watch the incredibly trained killer sponsored by Electroline, Hughes Air- World was particularly apropos. whales. The evening was topped off by craft, International Cable magazine, ANTEC, Comm/Scope, Jerrold Com- a laser and fireworks show. Lindsay, Sachs Communications,

48 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY The P&T Touch: EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY, EXPANDING SERVICE

Over 30 years of superior service, Power & Telephone Supply has expanded its depth of CATV products to include afull-line inventory of connectors, conductors and instru- mentation equipment representing the industry's top suppliers. A network of 11 company-owned warehouses disperses this inventory to the places where it's needed. Customer deliveries and warehouse restocking are optimized by a company-owned truck fleet. Power & Tel's unique combination of resources results in superior price, service and product availability. Our 30 years of experience help us select the suppliers who offer what smart buyers need. The volume achieved by national and international coverage helps us negotiate the prices smart buyers can live with. •--II World-class experience, product depth, local attention to customer needs. No wonder Power & Tel is I r arainume number one for smart buyers. AM/1111111T Contact us for the outlet nearest you. Reader Service Number 62

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2701 Union Extended, Suite 300 Memphis, TN 38112-4417 901 ,324-6116 FAX 901/320-3082 1-2) At the Arrival Night Recepticn an attentive wait staff saw to the needs of thirsty expogoers. who proved themselves hungry as wed. 3-4) The International Good Neigh- bor Reception gave international guests a place to meet, eat and relax. 5) Ham operators from around the globe gathered to chat and exchange call letters at the Ham Oper- ator's Reception. 6) The awarding of door prizes always adds to the fun, as hams NOIVN, NOUXA, N1ACO, KOFRP and NOAYE can attest to.

courtesy of Time Warner Communica- tions Training Center — Jerry Bybee (KG7GQ) of TCI in Portland, OR; TH - 28 HT donated by ANTEC — Roger Blakeway (G1PXM) of SCTE in the United Kingdom; MFJ 1278 INC donated by Time Warner — Steve Manzi (K3GIY) of Times Mirror in Hatboro, Triple Crown and SCTE. a forum for members to ask questions PA; TH 78A HT contributed by RTK — Jerrold Communications, RMS Elec- and express concerns. Ian Macfarquhar (VE30S) of CUC tronics and International Cable maga- Broadcasting in Scarborough, Ontario; zine hosted the Cable-Tec Expo '93 In- Hams reception MFJ 1270B TNC donated by ComSon- ternational Lounge. Tne lounge served Always a highlight for Cable-Tec at- ics — Jim Dryden (W6KIS) of Buckeye as an informal business center for for- tendees who also are ham radio enthu- Cable in Toledo, OH; FT-530 HT cour- eign guests and offered telephone and siasts, the Amateur Ham Radio Opera- tesy of the National Cable Television fax resources as well as light refresh- tors' Reception offers participants the Institute — Tony Piccolo (W1OSG) of nents. Transla:ion services also were chance to put call letters to faces. Sci- Texscan in El Paso, TX; and 2K Heath available. entific-Atlanta provided the refresh- amp donated by Zenith — Dick Kirsche ments and dozens of companies do- (N1CBW) of Greater Media of House of Delegates, nated 49 door prizes that were dis- Chicopee, MA. membership meetings tributed among attendees from 19 The SCTE national board of direc- states and three countries. Golf tourney tors and officially designated repre- Lucky Jeff Cohen (N1ACQ) of Har- Expogoers/golfers took advantage sentatives from the Society's 74 ron in Bourne, MA, took home the of the warm Florida sunshine at the chapters and meeting groups gath- grand prize of the TS-690S HF tran- second annual SCTE Golf Tournament ered at the closed House of Dele- ceiver donated by Scientific-Atlanta the day after Expo. With shotgun starts gates meeting to discuss chapter sup- and Tele -Communications Inc. Other at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., players drove port. noteworthy winners were: TH -47A HT and putted their way to a relaxing end SCTE members also had the ARRL Ant. BK courtesy of Texscan to Cable -lec Expo '93. chance to meet with the national and Wegner — Betty (W5TQK) and Meet you in St. Louis next yea' board and staff during the Annual Herb Timberlake (W5TQl) of Sammons (June 15-18) for the Cable-Tec Expo Membership meeting, which provided in Fort Worth, TX; MFJ 1274 TNC '94. — EB, LH, SO

50 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY PAY TV THEFT INCREASE YOUR REVENUES

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See us at the NCTA Show. Booth # 5541. Reader Service Number 63. New directions in digital networking

By Carl McGrath considerations faced in that network "A major responsibility Technical Manager. AT&T Bell Laboratories conversion are applicable to this discussion. This in no way should infer of network architects he age of digital broadband ser- that earlier, broadly deployed digital and planners is to en- vices for the mass market is signaling systems such as telegraphy sure that a flexible IT upon us. The continuous ad- and smoke signals are any less sig- vancement of digital signal process- nificant in demonstrating efficient use path exists for future ing (DSP) technology now makes it of bandwidth and signal-to-noise ratio services evolution and possible to transmit high fidelity (S/N). network expansion." video, audio and communications traffic in a fraction of the spectrum Source characteristics once required in an analog domain. High-volume, high-capacity net- Digital telephony — For the present, we focus on ways to work design for services with domi- Order, simplicity, ubiquity incrementally change the services nant signal sources logically evolves In the digital domain, a 4 kHz platform. "How many channels will be based on the characteristics of those POTS channel requires 64 kbps and required to implement near-video-on- signals. Analog telephony evolved is known as a DSO Channel. The 64 demand (NVOD)?" "Will straightfor- from the 4 kHz basic POTS (plain old kbps rate is based on achievable ana- ward, staggered-start pay-per-view telephone service) channel into an in- log-to-digital (AID) conversion perfor- (aka EPPV) take most of the viewers tegrated narrowband/broadband mance when systems were first de- interest?" switched network that utilized all ployed. Specifically, sampling at an 8 These and other similar questions practical types of communications fa- kHz rate was consistent with available pervade the industry at all levels, both cility: open wire, paired wire, coaxial bandpass filters and 8 bit pulse code business and technical. Few will cable, AM and FM radio and satellite modulation (PCM) was required to argue that today's best answers will channels. Niche applications for provide adequate S/N, comparable to give way to better ones as the mar- "broadband "services were accom- equivalent high-grade analog chan- ketplace evolves and consumer de- modated by concatenating adjacent nels. Since the 64 kbps digital voice mand defines new applications. Con- channel bandwidth on the broadband channel was equivalent in perfor- tinued evolution is a certainty. What facilities. In a similar fashion, broad- mance to the ubiquitous analog 4 kHz delivery platform will most economi- band analog CATV systems have channel, it could be deployed inter- cally and transparently support that evolved based on the NTSC standard changeably in the existing analog net- evolution is the subject of the follow- allocation of 6 MHz per service. Inter- work fabric in an evolutionary manner. ing material. The underlying assump- faces have been developed to match First deployed in the relatively cost- tion for this discussion is that 10 the required performance to particular ly toll portion of those networks, digital years from now today's signal pro- media, such as FM for relatively noisy PCM evolved along a cost and perfor- cessing systems will be as technolog- satellite channels. mance curve that allowed it to over- ically advanced as today's 1,200 take toll switching fabrics, then local baud modem. switching fabrics and virtually all trans- In the following, Iwill review some Figure 1: Interface port systems. Today, the remaining of the basic characteristics of digital structure model analog systems in these networks in- services as we know them today and terface through AID interfaces and are compare them with similar drivers rapidly being phased out. Digital con- during the first digital network revolu- 00 nectivity in the residential market ex- tion. Next, I'll propose and discuss a > < tends to most Class 5 (local) switching networking model for use in evaluat- I offices and in many cases close to the ing various deployment alternatives. Conversion m. home, through the use of subscriber w V A' •• Finally, a brief look at how asyn- layer line carrier systems that place the AID chronous transport mode (ATM) net- Compression E point in the local loop. Many large layer VA working concepts, a popular near- • •• businesses have digital PBX systems Encryption V A D term candidate, provide an open layer that connect directly, digitally, to the agital Digital structure for the evolution of these Program E ••• network. In some cases that digital layer program program services. connectivity continues all the way to Multiplex Mu iprogram For simplicity, the first digital net- layer multiplex the telephone instrument, the first ap-

work revolution referred to here is the Transport FEC/scramble/mod. plications of the integrated services conversion of the world-wide telepho- layer digital network (ISDN). Physical m Transmission media ny network over the past 25 years. layer Many of the drivers and deployment (Continued on page 74)

52 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AN ERA OF LIMITS BELDEN EXPANDS YOUR OPTIONS.

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The following is adapted from a paper presented at the Experimental set-up 1993 Society of Cable Television Engineers Emerging The 50 to 550 MHz AM system used for this experiment is Technologies Conference and printed in the conference's the same type that is currently being used in CATV applica- proceedings manual. The article deals with a lightwave sys- tions. The AM transmitter uses a highly linear 1,310 nm DFB tem that transports 80 analog carriers and 16 uncom- laser with a built-in optical isolator. A Dix Hills Matrix genera- pressed digital video channels, and provides performance tor provides 80 CW carriers to the input of the AM transmit- data from the combination of AM and digital video over the ter, each with an optical modulation index of 3.9% per chan- same optical fiber using wavelength division multiplexing nel. The AM receiver uses a low noise, highly linear InGaAs (WDM). PIN photodiode and a balanced transimpedance amplifier. The InGaAs photodetector has a broad 1,200 to 1,700 nm By Robert W. Harris optical bandwidth. Senior Applications Engineer. Fiber Optics The digital system used for this experiment also is the And Charles Mao, Ph.D. same type that is currently being used in CATV applications. Engineering Product Development C-COR Electronics Inc. The digital system operates at 1.6 Gb/s (gigabits per second) and uses synchronous time division multiplexing (TDM) to transport 16 uncompressed, pulse code modulated (PCM) he use of fiber optics for transmission of video, audio digital video channels. The 1.6 Gb/s serial data stream is and data has become commonplace in CATV, broad- scrambled with a non-return to zero (NRZ) format. The digi- ir cast, educational and private networks. Analog AM tal transmitter uses a 1,550 nm DFB laser without an optical fiber systems are replacing coaxial cable for local distribution isolator. The digital receiver uses an InGaAs avalanche pho- within the CATV network while digital systems are being todiode (APD) with a broad 1,200 to 1,700 nm optical band- used for headend or hubsite elimination and for transmission width. of various data services. A Tektronix TSG-170A provides the input video test pat- Typically, the analog and digital transmission systems are tern to the ND converters. The video is digitized at 8-bit res- operated separately from each other on their own optical olution. A Tektronix VM-700 analyzes the recovered digital fiber. However, as CATV systems grow and services are ex- video from the digital-to-analog (DIA) converters. While the panded, there is a need to obtain maximum usage of the payload on this digital system is 8-bit video, the data ports fiber. This may include using wavelength division multiplex- on the optical transmitter can accept a variety of coding and ing (WDM) to allow both analog and digital to coexist on the framing patterns that allow different types of signals to be same optical fiber. transported (i.e., 9-bit video, 16-bit audio, etc.).

Figure 1: Lightwave WDM system for unidirectional transmission of digital video and analog AM signals

; 16, 8-bit video 16, 8-bit video ND converters D/A converters

L Attenuator

1.6 Gb/s 1550 nm 1.6 Gb/s 1550 nm digital Tx X 1.550 Digital Ax

20 km single-mode fiber

50-550 MHz 1 1.310 5-550 MHz 1,310 nm AM Tx 1,310 nm AM Rx

T 80 channels 80 channels F50 to 550 MHz 50 to 550 MHz

54 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY The optical path consists of two 10 km spools Table 1: CSO, CTB and C/N performance at 1,310 nm on a unidirectional of standard single-mode WDM system with and without 1.6 Gb/s digital video at 1,550 nm fiber, two wavelength division multiplexers, a >30 CSO CTB CN dB variable optical attenuator and various optical Without With Without With Without With Channel digital digital digital digital digital digital C/N _I jumpers. The optical fiber 83.25 MHz -67.3 dB -67.0 dB <-68.0 dB <-68.0 dB 53.4 dB 51.0 dB 2.4 dB attenuation is less than 325.25 MHz -63.6 dB -63.7 dB <-68.0 dB <-68.0 dB 52.9 dB 51.0 dB 1.9 dB 0.4 dB/km at 1,310 nm with 547.25 MHz -61.8 dB -61.2 dB <-68.0 dB <-68.0 dB 53.0 dB 51.2 dB 1.8 dB less than 3.5 ps/nm/km dispersion at 1,310 nm. Two types of WDMs are used: unidi- port of the receive side WDM. Therefore, -38.4 dBm of 1,550 rectional and bidirectional. nm optical power is present at the input to the AM receiver. Unidirectional WDMs are used when operating both sys- Once both systems are activated, AM performance mea- tems in the same direction. Insertion loss at both wave- surements will determine if that amount of 1,550 nm optical lengths, including connectors, is less than 0.6 dB. The opti- power is low enough in magnitude to avoid causing a prob- cal isolation for the WDM devices are greater than 40 dB. lem within the 1,310 AM receiver. Bidirectional WDMs are used when operating each system The digital transmitter is then turned off and the AM sys- in opposite directions. Insertion loss at both wavelengths, in- tem activated. The output power of the AM transmitter is cluding connector loss, is less than 0.6 dB and directivity is measured at 5.7 mW (7.6 dBm). The optical input powe- greater than 65 dB. measured at the AM receiver is -2.39 dBm. The composite The analog system, optical fiber and WDMs are connec- second order (CSO), composite triple beat (CTB) and carri- torized with FC/APC connectors. The digital transmitter, re- er-to-noise ratio (C/N) are measured at three frequencies ceiver and optical attenuator are equipped with super FC/PC using standard NCTA recommended practices. The values optical connectors. An HP 8153 lightwave multimeter is used are shown in Table 1under the heading "Without digital." to measure the optical power levels of both systems. An HP The 1,550 nm digital is then reactivated. The system now 71401C signal analyzer is used to measure the RF perfor- has both 1,310 nm analog and 1,550 nm digital signals oper- mance of the AM system. ating over the same fiber. The optical input to the digital receiver is remeasured and remained at -30.1 dBm. The 1,310 Unidirectional transmission nm AM signal, therefore, has no noticeable effect on the dig- The system is configured as shown in Figure 1. The sig- ital receiver threshold. (Note: A more accurate measure of nal from the 1,310 nm AM transmitter and the 1,550 nm digital transmitter is wavelength division multiplexed onto a sin- (Continued on page 82) gle fiber using a high isolation (40 dB) unidirectional WDM. At the receive end, Figure 2 following transmission through 20 km of standard single-mode fiber, the WDM signal is demultiplexed using another 13:57.50 Sep 29, 1992 high isolation unidirectional WDM cou- RL 36.99 dBmV Mkr #1-\Frq. 1.31 MHz pler and sent to the appropriate re- • Atten. 0 dB 0 -74.85 dB ceivers. 10.00 dB/div. The digital system is first activated while the AM system remains off. The Marker _I output power of the digital transmitter 1.31 MHz measures -0.3 dBm. The variable optical -74.65 attenuator is then adjusted until the digi- 1 tal receiver reaches optical threshold. Operation below threshold will cause a loss of clock synchronization within the receiver and subsequent loss of digital signaling. By setting the digital receiver at threshold, we are able to determine if activating the AM system will add a significant amount of noise to cause the receiver to move beyond threshold. Optical threshold is measured at -30.1 dBm. A \...,- --•- - video output from one of the DIA converters is routed to the VM-700. The video performance is measured and found to exceed RS250C medium haul specification. Specifically, a 61.3 dB video signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) is measured. Center 83.25 MHz Span 10.00 MHz An optical power level of -38.4 dBm at ' RB 30.0 kHz VB 100 Hz *ST 10.00 sec 1,550 nm is measured at the 1,310 nm

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 55 External modulation for AM fiber CATV transport The following is adapted from apaper presented at the Soci- even order beats, re- ety of Cable Television Engineers' "Fiber Optics Plus '92" sulting in negligible Table 1: AM fiber CAN sys- conference. It appears in the "Fiber Optics Plus '92 Proceed- composite second tems progress ings Manual." order (CSO) distortions. However, the 1989 1990 1991 By Israel M. Levi odd order beats Number of channels 40 40 60 Director of Product Marketing Link (dB) 5 7 10 generated by an un- Carrier-to-noise ratio (dB) 50 50 50 Moshe Nazarathy compensated modu- Vice President, Research and Development Composite second order (dB) -60 -60 -65 lator would result in Composite triple beat (dB) -65 -65 -65 And Josef Berger Price ($ in 000) 30 20 15 Vice President, Engineering unacceptable com- Harmonic Lightwaves Inc. posite triple beat (CTB) distortions.' nthe last couple of years a great deal of progress has been In the last several Direct and external made in improving the performance of direct modulation AM years a great deal of Table 2: Ifiber CATV systems based on 1,300 nm DFB laser technolo- research has been modulation transmitter gy. (See Table 1.) Although some additional advances can be conducted on im- parameters expected in the performance of DFB lasers, practical limitations proving the linearity Direct External on output power, channel loading, RIN (relative intensity noise), and increasing the modulation modulation and sensitivity to optical reflections from the fiber, splices and depth of modulation Number of connectors are difficult to overcome. AM fiber CATV systems of external modula- channels 60 80 Power (mW) 4-6 10-20 based on external modulation can now be designed to minimize tors. 2.3, 4 Only re- m (%) I'd 60 Ch. 4 3.6 and in most cases eliminate these limitations, making the use of cently have practical RIN (dB/Hz) -155 -165 fiber more practical and economical. Figure 1depicts the princi- solutions to the lin- CSO (dBc) -65 -70 pal differences between direct and external modulation lightwave earization problem CTB (dBc) -65 -65 transmitters. With external modulation, the functions of light gen- materialized, mak- Connector penalty Yes No eration and modulation are separated, providing the flexibility for ing this technology Fiber optimization of the laser and modulator for specific applications. viable for CAN ap- penalty Yes No This flexibility is particularly important in AM fiber CATV applica- plications. There are tions that impose tough requirements on the transmitter. two main methods of linearization employed in commercially The key components of the external modulation transmitter available external modulation transmitters — one is based on are the solid-state Nd:YAG laser, which operates in aCW mode, optical feedforward compensation while the other on RF predis- and the electro -optical modulator made in lithium niobate tortion compensation (Figure 3on page 58). The optical feedfor- (LiNb03). The Nd:YAG laser can be designed and optimized for ward technique requires an additional laser in the transmitter the required output power, light beam quality, spectral character- and the cancellation of distortions actually takes place in the re- istic, RIN, long-term stability and reliability. Independently, modu- ceiver. Predistortion compensation, however, consists of strictly lator design can be optimized for optical loss, RF drive, band- electrical conditioning of the RF signal to the modulator. The width, frequency response, long-term stability and reliability. The predistortion method offers important advantages such as sim- modulator is an inherently nonlinear device with a precise sine plicity, ease of installation and system flexibility. A comparison shaped RF -to-light transfer characteristic (Figure 2). Under between direct and external modulation transmitter parameters closed loop control, the modulator can be biased to null out the is given in Table 2.

Figure 1: Principal differences between direct and external Figure 2: Modulator transfer modulation lightwave transmitters characteristic

Direct modulation External modulation with predistortion 1

DFB laser Nd:YAG Modulator I» Fibers Fiber laser out out

Laser driver Linearizer

RF in RF in

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Reader Service Number 68 The pump light at 808 nm is absorbed in Figure 3: Linearization using RF predistordon compensation the first few millimeters of the Nd:YAG material, exciting the Nd atoms up to the pump Optical modulator bands (Figure 5 on page 90). In response Modulated light to the pump light, the Nd:YAG emits light in Diode pumped CW light 1,319 nm. Using selective coatings on the solid-state Nd:YAG crystal and the output mirror, the Nd:YAG laser 1,319 nm light is confined to a resonant cavity overlapping the pump volume. A portion (1-2%) of the intracavity light is coupled through the output mirror of the resonator. • Design parameters. The output beam of the laser is near perfect Gaussian Linearizer shaped, allowing efficient coupling to sin- V gle-mode waveguides. Typical output power from solid-state Nd:YAG lasers ranges from 50 to 200 mW. The high frequency noise from the semiconductor laser diode pump is filtered by the Nd:YAG crystal, which has acutoff frequency of approximately 200 kHz. The RIN of these lasers in the CATV band is typically <-165 dB/Hz. The Nd:YAG laser provides a spectrally RF in narrow (<0.5 nm wide), stable emission spectrum at 1,319 nm. The optical feedback threshold for noise and distortion degradation is inherently better for Nd:YAG Figure 4: Diode-pumped laser construction lasers than for DFB lasers. The immunity to back reflection from the fiber and connectors is further en- Output coup ing mirror hanced by using an optical isolator to iso- High power Coupling late the gain medium of the Nd:YAG laser laser diode optics Nd:YAG Rod Light from the external modulator and subse- output quent fiber. The external modulator by itself acts as an attenuator for the return TEC light, further enhancing the isolation of the laser. Light at 1,319 nm back-reflected into Opt'cal LPlane mirror isolator the laser diode pump (which operates at HR at 1.3 gm 808 nm) does not interfere with the pump's AR at 0.81 gm normal operation because of the different wavelengths. AR at 1.3 gm • Reliability. The reliability of the Nd:YAG laser depends primarily on the power rating and the actual operating power of the semiconductor laser diode pump. All other components are passive, 1.3 gm reflector exhibiting no inherent degradation mecha- nisms. By derating the operating power of Solid-state diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser the pump, the lifetime of the laser can be extended to match the Diode-pumped solid-state lasers, which were developed in 10- to 20-year operation of DFB lasers. Facet power density and the early '70s and became popular at the end of the '80s, are the type of laser material determine the power ratings and the well suited as CW sources for external modulation systems. lifetime of semiconductor lasers. • Construction and operation. The construction of a diode- For example, the facet peak power of amplitude modulated pumped laser is depicted in Figure 4. It consists of a high-power DFB lasers can be as high as 20 mW on an emitting area of only semiconductor laser diode pump source, coupling optics, 2 gm square. An Nd:YAG laser, pumped by a 1W broad area Nd:YAG crystal and resonator mirrors. The pump is an 808 nm laser diode has an emitting area of 200 gm square. Thus, the AlGaAs quantum well laser with output power between 0.5 to 1 facet power density of the pump laser is half that of the DFB watt emitted from a broad active area of about 200 pm x 1gm. laser, although the total power is much higher. Accounting for This laser diode is mounted on a TEC (thermoelectric cooler) the material differences between InGaAsP and AlGaAs, the ex- such that its light spectrum can be fine-tuned by adjusting its pected lifetimes will be almost comparable. Optically efficient de- temperature to match the absorption band of the Nd:YAG mate- sign allows operation at lower pump power, thus extending the rial. life of the laser. The high-power laser diode light beam is collimated, shaped and focused on the Nd:YAG crystal using micro-optic lenses. (Continued on page 90)

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Reader Service Number 69 How wide bandwidth and FTF networks affect drop plant

By Mitchell Olfman President CEO. Electroline Equipment Inc.

able TV operators can assume almost nothing about the future ex- Ccept that it involves higher bandwidth systems, more optical fiber, intense competition for the loyalties of customers and provision of new types of services, including digital-based video and telecommunications. The early months of 1993, for example, found several cable operators moving rapidly toward a 750 MHz/1 GHz bandwidth target. Tele-Communications Inc., for example, announced late in 1992 that it was launching an accelerated rebuild program that would outfit virtually all of its networks with fiber-to-serving-area (FSA) designs, activating to 550 MHz initially but rolling up to 750 MHz as hy- brids are made available. Newhouse Broadcasting and Adelphia Communica- tions are among the major operators expanding bandwidth up to 750 MHz as well. Time Warner Cable Group has settled on a 1 GHz platform while Viacom Cable also is testing a 1 GHz platform at its Castro Valley, CA, system. At the similarly has altered industry thinking this is to segment the entire cable sys- same time, TCI, Time Warner, Rogers, about how trunk plant is designed. Be- tem into discrete "serving areas" of per- Viacom Cable and Newhouse Broad- fore, designers would start at aheadend haps 500 to 2,000 homes, each fed casting, among others, are installing op- or hub location and work out into the from one optical receiver. When that is tical fiber ring networks connecting many plant, stretching the trunk up to the point done, the total network return band- headends in acity or region. All of those that design signal parameters cannot be width effectively is multiplied by the decisions affect the way the industry de- met. Noise and distortion were the pri- number of serving areas. signs its headend facilities, trunk and mary limitations. The substitution of opti- For example, old tree-and-branch feeder plant. cal trunk for coaxial cable, however, networks (Figure 1) had the 5to 30 MHz changes all that. Today, network design bandwidth available (at least theoretical- Headend, trunk impact begins with assumptions about types of ly) to all customers on asingle trunkline, Consider headend location, for exam- services to be provided (how many representing something on the order of ple. Traditionally, headend location has channels of analog video, how much 25 MHz return bandwidth for 10,000 principally been dictated by real estate bandwidth for digital video, how much passings. But assume that same cable considerations (where suitable lots are for new telecommunications). Those as- system is upgraded with fiber, creating located), terrestrial interference issues sumptions in turn drive decisions about five optical serving areas of 2,000 and coaxial cable loss (trunk lines can use of the available return bandwidth homes each (Figure 2, page 96). Then only be run so far from any headend or using standard sub-split electronics. each 2,000-home area has access to its hub site). But especially when digital Just as cellular telephone systems own 25 MHz return bandwidth. So effec- transmission and optical fiber rings are break a city up into discrete areas so a tive network return bandwidth now available, the headend location no given set of frequencies can be reused grows to 125 MHz, even though stan- longer is dictated by these earlier consid- in the same market, cable operators dard subsplit electronics are used. erations. In essence, the headend can can segment their networks using opti- Taking this example one more step, be located anyplace on the ring. cal fiber so that the 5 to 30 MHz band- The advent of optical fiber technology width can be reused. One way of doing (Continued on page 96)

60 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY VM2410A

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See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 3349. Reader Service Number 70. The forgotten architecture powering

By Margaret Gaillard The same design was used for Manager, Design and Drafting Jones Intercable Inc. the second test area utilizing OP ar- Powering parameters chitecture. A total of 404 power sup- n architecture often over- plies were needed with the following •15 amp standby power supplies were looked is powering. Conven- breakdown: used on trunk actives. •3, 6, 9 and 12 amp non-standby tional powering is designed •6 amp non-standby: 159 with an A the feeder actives. so the trunk and feeder actives are average loading of 73%. •3 amp power supplies cost $205 fed off of the same power supply. •9 amp non-standby: 144 with an each. This type of powering architecture average loading of 71%. •6 amp power supplies cost $220 each. works well for cable TV but doesn't • 15 amp standby: 101 with an av- •9 amp power supplies cost $235 meet the needs of new and future erage loading of 73%. each. technologies. Up front capital for these power •12 amp power supplies cost $250 To address the new technologies, supplies is $171,335. Operating each. trunk actives should be powered with costs are $171,102 per year. The •15 amp power supplies cost $775 standby power supplies and feeder plus 3 batteries at $80 each. total first year cost is $342,437. Ini- •Electricity cost $0.12/kilowatt-hour actives powered with non-standby tial first year savings provided by OP power supplies. Ilike to refer to this architecture is $280,455 for a 720- powering architecture as "optimized mile system designed at 550 MHz Powering a 1,400-mile system con- powering" (OP). (Editor's note: A and density of 50 homes per mile. ventionally requires 672 standby variation of this approach is known The next design area utilized fiber power supplies at a cost of as "hardened trunk," where the feed- backbone architecture at 750 MHz $542,500. Average power supply er is powered separately from the and a density of 100 homes per mile loading is 62%. Annual operating ex- trunk using localized non-standby applying conventional powering. A penses are $411,482, resulting in a supplies. The trunk is powered with 1,400-mile system would require 900 total cost of $953,982. standby supplies, often equipped standby power supplies with an av- OP architecture applied to the with status monitoring. For more on erage loading of 69%. The capital same design scenario as the previ- hardened trunk, see the article on outlay for power supplies is ous paragraph would require 1,428 outage reduction in the February '93 $697,500 and annual operating power supplies with the following issue of "CT.") Not only does OP in- costs of $588,015. Total expenses breakdown: crease powering efficiency, the an- first year is $1,285,515. •3 amp non-standby: 644 with an nual operating costs are cheaper Powering the same system men- average loading of 70%. than conventional powering. As well, tioned in the previous paragraph •6 amp non-standby: 476 with an existing power grids are easier to using OP architecture resulted in average loading of 68%. match using OP architecture. 1,500 power supplies with the follow- •9 amp non-standby: 112 with an Gina Lemkau of Jones Intercable ing breakdown: average loading of 65%. has been comparing conventional •3 amp non-standby: 200 with an •15 amp standby: 196 with an av- powering to OP. The study involved average loading of 79%. erage loading of 76%. different design architectures and •6 amp non-standby: 700 with an Capital outlay for power supplies densities. average loading of 70%. is $445,500. Annual operating cost The first test area was designed •9 amp non-standby: 200 with an is $407,832. Total first year expense at 550 MHz utilizing a CAN (cable average loading of 65%. is $853,332. Utilizing the OP archi- area network) architecture with an • 12 amp non-standby: 200 with tecture results in an initial savings of average density of 50 homes per an average loading of 80%. $100,650. mile powered conventionally. For a •15 amp standby: 200 with an av- The average savings of OP archi- 720-mile system, 389 standby power erage loading of 76%. tecture over conventional powering supplies were needed with an aver- Capital cost of power supplies is seems to be directly related to the age loading of 62%. Capital needed $451,500 and annual operating cost design architecture and/or densities. for these 15 amp standby power is $550,934, totaling $1,002,434. Pri- Fiber backbone architecture at 550 supplies is $394,035. This results in mary savings of the OP architecture MHz and 750 MHz with 100 homes an operating cost of $228,058 per for a 1,400-mile system designed at per mile has a capital savings of year. Total cost the first year (capital 750 MHz averaging 100 homes per 33% and an operational savings of and operating) is $622,893. If 15 mile is $283,081. 7-10%. CAN architecture at 550 amp non-standby power supplies are The last test area was designed MHz with 50 homes per mile has a used the total first year cost is at 550 MHz employing fiber back- 45% capital and 25% operational $331,143. bone averaging 100 homes per mile. savings. CT 62 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY QUA L I T Y & R EL I ABILITY

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See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 1933. Reader Service Number 72. Ham radio operators in the cable TV industry The following is a list (in alphabetical order) of amateur Name Call Company Location radio operators employed in the CATV industry. It was com- Burton, Jack S. WB2CJS Cablevision Woodbury, NY Butts, John N2JUG MCTV New York, NY piled by Steve Johnson, NOAYE, who is in the process of Bybee, Jerry KG7GQ TCI Portland, OR adding a new category to include packet addresses for each Caci, Joe KA20CF of the hams. Please send any additions or corrections to Cady, Terry KC4HPU King Video Tujunga, CA Steve Johnson, at Time Warner Cable, 160 Inverness Dr. Cappe. Roger WA4PEA Cox Gainesville, FL Capron, John WB2RUQ Philips Manlius, NY W., P.O. Box 6659, Englewood, CO 80155-6659; fax (303) Carey, Bill KC4BPK Time Warner Cable Fayetteville, NC 799-5651. Carr, George WA5KBH/G0 Cablevision Bedsh Luton, UK Carr, Mike N4PON Paragon St. Petersburg, FL Name Call Company Location Carr, Peter WB3BQO Montague CableTV Montague, NJ Acevedo, Nelson KP4FEN CATV Noroeste San Antonio, PR Carvis, Timothy WB9ULP NYT Cable TV Cherry Hill, NJ Adams, John AB6ID Sonic Sacramento, CA Cerino, Charles WB3HVH Comcast Philadelphia, PA Adams, Mark KA4WCB Scientific-Atlanta Norcross, GA Chambers, Chris N8PAS Cable Link Columbus, OH Alexander, Gary KE5BS Post-Newsweek Altus, OK Checketts, Rick KAOKZB Jensen Tools Phoenix, AZ Alfred, Arvid KA7GFQ Glacier Cablevisionn Deming, WA Chesney, Tom WH6CED Time Warner Cable Honolulu, HI Allen, Fred KAOYAE ICI New Hope, MN Christensen, Joseph WB7VVTS White Pine Cable Ely, NV Allen, Steve KC6VCC Jones Roseville, CA Ciciora, Walt WB9FPW Time Warner Cable Stamford, CT Almeyda Jr., Willia m KN4BX Prestige Cable Cartersville, GA Clayton, Francis AH6X Kauai Cable Kekaha, HI Amos, Alan KN10 Jerrold Stow, MA Cohen, Jeff N1 ACQ Harron Londonerry, NH Anderson, David N7P0A TCI Seattle, WA Cohn, Bill N9MHT Zenith Glenview, IL Andrews, David N1 ESK Storer New Haven, CT Packet address: @W9ZMR.ILUSA .NOAM Annibaldi, Rich N8TBJ Pioneer Columbus, OH Colegrove, Tom WA6QBQ Lectro Santa Clarita, CA Ash, Ivan K4IML Consultant Columbia, MD Packet address: @K6IYK Atkins, Gary WOCGR CSU Tech Svc. Ft. Collins, CO Colter, Dave WA2ZCN Block Island Cable Block Island, RI Austin, Daryl WD8KJZ Paragon San Antonio, TX Coombs, Gary N4OJW Scientific-Atlanta Atlanta, GA Bach, Thomas KA9PDM Clear Cablevision Saline, MI Cordero, Francisco KP4CJ CATV Noroeste Aguadilla, PR Bailey, Wendell KC3BU NCTA Washington. DC Crown, Ron KH6JI Kauai Cable Kalaheo, HI Baker, James N6WRV USATEC Jolon, CA Danekind, John WD8PXI Coast CATV Cincinnati, OH Baker, Steven KA1 OEX Continental St. Paul. MN Davidson, Alan G4PSU ABP Ltd. Bramley, UK Bannister, David KK4FL Fairfax County Fairfax, VA Davis, Gary WD8LTS Antietam Cable Hagerstown, MD Barnes, Richard W4IXN Scientific-Atlanta Atlanta, GA Davis, Keith N9IBS Comcast Paducah, KY Barnes. Ron NOPDC Triad Comm. Littleton, CO Davis, Matt N8000 Cable Link Columbus, OH Bartlett, Dave NOCQC ICI Englewood. CO Dawkins, Al KOFRP Time Warner Cable Denver, CO Baur, Wayne WB9HIE ICI Cahokia, IL Dean, Brad K1 KEK TCI S. Yarmouth, MA Baxter, Frank K2ZLA Cable Mgmt. Svc. Schenectady. NY DeHart, Steve N2PFB Philips Manlius, NY Beckham, Chuck N4XZV Voltex Battery Doraville. GA Deierlein, Peter KD2LN Philips Manlius, NY Beeman, Paul KA2MUM Viacom Smithtown, NY DellaGuardia, Joe WB2WLY ICI Baltimore, MD Belyea, Brinton W4GSF 1st Commonwealth Gloucester, VA Dewey, Steve N8JRJ ICI Royal Oak, MI Bentley, Bill N5POB Dimension Midland, TX Dickinson, Bob W2CCE Dovetail Bethlehem, PA Beuret, Kit KH6JDE Time Warner Cable Honolulu, HI Dickinson, Ed WA2FAC Dovetail Bethlehem, PA Biggar, Norm VE3MTV Maclean Hunter Owen Sound, Ont Dineen, Jim WB7RIQ TCI Aberdeen, WA Blackstone, Larry W8FZ Dantron Milton, FL Ditlow, Doran A. WA8EOW ICI Grand Rapids, MI Biais, Brian N1 KIM Continental Springfield, MA Domina, Frank N9MXI Zenith Glenview, IL Packet address: @N1MEA.#WMA.MA.USA.NA Driscoll, Sean WA2CRB Cross Country Warren, NJ Blanchard, David KAOHIB Municipal Util. Coon Rapids, IA Dryden, James W6KIS Buckeye Cable Toledo, OH Blanchard, James E. N1FEC Adelphia Sandwich, MA Duda, Lada OK2BLD Cable Plus Ostrava, Czech. Blumberg, David N1HHI ACS Manchester, NH Dudziak, Ted WA1GPC EIP Microwave San Jose, CA Blumsack, Harvey W1VIK Superior Optic Marietta, GA Dusbabek, Lee WB6KAJ Cableware Elec. Brea, CA Bohnhoff, Mark WB9UOM M. Bohnhoff Wheeling, IL Packet address: @WB6YMH.#SOC AL.CA.USA Borchert, Marshall KDODU Riser-Bond Aurora, NE Duval, Joe AA4JV Hillsborough County Tampa, FL Borsetti, Paul N4PMT Scientific-Atlanta Atlanta, GA Dzuban, Mark KB2IT Cross Country Warren, NJ Boume, Dave WB8TMP Pioneer Comm. Columbus, OH Ehman, Roy VE6EV Retired Lubbock, TX Bowen, Todd KB50VM Textel Cable Autin, TX Eichenlaub, Frank NOTPR ICI Denver, CO Bowick, Chris WD4C Jones Englewood, CO Eide. Joe KB9R Time Warner Cable Eau Claire, WI Bowles, Tom W7VA King Video Seattle, WA Emig, Tim KK4YU Storer Louisville, KY Boye, Greg WB8NGA Time Warner Cable Columbus. OH Engelman, Paul N6KZW Continental Stockton, CA Bray, James R. WOFBC Time Warner Cable Kansas City, MO Epling, Jack KC6HMP Ventura County West Lake Village, CA Brillhart, Scott N5JJZ TCI Tulsa, OK Evanko, Steve N2HCR Blonder-Tongue Old Bridge, NJ Brinkley, Chris WA4LSW Marks Cable Portage Lake, OH Evans. Bill VE4UD EB Systems Ltd. Winnipeg, Man Packet address: @WB8B11.#NEOH.OH.USA.NA Evans Jr., Bernie W6JMK TeSCO Topanga, CA Brown, Bob NOEUH Westec McLouth, KS Evanyk, Walt W8KSW Cable Health Care Dallas, TX Brown, John H. W7CKZ TCI Olympia, WA Packet address: @W5YI Brown, Philip WAOZFE Sumner Cable TV Wellington, KS Everett, Chris KB5GGY Cox Oklahoma City, OK Brown, Charles KD4BCX Time Warner Cable Greensboro, NC Faber, Randall WA1NSL Amer. Cable Comm. Beltsville, MD Brownell, Eric KB6YI Sonic Sacramento. CA Farmer, Jim K4BSE Scientific-Atlanta Atlanta, GA Bryan, Tim O. WH6CAD Jones Hilo, HI Farmer, Jim N4IBW Superior Tele. Atlanta, GA Burns, Bob K1RB Continental Brockton, MA Felker, Lex N4LF Time Warner Washington, DC Burrell, John KFOQY Tektronix Denver. CO Packet address: @KA4USE

64 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY "Off-frame splicing is really easy with this FOCUS system from Porta Systems."

"And with Aster's pretested, preinstalled splitters we're actually ahead of schedule and under budget!"

«‘_

At Porta Systems, our focus is on Couplers. Aster, a Porta Systems company, offers developing products that solve wideband couplers that provide the most stable per- real problems in the field — like formance (≤3.6d13l over a :-.10nm wavelength range the splice tray insert of the at both 1310 and 1550nm, and directivity as good as FOCUS/ system that unspools <-65dB. These thermally stable couplers can be up to five feet from the frame to provided with angle polish connectors and/or used provide the ciaftsperson easy access. And FOCUS trays that for splicing in line, packaged in the FOCUS coupler- are supplied fully equipped with tested couplers, WDMs, storage system. and angle polish connectors, Unitary' Couplers. Our revolu- resulting in installation savings tionary design enables just one and improved system integrity. unitary coupler to do the job of For your convenience, Porta Systems seven concatenated couplers. We your "one-stop shop - for fiber can also provide couplers with optic products and support identical or varied split ratios for required for even the most ambi- specialized applications. Smaller tious installations. packages, better performance! Here's what they're saying about Line Terminators. Aster's fiber Porta Systems' fiber optic products: optic line terminators effective- Universal Housings. Since no two ly absorb the light from open installations have exactly the same fiber ports while minimizing requirements. Porta Systems' FOCUS back reflection and protecting housings offer modularity, so you the open port connector and can put the functions you need right where you need them. fiber from damage. In addition to improving system One housing can accommodate spliced fibers, couplers, and performance, they contribute to asafe working environ- pigtails, doing the job of two or three dedicated housings. ment. And for increased economy, Aster's line termina- Patchcords and Pigtails. Our patchcords and pigtails give tors are reusable. you the reliable performance you need, including super-low So talk to us. We listen. To return loss, at the economical price you expect from Porta order the literature on Porta Systems. All popular connector types are available, includ- Systems' full line of fiber optic ing new angle polish connectors (APCs) for analog video. products, call I-800-93PORTA.

Syosset, NY •FAX 516-682-4636 parta.systEms ASTER Hopkinton, MA •FAX: 508-435-0220 CORP Reader Service Number 73 New directions compatible rates. International con- "The age of digital nections generally are made at the in digital DSO level, and only then after coding broadband services (Continued from page 52) translations due to differences in the for the mass market A well-know hierarchy of digital in- DSO PCM coders. Services requiring is upon us." terfaces based on the DSO rate has more digita: bandwidth than DSO evolved. In the U.S., this is referred to have evolved using multiple concate- as the North American Digital Hierar- nated DSOs, and full DS1s or DS3s chy and consists of the familiar DS1 as necessary. In most cases, howev- (networked) communications systems (1.544 Mbps, a multiplex of 24 DSOs) er, these interfaces have internal applications have been forced to con- and DS3 (44.736 Mbps, a multiplex of structures traceable back to, or divisi- form to the N*64 kbps, or N*DS1 in- 28 DS1s) transmission interfaces. ble into, DSO bit streams. terfaces that are most economically CCITT countries have evolved a simi- Overshadowed by the large vol- available on a universal basis. This lar hierarchy, albeit at different, in- ume of DSO traffic, other wide area limitation is minimal for systems that ultimately interface with voice services, but has been increasingly in- flexible in addressing broadband and variable rate services. This limitation, Sealed Bid and the increasing demand for more flexible bandwidth allocation are the major drivers behind the need for a Test Instruments new networking strategy, the second And Spring Cleaning Sale! digital revolution. Data communications — OOOOOO • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • OOOOO • • OOOOO • • OOOOO • • • Variable, complex, unique Data communications channels, in- •Spectrum Analyzers volving connections between computers and between computers and (usu- -Hewlett Packard ally slower speed) peripherals, have typically not been constrained by a -Tektronix simple rate determining mechanism -Avcom like 8 kHz * 8 bits/sample. Rather, data channel demands are typically -Texscan hardware and software/application- dependent. As hardware performance •Wavetek Bench &Field and application complexity increases, Sweep Systems so too does the demand for channel bandwidth. The demand for rapid •Excess & Cosmetically growth and customization by applica- Blemished CATV/ MAW ! tion has driven data networking into a Satellite Equipment split universe — local networking systems implemented specifically for •Many more items data applications and wide area networks that interconnect the local net- Call Vito or Debbie today for works. complete list: Most data communications applica- Voice: (908)-679-4000 tions differ from telephony applica- 111 ) 8558B„ 182I BLONDER tions in that they are not real-time TONGUE Fax: (908)-679-4353 sensitive. This has facilitated the de- 8Seg. RSI DISH velopment and evolution of systems Bid Closes July 6, 1993 that are independent of connection rate and permit the user to obtain per- BLONDER formance on a "willingness to pay" basis. Transmission delays covering TONGUE the range of "0" (bus speed) through LABORATORIES, INC "hours" (dial up, store-and-forward) are implemented widely in today's One Jake Brown Road systems. This flexibility has permitted Old Bridge, NJ 08857 USA data communications systems to adapt to a wide range of connection Individual Lot Bids Accepted environments. However, the same lack of an optimally sized transmis- See us at the NCTA Show -The Moscone Convention Center San Francisco, California, June 7-9, 1993, Booth #4449 sion channel time it has limited the Reader Service Number 75 74 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY growth of real-time or quasi real-time "Today's best an- timized for multimedia, since it does systems, or in some cases limited not have a significant investment in those applications to hard-wired net- swers will give way first-generation digital networks. How- works with reduced flexibility. to better ones as the ever, the broadening of CATV ser- marketplace evolves vices into the telephony-like commu- Video, interactive nications services necessitates the broadband, multimedia — and consumer de- development and deployment of a "A worst-case combination?" mand defines new compatible strategy, perhaps opti- From a network developers and applications." mized for multimedia as a dominant operators perspective, digital video payload. and related signals, often collected under the multimedia umbrella, repre- The challenges on network archi- Network modeling — sent a worst-case combination of the tecture and deployment represented Evaluating alternatives attributes discussed previously. Deliv- by multimedia sources are not unique The development of open network- ery is real-time, often requiring high to broadband CATV networks. How- ing and protocol standards for com- responsiveness (low delay). Bit rates ever, the fact that a high percentage munications systems has been facili- cover a broad range (e.g., 500 kbps of the digital traffic on future CATV tated by segmentation of the overall to 15 Mbps) and are often variable, networks will be digital video empha- problem into well-identified functions and connections are long term, mea- sizes the need for a solution. Payload or layers. The ISO 7 layer protocol sured in hours. Additionally, many characteristics for all networked ser- stack for open systems interconnec- video-related services will be highly vices, voice data and multimedia, are tion (OSI) is a good example. This asymmetric, requiring only a few kilo- evolving toward a common set of structured analysis technique leads to bits per second upstream while re- characteristics, data message/multi- improved understanding of end-to- quiring many megabits in the down- media-oriented with wide variations in end interface issues, with or without stream (to the customer) direction. bit rate and delay tolerance. In gener- interconnecting networks, and pro- Note also that while upstream control al, a network structure offering bit vides a well-understood basis for messages may be of low average rate, delay and routing flexibility with evaluation of alternatives. bandwidth, the high responsiveness grades of service that can be appro- requirement will in general require a priately tiered for costing considera- A layered network model high bit rate channel, either continu- tions is required. CATV does have the Having analyzed the networking ous or on a burst basis. opportunity to focus on a network op- challenges in CATV broadband net-

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Reader Service Number 76 Reader Service Number 77

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 75 No problem!

12 Operators face tough

ederal an agreement between municipal al Jopted cable groups, this is the first major rev dards sion of the FCC's standards in 15 yea Cable and affects systems of 1,000 subscribe! lation or more.

;and One of the key provisions of the nev fsup- standards will raise minimum noise per-

them formance from 16 fiefs ; k 's1— •

tone

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To keep costs low, reliability high, and quality at tive or 1-800 -TEK -WIDE today. Tektronix works, a layered model for CATV net- "Simple math on the tion process is followed by appropri- working as shown in Figure 1on page ate frequency translations, bandpass 52 is proposed. Recognizing that 5 byte header, 48 filtering and broadband combining. there is no single best model for this byte data cell con- • Layer 3 — multiplex layer. Mul- application, this approach is proposed cept will reveal that tiple information or program streams as a basis for comparison of various are combined in the multiplex layer. networking options and need not re- the basic (ATM) for- In digital systems, this step typically late directly to physical interfaces be- mat is about 89% ef- combines N "low-speed" signals into tween discrete equipment elements. ficient." a single "high-speed" signal for inter- In many cases, the provision of a vir- face to the transport layer. Combin- tual interface within an equipment ele- ing rules and multiplex formats will ment will facilitate future enhance- the transmission or modulation format be dependent on the interfaces cho- ments to the network. to be used on the physical medium sen. • Layer 1 — physical layer. The and any channel processing (e.g., for- • Layer 4 — program layer. In the lowest layer on the stack is the physi- ward error correction) that is required program layer, multiple related cal medium itself. In CATV systems, in applying that format. Options such source streams are combined to cre- the obvious candidates are coaxial as quadrature phase shift keying ate a single "package" called a pro- cable, fiber-optic cable and satellite (QPSK), quadrature amplitude modu- gram or perhaps more generally, a links. Others might include wireless lation (QAM), vestigal sideband (VSB) service. For example, a video stream channels such as direct microwave and binary digital keying (return to and its related audio stream(s) and distribution systems and perhaps zero, RZ, or non-return to zero, NRZ) control (data) streams are processed even twisted-pair copper cable. are a few of the most likely digital so that in lower layers they appear These physical media support various modulation techniques for CATV digi- as one stream, the program. This bandwidths and in general are capa- tal applications. If using the model for process may be defined as placing ble of supporting several modulation a traditional AM system, AM-VSB and the streams in a well-defined frame schemes, often simultaneously. In frequency modulation are typical for- format or simply adjusting bits in the this model, the manner in which a mats for CATV. headers of the component data particular physical layer is used will If frequency division multiplexing packet streams. In the latter case, be defined by the second layer. (FDM) is used with the system, as is the program stream can contain sev- • Layer 2 — transport layer. The typical for all but the RZ/NRZ digital eral virtual channels, with real chan- transport layer in this model defines modulation options, then the modula- nels created on the fly by a program ITW ASN'T ENOUGH FOR PYRAMID/ CABELCON To DESIGN A SMALL, YET STRONG, FIBER OPTIC CABLE CONNECTOR LOADED W ITH FEATURES. THIS CONNECTOR ALSO HAS A SMALL PRICE TAG TO MATCH! Simply building asmall fiber connector is asizable achievement—but keeping the price tag equally small is a Rotational Nut miracle. Especially when you consider the features built into these

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See us the NCTA Show, Booth #1437 Reader Service Number 79 78 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY layer that chooses specific data packet streams based on a program Figure 2: Satellite uplink - headend downlink map that is downloaded or in some o o o o tri alternative manner delivered to the a) -o— — -0 7 CO receiver. < > < In the case of a traditional AM CATV system, the program layer might be considered the step where VA A video and audio channels are com- • • • bined via subcarrier modulation to create the baseband NTSC video A VA V A signal. Work in the MPEG 2 Systems • • • Group is presently focused on devel- A D VAD V A oping program assembly standards for digital programs. Digital Digital Digital Digital 000 • • • • Layer 5 — encryption layer. In program program program program digital systems, encryption of the bit stream can be applied at several lev- Mu tiprogram Mu tiprogram multiplex multiplex els in the process. In this model, we define the encryption layer to exist at FEC/scramble/QPSK FEC/scramble/QPSK the point where components (audio, video, data) of the program are iden- Satellite channel tifiable and may wish to be individually encrypted. • Layer 6 — signal processing layer. Each of the program compo- work design is to define interfaces and 4 is appropriate. The end objec- nents may pass through a process- that can be implemented by evolving tive of a network based on this ing step such as compression or technologies and therefore by vari- model is to provide services to end transcoding, depending on the na- ous sources (equipment vendors). A customers. Customers will be partic- ture of the service. good example for CATV networks is ularly satisfied if the manner in which • Layer 7 — conversion layer. AM fiber technology as deployed they receive service is totally trans- The highest layer in this model pro- today. The traditional interface to parent to them (i.e., the same high- vides an interface to the "outside Layer 1 was a 75 ohm physical con- quality picture on their home TV sets world" that seeks to isolate the lower nection to the cable. AM fiber sys- whether delivered via a 200-channel layers from the wide variety of signal tems replace the coax with 75 ohm AM-VSB system or a 200-channel sources. The conversion process is ports on laser transmitters and opti- compressed digital system). At an unnecessary if all signal sources are cal receivers. Higher layers in the even lower level, those same cus- already in a format appropriate for network need not be modified and in tomers need not care what transport the lower layers. Conversions might fact are unable to distinguish the medium was used to provide that be a simple as translation from paral- fiber-based Layer 1 from a coaxial service. This transparency assumes lel digital-to-serial digital, or as com- one. of course that it is physically possi- plex as analog NTSC-to-serial digital The definition of layer-to-layer in- ble to provide comparable services. component video (D1/CCIR 656). terfaces becomes more complex in Customer satisfaction with a video- higher layers as the functionality of on-demand (VOD) system based on Interlayer interfaces the layer processing increases. For a 500-channel compressed delivery One of the goals in applying a this transport-oriented discussion, system may be impossible to structured design approach to net- focus on interfaces at Layers 1, 2, 3 achieve, at least economically, with

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Reader Service Number 80

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 79 See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 1933. Reader Service Number 81.

available AM technology, for exam- BASICS ACOURSE IN APPLICATIONS FOR CATV ple. The transparency objective from July 27-29 /Philadelphia, PA &Sept. 14-16 /Charlotte. NC OF the network providers perspective is C-COR offers acomprehensive 3-day seminar to make several implementation op- FIBER on fiber optics and its applications in CAN. The tions equivalent in terms of perfor- course is geared toward system engineers, mance and functionality. These op- OPTICS system managers, chief technicians and anyone tions might include purchasing equiv- interested in the use of fiber for CAN-like alent or interoperable transport sys- applications. tems from several vendors or using For more information call different media and transport systems 800-233-2267 ext. 4422. in various parts of the network, freely interconnecting them as necessary. 60 Decibel Road /State College, PA 16801 Given the rapid pace of service evolu- conELECTRONICS INC tion, it is particularly important that new networking architectures place as few constraints as possible on the nature of the program or service The BEST TDR stream as defined previously. More specifically, avoiding constraints such as "only N *64" deserves high priority as new services enter the market- just got BETTER! place.

ATM and Level 2- to-Level 3 interfaces Asynchronous transfer mode is a broadband digital networking concept developed by CCITT committees to address the need for a flexible, universal transport capability for voice, data, video and other new services. It is in its initial deployment phases now, as ATM capability is seeded into existing Layer 1and Layer 2 facilities. Although often considered to be a SONET-only transport standard, it is in its most general form simply a continuous stream of 53 byte packets, referred to as cells to indicate their fixed-length nature. Five bytes of every cell, the header, contain information about the nature of the 48 byte payload, where it is headed to (routing information) and other network defining elements. ATM descrip- tions abound in the literature, so here we will focus only on ATM's appropri- ateness for this application. M Metallic TDR ATM provides two major benefits Model 1220 Cable Fault Locator when used in the Level 3 to Level 2 interface. First, the multiplexing and demultiplexing processes that are im- Call today for more information plemented in Layer 3 need follow only simple rules, there is no complex TOLL FREE frame format associated with the interface. Multiplexing is simply combin- Riser Bond 1-800-688-8377 ing cell streams from multiple sources 1-800-876-1161 as cells become available. If a multiplex runs out of input cells to the INSTRUMENTS Represented in Canada by: combining process, it substitutes DGH Communications Systems LTD. dummy or stuff cells. Bandwidth is Scarborough, Ontario 800-267-4746 available on an as-needed basis, per- Reader Service Number 82 mitting a wide range of rates for indi-

BO JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Figure 3: Satellite uplink - headend downlink - digital to home

O0 o o • i5 a) ,6 z > < (:) > < 44

V A •• V V

A A A V • • V V A D A D A D

Digital D gital Digital ••• program program program

Mul iprogram Selector and multiplex • demultiplex

FEC/QPSK FEC/OPSK F D(DAM FEC/QAM

Satellite channel Broadband fiber/coax

Uplink Headend Home

vidual services or service compo- before the MPEG 2 Systems Sub- link, as in Figure 3. Using the model as nents. Secondly, interfaces are asyn- committee proposes a 192 byte cell a building block, evaluate your network chronous. The only limiting factor on structure, suitable for use as a trans- evolution plans. the process is that some higher level port format or easily converted into 4 control mechanism ensure that the ATM cells when required for transport Summary total cell rate into the process be less on pure ATM networks. A major responsibility of network ar- than or equal to the output rate of the chitects and planners is to ensure that combiner. Using the model — aflexible path exists for future services A potential drawback to using ATM CATV digital networks evolution and network expansion. In in video networks is throughput effi- The analysis model of Figure 1 many cases, expansion will mean in- ciency. Simple math on the 5 byte (page 52) can be used to analyze vari- terconnection and sharing of capacity header, 48 byte data cell concept will ous network configurations for flexibility with telephony-oriented networks, reveal that the basic format is about and extensibility. A simple example is broadband digital links based on ATM 89% efficient. While competitive with shown in Figures 2 (page 79) and 3. In and SONET. CATV networks, adding traditional broadband digital transport Figure 2 we model a simple satellite digital connectivity in the near future, framing formats, recovering some of uplink to headend downlink, a simple are poised to take advantage of the this lost efficiency is currently a topic one-hop network. Then, at some later most current trends and technologies. of discussion and a subject for con- date, the headend serves as a digital Careful analysis of present and future sideration in establishing a network interconnect point between the digital needs will ensure the maximum return architecture. One proposal currently satellite link and a digital CATV cable for your network dollar. CT

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Reader Service Number 83

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 81 Transporting analog and digital Figure 3 (Continued from page 55) 14:01:29 Sep 29. 1992 RL 36.99 dBmV Mkr #13,Frq. 1.31 MHz

0 the digital signaling is to analyze the digi- •Allen. 0 dB -72.28 dB 10.00 dB/div. tal eye pattern and measure the bit error rate before and after injection of the 1,310 nm AM signal. However, in setting Marker A the optical input power at the digital re- 1.31 MHz -72.28 ceiver threshold, any significant amount 1 of additional noise from the 1,310 nm signal will cause the receiver to move below threshold.) The recovered digital video is remeasured and found that no change in video performance has occurred. All RS250C medium haul specifications are met and video S/N remained constant at 61.3 dB. • Next, the same analog channels are remeasured to determine if the 1,550 nm digital signal has any impact on the 1,310 nm AM signal. The CSO and CTB showed no measurable degradation. -..- Utees*----4.'"-s--"\•.., , However, a full 2 dB rise in the noise floor was observed throughout the entire 50 to 550 MHz RF spectrum. The values Center 83.25 MHz Span 10.00 MHz for CSO, CTB and C/N are shown in • RB 30.0 kHz "VB 100 Hz * ST 10.00 sec Table 1 (page 55) under the heading "With digital." Figures 2 (page 55) and 3 respectively show the C/N measure- . . .. -

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Reader Service Number 84 82 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AFFILIATES OF SHOWTIMF AND TH" MOVIE CHANNEL RED ALERT!. .. RED ALERT!. .. RED ALERT!. .. RED ALERT! DON'T BE

If you've missed our VideoCpher® upgrade mailings, you could be left in the dark!

Showtime Networks Inc. and General Instrument are working DON'T BE LEFT IN THE DARK together to upgrade your commercial VideoCipher - equipment. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Your commercial VideoCipher units must be replaced with the new, FOR GENERAL INFORMATION, CALL Showtime Networks Inc. at: more secure VideoCipher RS (VCRS)TM technology if you are to 212-708-1544 continue to get SHOWTIME® and THE MOVIE CHANNEP East FOR TECHNICAL INFORMATION, and West signals in the future. CALL General Instrument at: If you missed, or have not responded to, our mailings, you must 800-845-2748 do so by June 30 in order to receive your new equipment through FOR SMATV, MMDS OR HOTEL INFORMATION, the Showtime Networks Inc./General Instrument upgrade program. CALL Showtime Networks Inc. at: 212-708-1365 Otherwise, you'll be left in the dark when the VideoCipher II Or write SHOWTIME NETWORKS INC., 1633 Broadway, 5th Floor, commercial data stream is discontinued. New York, NY 10019, Attn: Affiliate Services.

The upgrade program is available only to eligible SHOWTIME and The MOVIE CHANNEL"' affiliates for their authorized primary VideoCipher II or VideoCipher II Plus decoders For further details on eligibility, please call Showtime Networks Inc at 212708.1544. re) SHOWTIME NETWORKS INC. All rights reserved. SHOWTIME NETWORKS ED General Instrument SHOWTIME and THE MOVIE CHANNEL are service marks of SHOWTIME NETWORKS INC. Reader Service Number 85 Figure 4: C/N for analog system with and without ti DRAKE presense of unidirectional digital data at 1,550 nm —e— C/N without digital C/N with digital *1240 IRD $579 (Without Descrambler Card) 56

*Receivers, IRD's 54

*Agile Modulators 52

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48 (800) 331-5997 83.25 325.25 547.25

Frequency (MHz)

SCIENTIFIC Ment at 83.25 MHz without and with the digital signal activated. Figure 4 shows the C/N data points of the 1,310 nm ATLANTA signal both with and without digital. Modulators Processors The probable cause for this degradation is insufficient 6350 6140 isolation within the VVDM devices. A spectrum analysis of 6340 6150 the 1.6 Gb/s NRZ digital signaling is shown in Figure 5. 6330 6130 9220 The figure shows the typical sin(x)/x function of an NRZ Line Gear Receivers signal. To an analog system, however, this appears as ran- TRUNKS (300-550MZ) 9650 dom noise. Despite being nearly 40 dB down in level from LINE EXTENDERS 9640 the 1.310 nm AM signal. the detected optical power from DISTRIBUTIONS AMPS 9630 FEED FORWARD 9530 the 1.550 nm signal has sufficient level to cause an impair- POWER INSERTERS 9531 PADS TAPS 6650 AGC'S DC's 6680 Figure 5 SPLITTERS 6603 EQUALIZERS 6601 12:16:38 Sep 29. 1992 RL -10.00 dBm Mkr #1 Fr( 1575 N. 105th E. Ave. I Tulsa, Oklahoma 74116 Atten. 2 dB LW OPT 918-836-8348 5.00 dB/div. Avg. F1vvi. -11.3 (J151 rI OPT Marker 1.553 GHz -23.53 SPORTS 1 BLACK-OUT 0

ONSCREEN DISPLAY

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800-331-5997 Start 0 MHz St( ' RB 300 kHz *VB 3.00 Hz

Reader Service Number 86 84 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ment in the 1,310 nm AM system. The result e being an increase in the noise floor, thus, degradation in the C/N. To improve isolation, two or RECE IVER'SI PROCESSOR'S' MOdU[AIOR'SI Val% SA NC'S more WDM devices can be cascaded at the expense, however, of additional insertion loss. An equation is given showing the relationship of the noise contribution from different sources to the total C/N. The total C/N in the WDM system is FACT expressed as: '92Average C/N Tcyr = 10log(C A + NA)- 10log[1 + (ND + NA)] Repair Charge = C/N Am -10log[1 + (ND + NA)] _ESS T-iAN

Where: $100.00 C/NTOT = total carrier-to-noise ratio Including Parts C/N Am = carrier-to-noise ratio of the AM system CA = amplitude of AM carrier 1b7b N 105th E Ave Tulsa,OK /4116 NA = noise contribution from AM system - r ND = noise contribution from digital system 331.5997 600 (800) As the noise contribution from the digital system approaches zero, the total C/N equals C/N Am . Therefore, as WDM isolation increases, there is less noise contribution from the 1,550 nm digital signal. WANTED Another consideration is the relative optical power levels of the two signals. A lower optical launch power of the 1,550 nm signal results in a lower 1,550 nm level at the analog receiver. The 1,550 nm signal will, therefore, have less impact on the 1,310 nm AM signal. If the ratio of AM *VidEociphERS optical power at 1,310 nm to digital optical power at 1,550 MOdUEATOR PS nm increases, then an improvement should be seen in the C/N of the 1,310 nm AM signal. A relationship exists between relative optical power and PnocESSORPS isolation. The greater the isolation of the WDM, the larger the difference in relative optical power RECEIVER'S between 1,310 and 1,550 nm. Given the relationship in WDM isolation, rela- LiNE GEAR 1.553 MHz tive optical power levels and C/N, it is believed -2 8.53 dB that any signal at 1,550 nm, regardless of modulation (analog or digital), could cause an impair- (800) 331-5997 ment in a 1,310 nm AM system. This implies that 6,rtff•o•doh•f IV • f•Of•Uffed t,•cloffn•ft of G•r•r•I trogfure•ox two unidirectional AM systems, one operating at 1,310 nm and the other at 1,550 nm, can potentially interfere with one another. Further testing EXCHANGE VCII's on unidirectional WDM AM systems is needed to One Day Turnaround verify this assumption. $ 1 69 0 0 Bidirectional transmission The system is reconfigured as shown in Fig- We Fix Vell'e ure 6 on page 86. The same procedures are used for testing each system as outlined previously. Each system is first tested while the other is turned off to form a baseline for comparison. After both systems are activated and coupled into the fiber, the testing is repeated to determine if either system has an effect on the other. During bidirectional transmission we observed no measurable impairment of the 1,310 nm AM signal due to the presence of the 1,550 nm digital signal and vice versa. The values for CSO, 2.890 GHz CTB and C/N from the 1,310 AM both with and T 100.0 sec , (800) 331-5997 without the presence of digital at 1,550 nm are shown in Table 2 on page 88. Reader Service Number 87 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 85 Figure 6: Lightwave WDM system for bidirectional transmission of digital video and analog AM signals

16. 8-bit video 16. 8-bit video A/D converters D/A converters Attenuator

1.6-Gb/s 1550 nm 1.6 Gb/s 1550 nm )t'1,550 digital Tx digital Rx

WDM WDM

20 km single-mode fiber

50-550 MHz 5-550 MHz 1.310 nm AM Tx 1,310 nm AM Rx

ir 80 channels ik 80 channels r50 to 550 MH7 r50 to 550 MHz

Conclusion We have demonstrated a 1,310/1,550 nm WDM light- Wavelength division multiplexing is commonly used in wave system that transports 80 channels (55.25- communication networks to expand the capacity of optical 547.25 MHz) and 16 uncompressed digital video chan- fiber. This experiment shows that both analog and digital nels. The analog system uses a directly modulated DFB signals can coexist on the same fiber; provided one pays laser operating at 1,310 nm. The digital signal is a 1.6 attention to the isolation of the WDM devices and the rela- Gb/s synchronous TDM digital system operating at an tive optical power ratio between the 1,310 nm and 1,550 optical wavelength of 1,550 nm. Both systems are typi- nm signals. cal "off-the-shelf" components that are currently, and in-

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11 - Now we're Videocipher 111UL! ittut e on a whole new 3 -tefirri!triet Headend Equipment 11111 I 1 131 wavelength. ------1-, Test Equipment ditififiiift . Obi L.1,1 .•fJ Line Equipment 1 rnrtmn air ti :n Repair fifl11ft11 fdfl 3- Manufacturing fir ftilftletfttlfeifritfrilftfifffiftli • .21 Research

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Reader Service Number 88

86 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY The New Generation of Test Equipment. Introducing Modularity

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A convenient, inexpensive way to increase less expensive than purchasing any non- the capability of our liteweight, full function SLM by modular, single function test device. adding aSnifferLite leakage detection module, or Your system can be seen in awhole other modules as available. new lite. WindowLitePLUS. Write, fax or call today to talk to aknowledgeable Modularity means testing flexibility, more choices. product representative or to receive acomprehensive brochure. But place your order By adding the convenient snap-in-place module of and keep the lite on your system. your choice, the WindowLitePLUS immediately ComSonics. First again with system testing gives the field technician greater flexibility On innovation...modularity and "power-up", the high resolution LCD screen asks WindowLitePLUS. you to select which testing functions you wish to use. A touch of the keypad and it's ready. The choice is yours...the WindowLitePLUS signal level meter or the test capability of the module you attached. " Come ONICKINC. Afull range, plus.... Denmark 1350 Port Republic Road Dansk Kabel TV (I.)RT)* WindowLitePLUS doesn't stop there. New PLUS offers: Harrisonburg, Virginia 22801 Lykkesvej 1-3, EJBY 4070 Kirke Hyllinge +24-Hour Time Interval Sampling Telephone 800-336-9681 Denmark +Expanded Memory Capacity or 703-434-5965 Telephone: 45-42-405700 Telefax 703-434-9847 Telefax: 45-42-406287 +Downloading to PC/Printer (Hardy C. Hansen) +Interface with Vehicle Docking Station In Canada contact Sweden As asingle, basic unit new WindowLitePLUS lncospec Inc. Elltepe' AB* 3150,Delaunay Renstiemas Gata 12 gives you the full spectrum awareness you'd expect Laval, Quebéc H7L 9Z7 S-11631 in aComSonics signal level meter. Its sweep screen Denmark Stockholm, Sweden Telephone: 514-686-0033 Tephone: 46-8-7140400 shows bar graphs of amplitude and digital display of Telefax: 514-688-7709 Telefax: 46-8-6436439 (Ame' Bergman) Contact ComSonics for information on other See us at the NCTA Show. Booth #2215. Reader Service Number 89. European and Middle Eastern distributors tested. The digital sys- Table 2: CSO, CTB and C/N performance at 1,310 nm on abidirectional WDM tem showed no degra- system with and without 1.6 Gb/s digital video at 1,550 nm dation in either unidirectional or bidirectional CSO CTB C/N transmission. The AM system exhibited no mea- Without With Without With Without With surable impairment in Channel digital digital digital digital digital digital C/N A 83.25 MHz -66.8 dB -66.4 dB <-68.0 dB <-68.0 dB 53.1 dB 52.9 dB 0.2 dB CSO, CTB or C/N when 325.25 MHz -62.6 dB -62.8 dB <-68.0 dB <-68.0 dB 51.8 dB 51.9 dB 0.1 dB operation was bidirection- 547.25 MHz -61.5 dB -61.0 dB <-68.0 dB <-68.0 dB 52.8 dB 52.9 dB 0.1 dB al. However, in unidirectional operation, the C/N dependently, being used in a variety ing or after testing. of the AM system was degraded by 2 of CATV applications. No modifica- Both unidirectional (same direc- dB. tions or special alignment was per- tion) and bidirectional (opposite di- There are two causes for the formed on either system prior to, dur- rection) signal transmission were lowering of the C/N in the AM system. The first has been attributed to insufficient isolation of the WDM. The second is due to the relative optical power at 1,550 nm. While HP lowers your CATV test the 1,550 nm energy present at the 1,310 nm port of the WDM is mea- time at the push of abutton. surably small, it represents enough power to cause a rise in the noise floor in the recovered AM channels. To gain additional isolation, two or more WDM devices can be cascaded. The added insertion loss from cascading multiple WDM devices is predictable and can be ac- counted for during the network system engineering. To gain a higher AM-to-digital power ratio, the digital system can be operated at a lower optical launch power. Addi- tional testing is required to determine the precise relationship between WDM isolation, relative optical power and AM C/N. This test also has demonstrated the robust nature of a synchronous HP's portable CATV analyzer speeds up digital transmission system. While troubleshooting. the payload was 16 uncompressed digital video channels, a variety of When there's trouble in your CATV System, find it fast. The digital formats also can be trans- HP 85711 portable CATV analyzer's labor-saving functions cut ported with same results — no test time. Its system sweep and troubleshooting capabilities degradation in digital system per- locate problems quickly. And intuitive, softkey operations make formance. This implies a wide it easy to use. Prices start at just $9,000*. Add our system moni- range of applications including toting software for preventive maintenance and choose from a high-quality broadcast studio links, wide variety of other options to meet your specific needs. distant learning programming and So start saving test time now. Call 1-800-452-4844,and ask transmission of SONET (syn- for Ext. 2991. We'll send you avideo tape and data sheet that chronous optical network) compati- explain how the HP 85711 portable analyzer makes faster ble data all on the same optical CATV testing push-button easy. fiber with AM signals.

1992 Ilem Itit.Packard TNISA1 ,207,17 As a final note, while the 1,550 There is abetter way. nm signal in this experiment was digital, it is believed that a 1,550 nm AM signal will have a similar im- HEWLETT pact on a 1,310 nm AM signal when rha PACKARD both systems are operated unidi- rectionally through wavelength division multiplexing. CT

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88 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ¡gîtai Fiber Performance at aFraction of the Cost. maimm.

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See us at the NCTA Show. Booth # 1901. Reader Service Number 91. -40°C to +70°C, as well as shock and vi- Figure 5: Simplified energy level diagram of Nd:YAG bration during shipping.

LiNb0 3 modulator Pump bands The structure of an LiNb03 dual-output integrated optics modulator is depicted in Figure 6. This balanced bridge interferome- Non-radiative decay ter implements a modified design of the well-known Mach-Zehnder interferometer modulator. Integrated optic modulators generally are constructed by patterning optical waveguides into an LiNb03 substrate 0.808 gm 1.319 gm by means of microlithographic techniques pump transition ND:YAG emission and depositing electrodes on top of the waveguides. The interaction between the electrical and optical fields results in amplitude modulation of the light beam. The light Non-radiative decay from the Nd:YAG laser enters the input wave-guide and is split equally at a Y junction feeding two arms of a balanced bridge Ground level interferometer. An electro -optic coupler mixes the two light beams and routes them External modulation system to the two outputs. The electrical signal applied to the electrodes generates intensity modulated lightwave signals at the two out- (Continued from page 58) puts. The light vs. voltage transfer characteristic of the device is •Environmental requirements. Until recently, Nd:YAG lasers given by: and LiNb03 modulators had been used at room temperature and in environmentally controlled laboratory conditions. For the P,= Pori ± V+ 1/7,)] CAN environment, the laser and modulator are designed to operate inside atransmitter, which can be subject to ambient oper- Where: ating temperatures of 0°C to 50°C and storage temperatures of P, = optical power outputs (the ± signs apply to the upper and Introducing Lode CADE)...

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Reader Service Number 92 lower optical outputs respectively) V= applied RF voltage Figure 6: Balanced bridge interferometer electro -optic modu- = the average optical power output at lator each port V, = a constant called the half-wave voltage, namely the voltage required to switch Light out 1 Light in -ob. any optical output from full extinction to Light out 2 maximum

The raised sine transfer characteristic of one of the outputs is depicted in Figure 2 RF in Bias in on page 56. Compared to a traditional Mach-Zehnder integrated optic modulator, the balanced bridge interferometer is twice as efficient in terms of However, a tracking DC voltage applied to the bias electrode its optical power utilization. can ensure operation at the Q point. This property is utilized in The ideal bias point for CATV signals is the so-called quadra- the realization of a robust parametric feedback control system to ture point Q (half power point in Figure 2), around which the AC be described. This system nulls out the CSO of the transmitter transfer characteristic is an odd function: over the instrument's lifetime, resulting in CSO performance superior to altemative direct modulation laser technology. p= sin(q) with q V÷ CTB linearization Where: Expanding the nonlinear compressive characteristic in a p= normalized output power power series

N At the Q point the even orders of intermodulation are nulled out sin(0) =O — + - 1 05 ... with 0= m cos(w,t +0, ) (i.e., the CSO distortion becomes negligible). 6 120 , The bias point of the device is determined by its geometry it is apparent that once the modulator is tightly maintained at its (e.g., an imbalance in the lengths of the two interferometer Q point by the parametric control system, the CSO distortions arms). Temperature variations and stress may cause the bias are eliminated. Thus, the system becomes limited by odd orders point to drift a small fraction of Vit away from the Q point. Such of distortion and intermodulation products (i.e., CTB distortion). drifts are slow, with time constants of minutes or even hours. For example, assuming N = 60 and m = 0.036, injecting 60

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See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 1631. Reader Service Number 93 Reader Service Number 94 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 91 NTSC channels into an unlinearized modulator at a modulation stable transfer characteristic, generally unaffected by optical index of 3.6% per channel would result in an unacceptable CTB power, temperature and aging. of -39 dBc. Because of this unique property, it is possible to conceive a Two approaches to the linearization problem have resulted in broadband two-port network — called linearizer — to precondi- realizable systems: the feedforward and predistortion tech- tion the RF signal. The linearizer is inserted between the trans- niques. The feedforward method requires additional lasers to mitter RF input and the electro -optic modulator. The result is a supply feedforward corrective signals. Distortion correction effec- substantially linear overall transfer characteristic. To this end, the tively occurs in the optical domain in the receiver photodiode. linearizer should have an expansive characteristic, since the This method is therefore complex and requires electrical com- modulator transfer characteristic is compressive. pensation for the fiber chromatic dispersion associated with Formally, let the linearizer transfer characteristic be V= eyn ). lasers at different wavelengths, thus is potentially sensitive to the The overall light power vs. voltage transfer characteristic of the topology of the optical distribution system. linearized source is given by: The alternative approach uses broadband predistortion linearization (Figure 3 on page 58). This technique takes advan- p= sin Ric ÷ lf)e Vin)] tage of the fact that external modulators have a consistent and If the shape of the nonlinear transfer characteristic of the linearizer is chosen to C3RDWO YOUR CH NELS ilN TO VIEW satisfy:

f( yn)= Rgvn ÷7c)sin -1 (KVin)] Clear reception, program variety Where: and reliable service are what K =some arbitrary gain factor your customers demand It's g = a scaling factor that is ideally unity (g what Microwave Filter Co can ••••••«--- 00 = 1) help you deliver with its i5 IMNes . complete lines of interference, elimination and signal the resulting linearized transfer characteristic is linear: p= Ky r, processing filters The following a are just some areas where we This description of the linearization can help. process is oversimplified since it ne- glects frequency-dependent effects. A more complete description of the linearization process in the frequency HEADEND FILTERS domain is that the linearizer should Sharp Notch Filters for generate distortion products that are reinsertion without loss to equal in amplitude but opposite in adjacent channels phase with the distortion products generated by the modulator. In prac- Bandpass Filters with varying tice, a vectorial cancellation of inter- selectivity for all VHF/UHF modulation products from 50 to 550 channels MHz must be achieved. A measure of the degree of linearization is the CTB suppression, which is defined as the TVRO difference between the CTB generat- Terrestrial Interference Filters. ed by the unlinearized and linearized modulator. A CTB suppression of about 17 dB for 50 modulated carriers at a modulation index of 3.2% yielding SUBSCRIBER TRAPS a CTB of -60 dBc was previously re- Negative, Positive and Tiering ported. 2 100°0 product inspection A new proprietary linearization cir- Next day delivery. cuit provides suppression in excess of 26 dB for 60 unmodulated carriers at modulation index of 3.6% resulting in CTB of <-65 dB. Furthermore, the same level of suppression is achieved CUSTOM FILTERS with 80 unmodulated carriers at a Built and delivered fast for modulation index of 2.8%. one application or large program requirements CSO and CTB MICROWAVE FILTER COMPANY closed loop control 6743 KINNE STREET EAST SYRACUSE. NY 13057 The long-term CSO and CTB per- 800.448.1666 /315.437.3953 formance of the transmitter is main- FAX 315.463.1467 tained by a closed loop parametric

Reader Service Number 95 92 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY control system (Figure 7). Such loops are called parametric since the quanti- Figure 7: External modulation transmitter with predistortion ty that is fed back is a slowly varying linearization and parametric CSO &CTB control quasi-DC signal obtained by processing of intermodulation beats. The CSO loop senses deviations of the modula- Optical tor Q point away from the optimal bias receiver point, and supplies a correction voltage Fiber Out Modulator to the modulator driver's bias control splitter fiber 1 voltage so as to null out the CSO of ND:YAG the transmitter. The operation of this laser parametric control loop results in the Out modulator always being biased around RF in A A DC in fiber 2

Q point such that the CSO is <-65 dBc. Optical A separate closed loop is used to receiver control and maintain CTB performance of <-65 dBc. This is done by controlling the relationship between the gain and the nonlinearity of the linearizer. The CS) RF splitter RF splitter combination of these robust loops assures minimum CSO and CTB distortions and stable long-term operation. Out 2 Out 1 test point test point System considerations DC in AM fiber CATV systems are known Linearizer IM to require ever increasing optical detector power, either for better carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N) performance, longer reach or to feed multiple receivers by optical RF in splitting. The C/N of an AM fiber link is , given by:

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See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 1631. Reader Service Number 96 Reader Service Number 97 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 93 higher C/N, without being limited by (mRP) 210 -21-m° C/N =10log, 0 CSO and CTB, it is necessary to de- 2B(2qRP 10 -Ln° ÷ +R 2p2.1 cram.' oRiNtio Figure 8: Link C/N ar sign a wide dynamic range receiver Where: with ahigh optical power handling ca- m =modulation index pability. Direct modulation R =detector responsivity Usually the external modulation 60 Ch., P = 4 mW, m = 4%, F

P= transmitter power transmitter is CTB-limited, whereas 66 L= link loss in dB the detector in the receiver is CSO- 64 q= electron charge (1.6 x10 -19 C) limited. Therefore, there is no cas- 62 B =bandwidth cading effect for either CTB or CSO 60 la=amplifier noise current density in the link. In contrast, both the DFB laser transmitter and the detector are 58 For comparison between direct and external modulation, as- CSO-limited, therefore, cascading re- ds 56 sume a60-channel system (maximum channel loading for atypi- sults in higher CSO distortions. :la 54 cal DFB laser transmitter) and areceiver with R =0.85, amplifier Among the benefits of external C.3 52 noise current of 8 pNNI-lz, negligible CSO and CTB. In practice modulation are: 80-channel loading, there will be some CSO contribution from the detector at input which eliminates the need for dual 50 power approaching 0dBm. detector receivers; immunity to opti- 48 Figure 8 plots the link C/N and the individual C/N contribu- cal reflections, which allows the use 46

tions due to RIN, shot noise and thermal noise vs. link loss, for of regular PC connectors; and no 44 direct and external modulation systems. The modulation index fiber-dependent noise and distor- 42 chosen as follows is consistent with CSO and CTB of <-65 dBc tions. The benefits of predistortion lin- for high-performance DFB lasers and predistortion linearized ex- earization include: lower complexity, 5.00 6.00 7.00 8. ternal modulation systems. The DFB laser transmitter parame- ease of installation, and receiver dis- ters chosen are: P =4 mW, m =4% and RIN =-157 dB/Hz. The tance independence allowing total chosen external modulation transmitter parameters are typical application flexibility. CT for a medium power unit with two optical outputs: È = 10 mW each, m =3.6% and RIN =-163 dB/Hz. References There is clearly asignificant C/N or reach advantage with ex- Sodeep, G.E. and Darcie, T.E., "Semiconductor lasers versus ternal modulation due to the extra power, the lower RIN and the external modulators: A comparison of nonlinear distortions for comparable modulation index. To take full advantage of the lightwave subcarrier CATV applications," Photonics Technol.

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Reader Service Number 98 Reader Service Number 99

94 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY I individual C/N contribution for direct and external modulaton systems

External modulation N = -157 dB/Hz 60 Ch., P = 10 mW, m = 3.6%, RIN = -163 dB/Hz 72 70

68 66 64 62 60 58 56 54 52 50 48

0 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15 00 5.00 6.00 7.00 8.00 9.00 10.00 11.00 12.00 13.00 14.00 15.00

Link loss (dB) Link loss (dB)

Lett., Volume 1, pages 401-403, 1989. 4Trisno, Y., Johnson, M., Chen, L. and Huber, D., "The role of a 2Childs, R.B. and O'Byrne, V.A., "Predistortion linearization of di- linearized external modulator in the video distribution network," rectly modulated DFB lasers and external modulators for AM video NCTA Technical Papers, 1991. transmission," OFC '90, 1990. 5Berger, J. et al., "High power, high efficiency Nd:YAG laser end 3Maurer, G.S., Cornish, P.W. and Becker, R.A., "New integrated pumped by laser diode array," Appl. Phys. Lett., 51(16), pages optic modulator design for AM video transmission," OFC '91, 1991. 1212-1214, 1987.

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Reader Service Number 100 See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 1631. Reader Service Number 101 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 95 Drop plant passings (25 MHz x50 serving areas). each. In the United Kingdom, Tele - This technique isn't limited to use of West Communications Inc., the joint (Continued from page 60) optical fiber media. Express feeder venture between US West Communica- if fiber is pulled directly to a neighbor- cable can be used in the same way, tions and TOI, has taken this technique hood of 500 homes (Figure 3, page 98), creating discrete serving areas within one more step, using a "hub divider" instead of 2,000, then 20 serving areas the reach of a single optical receiver. concept to allow each 500-home area are created, each with its own 25 MHz Many operators, for example, use fiber- to use the full 25 MHz return. The point return. That boosts the combined return to-the-feeder (FTF) designs featuring a is that effective return bandwidth of an bandwidth for the system up to 500 MHz 2,000-home optical serving area. Multi- FTF/FSA network is partly a function of (25 MHz x 20 serving areas). If 200- ple express feeder runs (four, for exam- serving area size. home serving areas are created, then ef- ple) then might be used to deliver sig- Among the important changes fective return bandwidth jumps to 1,250 nals to four subsidiary tapped feeder brought about by FTF/FSA designs, MHz for the same community of 10,000 serving areas of about 500 homes then, is that plant is designed in adifferent way. Where tree-and-branch network design begins at the headend and Figure 2: FSA/FTF creates optical serving areas if 2,000 homes, works outward until noise and distortion each with access to its own 25 MHz return bandwidth specifications no longer can be met, an FTF/FSA network essentially stands the process on its head. Only after the serving areas have been designed can optical receiver locations and fiber cable routes be chosen. In essence, the design process is turned around. It begins with feeder plant and leads from there to trunk plant design.

Feeder and drop plant impact Feeder plant issues also have been changed by fiber and higher bandwidth. For one thing, larger-size cables (up to 1 inch) now are used in the feeder plant, where half-inch was the prior standard. Designers also make exten- One house sive use of "backfeed" and "express

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See us at the NCTA Show, Booth #2124. Reader Service Number 103. er plant, eliminating the need for cation and last customer, the superdis- cable. FTF might be thought of as a power-passing multitaps and their in- tribution design requires only 23. network design that runs fiber directly ternal chokes. That improves reliability Even where active bandwidth is set from the headend to an optical receiv- by avoiding power-related faults at 550 MHz, though, the use of the FTF er, which in turn feeds a bridger ampli- caused by blown fuses and intermittent or FSA network design creates new re- fier and a short cascade of distribution connections. It also helps reduce hum quirements for signal amplification, in- or line extender amplifiers. The FSA modulation and reduces signal attenu- cluding the use of distribution ampli- design might be thought of as using a ation because multitap flat loss is re- fiers featuring noise and distortion per- non-tapped express feeder run be- duced. Frequency response is flatter formance more nearly equivalent to tween the optical receiver location and and potential sources of signal reflec- trunk amplifiers than line extenders. the start of the tapped feeder network. tions are reduced as well. Where the FTF also creates new needs for signal In either case, the predominant trend is conventional tapped feeder would put amplification at the tap and drop level, to match optical receiver locations with 48 connectors between the bridger lo- as well as the use of lower-loss drop a serving area containing 400 to 2,500 homes, segmenting the larger serving areas into subsidiary clusters of 500 to 650 homes. When the FTF or FSA design is used, as is virtually always the case for new-build and rebuild plant, and active bandwidth of 550 MHz is anticipated, the implications for drop plant design are significant, when compared to a standard tree-and-branch network operating at 330 MHz. A 150-foot, RG-59 drop, for example, with two splitters in- line, can be expected to cause drop loss, at 550 MHz, of about 9 dB. (See Figure 4on page 101.) The two splitting stages add another 8 dB. So the total drop loss is about 17 dB. Compare this to the same drop, but only activated to 330 MHz. The same 150-foot, RG-59 drop, with two splitting stages, would experience about 14 dB of drop loss, in- „ ail500 houses cluding about 7 dB of cable loss and 7 0 Amplifiers dB splitting loss (3.5 dB from each of two splitter assemblies). Optical receiver 0 So the required tap output level at — Coaxial cable 300 MHz, to provide a subscriber con- -- Fiber link nection of 3 dBmV, is about 17 dBmV. That's the level at which the drop loss

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98 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SIMPLE AS...

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See us at the NCTA Show. Booth # 4433. Reader Service Number 105. Reader Service Number 106 is exactly compensated for. But at 550 N MHz, the tap output level, to provide a 6dBmV input, is 23 dBmV. FTF/FSA and higher bandwidth Jerrold therefore mean that operators must e General Instrument pay more attention to subscriber interface input levels, signal equalization is- MEGA HER7Z sues and drop length. Use of RG-6 drop, for example, reduces loss by 1.58 dB for 150-foot drop length. In its early work on the Brooklyn- Queens 1 GHz system, Time Warner likewise found it had to modify its traditional approach to the drop plant. Be- cause of the high attenuation characteristics of signals above 550 MHz, Time Warner found that tap amplifiers, and in some cases additional house amplifiers, were needed to overcome losses at 1 GHz, over a 100-foot drop, of as much as 8 dB (.08 dB per foot). Splitter loss at 1 GHz could be as FFT Taps (2, 4, 8) Mainline splitters, much as 4.4 dB, and since the input to couplers & power inserters the subscriber terminal was pegged at "Call us for all your Jerrold requirements" 3.6 dBmV, a tap amplifier supplying 16 dBmV was required. The important DENVER ATLANTA ST. LOUIS SPECTRUM point to remember is that as you are 800-525-8386 800-962-5966 800-821-6800 B00-628-0088 planning for, and designing, your high 303-779-1 749 FAX bandwidth network, drop attenuation 303-779-1717 "Ask Us About COMM/SCOPE CABLE, Too" and tap cascade issues will be critical. I As a general rule, FTF/FSA networks create the need for: •Use of larger drop cable. •Adjusted tap output level by neigh- borhood where possible. •Use of house drop amplifiers where necessary. • Use of the largest feasible feeder cable. • Use of low-distortion, high gain distribution amplifiers using feedforward or parallel hybrid technology. •Use of express feeder.

Cable Act impact Though a well-designed and maintained cable system should have no problem complying with Federal Com- munications Commission proof-of-performance standards, which call for a minimum 3 dBmV signal level at the Quality and Service end of a 30-meter (100-foot) drop is Our Priority cable, that might not be the case for all drops if a complex splitter array is put Meeting the Industry Standards cable prep® into place to comply with anti-buy Continued Customer Support BEN HUGHES COMMUNICATION PRODUCTS CO through and customer friendliness pro- 207 Middlesex Avenue, PO. Box 373 visions of the new Cable Act. Products Designed & Chester. Connecucut 06412-0373 (203) 526-4337 FAX (203) 526-2291 Though typical design parameters Manufactured in the USA (WO) 394-4046 for lower bandwidth systems call for a minimum of something on the order of 5 dBmV signal level at the end of the drop, a customer interface featuring multiple signal splits and use of filters Reader Service Number 107 to trap out expanded basic signals (for 100 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY a customer ordering the most basic ever operators may, in some cases, about how to design and build head- level of service and then one or two find that the use of drop amplifiers is ends, trunk plant, feeder plant and premiums) could devour enough level a short-term solution. Again, the pa- drop. Among other changes, head- to pose a potential problem. Though rameters change significantly when end location will increasingly be less such situations should hopefully occur the upgrade is to 750 MHz or higher. constrained by physical location. only rarely, they nevertheless may Each headend will feed a larger num- cause headaches for at least some Conclusion ber of households, possibly using installations on some systems. A net- Higher bandwidth and extensive subsidiary hub sites or eliminating work rebuild obviously is the long- use of optical fiber technology have some hub sites and smaller head- term solution to such problems, how- altered traditional industry thinking ends altogether and replacing them with optical transceiver equipment. Coaxial cable trunk is disappearing, replaced by passive optical cable runs with no active in-line optoelectronics required. In some cases, where a signal repeat station is desired, the only active equipment between the headend transmitter and the optical receiver or node is the repeat station. Networks now are designed using the serving area concept, creating the basis for a more flexible, high-capacity network platform to support new services. Feeder plant designs now feature the use of bigger cables, distribution amplifiers and designs that minimize the need for power- passing multitaps. At the drop level, higher bandwidth networks will require bigger cables, and possibly tap or house drop amplification. CT

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COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 101 Name Call Company Location Hams in CATV Wagner, John S. N3IYN Service Electric Pottsville, PA (Continued from page 67) Walker, Dane WB6JNP Hughes Aircraft Torrance, CA Packet address: @WB6YMH-2 Wallpole, Bill VE3WNW Maclean Hunter Owen Sound, Ont Name Call Company Location Wanderer, Bob AAOCY ICI Denver, CO Tash, Gill WB6WNN Times Mirror Irvine, CA Warburton, Peter G8UGK ARCOM Syracuse, NY Tauiliili, Sumatala WH6CDN Time Warner Cable Honolulu, HI Warren, Larry N4ZE ANTEC Bensenville, IL Taxdahl, Tax W7KCZ Telecomm. Assoc. Ferndale, WA Wasleske, Bruce WB9YVT Crown Wausau, WI Taylor, Jim K9JT The Video Term Milwaukee. WI Watt, Philip KB7100 ICI Anaconda, MT Taylor, Tim N7PQZ TCI Rawlins, WY Weber, Scott KD4SHZ Columbia Cable Woodbridge, VA Packet address: @WD4MYL.WY. USA. NA Weeks, Randy KB9BFZ DH Satellite Prairie duChien, WI Thomas, John VE3BVX Lindsay Lindsay, Ont Whelan, Daniel WB2WHD NY Cable Comm. Albany, NY Thomas, Ray NONNX Cablevision Systems Richmond, MO White, Thomas KB9ACX Heritage South Bend, IN Thompson, Mike KAOWJQ Time Warner Cable Kansas City, MO Wicks, Wayne WA2KEC Littleton, CO Timberlake, Herb Sammons Fort Worth, TX Wightman, Gary WA8MCD Cablevision MI Kalamazoo, MI Tinggaard, Neil WAOHJI TCI Englewood, CO Wilke, Allen KEOEN Time Warner Cable Kansas City, MO Tobin, Greg WA2SFT Paragon Torrance, CA Williams, Paul WB4GVY John Weeks Beauford, GA Todd, Stephen WB6ELD Multivision Lemoore, CA Williams, Robert T. K5BFT Century Comm. Johnstown, PA Tonge, Tim KAOMWA Time Warner Cable Englewood, CO Williams, Steve KA1WAM Continental Beverly, MA Troutman, Edwin L. WA3TFX Adelphia Cable Winchester, VA Williams, Thomas KD9KR Continental Centerville, OH Tschirner, Alan KAOTQH Time Warner Cable Kansas City, MO Williams, Tom KD9KR Continental Centerville, OH Turner, John WB5IRM ICI Muskogee, OK Wiltshire, Dan KB8BKF Pioneer Comm. Columbus, OH Tyler, Mike N5OLP Weather Scan Olney, TX Winn, Al KA9CAS Time Warner Cable Terre Haute, IN Tyrrell, George KOCPT H-P Englewood, CO Witherspoon, Brian K. KB4RAB Alert Cable TV Clayton, NC Ulrich, Dale N4BZZ Multivision Rohnert Park, IL Witt, Scot N9AZI Col. of Dupage Glen Ellyn, IL Unverzagt Jr., John R. N8MCQ Pioneer Comm. Columbus, OH Wolcott, Mike WB40EX Scientific-Atlanta Atlanta, GA Van de Mosselaer, Wim ON1 BMV Electro Service Wolford. James WB8FAX Texscan El Paso, TX Mechelen, Belgium Worm, Jim W3GCZ Avantek Folsom, CA VanBuren, R.H. W5ILH Cablecom irksville, MO Woods, Emmitte KA7NEH Cooke Cablevision Cle Elum, WA VanDamme, Michael M.N6MOF Heritage an Jose. CA Wouw, Tony VE7CCI ComLink N. Vancouver, BC VanDyke, Dave KF2DT Cable TV of Jersey City Wyatt, Tim KAOTYE Time Warner Cable Kansas City, MO Jersey City, NJ Yorks, Sal WD4NZX Philips Manlius, NY Vaughan, Jim K4TXJ Storer Louisville, KY Young, Mark N2MTT Philips Manlius, NY Vaughan, Ray KD4BBM Dynamic Cable Hialeah, FL Young, Scott N4HLA Time Warner Cable Memphis, TN Packet address: @W7LUS.#HWDFL.FLUSA.NA Younker, Dennis NE6I Jones Spring Valley, CA Voiles, Art N5BZL Texscan Fort Dodge, IA Zeidler Sr., David H. WB6TBT LucasFilm San Rafael, CA Voorman, Jim WA2GSX Zerrenner, Robert WA2RDH Cox Santa Barbara, CA Vyverberg, Chuck WB7NNF Cox Spokane, WA Zhorne, Brent WB9FHI ICI Galesburg, IL Wagenblast, Rich WA2BWP Falcon Cable Big Bear Lake, CA Packet address: @N9GQR.#WCI L.IL.USA.NA

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See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 5343. Reader Service Number 110 Reader Service Number 111.

102 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY CDP-6M Application Features:

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We Measure The Best! rm Telephone (813) 756-6000 Fax (813) 758-3800 Ac power quality "Due to the cost and frequency. This type of design is im- (Continued from page 70) pervious to load changes and input reliability require- voltage changes because it uses a ments of the test "closed-loop" system that compen- for sensitive equipment powering. equipment used in sates for voltage, frequency and Technology has moved forward rapidly waveform changes several thousand and powering equipment needs to service vehicles, times for each cycle of the 60 cycle evolve as well to support the new re- many operators have output. Sudden load changes, inrush quirements. recently focused on current and even short circuits are compensated by the solid-state con- AC-to-DC inverters the issue of reliable trol circuitry. Electrical inverters also have been AC power for the available for many years. Starting with tools and test equip- Inverter output waveforms the old "buzz-boxes," which were oscil- Many of the inverters manufac- lating relay contacts driving step-up ment used in mobile tured for the vehicle market offer the transformers for powering tube radios applications." choice of either a sine wave output, in cars, to the first transistorized invert- quasi-sine wave or square wave out- ers that plugged into the cigarette puts. (See Figure 3, page 69.) The lighter socket to provide a square wave power supply. In the better quality invert- best choice are the sine wave ver- output about 120 volts for powering ers, a crystal oscillator circuit provides a sions because they most closely pro- electric razors, soldering irons, etc. very accurate 60 Hz reference signal vide power to what you get from the Inverters have evolved over the years that drives a transistor switching circuit utility grid and thus the power that as transistors and integrated circuits that switches direct current (typically 12 most equipment was to designed to have improved in cost, efficiency and re- VDC) at a 60 cycle rate into a step-up operate from. The crystal-controlled liability. A major breakthrough was the transformer that has a 120 or 240 VAC sine wave inverters provide frequency invention of the FET (field effect transis- output. regulation that can be better than the tor) that provides high current switching The more sophisticated inverters utility grid can offer (less than .5% at high frequency with very low losses utilize high-frequency switching tech- over the operating range). The output for good efficiency. An inverter consists nology to essentially "synthesize" a distortion is less than ±5% THD and of basically the same circuit function as sine wave output waveform that is voltage regulation is better than ±5% you may be familiar with in a standby both very stable in voltage output and over all load and voltage conditions.

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"The CA LA Nfamily of test, measurement and monitoring system solutions are designed to support your most important goal: Maximum Subscriber Satisfaction. CA LAN is known for customer service and support, and our Evergreen Policy ensures that your investment is protected. CA LAN's products are your partners in STAR productivity for the '90s. You have my word on it." C.AOLE AND LOCAL ARIA NE ?WORKS Syd Fluck, President r o y ‘,91074, Load power factor "Most test equipment Vehicle power system A few of the newer sine wave in- Inverters are available in power verters have the capability to operate and fiber-optic devices, sizes from 100 to over 5,000 watts. loads that have "high power factor" such as fusion The larger size inverters (above 2,400 characteristics. Power factor is the splicers, require stable watts) typically require an up-sized ve- ratio of true RMS power-to-apparent hicle alternator to provide enough cur- power (VA or volt-amps). Without voltage and frequency rent to operate both the vehicle battery going into AC circuit theory, loads can for reliable and accu- charging system and provide current to be inductive in nature ("lagging power rate operation." the inverter. In this type of installation, factor"), capacitive ("leading power an extra battery is usually installed as factor") or resistive ("unity power fac- well to provide extended inverter run- tor," where voltage and current are in newer sine wave inverters, because time when the vehicle engine is not phase and consistent in waveform). they utilize solid-state circuitry to "recy- running. With the use of abattery isola- Leading or lagging refers to whether cle" reactive energy from high power tor diode, the extra battery can be the current draw leads or lags the volt- factor loads, can tolerate almost all charged by the vehicle alternator but age phase relationship. Motors tend to load conditions without derating or also be completely discharged by the be inductive or a lagging power factor degradation of the output specifica- inverter without draining the vehicle with the VA of the motor draw higher tions. starting battery, which means the en- than the watts. Power supplies in elec- Quasi-sine wave inverters are lower gine can be started without any prob- trical equipment tend to be capacitive cost and are perfectly safe for power- lem. (See Figure 4, page 69.) or a leading power factor due to the ing most test equipment. Quasi-sine Inverters are almost silent when op- input rectifier and filter capacitors. wave inverters simulate the peak and erating and can power all of the tools The VA of the equipment draw is average voltage ratio of a sine wave and test equipment safely and reliably higher than the true power or watts. without being acomplete low distortion without the noise that engine or motor Lights' heating elements are mostly re- sine wave. The waveform looks similar generators create. Most inverters have sistive, which is a unity power factor — to a square wave with "stepped" sides. a low battery disconnect circuit that VA and watts are equal. Most engine The final choice, square wave invert- shuts down the inverter when the bat- and motor generators have to be de- ers, can be used for some power tools, tery is discharged to prevent over-dis- rated when powering high power factor resistive loads such as lights, soldering charge damage to the battery. They loads. There is usually a limitation on irons, heaters, etc., but should be also have a very sensitive load sensing the power factor capacity as well. The avoided for test and video equipment. circuit that when idling only draws about

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See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 1231. Reader Service Number 114. 1776 Independence Dr., Dingman's Ferry, PA 18328 PHONE: 1-800-544-3392, IN PA: 717-828-2356 FAX: 717-828-2472

CABLE AND LOCAL AREA NETWORKS °Copyright CALAN 1992 1watt of battery power. When a load is battery system and drives the pump "Cable TV service connected or turned on, the inverter im- when the lift is operated. An inverter mediately provides full output. This fea- can then be used to supply reliable AC vehicles that carry ture is unlike the motor generators that power for all of the power tools and test test, video and fiber- require much more current draw before equipment used on the vehicle. optic equipment can turning on, which can be a problem because some pieces of test equipment Safety be more economical- only draw about 40 to 50 watts and Another common feature available ly, safely and reliably don't trip the load sensing switch to turn on some of the sine wave inverters is powered by a DC-to- on the generator. a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) For aerial lift trucks that are using an protected AC outlet. This is a very im- AC inverter than an engine generator to run the lift hydraulic portant safety feature for personnel engine or motor pump, a DC motor can be installed in- operating power tools and AC equip- generator." stead that operates from the vehicle's ment outdoors in damp or wet condi-

tions. If there is moisture present in the extension cord connections or in the tools, or if a cord is dropped in water accidentally, the GFCI outlet very quickly senses the current flowing END ORS IDE MOUNT PLATFORM back through the ground conductor and trips a circuit breaker, disconnect- W ITH 350 LB. CAPACITY ing power output from the inverter. An all new version of the world's largest selling GFCI outlets have saved many lives aerial lift, designed especially for telephone and over the years by preventing electro- cable television industries. Working height of 34 ft., cution. (Most local electrical codes reside reach up to 22 1/2 ft., simplified service, and an quire them in kitchens, bathrooms and improved hydraulic system are just some of the new outdoor outlets). features found on the TEL "N" series lifts. Due to the solid-state switching circuitry, the inverters have operating efficiencies in excess of 80%. This trans- lates into longer operation from battery power, in some cases twice as long as the motor generator. The inverters selected for pickup trucks and small vans for test equipment powering are typically 600 or 1,000 watt units, while the aerial trucks use 2,400 watt or larger units. This provides enough capacity for tools and test equipment and occasion- al operation of standby or non-standby power supplies in the outside plant during extended utility outage conditions. In most cases, inverters are less expensive than generators when you consider the lifetime operating costs of fuel and maintenance in addition to the purchase price.

Conclusion When reviewing your AC powering Direct drive hydraulic rotation system utilizes the strategy for service vehicles, keep in same shear-ball rotation bearing proven in years of mind the recent changes in your test use on larger Versalift units. equipment inventory on each vehicle as well as the safety and reliability requirements of powering the equipment. Mea- c New, infinitely-adjustable surement accuracy, repeatability and wear pads can be changed easily and provide 3times the life over material used in the past ten years. reduced equipment down time are important goals. Cable TV service vehicles that carry elt> test, video and fiber-optic equipment can be more economically, safely and TIME reliably powered by a DC-to-AC inverter MANUFACTI IPtNG CPMP:.% , than an engine or motor generator. CT P.O. Box 20368 • Waco, Texas 76702-0368 • (817) 776-0900 • FAX (817) 776-7531

Reader Service Number 115 THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF EVERY GREAT SMATII SYSTEM / / / I H \ \ \ Satellite Receivers

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The Standard of Quality One Jake Brown Road, P.O. Box 1000, Old Bridge, NJ 08857-1000 in TV Signal Distribution Tel: (908) 679-4000 Fax: (908) 679-4353 See us at the NCTA Show -The Moscone Convention Center •San Francisco, California, June 7-9, 1993 Booth #4449 Reader Service Number 116 'All speakers were very knowledgeable, as well n" SOL'IETY OF CARLE as being good speakers..."* TELEILSION ENGINEERS 'I thought this was agreat Expo for many reasons..."* CABLE-TEC 'Good conference, workshops were the best EXPO '93 yet..."* ORLANDO FLORIDA "Show gets better every year..."* APRIL 21.24 1993 'Very informative..."* 'All presentations were very well done..."* 'Good scope and variety..."* "Absolutely wonderful..."* "Excellent..."* *Actual comments from Expo '93 AttendeL Questionnaires Don't miss this opportunity to purchase exclusive videotapes and the proceedings manual (collecting technical papers) from SCTE's smash Cable-Tec Expo" '93. The following tapes may be purchased individually or in special packages at great savings: Engineering Conference Videotapes Expo Workshops Videotapes T-1137 Applications of Digital 1-1141Safety: NEC, NESC and Technology OSHA Regulations T-1138Cable and Telephony T-1142 Outage Reduction Techniques Integration: Balancing Revenue T-1143Introduction to Digital Opportunities and Network Evolution Technology T-1139New Technologies and Their T-1144Fiber Optic Architectures and Effects on the Subscriber Construction Practices T-1140Pay-Per-View Technology T-1145 Tech Re-Act Update T-1146 Test Procedures Under Technical Reregulation

TO ORDER: All orders must be prepaid. Shipping and handling costs are included in the Continental U.S. All prices are in U.S. dollars. All SCTE videotapes are in color and are available in the 12" VHS format only. Videotapes are available in stock and will be delivered approximately three weeks after receipt of order with full payment. Videotapes are shipped UPS. SCTE accepts MasterCard and Visa. NO CASH REFUNDS

MAIL TO: SCTE. 669 Exton Commons. Exton, PA 19341 or U Please send me set(s) of the 1993 Expo FAX with credit card information to: (215) 363-5898. Workshop Videotapes (six tapes)© $195/set Ship to: (Name): Please send me copies of the Cable-Tec Expo Address (NO P.O. BOXES): 1993 Proceedings Manual @ $35 each. U Iwould like to order the following videotapes @ $45 each: UT-1137 J T-1138 UT-1139 J T-1140 UT-1141 UT-1142 _1T-1143 UT-1144 J T-1145 UT-1146 U A check or money order for the appropriate amount shown above and Phone: ( Date: made payable to the Society of Cable Television Engineers is attached. J Please send me set(s) of the Expo '93 Video- Iwish to pay by credit card (please check one) tapes (10 tapes plus manual—a $485 value) @ $295/set U MasterCard CI VISA J Please send me set(s) of the 1993 Engineering Account Number: Card Expires:_/ Conference Videotapes (four tapes) @ $135/set Signature for Credit Card:

Reader Service Number 1 4 o, June 1993 ,5 ,„-,..,› 41T 111, B 0 ??, Ill A W._ I • 1 U m % a The training and educational supplement to Communications Technology magazine.

Table of Content Learning lab 110

Jones Pam Nobles considers this as a troubleshooting tool.

C/N cmd hum 112

Using on-channel to measure these is explained by Jack Webb of Sencore.

Tech Tips 120

Robert Baker of TCA Cable TV of Clovis describes 1993 electrical codes and cable TV The learning lab: A troubleshooting tool

By Pam Nobles Senior Staff Engineer/Technical Training Jones Intercable

here is a big concern in the cable N Tindustry about providing hands-on troubleshooting experience for service technicians. Techs can attend meetings and talk and talk about what the service problems are and what one might do to fix them, but hands-on experience is needed to ensure the knowledge is re- tained.

System learning lab Creating a mini distribution system in your office as atraining tool can help provide this hands-on experience for service technicians and new hires. Mark Erbland, installation supervisor in Jones Interca- ble's Augusta, GA, system, recommends Steve Jenkins, maintenance technician in Jones Intercable's Jefferson County, that a "learning lab" be used to train new CO, system, demonstrates how easy it is to create troubleshooting problems. hires before they go into the field. This way, distractions that hinder the learning Equipment option is to use drop cable to simulate process are minimized, and bad habits Include in your plan a trunk amplifier, your system, but keep in mind that the aren't picked up from "seasoned" associ- line extender(s), power supply and insert- characteristics will differ from hard line ates. All aspects of the plant can be built er. (Use asmall power supply if you have cable. You also could use attenuators into this learning lab. Drop, feeder, trunk one so it won't take up too much room.) and true tilt networks to replace the cable. and even fiber systems can all be fabri- Also include cable, splitters, directional The schematic of Jefferson County's cated to teach and practice installations, couplers, taps, strand, installation hard- learning lab is supplied in the accompa- repair and troubleshooting techniques. ware, ground blocks, house boxes, and nying figure. This active system includes Associates in Jones Intercable's Jef- "spare stuff" such as various pads and asample of all equipment from the head- ferson County, CO, system have recently equalizers. Have your techs save any end to an active subscriber drop. activated their learning lab. Dave Farren, shorted face plates, "odd ball" problems, Before the installation of the mini distri- maintenance technician in Clear Creek, or anything else they may find to build bution system, test your equipment. Make began building the mini system in his into and test on the training system. sure you know what you have before con- garage. Farren and Steve Jenkins, main- Design your learning lab to be an structing it, or you'll really be troubleshoot- tenance technician in Jefferson County, exact replica of your cable system — the ing! Decide what basic types of trouble provided their thoughts on developing this more realistic the better. Plan for levels at problems you'll want to reproduce, such training tool. the amplifiers and taps that would actually as low signal, distortions, egress and be measured in your system. Calculate ghosts. Recreate actual problems typical Getting started what attenuation you'll need between de- in your system. Also plan for the really dif- As with any great endeavor, start with vices to attain these levels. Determine ficult problems your techs will bring in to agreat plan. Decide what it is your techs what cable lengths you'll need to give you recreate. need to know. Ask your employees to the proper end-of-line specifications. provide a list of topics they'd like to be Don't forget to write down your specs — Prepare for training trained on. and keep a copy handy. Sketch out your There are numerous ways to use your After reviewing your training needs, plan before beginning construction. De- learning lab. Tech classes can include decide where you're going to put your lab. sign your lab so service problems can be formal, planned classes, presented by It is preferable to have your training sys- easily inserted, as can different vendor maintenance techs or the system trainer. tem mobile, so it can be moved to various equipment. Impromptu classes can happen as ser- training rooms to accommodate your stu- When creating the attenuation, it vice techs bring in "problems" to be re- dents. You may choose to mount it on the would be best to use the exact cable constructed. You also might consider wall, and store coils of cables above the used in your system so the characteristics having service techs build your mini distri- ceiling or under abench. Availability of of- are the same — but you might not have bution system as part of their training. fice space and your budget will dictate the space or the money to store reels of There are different levels of experi- your lab's location. .500 feeder cable! If this is the case, one ence and positions, from installers to ad-

110 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY/BACK TO BASICS forget about the actual troubleshooting Schematic of learning lab process. You may want to send the tech out of the room to simulate going around the block, dealing with the dog in the next Coil of cable to equal backyard, or review system maps before required attenuation continuing. Otherwise, important troubleshooting steps may be skipped. Ob- serve to make sure the tech is following the troubleshooting procedure, such as checking RF levels where appropriate, Trunk amplifier and using the "divide and conquer" method of determining where the signal is

Line extender good, where it's bad, and divide the system in half. Make it real as well as fun — it's the vanced techs, who may use this training. can be done together, and levels verified next best hands-on troubleshooting expe- Prepare your associates for the level of as agroup. Also teach employees how to rience to actually being there. BTB training they will receive. For example, identify test points on amplifiers. you may want to create troubleshooting •Existing service techs. Use the lab The author would like to thank Mark Erb- problems geared toward the existing ser- to cultivate service technicians' trou- land, Dave Farren and Steve Jenkins of vice tech who needs to refine his or her bleshooting skills. Have them practice Jones Intercable for their input on this arti- troubleshooting skills. In this case, be using test equipment, such as a signal cle. Research is proceeding on two new sure they have an understanding of the level meter, volt-ohm meter or time do- interactive videodiscs: "Customer Service basics of RF and power signals. In addi- main reflectometer. Get creative — and Through Troubleshooting," and "The tion to basic theory, map reading and challenging! You can create some real Troubleshooting Challenge." These pro- symbol interpretation should be under- tough situations. grams, produced though the Mind Exten- stood, as well as basic troubleshooting. •Maintenance techs. The lab also can sion Institute, will help develop acommon All the components of the learning lab be used to plan for your system's future. troubleshooting vocabulary, consistent and the effects on frequency response Use it to review equipment when planning customer communication, troubleshooting should first be studied individually. for system rebuilds or upgrades, prepare guide and teamwork. The training is • One-on-one training may be best for for proof-of-performance testing and planned for completion in early 1994. some situations, small groups for others, hands-on sweeping practice. depending upon what you plan to accom- •Customer service reps. Introduce the plish. Also prepare whoever is doing the CSRs to the system and demonstrate • training with what is needed to accom- how the problems relate to what they plish the objectives; the training will only might hear when customers call. be as effective as the person administer- •This controlled environment also can Rotary ing it. Following is a summary of some of be used to test knowledge or provide Shackle the uses for your learning lab: qualification. Time management, or know- Padlocks •New installers. Installers can easily ing when to ask for help or when to pro- practice the basics of installations and ceed, also may be reviewed using the The thrifty, • track drop problems, from tap to TV. learning lab. •Existing installers. More experienced ttl corrosive- installers can review their skills and learn Make it real Standard about new products. Training can be done Be sure to simulate in the training how resistant • to prepare installers for new positions. someone actually would troubleshoot. It lock for •New service techs. Introduce them to may be too easy, with the line extender their job. Meter reading and calibration just a few feet from the trunk bridger, to reliable security. "One-Shot" Seal INTERFERENCE LOCATION Specified by utilities. CATV Firms, & industry nationwide for outdoor, inexpensive weather- * 50 to 1000 MHZ resistant protection. The difference is in our * Stuck Microphones design: unlike other locks, the shackle rotates to open. * Cable TV Leaks Available in three styles: plated steel, all brass. & * Jammed Repeaters disposable "one-shot" seal. Reserved key com- & Cell Sites binations are also available. Not sold at retail. For further information Phone. Fax or Write: New Technology (patented) converts any VHF or UHF FM receiver into asensitive Doppler shift radio direction finder. Simply plug into receiver's antenna and external speaker jacks. Models available el ENGINEERING with computer interface, synthesized speech, fixed site or mobile -50 MHz to 1 GHz. Call or write for details. mim UNLIMITED, INC. 1320 12th Avenue North P.O. BOX 2780 (602) 488-9755 DOPPLER SYSTEMS, INC. Mpls MN 55411-4063 fi CAREFREE, AZ 85377 FAX (602) 488-1295 612-522-4040, FAX 612-522-2829

Reader Service Number 118 Reader Service Number 117 BACK TO BASICS/COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 1 11 Understanding and using "on-channel" tests to measure C/N and hum

By Jack Webb CATV Product Manager, Sencore er he measurement of carrier -to- i. noise ratio (C/N) and hum are signal quality tests that relate to the picture being delivered to the customer. Poor hum or C/N will quickly be spotted by customers since the "interference" will typically affect all channels. C/N is the difference in level between the RF carrier and the noise in the system over the 4 MHz bandwidth of the video information. Poor C/N performance will produce "snow" or graininess in the picture. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a 34 in the system trunk and feeder ampli- ing equipment or modulator; power dB C/N compared to a >45 dB C/N. fiers. Strictly speaking, hum is any supply ripple in the system amplifiers A poor C/N can be caused by many low frequency AM disturbance that is caused by low line voltage, improper sources in the CATV system. Any summed with the video signal caus- power supply settings, overloaded component that passes the RF sig- ing picture degradation. power supplies or failing components nals could affect either the signal Hum results in picture distortion in the DC power supply; or by cor- level or the noise content and there- as is illustrated in Figure 3. The hum roded connections in the RF network fore affect the C/N. bars will roll vertically through the acting like a mixer diode. Noise originates in every active picture as the hum signal varies in These different causes can be iso- device through which signals pass phase relation to the vertical interval. lated by testing and by the location and can never be reduced, only in- The most common AM distortions of the hum problem. Hum present at creased as the signals are pro- are 60 Hz and 120 Hz hum. These the headend, as well as the rest of cessed and distributed through the added to the composite video signal the system, must be generated at system. Even a 75 ohm impedance will typically produce one or two the headend. Hum characteristic of a generates noise caused by random black bars whose intensity is propor- particular channel is typically gener- electron motion. This low level signal tional to the amplitude of the AM ated in the headend baseband video is amplified along with our desired hum distortion. processing equipment. Hum present signals. The amplifier's noise figure Hum may be caused by several only in the downstream section of also is added to the input noise level. different types of problems in the one leg or downstream from sections These levels will be discussed later. CATV system. These are: unwanted of the system powered by a common Components such as splitters and AM modulation in the video process- power supply is caused by a bad DC cable, which can develop higher than supply or low line voltage to that normal losses, can further degrade power supply. In the DC supply, 120 the system's C/N performance. Like- Hz hum usually indicates low line wise, active components can gener- voltage, a wrong voltage setting or a ate excessive noise, which can add failing filter capacitor, while 60 Hz to the signal's noise content and de- hum will typically indicate a blown crease the overall C/N. diode. Hum at 60 Hz also can be Hum is the unwanted low frequen- generated when corrosion at a loose cy AM distortion of the video signal. connector forms a diode junction This distortion includes all AM distur- from the oxidized aluminum and cop- bances below 400 Hz. This distortion per sulfates in the corrosion. This may be incurred on the baseband diode junction will act like a mixer video signal at the headend prior to modulating the RF signals with the the modulator or, as is more often 60 Hz signal from the 60 V square the case, it may be caused by power wave power supply signal. supply-induced amplitude modulation Once a hum problem is identified, 112 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY/BACK TO BASICS the volt-ohm meter function in your field strength meter can be used to Figure 4: Bandwidth compensation (C/N correction factors) troubleshoot the AC and DC power supplies to isolate the source. Often A the 60 V AC line voltage can be mea- 4 MHz sured directly through the RF input —)F FE- 280 kHz connector. AC or DC voltages can be measured using the external voltage probes.

C/N and hum measurements C/N and hum are actually two of the easiest signal quality measurements that can be made on an operating sys- a. tem. Since these measurements can E be made at almost any point in the system, they should be part of your standard practice. Measurement of only the signal level will only tell half the story. The signal levels could be perfect and yet poor signals could be delivered to the customers. Automatic gain control (AGC) and Frequency automatic slope control (ASC) operation can correct for a bad amplifier or excessive passive losses and restore the signal level after just a few ampli- Figure 5: IF shape factor correction (C/N correction factors) fiers. However, severe degradation to C/N can occur. A Hum caused by low line voltage, low 280 kHz • power supply setting or failing DC supply components often can be detected through hum measurements before the hum is viewable on the customers' TV set. This is especially true of a failing capacitor in the DC supply since excessive leakage causes ripple in the

DC supply before the capacitor totally CD fails. Since hum will typically run 1.5 to -0 2% and is not visible to the customer E until it reaches 4 to 5%, making regular measurements will let you locate most hum problems before they are noticed by any viewer. Measuring C/N is not quite as simple as measuring the two levels with your signal level meter or spectrum analyzer and subtracting the difference. Frequency C/N is defined as the ratio of the RMS (root mean square) of the peak modulated RF carrier to the average power address both the bandwidth and the BW, = Desired measurement band- of the noise in a 4 MHz bandwidth. shape factor. Additionally, since our in- width Note that we are comparing the RMS strument's detector is calibrated to BW2 =Actual measurement bandwidth of the peak of the carrier to the aver- measure the peak signal level, we will age of the noise. Also note, the noise is need to compensate to measure the Figure 4 illustrates the bandwidth "measured" in a4 MHz bandwidth. average noise level. compensation. In addition, because the When we measure the level of the The following formula can be ap- formula assumes a perfect IF shape RF carrier, our normal instruments are plied to correct the bandwidth limita- factor, an additional correction factor calibrated to properly make this mea- tions of our instrument: must be used to correct our actual IF surement. However, the noise mea- shape factor to an ideal shape factor surement is much different. Our instru- CF Bw = 10log(BW,/BW 2) as illustrated in Figure 5. If the lower ments will not have a4 MHz bandwidth lobes contain more energy than the — certainly not a perfect 4 MHz even if Where: missing portion from the ideal square we tried to build one. We will have to CF Bw = Correction factor topped response, the compensation

BACK TO BASICS/COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 113 as of 1993 and improved to 43 dB in Figure 6: Carrier-to-noise ratio 1995. This measurement must be made at or equivalent to the cus- A tomer's terminal. Since the nominal signal level will be 0 to +10 dBmV, a preamplifier usually will be required 3dB to make a C/N measurement because the uncorrected noise mea- 3dB surement will equal the carrier level 3dB minus the C/N minus the correction factor:

Gain Gain VN = Vc -V c/N -CF T Cable loss Where: NF VN = Uncorrected noise measurement -59 dBmV Vc = Carrier level 1 1 1 1 1 VciN =Carrier-to-noise ratio Amp Amp Amp Amp CFT =Total correction factor 1 2 4 8 System length If we assume a 0 dBmV carrier level and a minimum C/N of 40 dB then, factor will be negative; subtracted from Vc = 20log(V i/V2) the total correction factor. If the missing Vc = 20log(ratio of RMS of peak to av- VN =O dBmV -40 dBmV -10 dB top portion contains more energy (area erage) = -50 dBmV under the curve), then the actual read- Vc = 20log(.707 1/.5) ings will be low and the correction fac- Vc = 20log(1.414) =3 dB Thus, we need sufficient sensitivity to tor will add to the noise reading. Thus: While the shape factor and peak measure the uncorrected noise at an vs. average correction factors can be anticipated level of -50 dBmV or CFT = CF Bw + CFBF calculated from data sheet informa- lower. A preamp is required with most tion and some basic testing of the in- instruments to gain the additional sen- Where strument's IF and peak detector, the sitivity. CF T =Total correction factor most accurate method to determine The C/N can be predicted at any CF Bw = Bandwidth correction factor the total correction factor is through point in the system. In the headend, CFBF = Shape factor correction factor an empirical experiment. Results of the C/N at the modulator or processor such an experiment should be avail- will be very high, assuming no prob- One other correction must be made able from the instrument's manufac- lems with the signal source or equip- to our measurement if we use the turer or have been included in any ment. The passive devices following same detector to measure the peak automated noise measurement pro- the modulator do not add to the noise carrier and the noise level. If we use a cedure. in the system. Passives will have the peak detector to measure the noise, The Federal Communications same loss effect on the noise that then the average noise level will be ap- Commission instituted new rules in they have on the RF signals. Ampli- proximately 3dB lower than the peak: '92 that require the C/N to be 40 dB fiers, however, will add to the noise and therefore reduce the C/N. The thermal noise floor is - -59 Figure 7: C/N predictions dBmV (4 MHz bandwidth) in a 75 ohm system. This is, therefore, the lowest Headend possible noise level. As we amplify signals on the system we also amplify the 55 52 > 49 noise, thus the output of our first amp 58 will increase the noise level as well as the signal level by its gain. The amplifier also will add its own internal noise to 46 the system. This is called the amplifier's noise figure. Thus we can predict

>1 >2 ›2z - the noise level at any part of the system. The noise level at the output of the first amplifier will be:

>3 43 VN = -59 dBmV + VG + VNF Noise = -59 dBmV +NF, +G, C = +30 dBmV = -59 +8 + 22 C/N =C/N, - 10logN Where: = -29 dBmV 3dB per double VN = Uncorrected noise measurement VG = Gain of the amplifier

114 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY/BACK TO BASICS VNF = Noise figure of the amplifier Figure 8: Rejecting unwanted signals If the noise figure is 8 dB and the gain of the amplifier is 22 dB, then the A noise level will be: 40 —.- Video Video CF VN = -59 dBmV + 22 + 8 = -29 dBmV 30 — -.1E+32 dBmV-0.- (corrected) 20 — Audio Audio The C/N will then be the difference between the corrected noise level and the carrier level. Typical trunk amplifier

output levels would be +30 dBmV, thus Ch 2 Ch. 3 Ch 4 providing a 59 dB C/N for one amplifier. The C/N also can be predicted at -10 — any other point in the cascade of amplifiers. For similar amplifiers in cascade -20 — Re ection we can use the following formula: No se -30 60 dB —I. 33 dBmV C/N = C/N, -10logN III

Where: 50 MHz 54 MHz 60 MHz 66 MHz C/N = Carrier-to-noise ratio Frequency C/N, = C/N at the first amplifier N = Number of amplifiers in cascade frequency of the noise measurement, easiest done as a post-detection mea- for a 40 dB C/N if the correction factor surement. That is, a measurement Note that this equation will yield is 10 dB and a margin of 10 dB of the after detecting the video information. the C/N and that every time we dou- measurement to other signals is de- The best approach to measuring hum ble the cascade the C/N degrades by sired (1 dB accuracy). This can be dif- is to pay careful attention to the defini- 3 dB. (See Figure 6.) This should ficult to find in the CATV spectrum if tion of hum. Hum is simply the ratio of • make predicting (Figure 7) the ap- all channels are in use. Typical meth- the peak to peak amplitude of the un- proximate C/N ratio easy at any point ods include tuning below Ch. 2, tun- wanted AM modulation to the peak of in the system. ing to an unused midband channel, or the video signal, as shown in Figure 9 The typical test method for mea- shutting off the modulation on one and the following formula: suring C/N is to measure the carrier channel during the test. No matter

level and note the reading. Secondly, which method is used, the rejection of Hum = Vpp/Vp the noise level must be measured. the other signals will have to be 10 dB Whether using a signal level meter or greater than the uncorrected noise Where:

a spectrum analyzer, the manufactur- measurement as depicted in Figure 8. Vpp Peak to peak AM distortion er will provide a similar test proce- In making hum measurements, we Vp = Peak of the video signal dure for measuring the noise floor. want to measure the low frequency Some of these procedures include AM distortion of a video carrier. This is Note that hum is not the same as automated functions, which may include the correction factors previously discussed. In general the correc- Figure 9: Hum modulation tion factor will vary from instrument to instrument depending on the resolu- Hum tion bandwidth, the IF shape factor Vpp and the type of detector utilized. Refer to the specific instructions of the manufacturer when making noise measurements to get the required correction factors or to see if they are built-in to a special noise measure- VP ment routine. With any instrument one common requirement is to tune the device so that only the noise is measured with- J1 out interference from carriers on the system, beats on the system or beats produced by the measurement instru- 16.6 mS (one field) ment. The measurement instrument Time

will need 60 dB of rejection at all car- Hum = VF p (Hum)/V p(Sync) rier frequencies, in reference to the

BACK TO BASICS/COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 115 lated signal with the low frequency Figure 10: Hum measurement block diagram AM "riding" on that signal. See Figure 10 for a basic block diagram. This is done by first using a standard video detector to measure the baseband AC peak signal level, then AC coupling a IF — Video detector Low-pass filter DIA converter low-pass filter to the video detector, peak to peak detecting the low frequency signal and adding a calibrated high-gain amplifier to provide a measurable DC component signal. The difficulty lies in measuring the very low level AC low frequency sig- Peak-peak de- Micro- Amp nal. This method provides good mea- tector processor surement results, but has one key drawback — a CW test signal must be placed on the system for the measurement or the modulation must be Display turned off.

Live "on-channel" tests Testing without interference to the percent AM modulation, but approxi- earlier, hum will typically run 1.5 to system's operation and without mately twice the percent AM. Mea- 2.0% on a properly operating sys- adding additional test signals should suring the baseband video signal tem. Readings higher than 1.5 to always be our priority. Interference level at the maximum level of the 2.0% will indicate that a problem ex- to the picture quality is the reason video signal and comparing that level ists, which can be easily isolated to that we test the system. Having the with the amount of variation in suc- the component or module causing tests interfere with system operation cessive measurements will provide the problem. Hum is not like C/N or is somewhat contrary to our objec- very accurate hum measurements. other distortions in that it is not built tive. The problem with this technique is up through the cascade. Since hum Adding carriers to perform our that you can not distinguish between is typically the result of low power tests utilizes valuable spectrum that the wanted and the unwanted low fre- supply voltage or a failing compo- could better be used for revenue pur- quency AM modulation unless the nent in the AC or DC supplies, the poses. Single test carriers do not re- measurement is made on an unmod- problem occurs at the point of that quire much spectrum, but also pro- ulated carrier, except with an FFT an- failure and remains relatively con- vide only limited test data. The solu- alyzer. stant through the remainder of the tion to these problems is simply to The FCC's '92 rules require the cascade. develop a test method and instru- hum to be less than 2.5% at the cus- Hum is typically measured by de- ments that will perform these mea- tomer's terminal. This is an easy modulating the test carrier and com- surements on an active system with- specification to meet. As mentioned paring the peak level of the demodu- out adding test carriers. The goal would be to make the tests on all of the live video carriers on the system. This also would provide us the capability to test the C/N and hum on all of our channels. Hum and C/N problems that occur at the headend in processors, modulators, receivers or strip amps can be tested if the tests can be performed on live carriers. While signal level meters and spectrum analyzers measure signal levels across the frequency spectrum, no attention is paid to the timing of those measurements. If we were to analyze a channel's spectrum over time, we will find that the energy from the modulation process is dispersed in the spectrum from -0.75 to +3.5 MHz around the carrier. This typical vesti- gial side band modulation is shown in Figure 11. Measurements can be made in the time domain of the video signal. If we

116 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY/BACK TO BASICS break time down into small increments and take snapshots of the en- Figure 12: Spectrum display of VBI "snapshot" measurement ergy dispersed in the channels' spectrum, we would be able to break each horizontal line down into a discreet Video pattern associated with that line of video in the picture. Similarly, we could look at the time increment dur- Audio ing the VBI (vertical blanking interval). During the VBI the equalizing and sync pulses are present, howev- 1 15,734 sidebands er the video is blanked or at the blacker than black level. This time increment during the VBI when the sync is at its peak level will produce 3.58 a spectrum display that would contain •••••. subcarrier Vacant spectrum the video carrier and the sync sidebands at 15,734 Hz intervals. (See Figure 12.) The key here is that the balance of the spectrum is empty iRi il diII hill II1111111111 111111 111111 Ii during this short period of time. Obvi- F equency ously, if our instrument could measure the noise floor between the Modern instruments provide these shape factor, 2.70 MHz is the ideal video and audio carriers during this on-channel capabilities as well as off- offset from the video carrier as shown time period there would be no video channel capabilities that will allow in Figure 13. The meter should auto- signal interfering with the measure- comparison between other instru- matically tune 2.7 MHz above the ment and we would not have to turn ments. Either the on-channel or off- video carrier and trigger its measure- the modulation off or tune to an un- channel C/N technique may be se- ment circuitry during the horizontal used frequency. lected from the front panel controls. sync pulses of the VBI so that the Similarly, if our hum measurement Built-in automatic software provisions C/N measurement can be made on a could be timed so that each mea- should automatically accommodate live video carrier. The appropriate surement is made on the peak of the the off-channel test technique when noise measurement correction fac- horizontal sync pulse during the VBI, no modulation is present on the test tors are incorporated in the measure- the wanted low frequency modulation carrier. ment by the microprocessor and the can be distinguished from the un- In the on-channel C/N measure- C/N is displayed digitally. wanted AM distortion. Making suc- ment the noise measurement should In the off-channel mode, the mea- cessive measurements gated to cor- be made between the video and surement is made without the gating respond to the sync pulses allows us audio carrier at a frequency that will circuits. The carrier level is mea- to measure the deviation from the ex- minimize the effect of the carriers on sured, the noise is measured at the pected signal and thus determine the the measurement. In an instrument programmed frequency, and the cor- hum content in a live video signal. utilizing a 280 kHz IF with a 4:1 60 dB rection factors are applied such that Measurements made by these patented techniques are done in a VBI "snapshot" measurement of C/N on-channel similar manner to the manual or auto- Figure 13: mated testing techniques used by Video other manufacturers except for the gated timing, which allows the measurement to be made "in-channel" during a time increment when no "in- IF terference" is present. Measurements Audio r••• , of this type will exactly duplicate the results used by the other methods for 15,734 sidebands "off-channel" testing. C/N tests will correlate to the standard off-channel tests or the method requiring the modulation to be re- 3.58 subcarrier moved. Discrepancies in measure- Vacant ments between methods will only spectrum occur when there is a real C/N problem specific to a particular channel. Hum tests will correlate to the other 11111 11111111111111111111 methods of testing since the method +2.7 MHz is identical except for the gated tim- Frequency ing of the measurements.

BACK TO BASICS/COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 117 meters respond equally well to a CW Figure 14: Scrambled channel video and a standard video modulated signal. Small differences of 0.5 dB Suppressed/ should be expected with most meters. missing sync 9 10111 12 117 118 19 120 21 221 231 241lie 25j In using a spectrum analyzer, the Line 261261 1 2 3 1 4 5 6 7 8

- ' Peak sync measurement should be straightforward. The only pitfall is to avoid scan -7 Blanking loss. To avoid scan loss, slow the L' Black ri reference sweep rate until the maximum amplitude is achieved while using a resolu- Vertical blanking tion bandwidth of 500 kHz or less. Since video modulated carrier measurement is the primary function White of a signal level meter, its accuracy reference should be the best on a modulated Zero carrier e- Top of picture carrier. In utilizing a spectrum analyzer care should again be taken to avoid scan loss, not only of the RF but of the sync peaks. A different res- the C/N is displayed on the LCD. stand the measurement procedure, olution bandwidth and sweep rate will In this type of sophisticated instru- the technique employed by your in- be required for measuring the noise ment, hum can be measured on- or strument and as much of the criteria than for measuring the carrier level. off-channel. The presence of video about the signals on the system as Modern scrambling has complicat- can be detected and modes switched possible. ed the measurement of carrier lev- automatically. In the on-channel To avoid errors in making the C/N els. The correct level reading for a mode the gating is controlled by the measurement we must be concerned scrambled channel is the level that video's sync, while in the off-channel about accurately making two mea- would be present if the scrambling the gate is controlled by the instru- surements: the carrier level and the were turned off. Some meters are ment's microprocessor. noise level. Possible sources of error capable of reading the correct level in measuring the carrier depend and some others will read 4 to 6 dB Avoiding errors heavily on the ability of the instrument low and may "drift around" in their As with all measurements, care to measure the carrier level accurate- reading according to the scene of the must be taken in making these mea- ly, whether it is a CW carrier (unmod- picture since they can not accurately surements. Although a great deal ulated), a standard video carrier or a measure the peak level during the has been done to automate many scrambled channel carrier (and what VBI. (See Figure 14.) Consult the measurements, there are always pit- type of scrambling). manufacturer for the effectiveness of falls available to cause erroneous CW carriers are typically the easi- any particular instrument on your readings. The best method to avoid est to measure since they are the specific type of scrambling. Instru- these pitfalls is to thoroughly under- simplest. Most modern signal level ments utilizing gated measurement capability will provide the correct level measurement on all scrambling Figure 15: Hum FM-to-AM conversion techniques that do not change the level of the horizontal sync pulses during the VBI. Most popular scrambling techniques do not affect the AM VBI sync pulses. Again, with a spectrum analyzer use the maximum res- Î. olution bandwidth and slowest sweep speed reasonably possible, but be sure you have maintained sufficient

IF selectivity. A peak hold function set for several seconds will "catch" a horizontal sync pulse at the true peak and therefore provide a correct peak measurement. As noted previously, measuring the noise level is much more complex than measuring the carrier level and therefore requires greater care to ensure an accurate measurement. II p. The primary concern when making the noise measurement is to be sure Frequency that the instrument is tuned to the noise. Most other aspects of the

118 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY/BACK TO BASICS See us at the NCTA Show, Booth # 1035. Reader Service Number 119. "Although most Newer automated test techniques actually make this more difficult. If sophisticated instru- you have difficulty avoiding the beats ments avoid many a preselection filter on the instru- of the possible ment's RF input is required. A gated SOLUTIONS measurement at 2.7 MHz above the sources of error video carrier is advantageous since and automate the no beat or distortion is commonly measurement found at this frequency during the measurement time frame. Distortions process, there is no within the instrument must still be Cable AML is adifferent kind substitution for care avoided, though. of company. We don't simply and knowledge about Caution must be taken when making C/N measurements on a positive sell AML microwave hardware, the specific system trapped system with the SL750, we work hard to provide the under test." since, the "interfering carrier" is best possible solution for your placed between the video and audio particular problem. carriers. On this type system the C/N is best done with the interfering carrier turned off or measured using the Our team of experienced de- measurement are automated, how- off-channel technique. sign professionals at Cable ever the tuning is often left to the op- Hum only has a few possible AML offers avariety of hard- erator, except on a few modern in- sources of error. Since this is a ware options, allowing you to struments. When tuning to the noise baseband measurement few RF phe- chose the one best suited to with a meter or a spectrum analyzer, nomena can affect the measure- the major concern is the selectivity of ment. Keep in mind that measure- your needs. the instrument. In order to get a ments can only be made on a CW good noise measurement the instru- carrier with most instruments. Instru- So whether you want to trans- ment must reject the other signals on ments employing the gated measure- mit 8or 80 channels, AM or FM, the system. Note that a narrower ments outlined here will make accu- upstream or down, Cable AML resolution bandwidth or IF bandwidth rate measurements on any video can help you pull it all together. is a trade-off. While improving the modulated carrier or any CW carrier. selectivity it also raises the correc- With all instruments the key is to be tion factor requiring greater sensitivi- sure you are tuned to the peak of the Call us today with your micro- ty for the same C/N. When in the on- carrier to avoid any FM-to-AM con- wave system application at: channel mode 70 dB of video and version in the instrument, producing (702) 363-5660, Fax: (702) audio carrier rejection is required for drastically erroneous readings. The 363-2960 and see what Cable a 50 dBc C/N, where a 10 dB correc- tuning step size and accuracy of the tion factor is used and a 1 dB accu- tuning can play an important role in AML can do for you. racy is desired. the accuracy of the hum measure- The instrument used to make the ment. Figure 15 depicts an instru- noise measurement must have a ment that is slightly mistuned and Receiver noise figure or noise floor that is 10 the resultant slope detection. • dB below the noise level that you are measuring (for <1 dB error). A Summary preamp can be used in front of the Although most sophisticated in- Receiver• instrument if additional sensitivity is struments avoid many of the possi- required. If you do this, be sure that ble sources of error and automate Receiver the preamp noise figure is signifi- the measurement process, there is ..... - Repeater cantly below the noise level you are no substitution for care and knowl- measuring and that the preamp will edge about the specific system ./Repeater handle the signal load without distor- under test. As technology increases, • tion. system complexity and regulations When measuring the noise anoth- burden the technical staff. The only Transmitter er source of error can be beats gen- solution is more sophisticated test erated by second or third order dis- equipment that does more, faster tortion, not only in the system but in and at the same time is easier to the instrument itself. When using a use. The on-channel tests represent meter, tuning for the minimum noise such advances. Testing on-channel level or listening for the clear noise greatly simplifies the operator's task are the easiest methods to avoid and increases his ability to thorough- Cable AML beats. When using a spectrum analy test the system without the para- lyzer you must distinguish between dox of shutting off channels or insert- a world of difference the noise and the beats' appearance. ing test carriers. BTB

BACK TO BASICS/COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 119 The 1993 electrical codes and cable TV

By Robert E. Baker Chief technician, TCA Cable TV of Clovis Symbol for communication cable

hanges have occurred in the new Printed 1993 versions of both the National c data Electrical Code (NEC) and the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC). These changes are most probably not common Clear knowledge to all in our industry, nor space have they, in all cases, been easy to adapt to. This article will explore some of 3H 3H --14— 3H these changes and attempt to interpret how they may be met. It also will provide a refresher for those who have not H X XXX looked at the codes recently and assis- tance to those who cannot find their way Amid around inside them. It is appropriate to point out that the complicated by the use of PVC power that these grounds be easily accessi- basic application of and differences be- risers, and the fact that most new homes ble; but if they exist, it is mandatory tween the NEC and the NESC are in the have the riser and most of the meter box that they be used. fact that the NEC applies mainly to elec- recessed into the finished building wall If you must drive your own ground- trical circuitry within or on structures, surface. ing electrode (rod), what is the correct while the NESC pertains to the circuitry The PVC riser prevents the use of size? Good question! The NEC 820-40 outside the structures. There is, of the usual grounding straps, and re- refers you to NEC 250-81, which even- course, a meeting of the two, and some cessing the riser and meter box also tually sends you to NEC 250-83(c). conflict in these areas. may prevent the use of other available Therein you are informed that the mini- alternates such as meter box corner mum length is 8 feet and the diameter The main grounding electrode clamps or grounding lugs. The real so- is 5/8 inch for iron or steel rods. This The first area of concern is the main lution to this problem lies in obtaining same specification is echoed in NESC grounding electrode for the structure. mutual cooperation from the city/state 94.6.2.a. However, reading on in the While the previous editions of the codes inspections personnel and the local NESC, one comes to Section 99, made provisions for the use of concrete- building contractors association, to "Grounding Methods for Telephone encased electrodes (NEC 250-81(c) and which most electrical contractors are and Other Communications Apparatus NESC 94A.3), this type of electrode was members. If the electrical contractor on Circuits Exposed to Supply Lines or not frequently used until the past few will provide a AWG-12 solid copper Lightning," of which Ibelieve CATV is years. It is now fast becoming popular grounding bond to the outside of the included. for economic reasons. Basically, the structure during the prewire, your prob- Looking at NESC 99.A.3. "Excep- codes allow the use of the steel reinforc- lems are solved. The usual practice tion," the use of a 1/2-inch diameter, 5- ing bars (rebar) within the concrete foun- (and most common mistake made) by foot rod is allowed. Since the NEC's dations of the structure as the grounding CATV personnel, is to connect the drop application is to structures and the electrode. In these cases, no outside ground (grounding block) to a ground NESC mainly to outside plant, Ibelieve driven ground rod is available for bond- rod driven by the installer at the most that a rod driven to ground at the en- ing to by CATV. convenient location at the point where trance to the structure (NEC 820.33), Typically, the end of arebar is brought the cable drop enters the building. This falls under NEC 250-83(c) and should to the surface of the concrete at a point error is compounded when this rod is be 8feet in length. Other rods driven to such that it will be present inside the not bonded to the power ground (NEC ground outside plant, such as at ampli- wooden wall frame. In most cases, after 820-40(D)) using AWG-6 solid copper fiers, ends of lines or other areas the electrician has completed the as required. Driving your own rod is where no other bonding means exists, prewire, the rebar is of insufficient length permitted only when there are no fall under the NESC 99.A.3 and may for additional ground rod clamps and/or it grounds available as described in NEC be 5 feet in length. (Note: In my opin- is totally inaccessible to the CATV per- 820-40(b)(1) or 820-40(b)(2), which is ion, where conflict exists, use the sonnel when the time comes to do the very rare indeed. Nowhere in the code safest specification — i.e., always use new installation. This problem is further does it state (but perhaps it should) an 8-foot rod when in doubt.)

120 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY/BACK TO BASICS The whys of driving a rod own distribution system, often without course, applies also to the telcos. It may be appropriate here to stop further metering, including electrical Vertical clearances above ground and discuss the "why" behind not driving charges in the lot rent. There are usually (NESC Table 232-1) have been lowered your own rod and "why" if you do, it must no individual ground rods and often the to 15.5 feet above "roads, streets and be bonded to the power company's point at which the mobile home "plugs" other areas subject to truck traffic" and ground. Our whole purpose in grounding into does not have avalid ground on the "driveways, parking lots and alleys." CATV lines is to place the coaxial cable metal enclosure. Grounding is available Clearances above "spaces and ways sheath (shield) at the same potential as only through the electrical cables. subject to pedestrians or restricted vehi- the electrical power ground, whether it NEC 550-11 requires that the metal cle traffic" have been reduced to 9.5 be outside plant or subscriber drops. frame and non-electrical parts be con- feet. Guidance from the NESC Hand- This is necessary to prevent potential nected to a grounding bus in the mobile book points out that these clearances fire and electrical shock hazards. We home distribution panel board. This bus are based on actual conflict from below cannot rely on the earth solely to provide is required by code to be connected to and does not include allowances for equipment grounding because it does the service ground. Therefore, the new such changes as snow accumulation or not have the low impedance path re- NEC 820-42 states that when there is road resurfacings. It also does not take quired. This is especially true in arid cli- no mobile home service equipment or into consideration the straightness or mates where obtaining ground resis- disconnecting means per NEC 820- plumbness of poles "after" installations, tances less than 20 ohms is difficult to 42(a), or where the mobile home is sup- or for errors in sags and tensions during say the least. Further, NEC 250-91(c) plied by a cord and plug, then CATV construction. specifically prohibits using the earth as may bond to the mobile home metal Vertical clearances between commu- the sole equipment grounding conduc- frame with an AWG-12 copper wire. nications conductors and cables (NESC tor. How do we bond to the frame, you might Table 235-5) located in the communica- Both the electrical utility company's ask? We do not drill holes. Several com- tions space is 40 inches, but may be re- and CATV's outside plant are subject to panies manufacture clamps specifically duced to 30 inches for supply neutrals; current surges. These surges may be a designed to clamp the mobile home "I- and for cable located in the supply result of induced voltages from lightning beam" frame work. These clamps bite space it is 16 inches, but no clearance is in the area or from switching operations into the metal and provide a means to specified between a neutral and an insu- in the electrical utility. If both the electrical safely connect your bonding wire from lated communications cable supported system and the CATV system are not your drop grounding block. These spe- by an effectively grounded messenger. bonded together by a low impedance cial clamps are available from almost all Separations between supply and path, these surges can raise the potential CATV hardware vendors and range in communications conduit systems differences between them to voltages up price from just over $1 each to as high (NESC 320.B.2.c) is 12 inches of well- into the thousands of volts. (Ohm's law: as nearly $5 each, depending on your tamped earth. Lesser separation is re- Voltage = current x resistance.) This, in application. The more expensive clamps quired for concrete and masonry. Lesser turn, may result in fire hazards from arc- will take AWG-6 wire, while the cheaper separations may be used where all paring wherever the CATV sheath contacts ones only take AWG-14 or AWG-12. All ties concur. agrounded part; or in an electrical shock that Ihave seen are "UL approved." Separations between supply and hazard if an individual should come in communications cables that are direct contact with the sheath and provide an Changes in the NESC buried must be 12 inches (NESC additional path to ground. What usually That about covers the NEC changes, 354.A.1). However, they may be occurs, is damage to the subscriber's but there are a lot more changes to re- buried at the same depth with no de- consumer electronics that may be con- view in the NESC. Let's now take a look liberate separation provided all par- nected to our services (TV sets, VCRs, at some that affect the CATV industry. ties involved are in agreement (NESC stereos, etc.). Hence the reason for NESC 224 now permits communica- 354.0). (It should be noted that some grounding at the entrance to the sub- tions lines to be located in the area restrictions apply.) scriber's residence. previously reserved for electrical sup- Beginning on Jan. 1, 1994, all direct ply lines. They must be installed by buried communications cable shall be The problem "qualified" personnel, have the same indented or embossed in the outermost with mobile homes clearances as neutrals, be supported cable jacket, at a spacing of not more Let's move on to another problem by a grounded messenger and in gen- than 40 inches with the symbol shown in area, mobile homes. The 1993 NEC has eral should not be "above" energized the accompanying figure (NESC 350.G). acomplete new area covering this topic, lines. Special provisions apply for com- Cable not meeting this marking require- NEC 820-42. Mobile homes have long munication circuits when they are lo- ment but in stock prior to January 1994 been a problem with regards to proper cated above energized supply lines. In may be used only for repairs. BTB and adequate grounding. At the risk of any case, they are always treated as offending some mobile home park own- though they were energized (safety References ers, Imust state that not all internal park and handling, and construction prac- 1) National Electrical Code 1993, ISBN wiring always meets code standards. tices) and transitions between the "sup- 0-87765-383-6. Problems are rooted in the fact that ply" space and the usual communica- 2) NEC Handbook 1993, ISBN 0-87765- most mobile homes simply "plug" into tions space may only occur at a single 384-4. outlets provided, and no actual power structure (pole) and not mid-span. This 3) 1993 National Electrical Safety Code, company service exists. Many parks is a new provision and makes way for ISBN 1-55937-210-9. have "master" meters that bill for bulk expanded communications facilities on 4) NESC Handbook, Third Edition, ISBN usage. The parks, in turn, provide their already crowded joint-use poles. It, of 1-55937-211-7.

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Reader Service Number 120 cated for projects. And, SIS contains a Advanced Power Conversions full-featured purchase order module. Power Play: New DC-to-AC Inverters Reader sery ice #206

A new line of DC-to-AC power in- polarity protection; and an intelligent CLT Debuts verters (GEN -X) designed for network shunt-trip to safeguard the equipment Differential trunk applications was at the Advanced being powered and the primary source. Power Conversions booth. Built-in safety The GEN -X converts DC input GPS Package features include: regulated output of 60 power-to-AC power with an efficiency Cable Leakage Technologies released Hz 118 VAC RMS for safe operation of rating of 85-93%. Its soft start feature its new Deltawave. The product signals the sensitive test instruments and computers; starts a higher and wider variety of in- end of bothersome, inconsistent GPS data input and output circuit breakers, reverse duction loads. Reader service #268 due to the Department of Defense's inten- tional degradation of the GPS signal, re- New Transmitter Fresh From Cable AML ferred to as Selective Availability, or S/A. The Wavetracker allows the user to A new microwave solid-state trans- taneously at distances in excess of 15 enjoy street width accuracy, or better, mitter has been added to Cable AML's miles each, depending on channel load- through a post-processed correction fac- line of indoor broadband transmitters. ing and local climatic conditions. tor supplied by the differential base sta- The Model ITX-015 is designed to The product uses the latest Gallium tion. This system is sold complete with a implement high-quality, high -power mi- Arsenide power amplifier technology PC workstation and stationary GPS unit. crowave links for transporting up to 80 and also is offered in a double and Reader service #205 TV channels. In a typical application, the quadruple redundant configuration. transmitter can feed four receivers simul- Reader service #207 Unattended S-2000 Long Systems Tracks Out from Videotek Does Hundreds Of New Service Inventory System NTSC, PAL Tests Long Systems introduced its Service puter and bar code printer. Headlining Videotek's exhibit was Inventory System (SIS) software and The software allows the user to track S-2000, a video analyzer that automati- hardware package to track cable ser- inventory for multiple warehouses and cally and unattended performs hundreds vice inventory. The package includes for trucks. Project accounting allows you of both NTSC and PAL systems tests. It inventory software, a hand-held com- to capitalin new plant. Parts can be allo- performs automatic measurements in

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NTSC (FCC, FCC/Cable, RS-170A, RS- puts is achieved through any standard excess of 25 miles; built-in self-test fea- 250C, NTC-7, ICPM) and in PAL CCIR PC in defining and scheduling an unlim- tures; and local distribution and cluster- (473, 567, 569, 624, ICPM) plus com- ited series of tests at predetermined in- ing services, located in headend. mon basic measurements for both for- tervals. Any test can be performed in- Advantages of broadband equipment, mats. stantly "at the press of a button." Read- according to Hughes, are: compatible Full user control of the four video in- er service #204 performance to channelized equipment; simplicity of installation and operation; Power Guard Extends Battery connection to existing channelized array in hybrid configurations with minimal Line For Extended Battery Life system rebuild and without sacrificing performance; flexibility (new channels A newly designed standby power sup- power supplies. The physical form factor may be added without system reconfigu- ply with a unique battery compartment is essentially the same as the existing ration or special channel location assign- designed to extend battery life was shown non-standby meter pedestal that is ap- ments); capital cost savings; and operat- by Power Guard. It is mounted on an un- proved by several utility companies. The ing cost savings — power consumption, derground vault that contains the batter- system has a built-in breaker box that cooling requirements. Reader service ies. This configuration is said to allow for comes prewired from the factory. Once #201 much cooler battery temperatures thus in- the utility connection and plant connec- creasing battery life substantially. tion are made, all that is necessary is to The supply uses the same modules plug in the modules and turn the unit on. Harmonic Lightwaves that are utilized in other Power Guard Reader service #203 Adds YAGLink Plus Harmonic Lightwaves had its newly Alcoa Fujikura Gets The announced YAGLink Plus (YL+3200) on display. The product extends the Dirt Out of Fiber Connections reach of a standard YAGLink System, Alcoa Fujikura displayed its hand- signed for simple, one-hand operation. A transmitting 80 channels of AM VSB held, self-contained ferrule cleaner for thumb-activated, spring-loaded door video, to 50 km with an end-of-line car- optical fiber connectors that assures to- mechanism advances the film belt and rier-to-noise ratio of +50 dB, an increase tally dirt-free, lint-free field connections exposes afresh film section through two of 9km. for positive optical signal transmission. round holes and two elongated slots in The YAGLink Plus enhances the C/N The device contains a special dry woven the top of the housing. Holding the de- link performance of a YAGLink trans- polyester film belt for fast removal of vice in one hand, the operator inserts and mitter and receiver system by as much as dust, dirt, oil and gels from fiber and fer- rotates the ferrule tip in Hole #1, wipes it 3 dB and improves CSO specs by as rule end-face without using alcohol or in Slot #1, then rotates it in Hole #2 and much as 6dB. Reader service #194 solvents. It can clean up to 1,000 ferrules finish-wipes it in Slot #2 to completely before disposal. clean the ferrule end-face. Reader ser- The PREP Connector Cleaner is device #202 Earthvision Broadens Its Cygnet Vision Convert To Broadband Microwave With Hughes AML Earthvision Systems expanded its Hughes AML announced abroadband STX-141 system. Features of the trans- Cygnet line of products to include an microwave conversion program. A single mitters include up to 80-channel capabil- agile TV demodulator and a four-channel Hughes AML indoor broadband trans- ity within asingle 6-foot rack; increased FM modulator. Building on the platform mitter can replace an entire MTX-132 or power for supertrunking applications in of the Cygnet AMBO agile TV modula-

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tor and Cygnet SR-CK satellite TV re- The Cygnet TD-VUC agile TV de- channel tuning as an option. Either ceiver, the new products share a com- modulator features front panel se- composite video or separately synthe- mon packaging, racking and powering lectable synthesized tuning of any sized, it is set by internal DIP switches. systems and take advantage of similar VHF, UHF or CATV TV signal in the Reader service #196 (TD-VUC), #195 circuit technologies. 50-800 MHz frequency range, with T- (FM modulator) Doubled Drop Amp Performance From Metroline

The DropAmp subscriber drop am- serving-area or fiber-to-feeder network powered from the home and boosts lev- plifier was introduced by Electroline. after being amplified at the customer els to feed homes with numerous outlets, The unit features a 3 dB noise figure premises. multiple TV sets, VCRs and other de- and operates at 1 GHz bandwidth. Ac- Designed for 550 MHz to 1 GHz net- vices connected to the drop, or when a cording to the company, the unit deliv- works, the unit provides 14 dB output very long drop is encountered. Reader ers high-quality signals from afiber-to- and 23 dBmV output per channel. It is service #175

New Drop At Belden Manage Your Network The Belden Division of Cooper Indus- Sweep testing is conducted at both With Broadband Networks tries announced the Series 1000 line of ends of the cable to provide the industry's Broadband Networks Inc. intro- drop cable that the company says guaran- most extensive readings on any SRL peri- duced the EDCOMM network man- tees sweep testing to 1 GHz on all the odicity or attenuation problems. The agement and switching system for company's drop cable manufactured company's manufacturing and quality as- interactive video applications, which since July 1, 1992, and guarantees the surance methods allow the customer to allows for point-to-point, point -to - lowest published structural return loss use bandwidth to 1 GHz. Reader service ni and video-on-demand values at 20 dB for Series 59. 6. 7and 11. #191 conferencing via ametropolitan area fiber-optic network. Arcom Universal Encoder: The Next Generation The system uses both RF and base - band techniques in a distributed ar- Arcom Labs introduced the second- Gaussian encoder. The new unit features chitecture so that it is cost-effective generation AGE-2000 universal encoder a variable AGC and variable frequency compared to conventional central- for use in the Arcom Gaussian encode/ control, both of which are used to mini- ized switching approaches, according decode system as well as traditional pos- mize adjacent channel effects. The com- to the company. itive trap systems. The AGE-2000 has pany conducted a live demonstration. In addition to conference switch- several improvements over the previous Reader service #193 ing, the system allows users to schedule year-long conference cur- Rack Mounting, Silicon Avalanche riculums, provides different confer- Advantages of New NTI Surge Suppressors encing formats for business or edu- cation users and provides billing in- Northern Technologies Inc. showed a sponse time and lower clamping levels than formation to the service provider. new addition to its full line of transient volt- traditional technologies such as MOVs or Network management features allow age surge suppression systems. The prod- gas tubes. Also, silicon-based protection de- analog and digital transmission links ucts combine the convenience of rack vices will not degrade, ensuring consistent to coexist and be controlled by asin- mounting with the benefits of silicon reliable protection of your critical equip- gle software package. Reader ser- avalanche technology. ment for years to come, according to the vice #178 This technology is said to offer faster re- company. Reader service #192

See The Highest Capacity Digital Video Transmission System On The Market Sumitomo Electric 4

This scheme is said to not only simplify IF Matrixes And More From Monroe setup, but also allows the combined de- Monroe Electronics' new Series 3000 able the user to select one input to multi- vices to be computer-controlled as asingle IF matrix switcher was on display. The ple outputs with no signal loss. automated instrument via GPIB or RS-232. modular design combined with power di- Also on display was the company's The combined 2707 and spectrum ana- vider modules allows field configura- new Model 624 video sensor, which pro- lyzer provide swept measurements from tions from 2x2 through 8x8. According vides 2x1 audio/video switching. Reader 100 kHz to 1.8 GHz. The system's 100 dB to the company, internal amplifiers en- service #177 (switcher), #176 (sensor) dynamic range shows filter ultimate rejection or circuit isolation characteristics. The Viewsonics Rolls Out Mini Amps unit's output can be set in steps as fine as 0.1 dB, maximizing control over amplifier Viewsonics Inc. displayed anew line amp and the 3/4-way splitter housing for compression testing. of high performance miniature broad- the 2-output 10 dB gain mini amp. The Also, demoed for the first time was the band amplifiers with a frequency range four-output 10 dB gain and the single company's CSS500 cable system software. of 45 MHz to 1 GHz. output 20 dB gain mini amps are housed Reader service #180 (Option 02), #179 The company used its traditional in aslightly larger version. Ports are par- (tracking system), #142 (CSS500) small pattern two-way splitter housing allel to the mounting surface on all mod- for the single output 10 dB gain mini els. Reader service #174 New Microwave Receiver Telecrafter's Plastic Clip Gun Is Lighter, Stronger Line At Cable AML Display The new ORX series of broadband mi- Telecrafter Products introduced what factured almost entirely from high tech crowave receivers from Cable AML was it says is the first non-metallic percus- plastic and is 40% lighter, stronger and on display. A two-piece receiver configu- sion hand tool. Using advances in plastic less expensive than its predecessor. The ration eliminates the need for connecting technology, this tool is an improvement tool uses the same RB-2 cable clips as waveguide between the antenna and re- on the company's RB-2 clip gun used in the existing Model RB-2E. Reader ser- ceiver. The small downconverter unit of the installation of drop cable. It is manu- vice #172 the two-piece receiver is normally attached directly to the antenna feed at the back of the antenna, while the VHF unit Tek Develops Cable Signal Set can be placed at the base of the tower, indoors or near the downconverter. The Option With MSOs For FCC Testing two units are interconnected by standard Newly introduced by Tektronix was sweep, (Sin x)/x, FCC composite, and five- cable. Diagnostic and status monitoring Option 02, the cable signal set option to the step staircase) into asingle test signal ma- can be performed at the VHF unit's mon- TSG 120 TC/NTSC generator and trix. itor interface connector. Receivers are VITS100 generator/inserter. The company also demonstrated its new available in several options with different With the option, the two generators can 2707 external tracking generator. The 2707 noise figures and VHF and/or microwave perform tests required by the FCC: cable attaches to aTektronix 2711, 2712 or 2714 AGC. Reader service #171 multiburst, cable sweep, FCC composite spectrum analyzer to form acompact sig- and NTC7 composite. Option 02 on the nal tracking and scalar analysis package. Dimensions Intros Three TSG120 also delivers utilities designed to Together, the 2707 and spectrum analyzer Units For Power Demands make thorough cable system testing easier. perform standard analyzer functions plus Dimensions Unlimited says the three This includes cable matrix that combines the frequency-swept measurements essen- models it introduced into the video and five test signals (cable multiburst, cable tial to transmission system maintenance. cable TV markets cover nearly all power

UM» T R I N SuperTari 1 -GHz bandwidth Standard multi-tap or addressable multi-tap Basic and expanded basic tiering flexibility Affordable offpremises add ress ability 5 demands. Continuous power output rat- combination with waveform and/or vec- up to three composite waveform or vector ings range from 1,400 to 2,100 watts. tor displays. displays to simplify timing adjustments These inverters have asmaller than usual The unit permits the observation of and compare input signal levels. All three profile and footprint of 15.5 by 16 by 7.5 three paraded video sources plus audio si- composite inputs may be displayed si- inches that take up little truck space. The multaneously, eliminating the need for multaneously with flat, low pass and smaller dimensions are due in part to a multiple instruments. It also can overlay chroma filters. Reader service #163 recent patent awarded to the manufacturer for its cooling method. A single fan forces air into, under and behind the inverter's housing. Reader service #170 EXPO BRIEFS ... Cable AML Intros Highest Power •Mega Hertz has developed a mand for more rack space at the booklet presenting an overview of headend, Contec International has Microwave Broadband the requirements for FCC proof-of- introduced the Shrink Rack. The unit Transmitter Available performance testing. Information is is a downsized chassis that houses a Said to be the most powerful CARS included for the tests involved and standard Video-Cipher in half the band broadband transmitter available, the for equipment available to perform space originally required. The opera- Model ITX-1260 was on display at Cable testing both at the headend and sub- tor is now free to add additional AML. The transmitter has the output scriber's terminal. Reader service equipment to enhance signal trans- power equivalent to that of a linear 1,260 #141 mission and generate additional rev- watt amplifier, a substantial jump over •Comm/net Systems Inc., the enue. Reader service #145 the previous high power of 500 watts. Seattle-based representative of Dy- Features include a thoroughly modu- namote Corp., introduced the "Bru- tus" sine wave output DC-to-AC in- lar design with easy-to-read diagnostics verter for mobile vehicle applica- and an inherently reliable fail-soft architecture that allows service restoration at tions test equipment powering. The lower power levels without interrupting Dynamote solid-state inverters are service. Reader service #168 said to provide areliable solution to the recent concerns regarding pow-

• ering expensive test gear for accu- New From Videotek • rate FCC proofs. Reader service Combo Waveform #147 •Comm/Scope is offering a fiber Monitor/Vectorscope feeder cable in its Optical Reach Among the new products from fiber-optic cable product line. The Videotek was the TVM-675 full-featured new product is designed for CATV half-rack width combination waveform applications to provide a more cost- monitor/vectorscope and audio monitor effective link between fiber trunk engineered to observe either composite or and coaxial cable feeder than prior component analog signals. Stereo audio designs, according to the company. phase and levels may be monitored via Reader service #146 the easy-to-read Lissajous display. The •In order to meet operator de- audio may be displayed alone or in any

PHILIPS

Give up the ghost with the VECTOR TM Video Echo Canceler.

Learn how at booth 602 Philips Broadband Networks, Inc. 6

image is available for immediate viewing Electroline's Vision Of Pay-Per-View or editing on the workstation. Electroline introduced its Dial-A-Vi- dering process without an operator. Correction capabilities include auto- sion impulse pay-per-view system for Billing statements are generated automatic grid correction, line recognition, hotel, resort, campus and hospital appli- matically for property management. horizontal and vertical line correction, cations. The system lets customers order The system can be used as a stand- corner and intersection correction, arc movies or other programs instantly by alone system or as part of a wider ad- recognition, text recognition, mark and touching the keys on their in-room tele- dressable control system for basic, ex- symbol recognition and trace angle cor- phones. An automated voice response panded basic and premium tiers. Reader rection. Reader service #157 unit then guides callers through the or- service #162 RMS Debuts: Taps, Passives Wavetek Adds Three New SLIVIs Stripping Tool, Splitters Wavetek Communications announced RMS Electronics had several new mm coaxial cable, power cable, even tele- the addition of three new signal level me- products on display. First was anew line phone cable jacket stripping. ters. Replacing the SAM 1500, the new of 750 MHz taps and trunk passives to Also new was aline of 1 GHz splitters, SAM 1550 installer meter incorporates complement and expand its existing series HFR Series. These two-, three- and four- all basic functions of its predecessor of 600 MHz taps and trunk passives. Next way splitters have an RFI rating of -120 while providing a full channel sweep was a new cable stripping tool for RG-7 dB and come with a grounding block. mode that detects when adjacent and and RG-11 cable. The tool can be used in Reader service #161 (taps and pas- overall levels are out of programmable host of applications including 4.9 mm- Il sives), #160 (stripper), #159 (splitters), limits. Joining the 1550, the new SAM 3030 Frequency Agility From Standard supports all of the 3000's functions, while featuring hum and C/N measure- Standard Communications showed the ers that can automatically track the input ments, as well as full channel sweep with TVM850P frequency agile, PLL locked frequency. This can be achieved over a limits and multiple channel plans. high-band heterodyne processor, whose wide input dynamic range (-10 to +1 Lastly, the company introduced its lat- core is designed around the T 850 fre- dBmV). According to the company, the est innovation focused at FCC 24-hour quency agile RF output circuit. unit is the first all channel in, all channel testing requirements, the SAM 1650. The The TVM850 Series RF outpu t i'rcuits out agile processor. unit performs all of the SAM 1500's employ aPLL locked, four-stage ïotiver- The input tuner can be programmed to functions, but includes asix -hour interval sion process to accomplish a broadtimd receive any VHF, UHF or CATV (up to test with a power saving "sleep" mode. noise and artifact-free output. This i pee- 890 MHz) frequency by rotating the chan- Reader service #156 (SAM 1550), #155 formed without the use of post -filtering nel selector with the output channel nu- (SAM 3030), #154 (SAM 1650) on the broadband output. The OAP890 merically indicated on the front panel. input tuner is anew 50 to 890 MHz fre- The OAP890 module is preforrnatted by a quency agile design that utilizes two PLL user-defined EPROM for all domestic off- locked, dual conversion, hybrid synthesiz- air CATV channels. Reader service #153 Sink Cable Pirates With dB-tronics Create Your Maps With Cadix dB-tronics Inc. announced adue dili- The AD-4001 automatic digitizing vector data in minutes, according to the gence service called "Sink Cable Pi- system shown by Cadix, converts manu- company. Distortion and noise are auto- rates," designed exclusively for cable TV al drawings and maps into CAD-ready matically corrected and the drawing companies to help them right cable pira-

SEE THE NEWEST PRODUCTS FROM SCIENTIFIC-ATLANTA •Digital Video,Compression Systems •System Amplifier II •Model 8600ATM Home Communications Terminal •750 MHz Line Extender II •Dual Wavelength AM Fiber Supertrunk •DMX Simulcast Equipment •Model 9600 Slimline TM IRD Visit us or call 800-722-2009 for more information Scientific Atlanta 3. Please check the category that best describes your firm's prima COMMUNICATIONS business (please check one only). TECHNOLOGY O1. Cablea. Independent TV Systems Cable Operations TV Systems O b. MSO (two or more Cable TV Systems) ID 2. Cable Tv Contractor Communications Technology is distributed FREE of charge to qualified 0 3. Cable TV Program Network cable TV personnel. Incomplete forms will not be processed. 0 4. SMATV or DBS Operator Iwish to receive/continue to receive Communications Technology. 0 5. MDS, STY or LPTV Operator Yes D No 0 0 6. Microwave or Telephone Company O 7. Commercial Television Broadcaster (please pint or type) CI 8. Cable TV Component Manufacturer Name 0 9. Cable TV Investor O 10. Financial Institution, Broker, Consultant Title (pleaso pnnt ar type) 0 11. Law Firm or Government Agency O 12. Program Producer or Distributor Company Name 0 13. Advertising Agency Address 0 14. Educational TV Station, School or Library CI 15. Other City State ZIP (pIesse speoly) Signature Date 4. Please check the category that best describes your lob title/function. (egnaheng Ind deb required) CI A. Corporate Management O B. Management 1. Are you amember of the SCTE (Society of Cable Televlsion Engineers)? 0 C. Programming Yes 0 No 0 0 Technical/Engineering 10 Vice President 3CI Manager 50 Technician 2. In the performance of my job, Iauthorize, specify or recommend 20 Director 40 Engineer 60 Installer products and/or services for purchase. 0 E. Sales Yes O No 0 D F. Marketing O X. Other (please specify) CT 6/93

Simply circle the number(s) below COMMUNICATIONS corresponding to products of interest!

TECHNOLOGY _19 38 57 76 95 114 133 152 171 190 250 1 20 39 58 77 96 115 134 153 172 191 25/ 2 21 40 59 78 97 116 135 154 173 192 252 3 22 41 60 79 98 117 136 755 174 193 253 4 23 42 61 80 99 118 137 156 175 194 254 Name ------5 24 43 62 81 100 119 138 157 176 195 255 Title(Please specify) - 6 25 44 63 82 101 120 139 758 777 196 256 Company Name 7 26 45 64 83 102 121 140 159 178 197 257 8 27 46 65 84 103 122 141 160 179 198 258 Address 9 28 47 66 85 104 123 142 161 180 199 159 City _ State ZIP - 10 29 48 67 86 705 124 143 062 181 200 260 Phone Date r1 30 49 68 87 106 125 144 763 182 201 267 12 31 50 69 88 107 126 745 164 183 202 262 13 32 51 70 89 108 127 146 765 184 203 263 FREE INFORMATION 14 33 52 71 90 109 128 147 166 185 204 264 Reader Service Card /5 34 53 7? 91 110 129 148 167 186 205 155 /6 35 54 73 92 111 130 149 168 187 206 266 June 1993 (Valid until September 1993) 17 36 55 74 93 112 131 150 169 788 207 267

18 37 56 75 94 113 132 151 170 189 208 268 CT 6/93 -1

Simply circle the number(s) below COMMUNICATIONS corresponding to products of interest!

79 38 57 76 95 114 133 152 171 790 250 TECHNOLOGY 20 39 58 77 96 115 734 153 772 791 251 2 71 40 59 78 97 116 135 154 173 192 252 3 72 41 60 79 98 777 136 /55 174 193 253 4 23 4? 61 80 99 778 737 756 775 194 254 Name -- - 5 24 43 61 81 700 779 738 157 176 195 255 Title(Please specify) 6 25 44 63 8? 101 120 139 158 177 196 256 Company Name_ _ 7 26 45 64 83 102 721 740 159 778 797 257 8 27 46 55 84 103 72? 741 160 779 198 158 Address __ 9 28 47 66 85 704 123 742 161 180 199 259 City State ZIP 70 29 413 67 86 705 724 743 167 781 200 280 Phone _ _Date 17 30 49 68 87 706 725 144 763 78? 207 267 72 31 50 69 88 107 726 145 764 183 202 152 13 3? 51 70 89 108 127 146 765 184 203 263 FREE INFORMATION 74 33 5? 71 90 709 128 147 166 185 204 264 Reader Service Card 75 34 53 72 91 770 729 148 767 186 205 265 16 35 54 73 92 111 130 149 168 187 206 266 June 1993 (Valid until September 1993) 17 36 55 74 93 712 131 150 169 788 207 267 78 37 .56 75 94 7/3 132 751 770 189 208 268 CT 6/93 -2 Place Stamp Here

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

Transmedia Partners P.O. Box 9106 Plainview, NY 11803-9106

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NO POSTAGE NECESSARY 11111 IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES BUSINESS REPLY MAIL FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO. 535 RIVERTON,NJ

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COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY A Transmedia Publication P.O. Box 1843 Riverton, NJ 08077-9443

1111,1,,I,Offil,..11,1illilii.l..11,1,.11,1.1.1 AD INDEX It's so simple! To obtain additional information from any of the display advertisers appearing in this issue of Communications Technology, please use one of the Reader Service Cards on the facing page (pass the others along). The ad index below has been expanded to include not only the page number of each advertiser, but also each corresponding reader service number to be circled on the Reader Service Card.

Reader Service # Page # Reader Service # Page # Alpha Technologies 94, 97, 101 91, 93, 95 NCA Microelectronics 63 51 Antec Corporation 8 5 Ortel 58 39 Antenna Technology 109 101 Philips Broadcasting 42 23 AOFR 56 37 Pioneer Communications 28 13 AVCOM 121 148 Porta Systems 73 65 Belden Wire & Cable 64 53 Power & Telephone 62 49 Ben Hughes/Cable Prep 107 100 Power Guard 12 7 Blonder Tongue 75, 116 74, 107 Pyramid Connectors 79 78 Budco 16 8 Quality RF Services, Inc. 44 25 C-COR Electronics 72, 81 63, 80 Ripley 14 8 Cable AML 119 119 Riser-Bond Instruments 82 80 Cable Innovations 76 75 RL Drake 70 61 Cable Link 100 95 RMS Electronics 54 35 Cable Resources 84 82 Rycom 93 91 Cable Security 10 6 Sachs Communications 80, 83 79, 81 Cable Tek Wiring Products 102 98 Sadelco 30 14 Cadco 60 41 Sawtre Electronics 88 86 CaLan 114 104, 105 Scientific Atlanta 46, 91 27, 89 Channell Commercial 32, 34, 36, 38 15, 16, 17, 18 SCTE 1 108 Coast CATV Supply 98 94 Sencore 2 2 ComSonics 89 87 Showtime Networks Inc. 85 83 Contec International 120 122 Sitco Antennas 77 75 CZ Labs 122 148 Sumitomo 48 29 DH Satellite 96 93 Superior Electronics 112, 124 103, 151 Doppler Systems 118 111 Tektronix 78 76, 77 DX Communications 22 11 Telecrafter Products 6 4 Earthvision 99 94 Telect 26 12 Engineering Unlimited 117 111 Time Manufacturing 115 106 Epitaxx Inc. 68 57 Times Fiber Communications 103 97 Gould Fiber Optics 69 59 Toner Cable Equip 123 149 Harmonic Lightwaves 52 33 Trilithic 74 71 Hewlettt Packard 90 88 Trilogy 3 3 Holland Electronics 110 102 Tulsat 86, 87 84, 85 Hughes AML 50 31 TVC Supply 111 102 Jerrold Communications 18 9 Universal Electronics 40 19 Lode Data 92 90 US Electronics 105 99 Mega Hertz 106 100 Voltage Control Systems 20 10 Microwave Filter 95 92 Wavetek 61 47 NaCom 24 12

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 129 7 cy. It is comprised of a two-part program clearinghouse in which dB-tronics brings ics' WeIlford, SC, location. The clear- that can help cable companies track, or- together legitimate, qualified buyers and inghouse is a data base that matches ganize and manage due diligence activi- sellers and a software tool designed to cable companies with surplus equipment ties prior to the disposal of surplus ad- assist cable companies with conducting with other cable companies requesting dressable converters/decoders. due diligence. A nationwide converter similar types of equipment. Reader ser- Sink Cable Pirates is comprised of a clearinghouse is maintained at dB-tron- vice #152 Zenith Talks Addressability With Dialog Editor, New Decoder Meets New Cable Law Head-On Zenith Cable Products demonstrated tional messages, personal greetings or coder, developed to address the equipment the HT-2000 addressable subscriber sys- even payment reminders. compatibility requirement of the Cable tem, including its Dialog Editor soft- The Dialog Editor assists in formatting Act of 1992, was demoed by the company. ware, used to program the on-screen in- dynamic information from a variety of The new BOS (broadband on-screen) formation system. It allows operators to sources, such as electronic program guides decoder builds on two subscriber-friendly create custom screens and screen inter- or other data services, which is then trans- technologies developed by Zenith: the HT- operability activity to be sent to their lated into a format the HT-2000 decoder 2000 and the Shadow broadband decoder. subscribers for avariety of purposes, in- can interpret. Reader service #150 (HT-2000), #149 cluding global or individualized promo- Also, a new broadband addressable de- (ROS decoder) Audio Level Control From Channelmatic Channelmatic unveiled the Audio during transitions between local com- tween 20 Hz and 20 kHz. Each ALC Level Control. Addition of the ALC mercial breaks and back to network 3001A module can provide control for provides a means of automatically programming again. stereo input with discrete right/left maintaining a consistent audio level on The ALC monitors input levels audio inputs and outputs for two inde- agiven channel or network. Use of the from -24 dBm to +14 dBm and pro- pendent monaural audio channels. ALC amplifier circuits on multiple vides a constant output range of -2 Modules for up to 12 stereo channels channels allows the audio levels to re- dBm to +2 dBm with a total harmonic or 24 mono ones can be incorporated main constant, even when a viewer distortion, which does not exceed into a single 3000 series frame. Read- tunes from one channel to another or 0.25%. Frequency response if flat beer service #143

CaIan's Comet Integrates Performance Monitoring Calan Inc.'s Comet family of re- The Comet family consists of three Comet II — multimoded monitor and mote line monitoring systems was in- levels of system functionality: Comet control, which monitors RF levels, troduced. The Comet system includes I— signal level monitor, which mon- frequency response, distortion, other products from Philips Broadband Net- itors RF levels under workstation con- system parameters and controls sys- work and AM Communications, plus trol; Comet 1+ — signal level monitor tem functions plus providing FACTS, the integration of software and addi- plus, which monitors RF levels plus the fully automated compliance test tional hardware developed by Calan. under local intelligent control: and system. Reader service #148

11 SUPERIOR ELECTRONICS GROUP, INC. Unleash The illegmffle

Power Experience REAL Automated Remote Testing!

Make te fe To Booth 278 Fresh Videotek Fare: Rack-Mount Frame Architecture, Audio Program Monitor Zenith Helps Videotek introduced several new pany. Up to 80 audio and/or video out- products, including the Omniframe rack - puts can be installed in one Omniframe. Thwart Thieves mount frame architecture and the APM- Each module has a self-contained power New technology to foil would-be 800 program monitor. supply so there is no single point of fail- pay TV program thieves is at the Any combination of Videotek's cur- ure as with common power supply heart of new addressable decoders rent or future modules may be installed frames. from Zenith Cable Products. The in Omniframe to meet a variety of appli- Another new product, the APM-800 new enhanced security technology cations. Video and audio distribution audio program monitor, is engineered takes advantage of the Dialog Pro- amplifiers, plus sync and test signal gen- for dual aural monitoring of up to eight cessor in Zenith's HT-2000 decoder. erator all reside in Omniframe, saving inputs, either balanced or unbalanced. Called SSAVI+, the encryption tech- valuable rack space and having to buy Reader service #140 (Omniframe), nology further strengthens Zenith's multiple frames, according to the corn- #132 (APM-800) sync suppression and active video inversion system. A dynamic "control Utili-GARD Surge Protection seed" is sent to the HT-2000 via in - band data, directing the decoder to Utili-GARD, developer of the UG60 utility switching and secondary lightning the location of dynamic scrambling headend and hub surge protector, introduced strikes that cause unnecessary outages and commands that can be located in sev- the 120PS-SP for AC surge protection of damage customer relations. The 120PS-SP eral places in the vertical blanking standby power supplies. When used at the features an on-line indicator, 840 joules at interval. The control seed can only disconnect on the load side of the breaker, 19,500 peak amps of protection and is said be interpreted if the proper decryp- the Utili-GARD 120PS-SP will stop AC to eliminate costly service calls due to break- tion algorithm has previously been power line transients primarily caused by er or fuse outages. Reader service #144 received through the out-of-band New Coupler Packaging Hardware for CATV data channel, which normally receives informational data for the on- Porta Systems Corp. announced a new Couplers are concatenated at the facto- screen display. line of packages (modules, trays and pan- ry and packaged in avariety of lx2, lx3, On any encrypted channel, the en- els) for couplers that provide total fiber lx4 and lx6 modules. The new packages coder will send false data, causing management. These new coupler packages are said to dramatically save rack space, non-authorized decoders to rapidly offer hardware solutions for the unique re- labor and material costs. Reader service alternate between video inversion quirements of the CATV network. #151 and non-video inversion. Alterna- tively, illegal decoders can be autho- New Splice Enclosures, rized to descramble a special channel Converter From ANTEC prompting them to call the cable op- Li.ator . Reader service #139 ANTEC Network Systems introduced fusion or 152 mechanical splices. the Fiberpak fiber-optic splice enclosure, Also, the company has added to its fully BTSC (MIS) stereo-compatible designed and engineered specifically for Regal product line the RR-92 550 MHz The remote is backwards-compatible, en- cable TV applications. The enclosure basic converter and the CRP-10 back- abling Regal RC-83 converter users to features express cable entry on four ports wards-compatible hand-held remote. The choose an alternative remote control. and knockouts for eight cable ports. It RR-92 is an 83-channel unit that passes Reader service #137 (enclosure), #136 accommodates fiber counts of up to 216 separate audio program signals and is (converter)

Your single source for coaxial cable connectors and heat shrink for the CATV industry f Stop by our booth #332 and take acloser look.

p. We thrive on challenge

LRC Electronics Inc., 631 Old Corning Road, P.O Box 111, Horseheads, NY 14845 •607 739.3844 9 Cable Plant Installation Demo At Siecor Siecor Corp. exhibited a variety of Additional program improvements measurements typically greater than 60 products, depicting a typical cable TV make it possible to simultaneously store dB. fiber-optic cable plant installation from the parameters for different types of fibers and Integrating the splicer with the compa- headend to the optical receiver nodes. En- still use either fuse time optimization or ny's FBC-005 fiber cleaver, the Crimp & hancements to the company's high-preci- profile alignment for high-quality splices. Go splice protector or heat-shrink oven, sion M90 fusion splicer were announced. The unit also automatically evaluates the and splicer tools provides craftsmen a The unit's profile alignment system cleaved fiber ends. Unacceptable results complete working environment in one (PAS) program is now much faster, ac- are shown on the new high-contrast, color package. cording to the company. The splicer also display screen. To improve visibility of Also introduced was the OS-210 Series incorporates the LID-SYSTEM unit to op- splicing parameters, two views of the hand-held single-mode laser source. timize and measure fiber alignment and fibers are shown simultaneously. Splice Reader service #133 (PAS), #132 (OS- splice loss. loss averages 0.02 dB, with return loss 210) New Fiber-Optic Trunk Cables Carted Out By Cooper/Belden

The Belden Division of Cooper In- The Belden multifiber per tube design gel-filled to impede water penetration. In dustries introduced new fiber-optic trunk consists of four to 240 single-mode the armored version, the buffered tubes cables for CATV. The cables are avail- fibers contained in loose, gel-filled, are surrounded by alayer of aramid yarn, able in armored and all-dielectric ver- color-coded buffer tubes. The fiber tubes an inner polyethylene jacket, and alayer sions and meet Bellcore (TR-NWT- are cabled around a dielectric central of corrugated steel armor. Reader ser- 000020) and REA (PE-90) standards. strength member and the interstices are vice #138 S-A Features Digital Video Compression System Third Generation A Scientific-Atlanta digital video com- audio, data and text signals while still ad- Technology In Dimensions pression system, identical to those now dressing and controlling each signal indi- New Inverters being installed by Viacom International vidually; compact disc quality audio; A new family of inverters with Inc. and StarNet Inc., was on display. modular design of hardware, software and third generation technology was in- Advantages include: secure and simul- network architecture. Reader service troduced by Dimensions Unlimited taneous transmission of multiple video, #135 Features include wall or shelf mounting, easy AC connection and an im- Alcoa Fujikura Shows Off Hard-Working Cleavers proved waveform stabilizer circuit. A new "Video Wave" option has The CT-100 series optical fiber average cleave angle of less than 0.5'. been developed especially for the cleavers were at Alcoa's booth. The new A base unit, CT-100, features a CATV market. This provides acor- CT-103, CT-104 and CT-107 high-speed, scriber blade and improved anvil for fast, rect AC waveform for distortion-free high-precision mechanical cleavers are consistent cleaves of individual fibers or video monitor viewing. The inverters said to be especially valuable for high- up to 12-fiber cables in single operation. are UL-listed to comply with all production single-fiber and mass fusion The T-S switch allows instant position- NEC and OSHA standards. Reader splicing applications in the field. They ing of the blade, for cleaving normal sili- service #166 can accurately score and cleave single- ca fibers or titanium-coated silica fibers. mode or multimode optical fibers with Reader service #134

ADDRESSABLE •DIGITAL AUDIO •COMMERCIAL INSERTION CUEING •VIDEOICIPHER DESCRAMBLERS Our Booth is at NAB ...But We Are Here!

UV WEGENER C COMMUNICATIONS Space #138 10 MFC Offers Filters: Fiber High Pass, Convert Maps Low Pass, Band Splitting, New 1 GHz Microwave Filter Co. showed its band tion, frequency cutoff to audio carrier of With Cadix Cadix showed the FX-7001, an in- splitting filters that have been designed the lowest passband channel, is 20 tegrated drawing management sys- to increase carrier-to-noise ratio perfor- nanoseconds maximum; rejection is 7dB tem that stores and manages draw- mance on split band fiber systems. minimum at the frequency cutoff to 6 ings and maps on compact optical The high pass has apassband extend- MHz, 20 dB minimum at the frequency disk storage. According to the coming from the frequency cutoff, the video cutoff to 12 MHz and 30 dB minimum at pany, entire drawing rooms can be carrier of the lowest passband channel, to the frequency cutoff to 18 MHz. stored on optical disk storage for fast 550 MHz. The low pass has a passband Impedance is 75 ohms and connectors and easy drawing retrieval. of 50 to 525 MHz. Specifications com- are type F female. Cost savings, productivity and effi- mon to all three units are 4dB maximum Also displayed was anew filter for 1 ciency are achieved by extending the passband loss and 16 dB minimum re- GHz channel elimination applications. benefits of computer automation to turn loss; ripple is ±0.25 dB; delay varia- Reader service #252 manually created drawings and sketches. Existing drawings and maps can be quickly entered into the C-COR/COMLUX Announces system using the comprehensive scanning and raster-based drafting Fiber Scrambling Solution tools provided. Reader service #251

C-COR/COMLUX unveiled several video IF (41 to 45.75 MHz) for trans- Series 3000 products that are compatible portation over the digital fiber network. nels over fiber with RS-250C short-haul with RF scrambling and a single-channel The Model 3300 single-channel digi- performance. Additional audio or data digital fiber-optic video transmission tal fiber-optic video transmission system channels are options. Reader service system. These products are new addi- transmits one video and two audio chan- #253 tions to the Series 3000 high-speed digital fiber-optic video/audio/data transmission system. ME/I's Proof Is In The Course The RF scrambling-compatible prod- Mind Extension Institute featured its procedures; and selecting and determin- ucts will transport any standard RF new training program designed to help ing proof-of-performance test points. scrambled channel through the Series cable operators conduct successful Mind Extension Video Training Here 3000 high-speed digital equipment. Two proof-of-performance tests and achieve Also, the company released a new RF scrambling options are available. The the new FCC standards. "FCC Proof- videotape training program, "The New models CL 3803/3804DC (8-bit DC cou- of-Performance Guidelines" is a 25- FCC Technical Standards," which in- pled codec) and/or CL3903/3904/DC (9- minute videotape and workbook course. cludes a 20-minute VHS tape and an bit DC coupled codec) can process de- It is designed for technical managers in accompanying workbook. The program modulated RF scrambled channels for systems with more than 1,000 sub- is designed to provide cable TV system transportation over the digital fiber net- scribers. technical managers with the key infor- work. The models CL3103/3104DC (10- Topics covered in the course in- mation and procedures necessary for bit DC coupled codec) and CL3843/3844 clude: timeline for conducting system's them to comply with the new FCC (IF downconverter/upconverter) will ac- proof-of-performance; proof-of-perfor- technical standards. Reader service cept and process scrambled channels at mance record keeping guidelines and #256 (POP), #257 (tech standards)

There's no such thing as too much flexibility.

Introducing the HLT6020, the transmitter with the most architectural flexibility in the business. It's part of the complete YAGLink'" fiber optic system.

Etc.:Dr.-8686 Tilt RIGI-IT LIGeeT Fc>. C t -U V Harmonic LIghtwaves 11 Field Service Management System In Bull Advanced Telecommunications Pen

Bull Advanced Telecommunica- system (GIS), which maps a compa- tion system (GPS) that gives the tions Solutions offered its Field Ser- ny's serving area and superimposes company the ability to locate all ve- vice Management System (FSMS), a the land base and outside plant facil- hicles in a work force; all vehicles set of products and services that sup- ities required to provision services are equipped with GPS sensors that plies automation systems to increase to the subscribers; computer-aided can be tracked in "real time" and a the productivity of I&R forces. dispatching (CAD) that fully inte- mobile data terminal (MDT) that is a The FSMS system is a complete grates with the company's existing portable terminal/computer equipped end-to-end work force management operations support system for ser- with wireless communications (ei- system consisting of four integrated vice order entry and trouble ticket ther RF or cellular). Reader service components: geographic information generation operations; global posi- #258 TSD Television Stereo Radiant Fiber Products Offered Decoder At Learning Radiant Communications Corp. announced the availability of its Learning Industries showed its TSD As a headend monitor, the unit ac- Series JLBR (V) fiber-optic sin- TV Stereo (& SAP) decoder that may cepts a variety of input signals: Ch. 3, gle-mode low backreflection be used as a stereo TV audio monitor in Ch. 4, 41.25 MHz, 4.5 MHz, and com- variable attenuator/jumper. The the headend, in conjunction with ordi- posite baseband. It provides fixed and Series JLBR (V) is said to nary headend test equipment to make variable outputs, and offers several out- achieve attenuation from 1 dB to accurate BTSC stereo measurements, or put configurations. Reader service 40 dB at 1,300/1,550 nm while in the field for stereo service calls. #259 maintaining <60 dB return loss. The attenuator/jumper can be supplied with FC/APC, SC/APC Superior Adds To Cheetah Line or any single-mode PC-type connector. Superior Electronics Group Inc. an- bances of composite triple beat and Radiant also showed its Series nounced the addition of the composite second order, in addition to DSF aerial fiber-optic splice box. CEL4650.DM, a cellular telephone carrier-to-noise and hum measure- The splice box, having a 12- equipped remote distortion test and ments. splice capacity, is made of fiber- monitoring instrument, to the Cheetah The CEL4650 DM, utilizing the glass and is watertight to NEMA automated remote testing system. CellPack, has been developed to allow requirements 4, 4x, 5, 12 and 13. The Cheetah system allows the portable communications for automat- Reader service #254 (attenua- cable operator to test multiple chan- ed compliance testing with the Chee- tor), #255 (splice box) nels unattended for coherent distur- tah system. Reader service #260 Discover the Missing Link Comm/Scope,Inc. in Booth 462. THE Cable in Cable TV ® General Instrument 12 Test New Proof-of-Performance Software at Long Systems

Long Systems demonstrated its sion clarifications. FCC required aggregate data. POP new release software to document POP performs afull pass/fail analy- works in full cooperation with all technical standards testing. The new sis on all proof-of-performance tests, manufacturer's test equipment to help version 2.01 of POP has been fully plus generates a public record. The operators meet the FCC technical stan- updated to meet the November 1992 software also records subscriber com- dards regulations. Reader service Federal Communications Commis- plaints. creates work orders and prints #167 Super Redundant, SIL Standby Power New At Power Guard "The super redundant power supply is a fail, the unit seeks the first active leg of the modules in a compact pole-mount housing novel new approach to powering fiber- distribution system. Only the area affected with the ability to install the batteries in a optic node equipment," reports Power by the outage will not have service. The rest remote underground vault. The supplies Guard. of the system will still be functional. are available in 24 or 36 volt DC versions The power is supplied from the distribu- The new SLL series standby power and in 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 amps. Reader tion system power supplies. If there is aline supply line features ferro and standby service #165 Alpha Shows CableUPS Line Developed to bridge the gap between XP Series, according to the company. the 4to 7amp range, while the DC power the diverse power requirements of fiber The series features single ferroreso- module delivers direct powering of fiber network, hybrid designs and conventional nant transformer design, regulated output nodes at the auxiliary power port. coaxial systems, Alpha Technologies' under all modes of operation, built-in line With "quick connects" for batteries new FP Series power supplies provide conditioning and surge protection. Ac- and power output, the units also have a uninterrupted AC or DC power with all cording to the company, the AC version remote temperature sensor for precision the important advantages of the AP and provides high efficiency performance in charging. Reader service #164

EXPO BRIEFS • • • • Porta Systems offered its compli- blies in the CATV network. Reader tion. Reader service #200 mentary CATV Network Design service #261 • Budco is stocking an acrylic lami- Guide that provides detailed informa- • Dimensions Unlimited Inc. un- nated fiber-optic snap-on cable marker, tion regarding the proper configuration veiled anew series of power inverters which is aone-piece construction that of aCATV network. This comprehen- that transform DC battery power to AC snaps onto cable without ties, straps or sive guide outlines the utilization of current. They are stable enough to adhesives. Stock snap-ons are 8inches couplers, panels and connector assem- drive video monitors without distor- long, fit 1/2- to 1-inch cable diameters

SM • Up to 1GHz bandwidth. • Quality drop system. ids • Standardized training programs. integrated drop system MI Reduced maintenance & CLI leakage.

K-19 AIVITEC." See our IDS Display in Booth #378. Ere COMMUNICATION SERVICES 13

DB TWEAKER

LESS ON # 3L/8: HOW TO SOLVE" -kite" PROBLEMS

THE WELL - PREPARED TECHNICIAN NEED NOT FEAR Hue!

FIRST, FIND A CONVENIENT TEST RO/NT and are orange with black copy. Other maximum assembly force with minimal eral new products within the compatible options are available through special effort. Connector sizes are clearly remote family. These products consist of order. Reader service #199 stamped on the tool and the durable, hot- easy-to-use "Wee Motes," universal and •Electroline's new DropAmp, de- dipped, full cushion handles will not SA8600-DMX remotes. All have cable signed for FSA/FTF networks of 550 slide off. Reader service #262 TV OEM capabilities and are available MHz to 1 GHz bandwidth, provides 14 •Eagle Comtronics had its SIS de- with prompt delivery at cost-effective dB output and 23 dBmV output per coding filters on display that are said to pricing, the company says. Also on dis- channel. The unit, powered from the have near perfect descrambling. Other play was the CBLinX family of RF-to- home, boosts levels to feed homes with features include high channel applica- optical fiber converters. Reader service numerous outlets, multiple TV sets, tions, video enhancement possible and #267

VCRs and other devices connected to security improved by high channel •AOFR Americas Inc. displayed its 10 the drop, or for situations where an usage. Reader service #263 single-mode couplers/splitters and atten- extra-long drop is encountered. Reader •Lectro announced a Zr!' version of uators for the CATV industry. Wide- service #198 its two-battery UniMax standby power band lx2, lx3, lx4 and larger configura- •Jerry Conn had information at its supply. This version, which utilizes a tions operate from 1,260 and 1,580 nm booth on Intelvideo's digital impulse special zero transfer time technique, en- with low excess loss, high directivity noise reducer. The unit is astate-of-the- sures continuous unbroken power when and low reflectance, according to the art signal processing system that essen- transferring in or out of standby and fea- company. Standard 1x2 coupling ratios tially removes all electrical or ignition tures asingle ferroresonant transformer from 5 to 50% and 1x4 splitters are type impulse noise from NTSC color designed to run cool and consistent from available from stock. Reader service signals. It also is effective in detecting either AC line or battery power. Reader #173 and correcting satellite or FM link service #264 •The Belden Division of Cooper In- threshold noise that normally appears as •Diamond Communication de- dustries showed the Enviropak reusable "sparkles" or streaks, in effect, ameans monstrated the advantages of using a drop cable dispenser, designed to house of extending threshold in FM links. drop wire clamp. On display were fiber- and protect indoor Series 59 and 6drop Reader service #197 optic hardware and underground fiber- cable. This high-density polyethylene •AM Communications showed its optic splice case enclosures, the Optiped. case is environmentally friendly and re- new Fully Automated Compliance Test Reader service #265 duces waste from plywood reels and System (FACTS) for performing all •Comm/net Systems Inc. introduced corrugated boxes. When the cable has FCC system proof testing. Live fully au- an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) been depleted, the user inserts anew coil tomated measurements for noise, distor- AC power system design and installation of cable in the unit and it is ready for tion, hum modulation and flatness were service for Alpha Technologies power use. Reader service #158 demonstrated using AM's newest hard- products in the Northwest and Alaska. •Just Drop introduced its newest ware and software products. Reader The company is offering acomplete pocket toner, which the company says is a service #208 package including measurement of actual the most compact and inexpensive of its •Cablematic displayed its CR-EZT headend electrical load, estimation of fu- kind. Made for identifying drops and assembly tool that assembles Raychem ture load requirements and installation of checking line continuity, this unit comes EZF connectors to cable in seconds, ac- the proper sized Alpha UPS system. with an LED for identifying splitters and cording to the company. It has arugged Reader service #266 has alouder tone than previous models steel frame with toggle action that allows •ABC Cable Products offered sev- Reader service #169 BUSINESS DIRECTORY/CLASSIFIEDS

FCC COMPLIANCE TESTING FIBER OPTIC DESIGN & Wills& San edl ACTIVATION HEADEND OPTIMIZATION Jumper Cables COMPLETE SYSTEM AUDITS CUSTOM MADE CABLE ASSEMBLIES INCLUDING AUTOCAD CUSTOMIZED CATV MENU F to F, N to N BNC, RCA, F-81 & SYMBOLS LIBRARY Gilbert AHS RG-56 Belden Times CAD DRAFTING & DESIGN LRC RG-59 Off Shore RG-11 Comm/Scope STRAND MAI' 8: AS Bu70.T Amphenol RG-213 Intercomp MAI' DIGITIZATION X: REVISIONS RG-214 CORPORATE OFFICE We will make any cable assembly. Quick delivery on all colors and lengths. Yankton, S.D. Fax: (602) 582-2915, PH: (602) 581-0331 (605)665 -1393 800-292-0126 335 W. Melinda Drive, Phoenix, AZ. 85027 USA

AMS-1 CHARACTER GENERATOR TCS CABLE, INC. Since 1978

•Character -COAXIAL & FIBER CONSTRUCTION 4.111•111I Generators -TECHNICAL SERVICES •VCR Controllers -PLANT MAINTENANCE •Video Switches ec• -RESPLICE/UPGRADE ATARI Computer and Software pp— em only $499.00! • CUSunn Hardware -SWEEP/PROOF SERVICES and .50/ loare -FIELD ENGINEERING SERVICES 9e.`e OPTIONAL BATTERY BACKUP! -PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE CORPORATE OFFICE (813)789-6826 2676 WEST LAKE ROAD (813) 787-5077 (FAX) Dickel Communications Co. FAX 310-496-4716 PALM HARBOR, FL 34684 (800) 999-8270 5208 East Ilanbury St. /Long Reach, CA 90808 TeL 310-496-0674

Robert Marzullo -Director of Cable/Fiber Empire CATV & Communications Corporation John Hayes Jr. -Assistant Director •FIBER •COAXIAL john burns SCTE MEMBER •COPPER INSTALLATION construction company e COMMUTED TO QUALITY Coaxial /Fiber Optic construction Call for company brochure P.O. Box 827 Engineering /Splicing /Testing Orland Park, IL 60462-0827 • 800-347-2605 General Contractor /Project Management 4506 Vaughan Dr. (708) 479-2143 214-475-6869 Rebuilds /Upgrades FAX (708) 479-4956 Rowlett, Texas 75088 800-323-0448 USA 214-475-4296 -FAX

MC COMMUNICATIONS California Amplifier NATIONWIDE CABLE SPECIALISTS

Serving . U.S. manufacturer of: C-Band LNBFs (Pulse, Voltage Switched and Dual H/V Output). LNBs, Commercial Phase-Locked LNBs, Ku- Cox Cable • TCI • Continental Band LNBs (Multiple Frequencies), Feedhorns (C, C/Ku, C/Ku/S ), Prime Cable • Times Mirror • Falcon Arabsat LNBs and TVRO accessories. Wireless Cable (MMDS) prod- Warner • Jones lntercable • Daniels ucts include: 31 and 33 Channel Integrated "Yagi" antenna/ downconverters, stand-alone downconverters (Multiple Frequencies), • United Artist • Prime Star LNAs and the BeambenderTm ,a low cost microwave repeater. Installations - MDU's - Audits - Construction 460 Calle San Pablo Phone: (805) 987-9000 DBS - Converter Recovery Camarillo, CA 93012 USA Fax: (805) 987-8359 • Contact: John Ramsey, Director of Business Development 1-800-348-9988

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 137 íritint waima, OMMERCIAL ELECTRONICS, INC. MIDWEST CABLE SERVICES CAW ENGINEERING SERVIGEÇ CATV EQUIPMENT REPAIRS

Hybrid Sales Meter Calibrations Equipment Upgrading Headend Alignment Performance Measurments FCC Offsets — NATIONWIDE BUYERS — CATV SCRAP CABLE AND USED LINE GEAR Free Pick-up Service in Certain Geographic Areas P.O. Box 96. Argos IN 46501 800-247-5883 Phone: (219) 892-5537 •FAX: [219]892-5624 209 E. Jackson St. P.O. Box 484 Gate City, VA. 24251

CONTRACT INSTALLERS,INC. Start Your Spring With The Company With CONTRACT tS UHF Radio Equipped Trucks •Uniformed Installers The Know-How to Build, Rebuild or Upgrade. CABLE TV INSTALLERS HOUSE INSTALLATIONS Your Full-Service Cable-Fiber Contractor. Aerial -Underground -Pre-wire APARTMENT INSTALLATIONS Post wire -Pre-wire -Commercial Building Call for a company brochure, Tap Audits 1-800-642-9621 Install or Remove Traps and/or Converters Drop change over for System Rebuilds LENNY FISCHER MONTIE FISCHER D.E.A. CONSTRUCTION COMPANY P.O. Box 1564 P.O. Box 1058 Appleton. Wisconson 54913-1564 Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32549-1058 (414) 582-7087 •Fax (414) 528-7528 (904) 651-5154 Laying the Future of Telecommunications

Charles Wright emmtlimmegpares CAD (815) 698-2564 Ian IV 8. 1 DRAFTING Rt. 116 & 1-57, Central Plaza 'CA NATIONAL SERVICES,INC. P.O. Box 432 ORGANIZATION Ashkum, IL 60911 CABLE FOR CATV •Base Mapping •As-Built Mapping •Strand Mapping •System Design TELEVISION CONTRACTORS •Digitizing Services •AutoCad Drafting CONTRACTORS FREE INFO Specializing in high volume precision drafting. -Conferences -Insurance COUNCIL -Publications -Safety "Quality service for all your cable drafting and design needs." Of the Power & Communication Tel: 800-542-7222 Call for literature. Contractors Association Fax: 703-823-5064

C,4 SCTE SUSTAINING MEMBER ConsfrucZion ConstrucÉ/o.n CATV DESIGN • A • Strand Ujo„iad„ CABLELINE i COMMUNICATIONS tiapp»ze. ASSOCIATES, INC. CA TV SINCE 1979 •Design •AutoCad Drafting •Strand Mapping •Cad Training/Setup 2862 Johnstown Rd. •As-Built Mapping •Scanning Services Mark Suite 104 8 Zip 43219 Dave 5524 Bee Caves Rd., Suite CI •Austin, Texas 78746 Steve Williams Eyre 614.471-6573 Jones President (512) 328 -2461

138 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY CABLE CONSTRUCTORS, INC. BRIDGEPOINT el) COMPLETE TURNKEY CONSTRUCTION 1-800-338-9299 •Coaxial and Fiber •Material Supply COMMUNICATIONS INC •Mapping and Design •Emergency Fiber Restoration •Member SCIE •System Sweep Coax and Fiber Construction •Splicing and Activation •Proof of Performance Full Installation Services •Fusion Splicing •Turnkey Headend •Aerial, Underground & •Complete Turnkey Project Subscriber Audits and Sales Fiber Construction Management (214) 617-8888 quality service performed on atimely basis DALLAS, TEXAS

RELIABLE REPAIR • REFURBISH • BUY • SELL CABLE TV SYSTEM SERVICE INC. FULL FCC PROOF-OF-PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE TESTING ¡-PAC CAN 616 /538-1437 converter repair e• 2DAY SERVICE FASTER & MORE COST EFFICIENT • NO SYSTEM PERSONNEL NEEDED VERY LOW RATES USA (800) 677-5255 • MANY EXTRA TESTS PERFORMED • OVER $55,000 IN TEST EQUIPMENT 2-Way Free Freight & Pizza • REPORTS IMMEDIATELY AT END OF TEST • FCC LICENSED 8c SCTE CERTIFIED • 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE Converters, Headend & Linegear • IDO FCC PROOFS FASTER AND BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE GRANT PEARcE 4849 GRENADIER SW GRAND RAPIDS MI 49509

Professional Cincinnati, Ohio Technical Services, Inc.

"Video Poster"TM Page Generator & Controlle An Engineering Services Company dedicated to: • Sweep -Balance -Proof "New Hi -res fonts" r Modern -RAMC I •Computerized Reporting .,„„on VIdeo e Cable .«VID G" l •Electronic Upgrades -Resplice • r I II . Local Weather II •Applied I CrEECEMI •Splicing & Activation MM D RE 4 I / .Temp:85 F Humidity 35% • •System Maintenance and Repair 'Wind from SW @ 5 MPH «HUMP I bee"' 711 •Technical Services Split screen control allows logo clock itirraimnilrf- and text to remain on screen -BCLK" li1171141/4 Illinel A Lag" Can display All of our employees are customer conscious, dedicated and experienced ...Scrolling messages... 5rL velTel el liCee on Video Poster in State-of-the-Art systems. 12:24:30 THURSDAY 3:21:92 Upload 8 Download Control commands 8 (CALAN and WAVETECH equipped) • pages via modem to Multiple Site Headends 800-457-4569 'Hi-Res fonts, Video Page & Character enerator ore more than 600 pages Logos & pictures directly on cartridge 16 colors, 9 letter sizes, Crawl, Flash, Special effects 'Two (240 IV.) variable size crawls per page Accurate real time clock & date any location 'Restores & displays pages, time & date even if power fails! 'Low cost C64 computer (NTSC + Ch 3/4 out) 100 Time and date event control commands 'Infra-red remote option controls up to 8 VCR's 'Upload & Download pages+commands via modem 'Controls model "RMAV" & external relays & VCR's Generate NTSC color bars + message crawl lines 'User friendl ,incl. demo disk with he!. •a. es & Instructions on VHS tape Model 'Price •Description of "Video Poster" "i! Options: Call for Demo repo "RAMC" $289.95; Video Poster; 150 page Battery backed RAM-disk, Video cable 8, manual CABLE SYSTEM "RAMX" $349.95; Video Poster; 600 page Battery backed RAM-disk, Video cable 8. manual "VIOC" $189.95; Video Poster; no Ram-disk, Video cable 8. manual "C64" $159.95; Refurbished computer, with power supply (1 year warrenty all products) SURVEY CO. SCTE Member "Modem" $ 89.95; 1200 baud Hayes compatible plug-in modem for remote page transfer "BCLK" $ 69.95; Battery clock (with RAM) restores time & date if power falls "PK8'" $159.95; Controls 8 relays • DVM2; "WX1" & "WSDM "Inputs; Infra-red sender Mapping • Design • As-Builts • CAD & Drafting Services "WX1" $189.95; Temp. deg. C. or F. • Humidity sensors; Req. PK8 "WSDM" $279.95; Anamometor Wind speed and direction; Req. PK8 "1541" $189.95; Optional disk drive; external unlimited back up for RAMC/X or VIDG Let Us Map & Design "RMAV" $ CALL; 2 to 8 Tsn "F" stereo or mono •video AXB switches 6 "DVM2" $379.95; Page controlled Digital audio;10 messages, 2 min. "UPS1" $279.95; Uninterruptible power supply with 5 hour batteries Your Fiber Upgrade piCee:.:. WSDM -1-exxx PK8 UPS1 126 W. Michigan Ave. • Marshall, MI 49068 Ia ,ei, 11 (616) 781-3455 e FAX (616) 781-5177 àgm& 6 Se' ...... çt e DVM2 • .... ' WX1 to CM "RMAV" Engineering Consulting Tel: 714-671-2009 Fax: 714-255-9984 v II 583 Candlewood St. Brea, Ca. 92621*MastercareVisa*Discover*Amex*PO*C0

COMMUNICATIONS TEI-INOLOGY JUNE 1993 139 "DRIVEN BY EXCELLENCE" Installations (Aerial & Underground) Pre & Post Wire MDU Excel Cable Construction, Inc. Design/Strand Mapping Drop Transfers/Tap Audits Aerial & Underground Construction ADDERLEY INDUSTRIES, INC. P.O. Box 513 150 Mid Atlantic Parkway Corporate Office (904) 260-3499 Thorofare, NJ 08086 USA (904) 260-6141 FAX COAXIAL P 0 Box 57245 David Mai A Minonty Business Enterprise •Fax (609) 848-2981 •1- (800) 343-0122 Jacksonville, FL 32241-7245 President Herb Adderley • Pro Football Hall of Fame • 1980

Quality Cable & Electronics hie. FREE CATALOG! 1950 N.W. 44th Street Pompano Beach, Florida 33064

Books, Videos & Software on ALITy Converters Satellite TV, Wireless Cable & SMATV Vertronics, lie'adends BLE Drop Material line Equipment B411›-ublicle-gene 1905 Mariposa Boulder, Colorado 80302 NEW /USED /ALL EQUIPMENT /COMPETITfVE PZICES USA Phone (305) 978-8845 Fax (305) 978-8831 Telephone: 303-449-4551 FAX: 303-939-8720 David Green •CALL OR FAX US FOR A CATALOG TODAY:

INSA inc. ENGINEERING AXS\G COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Integrated Network Services, Inc. DESIGN & DRAFTING Fiber Optic Systems •Design & CADD INS offers a complete Design • Installation Testing • Turn-key Services •Base and Strand Mapping service package utilizing As-Built Mapping LAURA LEHSTEN MICHAEL A. SOUTRO today's technology Fiber Design Marketing Manager Chief Engineer to provide customized •CATV Training solutions at prices to 20 Biscuit Hill Road • Foster, RI 02825 • USA Consulting fit your budget. (401) 392-0563 • Fax (401) 392-0569 •FCC Testing Whatever the project size, SCTE Member Contact: Butch Sehorn 10.1- 7.31-888 1 1325 Northmeadow Pkwy., Suite 110, Roswell, GA 30076 let AXSYS make your future brighter with fiber.

GRAHAM STUBBS ASSOCIATES SCTE Sustaining Member

Technical & Management Consultants COCHFtAN • Technology Development COMMUNICATIONS CONSTRUCTION • Patent Prosecution CALIFORNIA ARIZONA 36-630 Cathedral Canyon Drive 3070 South Kiowa Blvd. • Product Evaluation Cathedral City, CA 92234 Lake Havasu City, AZ 86403 • Start-up Management Ph: (619) 328-6778 •Fax: (619) 328-4139 Ph/Fax: (602) 680-9070 • Technical Marketing Cochran Communications Construction is a full service communications company providing experienced SCTE certified personnel, resources, and equipment to meet all your CATV construction needs. 11545 West Bernardo Court Suite100 San Diego, CA 92127 USA Consulting & Engineering •Design & Drafting •CATV Sales •Installations Aerial & Underground Construction •Splicing & Activation Tel: (619) 487-3025 • Fax (619) 673-0174 Maintenance Repair •Trenching •Satellite

140 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY N Viejitzet We eiel. ol.f% 1.4s eia4 t(m. 444.. ?e4.1 Cablern Company A Professional Signal Leakage Detection Service • Repairs & Sales •Take advantage of our regional scheduling • Converter Repairs •Plan early and save references available • Specialists on Jerrold Addressable IN Competitive Pricing CABLE TELEVISION Todd Borst • Authorized Panasonic & S-A Service Center Gwen Valenzuela SYSTEM SERVICES Contact. Errol McCalla TKR Cable Company Phone/Fax (616) 679-4513 •(800) 837-7611 P.O. Box 4581209 N. Grand Ph: (908) 583-2026 25 Industrial Drive CLI Drive-Out •CLI Reports •Payment Plan49087 Schoolcraft, MI Fax: (908) 290-1677 Cliffwood, NJ 07735'

Responsible for over 600 CLI Drive-Outs & FCC Form 320 Reports

Rebuild/Upgrade Turn Key Services Specializing in Erg •Turn-Key •New Build •Rebuild •Fiber Optics CABLE TECHNICAL SERVICES SCTE Member Tanya L. Daversa Associate Member: •Commercial/Residential Installations •Sweep and Balance Pennsylvania CATV Association Owner •Underground/ Aerial Construction (Tektronix 2721/2722, non-interfering) •Fiber Optic/Coaxial •System Audits/As Builds •Design/Strand Mapping giretyw -Y9rvle, eunrulúrildwat,

1333 Lincoln Way East -Suite B 11226 Indian Trail, Dallas, TX 75229 Chambersburg, PA 17201 (800) 486-4165 • (214) 241-4169 (717) 263-7373 Fax: (717) 261-1020 Minority Owned Corporation AERIAL & UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION Career Opportunities PERSONNEL NEEDED Experienced Aerial Crews, Underground Crews & Splicers Needed Immediately - RF Sys- Needed Immediately - Satellite Com- needed in IL, IN, AL tems Engineer for CATV, munications R&D Engineer familiar SEND RESUME TO: SMATV. Prefer single, self- with all aspects uplink/downlink, video ERVIN CABLE starter, 5-7 years experience. data. Prefer single, energetic self- CONSTRUCTION, INC. starter with 5-7 years experience for 212 E. Lincoln Fax resume and details on first Shawneetown, IL 62984 Middle East based company. Fax re- contact to 966 1479 0475. In- 1-618-269-3838 sume and details on first contact to 966 ternational Communications 1 479 0475. International Communica- Systems — Saudi Arabia Experienced Technician Wanted tions Systems. CableSouth, Inc., an Alabama cable system serving approximately 20,000 subscribers, is seeking a highly motivated technician with a System Operators/Contracting Companies minimum of 2 years troubleshooting and CABLE LABOR SERVICES will save you money and increase your hiring options. technical experience. Some headend knowl- When you need individuals. crews or companies for construction or edge preferred. Partial relocation fees paid maintenance, were your source for qualified workers and companies. by company. CableSouth, Inc. offers a com- NO •National Advertising for your present and potential job openings. prehensive benefit/compensation package. COST •Prescreened contracting companies information packets and references. Please submit resume to: FOR •Prescreened resumes of quality construction and maintenance workers nationwide. CableSouth, Inc. Call (702) 723-1121 Fax (702) 723-1120 • HCR 31, Box 108. Sandy Valley, NV 89019 P.O. Box 1185 Albertville, AL 35950,

Attn: General Manager or Call (205) 878-3802 Technical Supervisor EOE CABLEVISION is looking for a motivated self starter to direct activities of all field technicians. Responsible for technical training in field maintenance and operation. Require- NORTHWEST ments are 3-5 years Cable TV experience, supervisory skills and agood driving record. Drug testing required of final applicant. Equal Opportunity Employer CATV SERVICES Gig Harbor, WA If interested, please send resume to: Need 2Good Retrofit Splicers Foothills Cablevision Top Dollar, Bucket Truck, Attn: Lillian Gomez •1041 E. Alosta •Glendora, CA 91740 Lo ng-Term Work For The Right Man Phone/Fax: 206-265-2236

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 141 Career Opportunities (Continued)

CONSIDERING THE NORTHWEST? Telecommunications Established computerized CATV Design and Mapping Company; seven years with stable Engineers clientele, located in northwest with mountains, rivers, lakes, endless recreational opportunities "Quality of Life." Our Specialty Includes business chattles, vehicles, leased office space with receptionist, fully qualified staff, existing contracts. Serious cash inquires -Inquiries held in confidence We are focused on global needs Respond to: created by the new telecommunica- Box ME tion changes. Whether you have CT Publications recruiting needs or want to make an employment change we are as 50 S. Steele St. #500 close as a phone call away. Denver, CO 80209

•Engineers software, firmware, hardware Regional Sales Manager •Contract Engineering short /long term assignments in the above ComSonics, Inc., an employee owned company and a leader in CATV technology, products and services, has an immediate opening for a Regional Sales •Engineering Consulting fixed bid projects Manager. This individual will be responsible for direct sales of ComSonics products and services to the cable television industry and alternative markets in the •Executive/ Corporate Management Midwestern region of the United States.

The successful candidate will posses thorough technical knowledge of the CATV SNELLING industry, with a minimum of five years direct sales experience. "l'elecoriununicatir»Ls Dirk itu This uniquely challenging position offers high earnings potential and an excellent benefits package. (800)-275-6712 or Please mail resume and salary requirements in confidence to: (214)-701-8080 (No phone calls please) P.O. Box 1106 FAX: (214)-701-8265 Harrisonburg, VA 22801 12770 Coit Road Suite 250 Aun: John W. Dickle Dallas, TX 75251 USA Fax: (703) 434-9847 ComSotacemc. An Equal Opportunity Employer

Fiber Optic Splicer Wanted. Training Metro NY area. Experienced with single mode cable, aerial bucket trucks, Siecor M68 and M90 fusion splicer and 0.T.D.R.'s a must. Company supplies all tools and equipment. Immediate ONI FIBERWORKS opening. Compensation Negotiable. Call FIBER OPTEK Digital Networks (914) 462-6356 FAX: (914) 462-1780. Training Course

Developed for cable TV operators, system planners and design engineers, this course provides adetailed technical overview of digital telephony theory as it System Technician applies to cable television operators considering the Total technical responsibility for small 2-way sys- Alternate Access business. tem's head-end and plant. Duties include leak June 21 -24 Kansas City, MO September 27 -30 New Orleans, LA detection, FCC proofs, sweep/balance, trou- Los Angeles, CA bleshooting, line extension construction and July 26 -29 Seattle, WA October 25 -28 some installations. Candidate must be a self August 9- 12 PWfver Oel November 8 -II Orlando, FL starter, highly motivated, responsible, neat, well organized, possess supervisory skills, take pride Registration must be confirmed two weeks in advance of each course. in work and be an experienced pole climber. Schedule is subject to change. Send resume with salary history and salary For detailed course information, including acomplete 1993 course schedule, desired to: contact your Denver-based account representative at 1.800.FIBER.ME Joe Lee McClellan Nelson County Cablevlslon Corporation (1.800.342.3763). P.O. Box 395

Lovingston, VA 22949 01993 ANTEC Nelwork Sy0ern• OPTICAL NETWORKS PATERNATIOTIAL

142 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Career Opportunities (Continued)

Chief Technician SCTE Member District Sales 3-5 years experience. Representative Formal technical training, proven Peter management skills, sweeping, The leader in automated remote CLI & POP knowledge required. test equipment seeks motivated Top 100 MSO. 450 MHz S-A system. roehlich & Co. professional to demonstrate, sell, Located in Southern Louisiana. executive search EOE F and train regional customers and P.O. Box 339 Weatherford, TX 76086 cable systems on the application Box 693 (800) 742-4947 FAX (817) 594-1337 of computerized test and mainte- CT Publications Suite 500 nance equipment. Must be com- 50 South Steele Street All levels of puter literate, willing to travel, and Denver, CO 80209 have technical experience. Technical Positions - Send resume to: Corporate to Hourly. Manufacturer's Representatives Needed SEG Sales, 6432 Parkland Dr. Fiber Optic manufacturer needs reps calling on Positions Available Sarasota, FL 34243 the CATV industry. Most areas open. Call or Write to: Nationwide. Attn: Lyn Lorden Radiant Communications Corporation P.O. Box 867 Call or Write. Fees Paid. South Plainfield, NJ 07080 Attn: Mike Thaw (908) 757-7444

Equipment Sales & Service

ErE d,tor2, g nc. "Hybrid RF Amplifier Specialists" MRO Discrete Semiconductors Toll free: (800) 872-6926 (516) 599-6334 MRO IC's (Proms) SIGNETICS FAX (516) 599-6322 JONESuRpLus Featuring Magnavox CATVComponents WE BUY AND SELL QUALITY CA TV EQUIPMENT

LINE AMPLIFIERS, TAPS, CONNECTORS CONVERTERS -ALL TYPES AND MAKES Converter Service HEADEND EQUIPMENT •Call for new customer discounts Design 14 Drafting •Serving Cable Systems Nationwide •Specialists on Jerrold Addressable -induding USA (619)757-3008 FAX(619)757-3008 baseband AJM Design Associates •30+ years of combined experience in Converter Service Computer-Aided Design & Drafting

Í Fiber Optic Tools 1-800-466-2776 P.O. Box 639 Tony Messina /-Anc1 Supplies, Inc.. S. Nol and Road, Ste. 110 C . D,)i, Independence, Huntingdon Valley, PA. 19006 215-676-9161

( --••• - ••77---«'' \? Fax: 816-254-5782 We offer a wide variety Of Tools 8i Products for Fiber, Copper, & Coax Cable. This is a picture of our DPDT RF relay. It switches frequencies from DC-600 MHz with ease. We use it to build RF switching systems ... •SIECOR•ORANGE SOL•IDEAL SPDT, DPDT, 4PST, 4PDT and so on. No nonsense. It has very •ALCOA FUJIKURA• KLEIN •3M •AMP high isolation and very low insertion loss. These units are now •NORTHERN TELCOM•ACT•DITEL switching signals in some very large cable TV headends for testing •PREFORMED•CLAUSS and/or routing purposes. Our relays can help you do your job better, too. No nonsense. Call or fax for free info, on all our products. Jones 2-Way Stripper Alaun Engineering We accept Visa & Mastercard 2305 Florencita Drive, Montrose, CA, 91020 USA PH/Fax: (8181 957-0618 (417) 451-0300 FAX: (417) 451-3111 P. O. Box 507 Neosho, Mo. 64850 Westchester Associates, Inc. JLE-G-400-2W's CABLE DISTRIBUTORS CO. IMPORTERS AND EXPORTERS Quality Repair Unbelievable Buy! Large Excess Inventory OF CABLE TV EQUIPMENT FOR SALE For All Brands Great Prices &Service Since '75 Hamlin MCC-3000 (as is) .500 Scientific Atlanta 6750 .500 Headend Equipment. Jerrold DSX-2 $5.00 510-22G-4940 Oak RTC-56-3 $15.00 Full 6 Month Warranty (USA) 800-227-1200 WE BUY SURPLUS CONVERTERS AND LINE EQUIPMENT Call 1-800-852-2173 CATV (USA) FAX 510-651-8545 (USA) Phone: 800-554-1215 SERVICES Se Habla Espanol

COMMUNICATIONS TED- NOLOGY JUNE 1993 143 Equipment Sales fl Service (continued)

thel c Jerrold Hamlin DRZ-3, DQN-5 CRX-5000-3, CR -6000-3 Labe3hoppe DRZID-3A, DL-4 CR -6600-3 inc. REPAIR • SALES • SERVICE Panasonic Scientific Atlanta REBUILT CONVERTERS IN STOCK NOW! TZPC 120-3 8300-31 I TZPC 130-3 83'30- I.2 I (518) 489-2100

ALBANY, NEW YORK *NO, OPEN IN WsIA, LALIFORNIA Cable Companies Only -Quantities Limited

COAST CATV SUPPLY WHAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE? IN STOCK NATIONAL NEW & REFURBISHED CABLE TELEVISION Since 1985, the Cooperative has been Amps, LE's, Taps, Splitters COOPERATIVE. I saving its members on the products and Connectors & Headends services they purchase every month ... 14809 W. 95th Street ALL BRANDS 270 TO 550 MHz hardware, programming, insurance, etc. Lenexa, KS 66215 USA Call for updated price list Call to find out how the co-op could be Phone: (913) 599-5900 helping your bottom line! E- 1 = Fax: 913-599-5903 We Buy -Wanted: ALL BRANDS YOUR USED OR EXCESS EQUIPMENT Fax your used/excess list (USA) 714-272-2360 Fax: 714-272-3032 a , MINI FIBER OPTIC METERS & SOURCES

..------"zzk-,si) Sadel R & D Co. IF The oldest name in TV Meter Manufacturing" USGS-CAD Mapping _ Call for Specifications Catalog •Computer Aided System Design Drafting USA PH/FAX 805-682-3341 •Strand Mapping •AS-Builts a Copyrght 1992 •Field Surveying Call for new presentation disk 800-448-5087 717-323-9028 TEST EQUIPMENT Reconditioned Wavetek, HP, Tektronix and more. Signal Level Meters, Sweep Systems, TDR's A fib Power Meters, Spectrum Analyzers, Frequency Counters and Fiber Test Equipment. Guaranteed to meet/exceed manufacturers specs 90 day warranty standard. V 0E GPI L MAPPIN SATELLITE ANTENNAS Used Scientific Atlanta 10 meter, Simulsat 5meter, Hams 6 1meter. Many others also available. 318 Government Place PTL Cable Services Inc. USA • Phone (407) 747-3647 • Fax (407) 575-4635 Williamsport, PA 17701 BUY-SELL-TRADE Tektronix

Cable Television Test Equipment Baseband video and RF measurement, Spectrum analysis, System sweep testing, fiber and metallic cable fault finding and much, much more ..

Represented in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska by: Comm/net Systems Inc. 911 Western Avenue #203 Seattle, WA 98104 Ph. (206) 623-8670 Fax (206) 623-8684

144 JUNE 1 993 COMMUUICATIONS TECHNOLOGY Equipment Sales/Service (cont.)

NEW: Rack Space Saver VCII LEE ENTERPRISE Chassis Upgrade -$99.50 Female Business Enterprise •VCII Upgrades, Exchanges TM BROKERS Complete Cable Equipment Repair Facility & Complete Repairs Magnavox/Sylvania, etc 1-800-551-0096 623 Fourth Street •P.O. Box 590 Linegear, Taps, Connectors Call for Complete Price List Deshler, NE 68340 'Includes UPS return ground shipping and minor parts FAX (402) 365-7228 RMS -4, 6, 8 Way Splitters & DC's Fair Price, Quality Equipment Fair Treatment Lashers, Wire & Accessories HEADEND International Inquiries EXPERTISE USA Phone' (208) 683-2797 Over 50 Years of Sales & Repair Service (208) 683-2019 rfl'ffr "1111111111111111 27 Years of Experience with SA (208) 683-3998 Headend Equipment Fax (208) 683-2374

•Proofs •Offsets •Upgrades/Modifications •Rebuilds, Realignment Wheeler Reeler HYDRAULIC CABLE REEL TRAILER Have a question? Catalog Available Call and say hello.

Company profile and references SCTE cableffi available sprinng Member 100 W. Central •Box 308 John James •CATV Service New London, MN. 56273 •USA (404) 636-1031 Telephone: 612-354-2081, 800-428-9267 FAX: 612-354-2083 Features: ▪Easy, One Person Operation Telescoping Loading Mechanism NCTA Show — Designed With Low Center of Gravity ▪Versatility in Sae of Spool ▪ Seple Maintenance ▪ Hoses di Wurg Protected Within Frame Booth #1615 SLABACII CONSTRUCTION COMPANY 215 14th STREET KALONA. IOWA 52247 TELEPHONE 13191 656-3434 FAX r3191 656-5486

WORLD'S LARGEST DISTRIBUTOR OF NEW ANI) RECONDITIONED JF:RROLD EQUIPMENT WISHES TO PURCHASE YOUR EXCESS INVENTORY OF New & Remanufactured Converters, Headend, & Line Equipment from all Manufacturers. -Converters •Line Extenders STOCKING DISTRIBUTOR FOR -Trunk Amps Jerrold •Comm/Scope •Scientific Atlanta •Cablematic •Power Guard •etc. • Headend Equipment •Addressable Systems Modern on premise reconditioning facility ensures factory specifications. Sales & Service Guaranteed Throughout Over 15 Years of Dependable Service! North America •Mexico •South America

VueScan Inc. • 1143 West Newport Center Drive CABLE UNK INC. Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442 • USA 280 CozzIns St. •Columbus, OH. 43215 (800) 327-4966 • (305) 427-5000 • FAX (305) 427-0934 USA Ph: (614) 221-3131 •Fax: (614) 222-0581

2-Way Radio Equipment Software Discount prices on new and used 2-way radio equipment. AVANTEK, CALAN, Call us for your radio needs. WAVETEK, SADELCO GM TEST AVS Communications SubTRACKER AND MANY MORE CATV BILLING SYSTEM 1 (510) 471-3167 EQUIPMENT US & International Version . 'econditioned ono AERIAL BUCKET TRUCKS warranteed CATV sweep Statements, Database. Tel.: (514) 715-8549 systems signal level meters i Reports, IBM Large selection geared Fax: (514) 715-5637 spectrum analyzers bench ii Compatible, Low Cost, for CATV liii 11111111 I-1-1 Fast. Ideal for small to STANDARD TRUCK & WE BUY SELL AND TRADE (dfflloonfflat\t, medium systems. EQUIPMENT CO., INC. 1155 Hill St. S.E. PIS IIKIIffl«1.!2 LAN and Multi-Town Capability. i.i -ronieifflI on Atlanta, GA 30315 I\ Canergy Cable Software Ph: 1-800-241-9357 NI.. 11111.11 1,4 5 inall aIII / II.: 403-354-2510 or Fax 403-354-8780 Fax: (404) 622-4462 USA BUCKET TRUCKS Specialist in CATV equipment repair and technical services

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY JUNE 1993 145 Equipment Sales & Service (continued)

_ FM Microwave ® ;-E à7-j _ = — ; dB-tronics Spares & Repairs Equipment Service and Sales — TRITE nin By Upgrade, modification and repair of 10 Years in Equipment Repairs! CommSpec Subscriber, Dist., Headend &Test Equip. Sales of Re-manufactured Equipment We Provide: a Complete "G, H, BX & X •Warranteed reconditioning of line, Line' Repairs & Retunes Specialists in SA Addressable Converter Repair, including Inband headend and test equipment 0 New Replacement Power •Precise calibration of test equipment Supplies & Harnesses Industry Leader in Quality, and meters a Channel Filters & Waveguide Customer Service and Security Branching •Alpha manufacturer warranty repairs State-of-the-Art Repair Software •Extensive bench testing for FCC a Used Equipment Purchased & Provides Extensive Tracking & Reporting compliance Sold Free Pickup and Delivery, "True" •Accurate channel and pilot changes a Field & Training Services Flat Rate Pricing •Computerized buy/sell surplus Available Voice (800) 356-2730 •Fax (803) 439-7518 inventory locator system Don Sicard CommSpec For More Information Write To: Phone: (800) 382-2723 (508) 373-0657 P 0 Box 968 dB-tronics Inc., Attn: CT Ad FAX: (518) 382-8452 FAX (508) 374-0154 Haverhill, MA 01831 182 Quinn Road •Welltord, SC 29385 get converted! MAIN UNE EQUIPMENT, INC. BUY / SELL /SERVICE‘ National Distributor for Jerrold SJ Trunk• $199 GL VdeoCipher II S399 PATHMAKER — TEXSCAN Standard 32 C/K Rec •S265 SA 330 Trunk• S199 FREE SHIPPING SA 8525 w/Remote - 27 Mag 5.330 Trunk• $325 WE BUY: Used Converters PAID Used line gear Misc Taps-Si 50 CASH 90 Day Warranty We Need: Magnovox, Jerrold, Scientific-Atlanta WE SELL: Refurbished Converters Minimum Duantlt es Apply (X-cess, Used, In Field) Line Gear We Pay: Top Pricesll WE REPAIR: Converters & Line Gear We :Buy-Repair-Sell /MU USAL ACHIEVE PEAK PERFORMANCE Distributor of Eagle Traps Services, Inc. 1-800-444-2288 CALL FOR COMPLETE INVENTORY LIST FAX:310-715-6695 (215) 630-0320 FAX: 630-8202 RUTENGINEERING, INC. Los Angeles •Atlanta •Spokane USA BESERUCE WHAT WE SELL! 1-800-228-0633 Ph: 14081 733-4830 Fax: (408) 773-0937

Cable Tools Custom Made Jumper Assemblies Industry4044_ ,14( RocKy MouNTAIN All Brands Fittings/Cable •F Male •PG -59 Sincesemce JUMPER CABLES •F Female •PG -56 1966 P.O. BOX 9707. HELENA, MT 59604 •BNC •RG -11 •PL •Other Our jumpers never leave our plant during construction, insuring inspection of each phase of construction. Our quality control insures you of the lowest RF leakage possibe Call for pricing and free sample. (406) 458-6563 800-233-8713 7 Ça

DRAWINGS at your FINGERTIPS Trucks, Lashers & Emergency Alert in SECONDS Construction Tools Systems By

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69 Channels The Manlift & Lasher specialists since 1981 14 day delivery BUY • SELL • LEASE SHIPPED WORLDWIDE Compatible with all headends KINGFILE STORES UP TO 1200 DRAWINGS Lashers rebuilt in one week Drawings hanging ind,vidua ,ly or ro groups make fiai tiles obso- Affordable lete You can file o, retrieve ans drawing. print. overlay shee,. Call For Price List n.P. etc in seconcts without eve, touching vou, filed sheet Sed-adheSive Suspensuln Slope for SINGLES and Metal Hangers 24 & 88 Channel units also available wnth sprmg clips for MULTIPLES Provide sPeedy insertion and Aerial Equipment Service Co. ,emoval No thumb., through drawings .0 flat 1.1es nosmudoe,. tears or dog.ears. Oualltv wood or steel KINGFILES a,r counter 7351 Hazard Avenue, Unit B (701) 786-3904 balanced for easv aCcets. cnin.mum low space and lowest 1,1mg cOs1 per sheet Westminster, CA 92683 USA Fax: (701) 786-4294 WI,te'Of Der.1,11 end Free C.orslog - H. SCHREIBER COMPANY - Red Linn, PA 17356 Phone: 714-895-4863 PHONE 717-244-3625 Fax: 714-893-6986

146 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY MMEEEII .11 a a CALENDAR 41.1141.1.11J1 .1.a.1.11.A.M41 .11J.MAAJJ

June meeting. Contact Kathleen Horst, tact Scott Shelley, (703) 358-2766. 6-9: National Show. San Francis- (310) 532-5300, ext. 250. Planning ahead 15: SCTE Gateway Chapter meet- July 31- Aug. 3: Wireless co. Contact NCTA, (202) 775-3669. 16-18: USIMTA Wireless Commu- ing. Contact Chris Kramer, (314) 8: SCTE Cascade Range Chapter nications Legislative Conference, Cable '93, Orlando, FL. Contact 949-9223. (319) 752-8336. meeting, Holiday Inn, Wilsonville, Madison Hotel, Washington, DC. 15: SCTE Lake Michigan Chapter OR. Contact Cynthia Stokes, (503) Contact Raymond Linsenmayer, Aug. 16-18: Great Lakes Cable seminar, uplink technology. Contact 230-2099. (202) 973-2878. Expo, Indianapolis. Contact Karen Briggs, (616) 941-3783. 8: SCTE Desert Chapter seminar, 17: SCTE Iowa Heartland Chapter (317) 845-8100. 16: SCTE Greater Chicago Chap- CLI, San Gorgonio Inn, Banning, meeting, BCT/E exams adminis- Aug. 25-27: Eastern Cable ter "A Day at the Races" social CA. Contact Greg Williams, (619) tered, Cedar Rapids, IA. Contact Show, Atlanta. Contact (404) event, Arlington Park, IL. Contact 340-1312, ext. 277. Mitch Carlson, (309) 797-2580, ext. 252-2454. Bill Whicher, (708) 362-6110. 8: SCTE Ohio Valley Chapter 3700. Oct. 5-6: Atlantic Cable Show, 17: SCTE Big Sky Chapter semi- Atlantic City, NJ. Contact (609) meeting, SCTE/CTAM Golf Outing, 18: SCTE Greater Chicago Chap- nar, BCT/E Categories I, signal pro- Foxfire Country Club, Columbus, ter meeting, BCT/E exams adminis- 848-1000. cessing centers, and II, video and OH. Contact Weldon Feightner, tered. Contact Bill Whicher, (708) audio signals and systems, Outlaw (513) 941-7000. 362-6110. 1: Hewlett-Packard Wireless Inn, Kalispell, MT. Contact Marla 8: SCTE Sierra Chapter seminar, 18: Hewlett-Packard Wireless Communications Symposium, DeShaw, (406) 632-4300. customer service training. Contact Communications Symposium, Chicago. Contact (800) 765-9200. 17: SCTE Cactus Chapter semi- Steve Allen, (916) 786-2469. Washington, DC. Contact (800) 6: SCTE Rocky Mountain Chapter nar, fiber-optic architectures and 8: SCTE Southeast Texas Chap- 765-9200. meeting, Installer and BCT/E exams technologies. Contact Harold Mack- ter meeting, Warner Cable, Hous- 19: SCTE Cactus Chapter semi- administered. Contact Ron Up- ey, (602) 352-5860, ext. 135. ton. Contact Tom Rowan, (713) nar, headend equipment and main- church, (303) 790-0386, ext. 403. 17: SCTE Chaparral Chapter sem- 580-7360. tenance. Contact Harold Mackey, 8: SCTE Satellite Tele-Seminar inar, fiber optics, Installer and 9: SCTE Badger State Chapter (602) 352-5860, ext. 135. Program, SLMs: The Technician's BCT/E exams administered, Albu- seminar, installer training, Installer 19: SCTE Upstate New York Edge (Part One), to be shown on querque, NM. Contact Scott Phillips, exams administered, Warner Cable, Chapter meeting, BCT/E exams Galaxy I, Transponder 14. Contact (505) 761-6253. Greenfield, WI. Contact Brian administered. Contact William SCTE national headquarters, (215) 19-21: Technology for Techni- Revak, (608) 372-2999. Grant. (716) 827-3880. 363-6888. cians II Seminar hands-on techni- 9: SCTE Delaware Valley Chapter 21: SCTE Rocky Mountain Chap- 8: SCTE Penn-Ohio Chapter semi- cal training program for broadband seminar, Cable Act of 1992, proof- ter seminar, subscribers. Contact nar, competing technologies, In- industry technicians and system en- of-performance testing, BCT/E Ron Upchurch, (303) 790-0386, ext. staller and BCT/E exams adminis- gineers, Denver. Contact SCTE na- exams administered, Willow Grove, 403. tered, Sheraton Hotel, Warrendale, tional headquarters, (215) 363- PA. Contact Louis Aurely, (215) 21: ONI Fiberworks seminar, digi- PA. Contact Marianne McClain, 6888. 675-2053. tal networks training, Kansas City, (412) 531-5710. 21: SCTE Appalachian Mid-At- 10: SCTE Music City Chapter MO. Contact (800) 342-3763. 12: SCTE Florida Chapter semi- lantic Chapter annual golf outing meeting, Ramada Inn, Nashville, 21: Hewlett-Packard Wireless nar, headend equipment and com- and pig roast, Scotland Community TN. Contact Dale Goodman, (615) Communications Symposium, bining techniques, set top devices Center, Scotland, PA. Contact 244-7462, ext. 402. Paramus, NJ. Contact (800) 765- and transportation systems, Holiday Richard Ginter, (812) 672-5393. 10: SCTE Satellite Tele-Seminar 9200. Inn, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Contact 21: SCTE Golden Gate Chapter Program, SLMs: The Technician's 23: Hewlett-Packard Wireless John Tinberg, (407) 747-4998. seminar, fiber. Contact Mark Harrig- Edge (Part One), to be shown on Communications Symposium. 12: ONI Fiberworks seminar, an, (415) 358-6950. Galaxy I, Transponder 14. Contact Boston. Contact (800) 765-9200. CATV systems, fiber-optic system 21: SCTE Great Lakes Chapter SCTE national headquarters, (215) 24: SCTE New Jersey Chapter training, Denver. Contact (800) 342- seminar, digital video and audio, 363-6888. seminar, tech challenge and vendor 3763. Holiday Inn, Livonia, MI. Contact 11: Hewlett-Packard Wireless show. Contact Linda Lotti, (908) 13: SCTE Chattahoochee Chap- Jim Kuhns, (313) 445-3712. Communications Symposium. 446-3612. ter seminar, Macon, GA. Contact 21: SCTE Piedmont Chapter sem- Dallas. Contact (800) 765-9200. 25: Hewlett-Packard Wireless Hugh McCarley, (404) 843-5517. inar, distribution system basics, In- 12: SCTE Cascade Range Chap- Communications Symposium, 13: SCTE Desert Chapter meeting, staller and BCT/E exams administer meeting, BCT/E exams adminis- Columbus, OH. Contact (800) 765- Installer and BCT/E exams administered, Raleigh -Durham, NC. Con- tered, Paragon Cable, Portland, 9200. tered, King Videocable, Lake Elsi- tact Mark Eagle, (919) 477-3599. OR. Contact Cynthia Stokes, (503) 28-29: Digital TV: Compression nore, CA. Contact Greg Williams, 22: SCTE OSHA/Safety Seminar 230-2099. '93, Scanticon Hotel & Conference (619) 1312, ext. 277. for system managers/safety coordi- 14: Hewlett-Packard Wireless Center, Denver. Contact (303) 825- 13: SCTE Magnolia Chapter semi- nators on maintaining records and Communications Symposium, Ft. 2022. nar, Ramada Coliseum, Jackson, developing safety training pro- Lauderdale, FL. Contact (800) 765- 28-30: SCTE Technology for MS. Contact Steve Christopher, grams, Denver. Contact SCTE na- 9200. Technicians II Seminar, hands-on (601) 824-6010. tional headquarters, (215) 363- 15: SCTE Chattahoochee Chap- technical training program for broad- 13: SCTE Wheat State Chapter 6888. ter meeting, Installer and BCT/E band industry technicians and sys- meeting. Contact Lisa Hewitt, (316) 23: SCTE Greater Chicago Chap- 1 exams administered, Cox Commu- tem engineers, Indianapolis. Con- 262-4270, ext. 191. ter seminar, cable and government, nications, Atlanta. Contact Hugh tact SCTE national headquarters, 14: SCTE Badger State Chapter Holiday Inn, Willowbrook, IL. Con- McCarley, (404) 843-5517. (215) 363-6888. seminar, hands-on fiber optics, Holi- tact Bill Whicher, (708) 362-6110. 16: SCTE Florida Chapter semi- 29: Hewlett-Packard Wireless day Inn, Fondulac, WI. Contact 26: ONI Fiberworks seminar, digi- nar, video and audio signal, outage Communications Symposium, At- Brian Revak, (608) 372-2999. tal networks training, Seattle. Con- control and data networking and ar- lanta. Contact (800) 765-9200. 14: SCTE Heart of America Chap- tact (800) 342-3763. chitecture, Holiday Inn, Lakeland, ter seminar, Kansas City, MO. Con- 28: SCTE Iowa Heartland Chapter FL. Contact John Tinberg, (407) July tact Don Gall, (816) 358-5360. meeting, BCT/E exams adminis- 747-4998. 1: SCTE OSHA/Safety Seminar for 15: SCTE Mid -South Chapter tered, Triax, Cedar Rapids, IA. Con- 16: SCTE North Country Chapter system managers/safety coordina- meeting. Contact Bob Allen, (901) tact Mitch Carlson, (309) 797-2580, meeting, Sheraton Midway Hotel, tors on maintaining records and de- 365-1770, ext. 4110. ext. 3700. St. Paul, MN. Contact Bill Davis, veloping safety training programs, 15: SCTE Chesapeake Chapter 29: SCTE Golden Gate Chapter (612) 646-8755. Indianapolis. Contact SCTE national meeting, Installer and BCT/E exams meeting, Hayward, CA. Contact 16: SCTE San Diego Chapter headquarters, (215) 363-6888. administered, Rockville, MD. Con- Mark Harrigan, (415) 358-6950.

COMMUNICATIONS TECH OLOGY JUNE 1993 147 El till r BOOKSHELF e?il 1111

During the Annual Membership Meeting basic theories upon which our systems videotape. Orders to Europe, Africa, Asia held at Cable-Tec Expo '92 in San Anto- are designed. Topics covered include or South America: SCTE will invoice the nio, TX, the national board and staff wideband transmission, electromagnetic recipient for additional air or surface ship- learned the importance of the develop- spectrum, coaxial cable transmission and ping charges (please specify). "Rush" or- ment of new training programs to the spectrum allocation. This video seminar ders: a $15 surcharge will be collected membership. As a result, the Society of further deals in depth with the related on all such orders. The surcharge and air Cable Television Engineers enlisted the mathematics by covering ratios, decibels, shipping cost can be charged to aVisa or services of William Grant, author of the logarithms, power ratios, the relationship MasterCard. widely recognized textbook, "Cable Tele- between voltage and power calculations, vision," to conduct aseries of seminars to Ohm's law and dBmVs. The final part of To order: All orders must be prepaid. be professionally produced as video pro- this presentation introduces us to basic Shipping and handling costs are included grams and made available on videotape CATV equipment, such as amplifiers, in the continental U.S. All prices are in to the members. These programs follow power supplies, splitters, directional cou- U.S. dollars. SCTE accepts MasterCard the textbook, and build upon it. Together plers and other components of asystem. and Visa. To qualify for SCTE member with the text, the videotape listed below (2 hrs.) Order #T-1121, $65. prices, a valid SCTE identification num- provides a comprehensive treatment of ber is required, or a complete member- the basics of CATV design and opera- Note: The videotape is in color and avail- ship application with dues payment must tion. The tape is available by mail order able in the 1/2-inch VHS format only. It is accompany your order. Orders without through the SCTE. The price listed is for available in stock and will be delivered full and proper payment will be returned. SCTE members only. Non-members approximately three weeks after receipt Send orders to: SCTE, 669 Exton Com- must add 20% when ordering. of order with full payment. mons, Exton, PA 19341 or fax with credit card information to (215) 363-5898. ir Coaxial Cable Transmission Sys- Shipping: Videotapes are shipped UPS. tems/Understanding Decibels/Introduc- No P.O. boxes, please. SCTE pays sur- A listing of other publications and video- tion to Equipment — This program be- face shipping charges within the conti- tapes available from the SCTE is includ- gins by defining some basic CAN terms, nental U.S. only. Orders to Canada or ed in the March 1993 issue of the Society followed by a detailed explanation of the Mexico: Please add $5 (U.S.) for each newsletter, "Interval."

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Reader Service Number 121

Reader Service Number 122 148 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY u

Toner A full-line stocking distributor for over 22 years Toner Saves you shipping costs by consolidating products into asingle shipment Toner Presently ships to 32 different countries Toner Provides equipment in all broadcast standards Toner Where experienced people and proven products in-stock make the difference Wir cable equipment, inc. 969 Horsham Road •Horsham, Pennsylvania 19044 •USA WORLD WIDE: Tel: +1-215-675-2053 •FAX: +1-215-675-7543 •USA NATIONWIDE: 800-523-5947

1992 Toner Cable Equrprnent Inc

See us at the NCTA Show. Booth # 1925. Readerr ervice Number 123. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE iSCTE - ) Introducing SCTES new l'Health and Safety Manual"

By Bill Riker new manual and identify topics that President, Society of Cable Television Engineers should be included to meet the needs of the entire industry as it attempted to fulfill Three years ago, the SCTE board of OSHA's general safety requirements. directors asked the national head- A considerable number of topics were quarters staff to rewrite and revise the recommended for inclusion in the new SCTE Health and Safety Manual that manual during this first meeting, and was originally published in June of 1978. many of them were assigned to subcom- It soon became obvious that this mittee members for them to research would not be an easy task. Much of the and compile for publication. Suggested information in the original manual was topics that were not assigned to subcom- out of date, and OSHA was a topic that mittee members were listed to be used was an unknown entity at the time of the as potential future chapters following the original publication. A simple rewrite was first printing of the new manual. It has out of the question, as the revisions re- since been decided that these additional office personnel, as well. The purpose is quired were so extensive that the cre- chapters will be added periodically to the to make employees safety conscious and ation a completely new manual was the manual until all pertinent topics applica- aware of the hazards that exist in the only feasible means of accomplishing the ble to safety in cable TV have been cov- day-to-day performance of their jobs, the Society's goal to provide a viable safety ered. elimination of those hazards and the pre- resource for the CATV industry. The chapters in this initial printing of vention of accidents caused by those This project was given to our director the manual have been designed to pro- hazards. of training, Ralph Haimowitz, who formed vide safety trainers with the information Iam very proud and happy to intro- the SCTE Safety Subcommittee with a and materials necessary to educate duce the SCTE Health and Safety Manu- highly talented group of volunteers in- cable system employees about safety on al as a quality publication that can be of volved with the issues of safety and the job through safety training and de- such great value to the entire cable in- health in the cable industry. partment meetings. Although many of the dustry. It was a long time in coming and The first action taken by this subcom- topics are for technicians who work in the required a tremendous amount of time mittee was to establish a format for the field, there are afair quantity of topics for and effort by many dedicated SCTE members and staff. But, once you see a copy of this manual, I'm sure you'll agree CTE — ) CTE -1 SITE - 1 that it was worth the wait. HEALTH AND HEALTH AND HEALTH AND There is even more good news for the SAFETY MANUAL SAFETY MANUAL SAFETY MANUAL industry. The SCTE OSHA Information BOOK 1 BOOK 2: BOOK 1 GENERAL SAFETY GENERAL PRACTICES FIELD AND PLANT SAFETY Manual is in the final stages of editing INFORMATION and illustration, and will be available later this year. This manual provides easy to understand information and examples of what you need to know to comply with OSHA requirements. Iwould like to recognize the members of the SCTE Safety Subcommittee who have made this publication possible. The subcommittee consists of SMC Ralph Haimowitz (chairman), Alan Bab- HEALTH AND V . HEALTH AND cock, Gordon Baldwin, Doug Ceballos, SAFETY MANUAL SAFETY MANUAL BOOK 4 Steve Christopher, Mark Clark, Al BOOK 5 VEHICLE SAFETY EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE Dawkins, Brian Gray, Doug Hair, Thomas Harvey, Jim Hurley, Roger Keith, Jim Kuhns, Chuck Minervini, Mike Murray, Pam Nobles, Ray Rendoff, Gary Selwitz, Jim Stilwell and Van Walbridge. Special appreciation also goes to Marvin Nelson and Howard Whitman of the national headquarters staff, who put the whole manual together for printing. CT

150 JUNE 1993 COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY AIM». ii,_...... , , ,m, 4... ..__._ _ se-. e Go beyond status monitoring 'I -e • 411P, 41 ,11.. • • . 41 . 0. O.* or • 4'; ',4f Îp . ....e 0 •• - i... and Automate Technical ,0,..4g • I 00 • • é *04 .10 -"% 0' 0• • e•OF 4:,* 0 eseafe e l • Compliance Testing with one ••• .• ..••_• complete package. v il e 9 7 /ea. : 0 10 4 0 You can eliminate the time consuming methods required to conduct compliance tests the old-fashioned, manual way. With CheetahTm Automated Remote Testing system you get accurate, reliable, printable documentation at the push of abutton.

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Reader Service Number 126