r8 HFC Building Blocks For Infinite Architectural Possibilities
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8 r JUNE11 HFC Building Blocks For
Infinite Architectural Possibilities
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contents JUNE 1998
The lee boo Mie hlox Ilerwall. Two Way teeiy,
Congratulations ICI -- Winners of the 1998
Service in Technology Award
Service in Technology Award ·58
The Cowboy Way ·124
O 1998 by Phillips Business Information Inc., asubsidiary of Phillips Publishing International Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced without permission. Communications 7>chnologyTM (ISSN 0884-2272) is published monthly, except twice in May, by Phillips Business Information Inc., 1201 Seven Locks Road, Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20854, USA. Editorial and sales offices located at 1900 Grant St., Suite 720, Denver, CO 80203 USA, (303) 839-1565. June 1998, Volume 15, Number 7. Periodicals postage paid at Rockville, MD, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER, Send address changes to Communicalions Technology, P.O. Box 3230, Northbrook, IL 60065-9647.
FEATURES
Service in Technology Award ·58
CT Editor Rex Porter presents this year's Service in Technology Award to TO.
Introduction to CTs HFC Series, Part Two ·80
Gct the hot scoop on the real-world challenges of HFC upgrades.
Crs Two-Way Readiness Test ·82
Take this quiz by Coaxial International's Ron Hranac to find out whether you're really ready to offer two-way service.
Building Your Advanced Network ·92
Marwan Fawaz tells how Media0ne dealt with some of the pitfalls that cropped up during arecent upgrade in Los Angeles.
Coming Home ·98
TCI's Oleh Sniezko illuminates reverse path design.
Six Two-Way Assessments ·112
Time Warner's Thomas Staniec lines out askeletal operations method for deploying two-way communications networks.
The Cowboy Way ·124
Jones Intercable's Pam Nobles sets the direction for the company's engineering roundup in Denver.
Return Path FAQs ·130
Hewlett-Packard's Dan Kahn answers some frequently asked questions encountered in return path seminars.
IP Telephony Over Cable ·140
Vienna Systems' André Danis argues that Internet protocol (IP) will make the most sense for total communications providers.
Reduce Your HFC Upgrade Costs ·146
Linear Circuit Innovations' Chris Day gives the benefits of using heterojunctive amplifiers.
CableLabs Turns 10 ·150
Robert Wells examines CableLabs' history and philosophy.
Digital Video Primer ·156
Time Warner's Ken Metz explains the basics of digital video.
Make Money with Dark Fiber ·170
Radiant Communications' Mike Thaw explores the largely untapped potential of generating revenue from nontraditional applications.
Cable '98--Celebrating 50 Years ·176
CT Editor Rex Porter prowls the show floor at the National.
Cover
Art direction by Maureen Gately Service in Technology Award photo by Bob Sullivan Cover photo: Representatives of the TCI team (from left to right): Seated are Tony Werner and Tom Beaudreau; standing are Oleh Sniezko, James Neil, Colleen Abdoulah and Ron Willis.
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contents JUNE 1998
IP Telephone Over Cable ·140
A ia/itAt cifideo 'FYimey
JMYR tl&e, Basics
17or Stuasste IsyiestextettioK Digital Video Primer ·156
DEPARTMENTS
NEWS St OPINION ·
Publisher's Letter ·8 Letters to the Editor ·12 Pulse ·18 SCTE Update ·24 Marketplace ·186
New products in cable telecommunications engineering.
REFERENCE ·
Vendor Connection ·179
Your resource for advertisers appearing in this month's issue.
Bookshelf .190 Calendar ·191
Cable Trivia ·192
CT Editor and Cable Guru Rex Porter tries to stump you. Good luck!
Ad Index ·194 Business/Classifieds ·196
Training ·208
Iraining tips from the NCT1.
COLUMNS ·
Interview with aLeader ·28
CT Editor Rex Porter talks with Coaxial International's Ron Hranac.
Return Path ·36
CT's Executive Editor Alex Zavistovich offers acrash course in the technical aspects of ... mud.
Ifranac-- Notes for the Technologist ·40
CT Senior Technical Editor Ron Hranac hammers home the need to take care of "the simple things."
Focus on Telephony ·44
KnowledgeLink's Justin Junkus explores the potential of "killer applications" and how to deploy them.
The Data Game ·50
Convergence Systems' Terry Wright points out some possible difficulties with deploying high-speed Internet/data services.
SCTE on the Job ·54
SCTE Director of Training Alan Babcock pays tribute to Bill Riker, who "herds cats" with the best.
President's Message ·210
SCTE President Bill Riker announces the end of his tenure and reflects on lessons learned.
6
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PUBLISHER'S
o
By Paul Levine
Bill Riker:
Guidance in Growth
The March 1984 issue was Communications Technology's first carrying the
endorsement of the Society of Cable Telecom-
munications Engineers as its Official Trade Jour-
nal. SCTE had three chapters and about 2,000
members (maybe), and CTs circulation was ap-
proximately 10,000.
Later that year, we were pleased to have Bill Riker join the SCTE as executive vice president. In his inaugural letter in Interval, the society's newsletter, he said, "My primary objective will be to elevate the perception of our Society to one of providing aunique and much-needed service to the engineering community" He added, "There are in excess of 30,000 individuals involved in technical operations who should receive this publication (Communications Technology)."
Partners in growth
For the past 15 years, the SCTE and CT have worked in concert for the good of the engineering community and cable TV as an industry; we look forward to enhancing that effort for the future. Today the SCTE has 15,000 members and 72 chapters and meeting groups; CT has acirculation of more than 27,000. We also have developed scholarship programs. The first SCTE scholarship came from apersonal donation by Rex Porter in the 1980s. Prior to this, no scholarship program existed. Since that original donation, the fund has grown to three SCTE scholarship funds, participation in the Milton Jerrold Shapp Scholarship program and another fund set up jointly by the SCTE and the Mississippi Cable Television Association.
The launch of the National Cable Games
was due to ajoint effort between the SCTE and CT. These games have become ahighlight of the annual SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, state and regional association meetings, and, just recently, regional Vendor Days.
The Service In Technology Award started in 1989 and is considered the highest honor in technology. It honors the individual or company contributing most to cable engineering that year. Additionally, each year adonation of $2,500 goes to the Scholarship Fund in the winner's name. The first award went to Bill and Anna Riker; subsequent awards have honored such companies as Time Warner Cable, Continental Cablevision, CableLabs and the SCTE's Standards Division. Individual winners include John Malone, Dan Pike and Tom Elliot, among others.
All Communications Technology employees are SCTE members. CT Editor Rex Porter is one of the few charter members still active in the cable industry. He also is asenior member, and in 1986 he was the Member of the Year and then was inducted into the SCTE Hall of Fame in 1992. CT Senior Technical Editor Ron Hranac also is asenior member and presently serves on the board of directors. He also has served two terms as board chairman.
With Bill Riker as president, the SCTE has grown from near obscurity to the eminence it holds today. CT is proud to be a part of that growth and the legacy that Bill has left with the SCTE. We wish Bill the best in his new position as vice president of operations and engineering at the National Cable Television Center and Museum. In wishing Bill the best, of course, we wish the same to Anna and Joanna. May they enjoy health, wealth and happiness in their new home in Denver.
Paul R. Levine Senior Publisher
Reader Service Number 6
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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AT-LARGE DIRECTORS Ron Hranoc,Coaxial International 4582 S. Ulster St., #1307 Denver, CO 80237 (303) 770-7700; fax: (303) 770-7705 rhronac@ool.corn
Andy Scott, NCTA 1724 Massachusetts Ave ,NW Washington, DC 20036 (202) 239-0988, fax: (202) 7/5-3698 ascott@ncta.com
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REGIONAL DIRECTORS Steve Johnson (Region 2) Time Warner Coble 160 Inverness Drive W Englewood, CO 80112
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CT EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Richard Green, CableEabs (chairman) 400 Centennial Parkway Louisville, CO 8002/-1266 (303) 661-9100; fax: (303) 661-9199 John Canning, MicroSoft 1MicroSoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 (425) 882-8080; fax: (425) 936-7329 icanningümicrosoh.com Jim Chiddix, Tinte Warner 300 First Stamford Pl. Stamford, CT 06902-6732 (203) 328-0615; fax: (203) 328-4896 ichiddietwcable.com Richard Covell, Ipitek 365 Stagecoach Trail Elizabeth, CO 1303) 646-0668; fax: (303) 646-0979 icovell(gbewellnetiorn H. Allen Ecker, Scientific-Atlanta One Technology Parkway, South Norcross, GA 30092-2967 (770) 903-4625; fax: (770) 903-4500 allen.ecker@sciati.com
Fond du Lac, WI 54936-1003 (920) 923-1034; fox: (920) 923-1086 76376.20330compuserve.com
Nerrie Bush (Region 3) T(I of Southern Washington 6916 NE 40th St. Vancouver, WA 98661 360) 891-3225; fox: (360) 892-8835 bush.norneetci.com
Lorry Stiffelmon (Region 5) CommScope Inc. 12 Swindon Court Manchester, MO 63011 (3)4) 227-8101; fax: (3(4) 227-4845 larrys@commscope.com
Ralph Patterson (Region 1) Patterson Communications 221 East Avenue M Lancaster, CA 93535 (805) 940-1546; fax: (805) 940-1548 rpotterson@earthlink.net
Jim Wood (Region 4) PPC 813 Singing Hills Drive Garland, TX /5044-4128 (9721 496-1107; fox: (9/2) 496-1306
Don Shackelford (Region 8) Time Warner Cable 6555 Quince Road, Suite 400 Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 365-1770; (901) 369-4518 don.shockelford@twcoble.com
Jim farmer, ANTEC 5720 Peachtree Pkwy, NW Norcross, GA 30092 (170) 441-0007; fax: (770) 552-9442 jan.fatmergantec.com Ron thaw, Coaxial International 4582 S. Ulster St., #1307 Denver, CO 80237 (3031 770-7700; fax: (3031 710-7705 rhionaeaol.com Bob Luff, PI/COM International 16516 Via Esprillo San Diego, CA 92127 (619) 451-1500; fax: (619) 451-1505 iluffetwomm.com Dan Pike, Prime Cable 600 Congress Ave., Suite 1900 Ausnn, TX 78701 (512) 476-7888; fax (512) 320-4063 dpike@primecable.com Bill Riker, SCIE 140 Philips Rd. Exton, PA 19341-1318 (6101 363-6888; fax: (610) 363-5898
Hugh Marley (Region 9) Cox Communications Inc. 1400 Lake Hearn Dr. Atlanta, GA 30319 (404) 843-5517; fox: (404) 845-8622 hugh.mccorley@cox.com
Wes Burton (Region 10) Media0ne 5401 Staples Mill Rood Richmond, VA 23228-5421 (804) 343-7150; (804) 225-0591
Dennis (hinter (Region 11) Time Warner Cable 400 Riverfront Drive Reading, PA 19602 (610) 378-4640; fax: (610) 378-4668 denny.quinter@twcable.com
John Vortano (Region 12) Viewer's Choice 909 Third Ave., 21st Floor New York, NY 10022 (212) 486-6600 eut.-326 fax: (212) 486-0348 iohn@ppv.com
SCIE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 140 Philips Rd Exton, PA 19314-1318 (610) 363-6888; Fox (610) 363-5898
Mike Smith, Adelphia Coble 2815 North Augusta St. Staunton, VA 24401 (5401 886-3419; fox: (540) 886-3462 mismiteadelphia.net
Tony Werner, ICI 5619 OTC Pkvry Englewood, CO 80111-3000 (303) 267-5222; fox: (303) 488-3210 werner.tony@lci.com
Wendell Woody, Sprint/North Supply 600 New Century Parkway New Century, KS 66031 (800) 639-2288; fox: (816) 454-5097 wendell.woodensc sprint cam
ommunications Ièchnology
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Reader Service Number 9
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Appreciation for Veterans
Awise man once said, "A good leader leads; agreat leader leads with compassion."
Rex, your leadership in the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers and our industry is well established. What continues to impress me is your unfailing recognition and support of those cable TV veterans who have served our industry with distinction. My generation of foot soldiers owes you guys alot for our jobs and our careers. In particular, 1appreciated your comments and reflections regarding two fine southern gentlemen at last year's Eastern Show.
Milt Underwood of the Discovery Channel was the 1997 recipient of the prestigious "Otto Miller Award," which celebrates acareer of distinguished service
to the cable industry in the South. The fact that you, Milt and Otto knew each other during the early cable days in Alabama made it especially significant for Milt.
Travis Nabors of Mississippi, who passed away in 1995, worked side-by-side with the legendary Monis and Polly Dunn in pioneering cable TV in the '50s and '60s. ATravis Nabors scholarship for broadband cable technicians has been set up and, thanks to the cooperation of yourself, Bill Riker and Ralph Haimowitz, it will be awarded for the first time at this year's MCTA Convention in Biloxi. Of course, this scholarship is based on the various SCTE training programs and tapes.
These two pioneers, Mili and Travis, touched the lives and careers of many of our industry brethren, including my own.
Rex, keep fighting the good fight and, as we celebrate our industry's 50th anniversary, let's always keep aconfident eye on the future. But lets never fail to keep arespectful and appreciative eye on the past.
Rick Jubeck Chairman Travis Nabors Scholarship Committee National Sales Manager, Lernco Tool
Editor's Response: Thanks, Rick. Iam somewhat envious of the younger generation of engineers in cable. We all will have to hang up our "hooks and belts" someday. But, before that happens, Iapplaud the efforts of "old-timers" who unselfishly share their experience and history with the newer generation of technicians and engineers.--RP
The Next Generation
Ipresently am acable technician employed with Cablevision of Boston as well as a Telecommunications Fiber-Optics Associate student at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Iwould like to obtain more information about becoming amember of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers.
Ienjoyed your interview with Bill Riker
in the January issue of CT. It was valuable information about the telecommunications industry. Ibelieve that becoming an SCTE member would enhance my knowledge of the industry and opportunities that may exist on anational basis.
Please send any information pertaining to this organization. Ilook forward to hearing from you.
Anthony T. Brown Randolph, MA
Editor's response: Thank you for your letter and the kind words about "CT."
Joining the SCTE will indeed enhance your telecommunications studies and career SCTE has astudent membership available, but 1am not sure of the particulars. You
for information: call 800-257-2448. FAX 303-986-1042, or e-mail: mail@dropsupplies.com
Reader Service Number 10
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should speak with the SCTE staff in Exton, PA. Their phone number is (610) 363-6888, and their fax number is (610) 363-5898. Their Web site is http://www.scte.org. Pat Zelenka is in charge of the Membership Services department, but if you cannot reach her, ash for Paula Jones, Barbara Kugler or Marcia Stringfield.
Keep in touch. We love to hear from our readers.--RP
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Hello, Rex, it's been along time since I talked to you. Istill have aone-inch "solid" cable you provided as asample. I was at Ameco from 1968 to 1978 and kind of closed it up as their last chief engineer, then went to work for ATR (then owned by WTCI and later MCI). Iretired from MCI in 1995. Istill do part-time consulting for them on microwave paths and frequency coordination.
Ienjoyed "Return Path--'60s Style." It brought back memories of some of what we went through. "Discade" block conversion was the big one with sub-band during my time there. We put one system into Huntsville, AL, and amore complex one into Daly City, CA (which Idon't think ever worked well for long).
Regards, Don Morton
Editor's Response: Thanks for the letter I wonder if today's techs and engineers know that we had solid polyethylene dielectric cables (no foam) back in the early days. We sold it to United Cable in Grand Junction, CO, and they needed pipe benders to bend it as they put it in the ground. When you ordered the cable for the discade systems, Iworked for Times Wire & Cable, and Iremember having to bundle the drops into multiple cable assemblies. When Itraveled to Daly City to see that system installed, Iwas leery from the start. We used to call it "Rediffusion in America," and others called it "Pure Confusion in America."
Write to Us
You can contact the Communications Technology editorial staff at 1900 Grant St., Suite 720, Denver, CO 80203, or fax (303) 839-1564.
CT reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and/or space. (
16
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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Who Will Carry Must-Carry's Baggage?
The must-carry burden comes with extra baggage for the cable TV industry, packed full of unresolved regulatory souvenirs, one of which directs the Federal Communications Commission to free the set-top's future from MSO market domination.
Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC is required to regulate commercial set-tops so that manufacturers, retailers and other vendors unaffiliated with MSOs have afair shot at the emerging market in transition. The legislation further ordered the FCC to establish and implement these regulations without jeopardizing operators' systems or services. Not an easy task, according to FCC officials in the wake of accusations from Congress that the Commission has been sluggish to regulate set-tops.
Leaders in the cable TV, broadcasting,
D111 C E 110 I. .1 16
By Greta Durr
electronics manufacturing and retail industries gathered for aSubcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer Protection digital must-carry hearing April 23. Among the topics emphasized by participants was the attempt by Congress to regulate the set-top's role in digital must-carry before any concrete decisions have been made about the greater issue of what providers will be required to carry for broadcasters.
"I trust that the cable industry amidst all the confusion over cable delivery of digital broadcast signals, will not attempt to stifle competition in the market for digital set-top boxes," Commerce Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Tom Bliley said at the hearing.
"Of course, the FCC could push this process along if it only would finish its set-top box proceeding, as required by the 1996 Act. But it appears that the FCC continues to drag its feet. 1urge the FCC
o
to act," said Bliley, aleading proponent of the 1996 Act.
FCC officials said that complying with this provision of the Act has been difficult due to vague language and the broad scope of regulation it seeks to establish in arapidly advancing field.
"By the time we get through working on something, there's always arisk that there may be anew way to do it when we get done," said Commission Spokesman Morgan Broman in aprivate interview
Days before the deadline was scheduled for feedback on the regulation order, Commission Chairman Bill Kennard presented adifferent perspective in aMay 5 address to the National Cable Television Association in Atlanta. There, he said that if the industry couldn't devise aplan to encourage competition in the set-top market, the Commission would be forced to intervene. Law, in fact, already requires
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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the Commission to regulate this burgeon-
ing market. As increasing numbers of industries vie
for aslice of the growing set-top market, forward thinking becomes agreater chal-
lenge for the Commission, Broman said. "The computer industry is for the first
time really interested in what's going on here," he said.
During adiscussion about the Explorer 2000 set-top, Scientific-Atlanta spokeswoman Caroline March-Long said that the set-top is appealing to outside industries in part because, "the PC market is sort of maxed-out."
At the hearing, Circuit City President Allan McCollough accused the cable industry of technological subterfuge
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that could stifle competition for the
set-top market. "Although desirable multifunction de-
vices are technically possible, competitive availability of any box which includes the capability to receive digital cable signals is
prevented through the use of cable-system-specific technical and security 'secrets' required in the box. We believe that this obstacle to competitive availability is also the single biggest obstacle to customer adoption," McCollough said, echoing Bliley's comments.
"These boxes may prove to be the critical gateway to delivering digital TV to the consumer," said Bliley. We must therefore
ensure that the boxes are largely open devices and thus competitively available."
Enforcing acompetitive environment for set-top deployment at this early
stage in the transition to digital mustcarry is further complicated by outsiders' apparent dependency on cable technology to compete effectively in this arena, officials said.
Broman said that CableLabs' OpenCable specifications are important to the Commission because of the body of knowledge
they represent in set-top technology. Amajor point made by cable industry
leaders at the hearing was that MS0 collaboration with outside industries based on OpenCable specifications has been the best way to maximize inteoperability and rapid deployment for the ultimate benefit of consumers.
"Making OpenCable areality has required the cooperation and consensus of many players in the cable, computer and consumer electronics industries," TCI President Leo Hindery told the subcommittee.
Hindery lauded industry set-top collaboration with companies such as Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems and WorldGate, General Instrument, Hewlett Packard, Lucent Technologies, Philips Magnavox, Pioneer, Scientific-Atlanta,
Sony and 3Com. Hindery called the mass collaborations "a truly remarkable example of cross-industry cooperation, consensus and investment."
Despite CBS' controversial announcement that they were opting for the bandwidth gluttonous 1080i signals for analog TV sets, Chairman Michael Jordan praised the cable industry at the hearing for helping broadcasters get agrip on how they
20
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
THE CHALLENGE
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'PULSAR modulators provide complete software control, allowing you to monitor and manipulate all modulator _functions from acentral location. In the event that lost or degraded signal is detected, you can remotely route
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might best handle the transition to digital. "To their credit, anticipating the need to
sort out our respective digital transition challenges, the cable industry ... initiated a series of conversations with broadcasters to begin aprocess to share information and expertise on digital issues. It is aconversation we welcome since well more than half of the audience for the CBS TV network
programming receives that programming through acable system," he said.
S-A Set-Tops to Deploy Widely
The future is now for Scientific-Atlanta's new digital interactive set-top, with nine North American MS0s, representing about 33 million subscribers, deploying the Explorer 2000 this year.
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Cox Communications, the fifth-largest U.S. cable operator, is among the latest to announce acommitment to the new settop by purchasing 15,000 units and associated headend equipment.
Other MSOs with commitments to deploy the set-tops in 1998 include Time Warner Cable, Comcast Cable, Adelphia Communications, Marcus Cable, Media0ne, and three major Canadian operators, including Rogers Cablesystems Ltd., Videotron and Cogeco.
Scientific-Atlanta attributes part of the product's early success to its CreativEdge program, which has facilitated third-party application testing and integration by providing new interactive services for the settop's developers.
A Sun microprocessor that supports video-on-demand (VOD) by SeaChange, office suite software from Inergy Online, Internet access and Internet protocol (IP) telephony are among the set-top's features.
Officials say the deal with SeaChange will give operators achance at the $15 billion video rental and sales markets by being among the first to offer VOD.
SeaChange's Mediacluster video servers and content management system, melded with Scientific-Atlanta's OpenCable-compliant digital broadband system, fit with the rest of the set-top's repertoire. Most of the components are housed in system headends to provide simplified subscriber service and system maintenance efforts.
Inergy's WebDesk2000 office suite enables word processing, Web site creation, enhanced e-mail and secure file storage.
S-A plans to document the end-to-end system integration and report to CableLabs to help advance OpenCable.
Initiative Promotes Internet Devices
Cisco Systems Inc. has announced atechnology-licensing program intended to accelerate the availability of low-cost, easy-to-use Internet-access devices. The Cisco NetWorks program includes licensing software to manufacturers of network access products such as Internet phones and fax machines, cable modems, set-top boxes and network computers.
The initial licensees in the program are Sony Corp. and Samsung Corp. T
Greta Dun' is assistant features editor at "Communications Technology" in Denver She can be reached via e-mail at gdurr@phillips.com.
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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SCTE UPDATE
SCTE to Evaluate Standards Testing
The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers Interface Practices Subcommittee will conduct analog and digital signal test evaluation workshops in conjunction with its second standards development meeting on June 8and 9in Denver.
Standards developers and users will have the opportunity to appraise and demonstrate IPS test procedures during the workshops, which will be held just prior to Cable-Tec Expo '98 at the Colorado Convention Center. IPS members, equipment suppliers and test operators will be on hand to participate in the laboratory
The following test procedures will be evaluated during the IPS workshops: ·SCTE IPS-TP-206, Composite Triple
Beat Distortion ·SCIE IPS-TP-207, Composite Second
Order Distortion ·SCTE IPS-TP-208, Cross Modulation
Distortion ·SCTE IPS-TP-201, Insertion Gain or Loss,
Frequency Response and Bandwidth ·SCTE IPS-TP-202, Return Loss ·SCTE IPS-TP-203, Isolation ·SCTE IPS-TP-205, Noise Figure ·SCTE IPS-TP-209, Power Consumption ·SCTE 1PS-TP-211, Group Delay ·SCTE IPS-TP-204, Hum Modulation
Document authors include Brian James of CableLabs' Tac Test Centre, David Large of Media Connections Group and Ed McQuillen of RDL Inc. Suppliers participating in the workshops include Hewlett-Packard, RDL Inc., Avantron and Hukk Engineering.
Once evaluated, each test procedure will be voted upon by the IPS. If adopted, SCTE's engineering committee will consider the document. Upon approval, it then will be submitted to the American National Standards Institute for approval as an
American National Standard. For more information about standards
development, contact SOT Director of Standards Ted S. Woo, Ph.D., at (610) 363-6888, ext. 228, or twoo@scte.org.
Two SCTE Standards Get ANSI OK
Two SCTE standards documents recently became the first broadband test procedures to be recognized by ANSI.
ANSUSCTE #TP 007-1998, titled "Coaxial Cable Structural Return Loss," and ANSI/SCIE #TP 407-1998, titled "F' Connector Return Loss" were approved by ANSI on March 26, doubling the number of SUE documents to be identified as American National Standards.
ANSI/SCTE #TP 007-1998 provides instructions to measure the structural return loss (SRL) characteristics of flexible RF coaxial drop cable from 5MHz to 1,000 MHz. SRL is aratio between the reflected
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24
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
MAKING SURE YOU GET THE PICTURE 1
First man on the moon. The whole planet watches with anticipation. All sharing awondrous, giant leap in human achievement via cable television systems. Today, our world is rapidly becoming one neighborhood because of the leading-edge, point 2multipoint network solutions" that we design, manufacture and service. Like our Cornerstone· cable telephony technology that adds voice to cable and new revenue to your performance. ANTEC Network Technologies. Getting you the picture. Call us. 770-441-0007 or www.antec.com
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and the reference signals or the reflection coefficient (r).
ANSI/SCTE #TP 407-1998 provides instructions to measure the return loss characteristics of asingle type "F" connector-to-cable interface, at the beginning of acable, from 5MHz to 1,000 MHz. This test method applies to SCTE specifications IPS-SP-402, IPS-SP-403 and IPS-SP-404, and makes use of the time do-
main gating feature of the network analyzer to remove the far-end connector effects from the near-end connector being tested.
SCTE will continue to pursue national recognition of its cable telecommunications standards; current plans include document development in digital video and cable modern technology and OpenCable.
For more information about the Soci-
· ety's progress in standards development,
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contact Director of Standards Ted Woo, Ph.D., at (610) 363-6888, ext. 228. Updated information also can be found on the SCTE Website: http//:www.scte.org.
Awards Encourage Workplace Safety
To support and foster the growing importance of creating safe work environments for employees in the broadband industry the SCTE is introducing two new safety awareness awards for MSOs.
The SCTE Health and Safety Subcommittee has created the Silver and Gold Awards to recognize the efforts of MSOs committed to asafe and healthy workplace, and to raise public safety awareness.
The Silver Award will be given to any MSO whose total incident rate records are at or below 25% of the national average for our industry. The national average is available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Each MSO should complete the summary information on the appropriate form and submit it to SCTE for consideration.
The Gold Award will be given to any MSO whose total incident rate records are at or below 50% of the national average for our industry This award will be earned only by companies that have demonstrated asignificant commitment to safety.
Eastern Vice Chairman Jim Kuhns, who also chairs SCTE's Training Committee, says, "These awards are designed to honor those companies that have successfully implemented and maintained safety performance programs to an exemplary level."
All MSOs are eligible to apply for either of these annual awards. The application deadline is May 11. Qualified MSOs will be recognized during Cable-Tec Expo '98 in Denver this June.
For more information, contact SCTE Vice President of Technical Programs Mary Nelson at (610) 363-6888, ext. 229, or at mnelson@scte.org.
The SCTE is anational nonprofit professional organization serving the broadband industry's technical community. SCTE currently has more than 15,000 members from the U.S. and 70 foreign countries and offers avariety of programs and services for the industry's educational benefit. SCTE has 72 chapters and meeting groups and has technically certified more than 3,000 employees of the cable telecommunications industry. (T
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Interview witch leade
By Rex Porter
Coaxial International's Ron Hranac on Achievement
clitoris Note: Of the many interviews we have done and will do, this one is special for me. Not only are we at Phillips proud to be associated with Ron Hranac, but this interview also will provide assurances to our readers that extra effort, attention to detail and continued education can result in attainment of career goals. Ron is senior vice president of engineering for Coaxial International, aDenver-based consulting firm. He also is senior technical editor for "Communications Technology" and "International Cable" magazines.
Communications Technology: Ron, you and Ihave similar experiences, as we began our careers in cable. You started in the local origination (LO) side of the business for Teleprompter, then designed and constructed KRPL's LO studio back in the early '70s. Tell us about that period from 1972 through 1976. Ron Hranac: Let me go back abit before that. Iwas first aware of cable as ayoungster in the late 1950s, although Ididn't really know what it was. Iremember some family friends who had something called cable TV and their kids could watch "Captain Kangaroo" each weekday. We
didn't have cable, and the local broadcast station carried "Captain Kangaroo" only on Saturday mornings. Ieven remember the metal boxes on the poles!
Ironically, my first job in cable was in my hometown of Lewiston, ID, working for the same cable company that provided service to our friends back in the '50s. I was hired by then Program Manager Bill Raschka as apart-time camera operator for Teleprompter's LO studio, and the pay, $1.75 an hour, was just 10 cents an hour above the prevailing minimum wage.
Acouple years later, Ihad worked my way up to program manager, running the
LO operations. Unfortunately, not long after that, Teleprompter made acorporate decision to shut down all LO studios except where required by franchise. Iwent to work for KRPL, aradio station in Moscow, ID, designing, building and operating aTV studio for aleaseback LO operation with Moscow Cable Co.
Communications Technology: Then, for the next two years, you learned the business as an installer-technician for Teleprompter How do you think your feelings for "doing the job right" moved you from installer to technician during those years? Ron Hranac: Iwent back to work in Teleprompter's Lewiston system as an installer in 1976. That was agreat place to learn the outside operations part of the business. Some of the guys had been there since the system was built in 1953.
The thing that impressed me most was everyone's willingness to take the time to teach how to do the job right. Heck, I wasn't allowed to go out on my first install alone for the first three months, and during that time Iwas always riding with someone, learning the ropes of the job.
Moving to installer-technician was a natural progression and provided the opportunity to be on call every few weeks and get alittle extra overtime. Iused to take product brochures and instruction manuals home to read at night, and Iwas never afraid to ask questions.
Those days were alot of fun! I'll always feel indebted to the guys Iworked with in Lewiston: "Dee" Miller, Walt
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McCall, Jeff Tarbet, Wes Scoles, Jack Milligan, Bob Simmons, Bob Munden, Del Hallberg and Steve Nogle, and, of course, Bill Raschka for hiring me in '72.
Isigned up for my first National Cable Television Institute course in 1977 (I think it was called "Technician I.") and finished it 10 months later. In 1978, ajob opening for electronics technician (sort of like assistant chief tech) in Teleprompter's Richland, WA, system became available when the bench tech retired, so I transferred.
While working in the Richland system, Ijoined the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (Editor's note: Then known as the Society of Cable Television Engineers) and attended my first regional technical conference in Portland, OR, with one of my coworkers. That was atough trip, because Ted Axtell and Iboth had anasty case of food poisoning. Still, Imanaged to sneak out of the conference long enough to drop by the Federal Communications Commission's Portand office to take, and pass, the First Class Radiotelephone License exam.
In September, 1979, Imade what was then avery tough and scary decision and left Teleprompter for asystem engineer position in Jones Intercable's Lake County, CA, system.
Communications Technology: During the early '80s, it seems Jones Intercable needed your engineering expertise across California, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming. Tell us how you think active involvement in the SCTE helped you in those days. Ron Hranac: Ifound the SCTE to be avery valuable resource in the early '80s and an important asset to my career development. Jones was very supportive of participation in both manufacturersponsored and SCTE training seminars.
That, plus apersonal eagerness to attend the seminars, learn and keep asking questions, was critical to making training work. Companies have to support training, and people have to want to learn. With technology evolving as fast as it is now, this is especially true today.
Communications Technology: While with Jones, you served as SCTE's regional director You also served as the national SCTE secretary, president/chairman, and on the executive committee. This was surely awhirlwind tour for you during asix-year period. Tell us about these activities. Ron Hranac: You can blame Sally Kinsman for that. Sally was Region 2director when my family and Imoved to Denver in 1983. In 1986, she was planning to relocate to the Seattle area and convinced me to be acandidate in the 1987 election.
Once again, Jones was very supportive of my involvement in the SCTE; Iestimate that during that six years as Region 2director, agood 10% to 20% of my company time was devoted to SCTE activities.
My first national office was secretary, something the other board members probably came to regret. In '88, the board elected me president, probably so they no longer would have to haul 20 pounds of handouts home from each board meeting.
Communications Technology: Tell us about you duties as corporate engineer and then as senior staff engineer from 1984 through 1990. Ron Hranac: Life in the corporate engineering department back
Reader Service Number 26
30
JUNE 1998 · COMM NICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
then was, without adoubt, hectic but fun. The company was in amajor growth mode and we had corporate "SWAT" teams that traveled all over the country to evaluate systems for potential acquisition.
In between those trips, Ibuilt and managed the company's corporate test and evaluation laboratory, a54-channel headend in the new corporate office building and was involved in technical training. Ialso did most of the company's microwave link engineering and traveled to several systems to perform annual proof tests on amplitude modulated link (AML) and frequency modulated link (FMI) microwave equipment.
Communications Technology: You worked with Bob Luff at Jones, and Iknow you had aleading role in launching some cuttingedge projects. Ron Hranac: When Bob joined the company, one of the first projects he assigned me was to manage the technical side of the launch of Sky Merchant and Galactic Radio, satellite services operated by Jones. We had 19 audio subcarriers on one transponder, along with Sky Merchant's video.
In the late '80s, Ibecame involved in some of the company's United Kingdom operations and got my feet wet in the international part of our business. About the same time, Jones developed the cable area network (CAN) fiber architecture, and while some of my colleagues in the corporate engineering department were more directly involved with its deployment, it did provide an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of acuttingedge technology.
Communications Technology: At an SCTE Board meeting in 1990, Iremember you asked me to walk with you into the hallway outside. You said, "I have an opportunity to go on board with 'Communications Technology' magazine as their senior vice president and editor. What do you think?" Iquickly said, "Take the position." Icontinue to browse through editorials you wrote years ago, as well as appreciate your technical guidance of "CT" today. How do you feel about sharing knowledge with others through the media? Ron Hranac: In 1985, Communications Technology's Wayne Lasley approached me at an SCTE Rocky Mountain chapter
meeting and asked if Iwould be willing to write an article based on the seminar I had just taught. That turned into a three-part series on bench sweep, and I've been involved in one way or another with CT ever since.
Sharing knowledge through the pages of amagazine like CT is agood way to reach alarge and diverse audience. Ialso think it's away to pay back all of the people who've taught me over the years. They set agood example in their willingness to share what they know, and carrying on in that tradition by writing for Communications Technology or speaking at SCTE seminars seems to be the right thing to do.
"In '88, the board elected me president, probably so they no longer would have to haul 20 Jounds of handouts iome from each board meeting."
Communications Technology: Sometimes, these days, you are hard to reach since you handle clients for Coaxial International on five continents. Want to share some frequent flyer miles? Ron Hranac: Anyone who says travel is glamorous doesn't do it enough. Seriously, I've enjoyed the opportunity to travel. Without question, the best part of it has been the people I've met over the years.
Communications Technology: You are living proof that dedicated cable people can come up through the ranks to attain recognition as technical leaders in cable engineering, cable operations, advising financial institutions, working closely with equipment manufacturers, interfacing with cable engineering consortiums, telephone/long distance
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31
companies, and electrical power utilities. To reach this plateau in your careen Iknow you took advantage of Broadband Communications Technician/Engineer (BCT/E) testing (becoming the first person to be certified and now certified at both the Technician and Engineer levels). Tell us how the BCT/E and NCTI training helped. Ron Hranac: NCTI courses and other training provided the core material, being in ahands-on environment put it to work, and the BCT/E program formed aset of goals with which to measure it all. I've been very fortunate to have worked for companies over the years that recognized the value of education and training and supported active participation in the SCTE. If Icould give any advice to newcomers in cable, it would have to be: Learn all you can; never stop asking questions, and share what you know with others.
Communications Technology: You are involved in the Denver Amateur TV League. I understand you are atrained Skywarn tornado and severe weather spotter for the National Weather Service, as well as an avid ham radio contester Ron Hranac: All of these revolve around one of my favorite hobbies: ham radio. About 10 years ago, agroup of us built a ham TV repeater on top of Lookout Mountain, west of Denver, using mostly cable TV equipment. The repeater, still in use today, is used to relay NTSC amateur TV signals in the 420 MHz and 1.2 GHz ham bands.
One use of the repeater, until very recently, was to relay live TV video of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes to the National Weather Service. I've been aSkywarn spotter for several years, in part because of the chance to use ham radio in apublic service role and also because Denver and the eastern part of the state get the occasional tornado.
Even though the NWS has relocated to Denver's new airport, which unfortunately is out of range of the TV repeater, we still use ham radio voice and data communications from all over the state to relay storm spotting information to Weather Service officials.
Communications Technology: You are one of the most sought-after advisors on the SCTE List. How do you like having the List
to keep in touch with technicians and engineers front around the world? Ron Hranac: Ithink the SCTE List is one of the most valuable technology resources the industry has available today. It provides anear real-time forum for the exchange of technical information. A user can post aquestion in the morning, and usually there will be several responses to that question posted the same day.
"Companies have to support training, and people have to
want to learn. With technology evolving as fast as it is now,
this is especially true today."
Communications Technology: You served one term as president (1988-1989) and one term as chairman of the SCTE board of directors (1992-1993). What experience stands out most from your memories of those two terms? Ron Hranac: As Ilook back, the incredibly rapid growth of the Society during that time stands out, as does the chance to work with the SCTE's national headquarters staff. They are among the hardest working people Iknow, and some great friends. But one very special memory is the relationship we developed with Tom Hall and the U.K. SCTE.
Communications Technology: Where do you see cable TV going as we prepare to enter anew century? Ron Hranac: Making predictions is a tough thing to do, Rex, so I'll take aconservative approach. For the next few years at least, Idon't see any revolutionary changes in the way we do business. Delivery of entertainment services will still be our bread and butter, and we'll continue
to get better at it, especially with competition from direct broadcast satellite (DBS) breathing down our necks.
Digital video will become more apart of the traditional entertainment lineup, although analog will be here for along time. Who knows, we might even see HDTV someday! Incremental revenue from services such as data communications and cable modems will grow, and this move into non-entertainment services will require us to do an even better job. That means much more emphasis on training, quality and reliability.
Communications Technology: And finally, what one person had the most impact on your meteoric rise in the ranks of cable TV engineering? Ron Hranac: My biggest inspiration in life and career was my maternal grandfather. Grandpa Charlie never went beyond an eighth-grade education, but he had an IQ over 190. He was involved in horticulture research throughout much of his life, and did work with chemically-induced genetic mutation when most others were still using grafting and cross-pollination techniques.
At age 35, he contracted polio. Doctors told him he'd never walk again, and his response was, "The hell I won't." Well, his stubbornness proved the doctors wrong, and he lived into his 80s. Shortly after he was diagnosed with polio, with the assistance of a nearby university he entered several plants in an international competition and took the top three places.
When Iwas in grade school and junior high, he and Iused to have some pretty deep discussions about the theory of relativity, ancient Egypt, the possibilities of using the Earth's magnetic field to generate electricity (his dream was to see this idea used to power automobiles), and other equally complex topics. He was a fascinating man; tmiss him and those long talks dearly. Inow have a3-year-old grandson and hope Ican be even half the inspiration to him that my grandfather
was to me. r
Rex Porter is editor of "Communications Technology" He can be reached in Mesa, AZ, at (602) 807-8299 or via e-mail at tvrex@earthlinknet.
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RETURN
By Alex Zavistovich
The Power of Mud
How do you dig ahole under ariver? The answer is, with the awesome tunneling power of...mud.
That's right, mud. Jones Communications recently connected its Alexandria, VA, and Prince George's County, MD, headends by boring under the Potomac River. Last time, Itold you about the permitting headaches Jones' engineers encountered just setting up for this job. The permitting process for the project was awalk in the park, though, compared to the actual boring and conduit placement under the river. And it took aheck of alot of mud.
Because of concerns from the city of Alexandria, boring for the connection started across the Potomac in Maryland.
Jones Senior Director of Engineering Tom Gorman and his team of contractors had a staging area off the Capitol Beltway where they set up the boring rig for the job. This is an impressively large example of heavy industry--like the biggest Roto-Rooter you've ever seen. The boring tool is equipped with adirectional head steered remotely with electronics; the cutting actually is clone with ahighly pressurized mixture of bentonite mud.
Mud engineering
As you might imagine, digging ahole
under ariver means asteady supply of lots and lots of razor-sharp mud. So much mud, in fact, that keeping up with this project's mud demands meant maintaining amajor mud pit, where highly-trained mud engineers (I am not making that up) made sure the bentonite was kept at the desired consistency.
What Iwant to know is, where does a person go to learn how to be amud engineer? I've just never thought much about improving on mud. You've got your dirt, you've got your water. how do you get graded on that? Could you fail? How
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would you admit that you failed at making mud? There's clearly more to this than meets the eye.
As the engineers bored the hole, they fed 5-inch diameter conduit down the bore, pushing it further on with additional sections of pipe. Things were really just getting going when the construction team ran into gravel and other
sediment, which made it nearly impossible to maintain the cutting pressure needed to complete the bore from the Maryland side. (With it was lost the goal to set arecord for the longest continuous 5-inch diameter bore--a tragedy in American mud-based sports and technology team history. The dream, however, survives.)
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They had no other choice: They had to double back and start again in Alexandria, with the two ends meeting in the river.
Incidentally, that's not the only hurdle the Jones team had to clear. They also discovered that even ametal conduit will fall victim to aphysical malady that Ican only call "droopiness." It's like pushing cooked linguine: After you've pushed it acertain distance, directing it with any accuracy becomes tricky. (I must note here, however, that if you have enough time to push linguine you are lonely, indeed.) So, they cut a10-inch diameter metal sleeve through which they ran the 5-inch diameter conduit. This new sleeve was rigid enough to control more accurately.
Anyway, back to joining the two sections. Now Iknow people say the Chunne under the English Channel that connects England and France was adesign challenge. Iremember reading that the two sides almost missed each other in the middle. To that, Ioffer only the following sarcasm and derision: "Baloney." That tunnel was yards across. Are you telling me the combined engineering skill of English and French crews couldn't line up two huge holes they'd been planning for years? Now that Jones bore, that was a challenge. Imagine connecting two 5-inch diameter bores--that's like firing off two howitzers from amile apart and trying to get the shells to hit each other on the points, midway between.
Tripping out
For your average communications construction crew, though, it's just another day on the job. In fact, they perform this procedure so often, they even have acute little name for it: "tripping out." In the Jones case, it involved lifting the conduit from both approaches onto abarge in the Potomac, where the two ends were joined, then dropped back to the bottom of the river and covered over. Not quite acomplete underground bore, but close.
So that's how you dig ahole in dirt using mud. Next time, I'll show you how to receive broadcast radio signals using nothing more that the forks and spoons in your silverware drawer. (T
Alex Zavistovich is executive editor of "Communications Technology." He can be reached in Potomac, MD, at (301) 340-7788, ext. 2134.
38
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HRANAC--Notes for the Tech
By Ron Warm
The Simple Things Really Do Matter
just returned from on extended overseas trip with some of my colleagues from the consulting company Iwork for. The trip included, among other things, technical evaluations of several operating cable TV networks. The where and who aren't important for this discussion, but Ido want to share some observations and comments to show how overlooking the simple things can cause big problems. First, alittle background information.
The systems in question have plant that in most cases ranges from as little as afew months to 7or 8years old, and most common bandwidths up to 750 MHz are in use. Architectures include amix of traditional tree-and-branch, fiber supertrunking, and alimited amount of hybrid fiber/coax (HFC). Anode in one of the systems has active reverse and an operational cable modem trial. Much of the headend, network, drop materials and equipment came from the big-name manufacturers (including some refurbished equipment from brokers and distributors), with the remainder produced in-country or imported by local firms and sold under adomestic label. This approach is fairly typical in alot of international markets, so that's no particular surprise.
Not quite what it seemed
The shocker was the condition of most of the networks and drops we evaluated. Network construction quality ranged from poor to tolerable, although to be fair, some looked quite good. The drops were, almost without exception, of poor quality. Picture quality was fair in the subscribers' homes we checked, and signal leakage was severe in every system. The reverse path in the two-way node where the cable modem trial is underway (maybe Ishould say struggling) has incredible ingress, and upstream laser clip-
ping was obvious. Adriveout of that particular service area showed nearly nonstop forward path signal leakage.
What went wrong? After all, the systems had been built with generally good quality materials. (There were afew exceptions; more on this in amoment.) Heck, the newer 750 MHz plant even took advantage of contemporary HFC technology and architectural approaches,
"Nearly every F-connector we checked had been tightened finger tight at best, and some were what I would call 'wiggle'
loose."
with 500 homes per node, standby powering and so on. What went wrong, in my opinion, was too much emphasis on the big picture and not enough on the simple things.
Specific problems
Here are afew examples of what Imean: Most of the systems used and continue to use cheap imported F-connectors that can be pulled off the drop cable by hand even after proper cable preparation, including folding the braid back over the jacket, and use of ahex crimper. These same connectors apparently were improperly annealed at the factory making them susceptible to cracking when crimped. Why anybody would even consider manufacturing or selling this kind of junk is beyond me. Shame on the companies that buy it. To make F-connector matters worse, many were crimped with pliers instead of hex crimpers. Few outdoor drop connectors were weatherproofed, and those that were used boots without silicone grease. Nearly every F-connector we checked had been tightened finger tight at best, and some were what I would call "wiggle" loose. You know, where the connector is held to its mating port by just afew threads. Except for some newer drops that use messengered cable, the majority are non-messengered and supported by spiral grips. Can someone please tell manufacturers to stop making grips for non-messengered drops? If they weren't available, then system operators wouldn't be able to buy them and might have to, well, install drops properly. Heat shrink tubing had been used on many of the hardline connectors, but a lot had no weatherproofing at all. In some cases, the heat shrink tubing had been cut too short prior to installation, resulting in incomplete coverage of the connector or exposed cable. In other cases, heat shrink tubing had been installed but wasn't heated or shrunk. Many of the construction problems were
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found to be cosmetic in nature, such as improperly formed expansion loops or sloppy cable routing. More serious construction problems included the use of cheap pole hardware that had rusted after only afew years' exposure to the elements, placement of cables too close to power, and the previously mentioned improper weatherproofing. /Where they were used, some of the "refurbished" amplifiers and passives we saw had defective, worn out, or missing gaskets between the lid and housing. Unfortunately, afew of the refurbished models were so old that replacement gaskets no longer are available. System personnel have had to fabricate covers for the amplifier housings to minimize water ingress when it rains. When Ifirst saw the covers, Ithought they were sun shields. / Network and drop grounding is virtually nonexistent. Subscribers are told to unplug their TVs, VCRs and cable during storms. Iam not making this up. / Service calls were unusually high in almost every system we visited, although
this really wasn't asurprise, considering everything else we saw. The service call breakdown was fairly typical, too: About 75% were drop-related, and the remainder were because of something in the network.
Consequences
The list goes on. As you look at each of the major problems Ijust described, they can collectively be boiled down to relatively simple things: cutting corners in critical areas to save afew bucks; lack of training: inadequate supervision of the work being performed; and no follow-up quality control. Sadly, the attempt to save alittle money up front will cost the operators of these particular systems alot of money in the long run because of the need to replace network and drop components that normally should last avery long time.
Some of what we saw can be cleaned up relatively easily, but poorly installed or missing weatherproofing--including the equipment housing gaskets--means water already has damaged the cable and components.
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Loose drop connectors can be tightened easily and those installed incorrectly replaced, but here, too, if there was no weatherproofing, then the coax will have been damaged by water ingress and likely will have to be replaced as well, at least from the pole to the house. Non-messengered drops are just plain dumb. Messengered cable is the only way to go for all overhead drops, regardless of length, but you've heard me harp on this many times before.
Solutions
How could the majority of the problems have been avoided? By paying attention to the simple things! Training of construction and installation staff, along with effective supervision and quality control, would have ensured that the work was done correctly in the first place, particularly network construction, weatherproofing, drop installations and such. The tougher sell would have been to management--that is, convincing them to invest in training, good F-connectors, messengered drop cable, and being more careful with some of the refurbished gear. Regarding the last item, perhaps paying alittle more for an extended warranty or getting later models that still have replacement parts available would have been awise move. Of course, hindsight is always 20-20, right?
So, what can be learned from this? First, using new equipment from the major manufacturers (in the example I've been discussing, this was the case for the most part) and deploying the latest HFC architecture doesn't automatically guarantee agood network. Too often Isee operators in the United States and abroad making the mistaken assumption that the newest technology and best components will result in astate-ofthe-art system. This attitude is dangerous and can be very costly. The plant has to be built and maintained properly, with the drops installed correctly. All of this is done easily by emphasizing some important lowtech things: training, supervision and quality control. The bottom line is that the simple things really do matter! (T
Ron Hranac is senior vice president of engineering for the Dever-based consulting firm Coaxial International. He also is senior technical editor for "Communications Technology" magazine. He can be reached via e-mail at rhranac@aol.com.
42
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By Justin J. Junkus
Telecommunications "Killer Applications" Are Made, Not Born
Killer applications are the products you sell to end users that bring in revenues you dream about. This month, I'd like to suggest how one could be grown for cable telecommunications. Perhaps in the process, this column will stimulate some new thoughts on how cable can capture the telecommunications market share it deserves.
Since this is atelephony column, I'm going to use an example that originates in the telephony world--unified messaging. We'll begin by looking at how the telephone industry is growing this product, and then we'll move to what could be done with it in adigital cable environment. Just so Idon't lose your interest early on, we're going to be talking about an application that works with highspeed data and digital set-top converters, as well as with personal communications systems and telephony.
What is unified messaging?
Unified messaging is acombination of services we all use--voice mail, fax, e-mail and pager systems. "Unified" refers to adding two features: capture of all messages in one storage database, and the ability to retrieve all those messages from any of the interfaces normally used to retrieve them. To clarify this definition, let me provide afew examples of features that have been marketed by telephony providers with aunified messaging offering: ·Text-to-speech conversion and vice
versa (needed to convert between voice or fax-mail and e-mail) ·Call routing to designated phone numbers based on time of day (includes routing to acellular phone during transit times)
·Pager notification of message waiting ·Remote access to voice mail ·Remote access to fax ·Remote access to e-mail ·Receipt of fax or voice mail at aperson-
al computer (PC) ·Receipt of e-mail by telephone via text-
to-voice contrersion ·Around-the-clock remote retrieval of
stored data via voice access
"With enough new applications,
consumers will see cable as the service provider of choice
for all their broadband needs."
·Hard copy generation of the retrieved data via fax or e-mail
·Automatic sending of amessage from a stored address list
·Visual voice mail, with the ability to prioritize message retrieval
These products traditionally work by computer-telephony integration (CTI). The telephony service provider owns atelephone switch at its central office and adds an interface to amessaging system. To be truly "unified," the messaging system also must be connected to agateway to adata network. Usually, this is done with some type of data switch (router), and highspeed access lines to the Internet. The messaging system comprises anumber of storage devices for user mailboxes and subscriber greetings, port interfaces, voice recognition and synthesis systems, one or more processors that manage the flow of information between the system components, and associated software systems.
There are several vendors of messaging systems to choose from, and the telephony switch owner makes the choice of system based upon compatibility with his switch, system capacity and features. In most cases, some customization is required, either to make the interface work to the service provider's specifications, or to modify existing features to make them marketable to the service provider's customers.
What this could mean to cable
It's time for cable operators to start thinking CCI, or Cable-Computer Integration. Even if the operator doesn't offer telephony service (yet), there is potential for offering enhanced unified messaging to its customer base. Here are two cablespecific examples of marketable services: ·On-screen TV notification of messages
waiting ·On-screen TV retrieval of voice or e-
mail
Think of the possibilities for using these two services alone. Asubscriber might use them for life-line notification from elderly relatives. The cable company
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might promote future pay-per-view (PPV) events with targeted e-mail to its own subscribers.
Cable already offers high-speed data services via cable modem, so these messaging capabilities also could be marketed: ·PC notification of messages waiting via
high-speed cable modem data service ·PC retrieval of voice or e-mail messages
What about voice messaging for acable operator that doesn't own atelephony switch? Theoretically, cable customers could subscribe to the operator's unified messaging service instead of the phone company's. The incumbent phone company would have to route their calls on "No answer" to the cable company's messaging service number, and then the cable company system would take the message and store it for later retrieval. Truc, the subscriber would not get the stutter dial tone or message waiting lamp indication that only adirect connection to the telephony switch can give, but the cable operator could provide a pager as part of the service. That way, any
type of message from any source could alert the subscriber that it needed to be picked up--and that's one better than having to go to the phone to see if someone called. (By the way, if the operator is thinking of someday offering Internet protocol, or IP, telephony, it might make sense to think through how this expanded unified messaging could work with that service. The pager adjunct seems to make even more sense here, since IP telephony and other telephony service probably will coexist.)
What it would take
Messaging systems and their interfaces to pagers, data networks, and, of course, telephony switches, already exist. What needs to be added to make the system cable-unified is an interface to the set-top converter and the associated headend control equipment. This would be alot easier if OpenCable were areality. For the time being, it would require an operator to coordinate some customization between the manufacturers of their set-top converters, the headend equipment and the messaging system.
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Because customization usually is expensive, Isuggest the following as some ways te,. spread the cost of implementation.
Develop acritical mass of potential subscribers by joint venturing development with similar-sized operators in other franchise areas. This is alot easier than some of the other business arrangements we have seen in cable. You don't need to be geographically adjacent. You don't need to offer the same services in the same combinations. All that's required is that you both have acommon vendor for the messaging system, and another common vendor for the set-tops and headend controllers.
Lobby for acable industry association or organization to sponsor the development of the interfaces, or create one specifically for the purpose of joint development of applications. This would be one way to spread costs across the largest possible customer base, but the question is, "Which organization?" Our industrywide organizations, such as CableLabs and the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, typically make standards recommendations, but they don't sponsor software development for commercial application. Perhaps we need anew organization that has industry-wide applications development and distribution of the associated technology as its specific charter.
1can't guarantee that either of these alternatives is realistic in today's environment, but Ido know that we have not been very successful in the rapid introduction of new technology by the go-it-alone approach. Unified messaging may not be the best killer application for cable, but this same team approach to spreading costs holds true for any promising revenue-generator. Working this way, with atangible end product that immediately could be applied in the industry, has an advantage of potentially rapid deployment and cost-sharing. With enough new applications, consumers will see cable as the service provider of choice for all their broadband needs.
Iam especially interested in comments concerning the marketability of unified messaging by cable companies. Please address any feedback to jjunkus@aol.com. T
Justin J. Junhus is President of KnowledgeLinie Inc., a consulting and training firm specializing in the cable telecommunications industry.
46
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THE
DATA
By Terry Wright
Managing the Formless
Greased Pigs and Data-Service Management
fyou've ever tried to catch agreased pig, then you have agood idea of the challenge facing the cable industry in managing high-speed broadband Internet/data services. You finally get your arms around it, start feeling good about the situation, and in an instant it slips away.
Now that the National Cable Television Association National Show is behind us, most of us can get back to the highspeed broadband data services agenda. I do hope you enjoyed the show. I'm sure you noticed the plethora of high technology and services on display from just about everyone in the game. It's not so much this data technology and related services that Iwish to examine in this month's column, but rather the challenge that managing the service delivery infrastructure becomes once such services are deployed.
Let's begin our examination of this challenge by considering afew aspects of it that also will serve as an exclamation point to my April column.
In the April '98 edition of "The Data Game," Itried to convince you that standard definition digital TV (SDTV) vs. high definition digital TV (HDTV) probably is the wrong debate to have, at least for now (If you don't believe me, just poll your family, friends and neighbors to find out how many of them plan to rush out and plop down $3,000 or more for an HDTV any time soon.)
The cyber-challenge
As Isaid in April, Ibelieve the real issue is whether television as we know it, in its present analog or any emerging digital form, will survive the invasion from cyberspace. Why? Because cyberspace increasingly is going visual
and already represents content on demand under nearly the ultimate usercontrol scenario
"Cyberspace increasingly is going visual and already represents content on demand under nearly
the ultimate user-control scenario."
Not only is there traditional Moving Pictures Experts Group (the same MPEG used in digital TV) on the 'Net, a variety of other video delivery approaches also are making headway. For example, there are ASF-based products (Advanced Streaming Format) such as VDOnet's VDOLive and Motorola's Truestream, as well as IP Multicast, real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) and proprietary schemes not associated with any kind of standard.
Although demand for Internet-based content streaming is strongest in the business community (it's the technique of choice for internal company-wide
communications), its just amatter of time before one of these methods catches on and becomes economically viable for supporting consumer-level applications. (Everyone eventually will use video mail.)
While its unlikely that telco-based dialup Internet access will promote video streaming applications (28.8 kbps and even 56 kbps generally constrain acceptable quality), cable modems very likely will spur the spread of these applications into the consumer segment. So what does this have to do with the infrastructure management challenge? (End of April column exclamation point)
Bandwidth and management
These various video streaming approaches consume enough bandwidth to significantly disrupt data traffic patterns in broadband cable networks. And since (cable modem-connected) consumers eventually will initiate these applications at unpredictable times, infrastructure managers (network/server system managers) likely will experience awide array of behaviors from all the applications that normally consume this bandwidth.
More important, however, is that these bandwidth-consuming applications are only the tip of the iceberg with regard to complicating management of the service delivery infrastructure. (However, they did provide ahandy way to re-emphasize the premise of my April column, while readily demonstrating the dynamic nature of Internet.)
So now what? It's not too difficult to imagine the Internet's continuing increase in complexity, which in turn will make managing your data/Internet service
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1 delivery infrastructure all the more
challenging. Networked elements . smart homes, multiple personal corn puler (PC) homes, the introduction of network computers/appliances (with unique bandwidth requirements), the proliferation of applets, and increat ly "intelligent" (and visual) Web servers are all good examples of things that will complicate the infrastructure management task. But the real concer is "What can Ido about it?"
The simple answer is "Not much," less you want to invest in some pretty t. pensive and sophisticated equipment (much more costly than the most expensive cable modem termination system, or CMTS) and expertise. Of course, "No much" is an unacceptable answer.
Options
Your competition typically monitors t local loop every night (as most of us sleep), decommissioning problematic trunks, to ensure that we all have dial tone the next morning. This translates into perceived service reliability, stability and quality, representing important competitive dimensions in which cable o. tors must compete if they are to succt in data services.
From my nearly 30 years of data net working and computing, 1can tell you that even veteran data networking perts have trouble keeping up witl. Internet's evolution. You might con er outsourcing the infrastructure mi agement function to agroup that specializes in delivering and manag. high-speed Internet services. This might sound like good news since 3,000 to 4,000 Internet service providers become immediate candidates for this function.
But don't be lulled by the number. Do yourself ahuge favor; make sure that the group you select thoroughly understands broadband and cable modems, can demonstrate that understanding to you, and already has demonstrated that understanding to other cable operators. (T
Terry Wright is chief technology officer at A lanta-based Convergence Systems Inc. He c be reached at (770) 416-9993 or via e-i. tlwright@convergence.com.
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o SCTE ON
By Alan Babcock
Working with Volunteers Is Like Herding Cats
Not Many People Can Make It Happen
ell, Bill Riker's resignation from the Society of (able Telecommunications Engineers will be old news by the time you read this, but Iwanted to say just afew more words about Bill's contributions to the SCIE and our industry.
Finding time
Ihave worked for the SCTE for only a bit more than ayear in an official capacity, but Iwas an active volunteer for several years prior to joining the staff. As avolun-
teer, 1learned alot about the challenges of getting work done with other volunteers. I have further experienced this difficulty as an employee. Someone once said that working with volunteers is like "herding
cats." 1can attest that this picture is pretty accurate. It isn't meant to be demeaning-- it's just the way things work.
If you have ajob, you most likely are going to spend your work hours doing the things you are paid to do. You install cable service, sweep amplifiers, supervise other people, create or deliver training programs, consult, sell, or perform myriad other tasks. If you don't work at the tasks you were hired for, you might need to find someone else to hire you for some other set of tasks.
When you get home at the end of the day, you need to shuttle the kids to soccer
lighting.
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practice, band concerts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, baby-sitting jobs and so forth. You may need to watch the kids while your significant other goes to work, softball practice, or evening classes.
So where do you find time to volunteer for something like SCTE? It is getting more difficult every day to find the time to volunteer for the organizations that
need your help. We all are very independent creatures, rather similar to cats.
What to do with that time
The SCTE has become an organization that fosters cooperation and participation from adiverse field of engineers, technicians, salespeople and others. Large companies (many with trade secrets) work
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together through SCTE to enhance the technical knowledge of all who care to listen.
Volunteers at the local level find time to coordinate chapter meetings, offer certification exams and put on terrific regional "Vendor Days" shows. Committees provide direction to ensure financial success and an appropriate future direction for the Society.
Through the standards-setting process, we are significantly influencing the future of telecommunications. Like cats, we are independent thinkers with our own agendas, ideas and solutions.
The board of directors provides direction to Bill and the SCTE staff. The representative election process is paramount to our future success because it assures that new ideas are presented and considered by each new board. As in any political representation process, the collective personality of the board also changes with each annual election of new members.
Successful organizations must balance these new ideas and personalities against a relatively consistent direction and path to the future. Bill has helped the board balance its decisions to keep the Society on a steady course. The result has been anumber of new programs and products that support aconsistent vision of "Training, Certification, Standards." Healthy argument and discussion have occurred to define the programs and products that have made the SCTE stronger.
What it yields
The SCTE is asuccessful and recognized organization today because Bill has been able to herd cats. The SCTE consists of individuals and companies with very independent ideas. Bringing divergent opinions into aforum where they can be discussed is asignificant factor in the success of the SCTE.
In my mind, the greatest service that SCTE provides to the telecommunications industry is the opportunity to unite in discussion and the pursuit of technical solutions that fit the needs of our industry This opportunity exists because Bill's leadership has created an organization where our strength is the product of independent ideas.
Alan Babcock is director of training development for the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers. He can be reached via e-mail at ababcock@scte.org.
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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So whether you're building a new broadband communication system or upgrading the one you have, give us a call. We'll show you simplicity and power. And we'll help you bring harmony and efficiency to your advanced network.
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Reader Service Number 47
Service in Technology Award
58
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Promises Kept
·
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By Rex Porter
communications Technology and the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers are pleased to recognize HI as the recipient of the 1998 Service In Technology Award, the cable industry's most prestigious engineering honor. This award is presented each year to the individual or company making the year's greatest contributions to the cable engineering community.
In 1994, John Malone dedicated the National Digital Television Center and spoke of new and innovative services that would come to the cable subscriber. TCI would pursue adigitally compressed future. Since that speech, TCI and the rest of the cable industry faced acritical national press and skepticism from the financial community, both believing the industry had failed to deliver on its promise of data, digital TV and other sophisticated services.
Instead of retreating, Malone continued to defend the industry's position. He proclaimed cable's ability and dedication to supply the most modern services to its customers. The years immediately following the 1994 speech were filled with substantial work in digital compression technology These were cooperative ef-
forts between several companies, but people like Tom Elliot, David Beddow and Tom Beaudreau from TCI drove these issues almost on afull-time basis. In 1996, the technology was ready, and TCI launched its first system in Hartford, CT.
Team-building
In early 1997, Malone became determined to launch this technology and service on a mass scale. He proceeded by gathering a team which could guarantee results.
Malone selected Leo Hindery to provide executive leadership. Hindery was known throughout the telecommunications industry for leading InterMedia Partners from start-up to one of the nation's leading MS0s. Leo began an aggressive plan to restructure the company
Pictured above from left to right: George C. Rosehart, Senior Director of Training and Launch Services -HITS; Michael M. Probsdorfer, Director of Customer Support; Charlie R. Kennamer, Senior Director of Engineering Services HITS; James R. Bishop, Customer Operation Manager; Renae K. Bogh, Vice President, Business Affairs -HITS; Dan Real, Director, Business Development -HITS; and Richard Fickle, Vice President Business Development -HITS
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHN OLOGY
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Richard C. Fickle Vice President
Business Development -HITS TCI Technology Ventures Inc.
through joint ventures, which would allow avast empire of systems to be managed through clustering. Keeping TCI's promises of digital services to cable customers was the theme of meetings and conferences, as Leo traveled with TCI's message that action and results should replace rhetoric.
Malone and Hindery chose Marvin Jones to head up TCI's cable operations. Jones is one of the few MS0 operations executives with experience in every phase of cable. Before joining TCI, he worked his way up from installer, through the engineering ranks to system management, then to chief executive officer of United Cable TV. In Marvin Jones, Hindery found an executive whom system operators and engineers could trust because he directs system operations with abackground of total experience in the field.
They promoted Tony Werner, respected throughout the cable TV engineering ranks, to lead TCI's engineering efforts. Tony recognized what was required to prepare the networks for new digital services.
Standards
TCI's first digital launch in Hartford occurred on October 20, 1996, passing 310,203 homes. However, while preparing other cable systems for digital TV, TCI found itself, always in the forefront, mired in activities involving specifications and standards. Recognizing that subscribers'
Malone selected Leo Hindery to provide executive leadership]
data modems and set-top converters should be compatible from system to system and city to city, TCI promoted the efforts of CableLabs' development of OpenCable set-tops as one of many projects aimed at consumer satisfaction.
Perhaps what was not totally understood was the magnitude of this entire effort,
Eagle Comtronics Congratulates TCI
for being Communications Technology's
, 4,,,e L).1998 Service in Technology Award Winner. . E
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
which involved headend upgrades, terrestrial interconnects, security enhancements, billing interfaces, product training and more.
At the same time, the next generation set-top was being designed, and consideration was given not only to digital TV service but also to additional services, such as data/Internet signals, pay-per-view (PPV) and Internet protocol (IP) telephony. Specifications would have to be agreed upon for modems, switches, digital compression and digital transmission platforms.
Digital roll-out
The actual digital roll-out was headed by three departments. The National Digital Television Center and headend activation was headed by David Beddow and Rich Fickle. This group assisted in launching service to 346 digital hubs, representing 12.5 million households. The staff numbers 25 people at the Headend Prepack Operations, 50 people in Field Technical Operations (site surveys, headend installations and troubleshoot-
ing) and 22 people in Channel Lineup Configuration and Support.
Crews were located in regions across Tas system map consisting of TCI engineers, Integration Technical Service personnel and others as needed. Different crews performed specific jobs at each location and then handed off that location to cable operations to perform other tasks leading to that site's certification.
These crews were assigned responsibility for aregional cluster of headends. First, asite survey for all headends was developed, which would include such information as size, number of open channels, number of networks, satellite headend equipment, adequate space, cooling, de-icing for dishes and telephone capacity for the headends. On the vendor side, TCI struck agreements with certain equipment suppliers to provide service as close to "turnkey" as possible.
Scientific-Atlanta and Eagle supplied the satellite dishes; Alpha, the power supplies; General Instrument, the headend equipment; and Walton, de-icing equip-
Colleen Abdoulah Assistant to the COO TCI Communications Inc.
For winning the
1998 Service In
Technology Award.
Your achievements
are outstanding!
aCO
ELECTRONICS INC
The Network Company
800-233-2267 · www.c-cor.com JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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ment for the dishes. Various concerns arose in designing the
headend.s. Engineers decided what frequency each digital signal would occupy, leading to adatabase that tracks all data configurations. Also, these design engineers helped gather data configurations to build channel maps and overcome analog interference.
General Instrument provided apre-pack operation. At any given time, 16 headends were being built in one warehouse back at GI with digital feeds from Headend in the Sky (HITS) in Denver. The finished headends then were loaded, completely packaged, onto moving vans and shipped to their system destinations.
At each destination, field engineers (a combination of GI and HITS engineers, and some contractors) fired up each headend, which was subjected to a40-point checklist ATP test. At this point, each headend was certified as able to handle digital channels as well as PPV channel purchases. Upon certification (once the headend could "talk" to the Digital Center and vice versa, the set-tops worked proper-
ly and all power/air conditioning was approved), the headend was reported as "activated" and turned over to the system.
The second group falls under Tony Werner at TCI engineering. They worked with system staff to test the local networks to ensure that the plant was ready for digital transport. Certification tests were performed, including bit-error rate (BER) tests and examination of analog system performance. Testing also included digital carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N), digital levels, digital availability, analog C/N, phase noise, composite second order (C50), composite triple beat (CTB) and many other areas. When problems were discovered with the physical plant, local system technicians were assigned to repair the problems.
In addition, TCI engineers worked with system staff in each major market to leverage existing fiber and amplitude modulated link (AML) networks to minimize the number of digital downlinks required. This project was managed by Oleh Sniezko and Jim Neil. In doing so,
CISCO SYSTEMS CONGRATULATES TC IFOR
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
ICI has kept its promise to implement and deploy digital TV throughout its systems and across the nation.
they added fiber in many markets and activated dark paths in others. They also worked with manufacturers to develop specific equipment, such as precision translators for digital signal and other equipment, all intended to speed implementation and to reduce cost. In the end, they reduced the initial number of downlink sites by nearly 200 locations, saving
nearly $20 million in capital. "This was one of the best-managed efforts that Ihad ever seen," Werner says of Oleh's and Jim's performance.
Market launch
The digital market launch was directed by Colleen Abdoulah and Tom Beaudreau.
TCI operating and field support teams have launched service to 310 communities, representing 11.8 million customer households. These results were achieved between June 1997 and March 1998.
The staff includes 60 people in Project Management (tech ops, engineering, marketing, training, digital TV operations launch managers and field support teams), four people in Channel Lineup Management, 35 people in Digital Billing Interface Upgrades and 170 people in TCI Instructor-Led Digital Training (customer service, installers, system management).
Digital training is abig issue with TCI. A specialized course has been developed for five regional training centers, each staffed by TCI and GI instructors. Each system
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65
This antenna farm is the heart and soul of TCI's Headend in the Sky (HITS).
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Congratulations on adefining moment.
We're proud to join our colleagues in honoring TCI Communications, Inc.
Thanks to your efforts, digital television is now part of our industry's everyday language.
ttrumirue
LIBRARY
sends at least one person to the closest training center, and training has been so successful that the centers have graduated more than 700 students in amonth.
The billing side is considered very complex because the billing system is totally addressable. Leased circuits have been dedicated from the Digital Center's headquarters to each digital system across the nation.
Subscriber services
As part of an ongoing customer satisfaction program, TCI now offers aDigital Cable self-installation kit. The kit's video gives step-by-step installation instructions and shows how to use the navigator. Customers should be able to install their own digital set-tops within 45 minutes.
Also, TCI has announced acommitment to include seven digital channels of Your Choice TV in its digital lineup. This service will allow viewers aselection of various times to order and watch TV programs soon after their original airings. TCI and Liberty Media are launching apackage of eight digital, Spanish-language cable TV networks in the summer of 1998. These companies plan to build atier of digital programming services for the U.S. Hispanic market.
TCI has launched digital service to more than 300 communities. These include such major markets as Denver, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Chicago and Dallas. Digital customers currently total more than 275,000, using more than 345,000 advanced digital set-tops.
Competition, cooperation
As TCI moved ahead, other industries' communications giants took notice of TCI's success.
At the Las Vegas Consumer Electronic Show in January, TCI signed aletter of intent under which TCI would license a version of the Microsoft Windows CE operating system for aminimum of five million digital set-top boxes. At the same CES show, TCI signed another letter of intent with Sun Microsystems to incorporate aPersonalJava platform as astandard software application for digital set-top boxes. Once more, Malone and TCI stood firm in their efforts to protect the future of cable operators and digital equipment suppliers.
In the face of claims by competing in-
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
dustries that cable had no plans to run high definition N (HDTV), TCI responded for the industry by stating that, "We are doing everything possible to ensure that our systems and digital devices can passively carry high definition signals regardless of format. Vendors are working to develop the headend equipment that will allow us to transport HD broadcast transmissions as soon as they are available."
An image for the future
Today, TC1's image has changed. A recent survey of TCI subscribers in the Denver area gave the MS0 high marks in customer satisfaction with their cable service. And within the financial community TCI also receives high marks. The company's stock surged to an all-time high in 1998 to more than $35. Moody also upgraded TCI to full investment-grade credit status.
"This is very important, especially because the industry is being driven by TCI in large part," said Stevyn Schutzman, cable and media debt analyst at Salomon Smith Barney. "TCI went from having a
rough 1996, to turning themselves around by early 1997, to now bringing themselves back full-circle to investmentgrade." In changing its rating, Moody's said that it expected TCI's strategy to continue to succeed.
TCI has kept its promise to implement and deploy digital TV throughout its systems and across the nation. Further, TCI has provided digital services to other cable systems and MSOs with its HITS Digital Terrestrial Distribution System. TCI has installed hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks to replace original coaxial systems to deliver the bandwidths needed not only for digital TV but also for Internet/data and IP telephony.
A popular saying among cable people is, "As TCI goes, so goes the cable industry" Let's hope other industry leaders will join the leadership of TCI and deliver on all that the industry can be. CT
Rex Porter is editor of "Communications Technology." He can be reached via e-mail at tvrex@earthlinknet.
Tony E. Werner Executive Vice President of Engineering and Technical Operations TCI Communications Inc.
Tom Beaudreau Vice President, Operations TCI Digital TV Inc.
Ron Willis Director Launch Management TCI Digital TV Inc.
=
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to TCI, recipient of the
1998 Service in Technology Award for its industry leadership in digital technology
Electroline Equipment Inc. 8265 St-Michel Blvd. Montréal Quebec Canada H1Z 3E4 800-461-3344
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_
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
I
·
MI
· ·
Congratulations to
TCI
as recipient of the Service in Technology Award. Your Friends and Colleagues at
TRILITHIC.
111 TRILITHIC-
The Best Thing On Cable.
'The best way to predict the future is to create it!"
Congratulations!
TCT nlgital Group
Service In Technology Award Recipient 1998
Thanks For
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From your friends @ Alpha Technologies P IP
Congratufations
®i
TCI
The 1998 Service in Technology
Award Winner
On behalf of the entire CommScope team...
We salute TCI for demonstrating leadership in the deployment of
digital cable television.
CommScope
reo
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I
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Congratulates The
TCI COMMUNICATIONS, INC. Digital Team
On receiving the 1998 Service in Technology Award For your engineering excellence
and leadership.
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SCIE will help your staff to train effectively in the classroom and in the field. SCTE's Broadband Technology Course gives your in-house training arunning start. All visual aids, videotapes, Leader Guides and Student Workbooks are based on the Cable Television textbook. Student materials are available for less than $250 per person. Help your training programs fly! Contact SCTE for further information by calling 610-363-6888, fax to 610-363-5898 or e-mail to info@scte.org.
Expert Advice from Engineers Deploying HFC
HEC Upgrades, Part 2of 2
By Laura K. Hamilton
The following is the second in atwo-part special report on technical choices the cable telecom-
munications community is examining as engineers upgrade their hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) net-
works. Last month, we considered multiplexing, choosing cable, powering, standardization, and
improved network performance.
This month, three vice pres¡dents of engineering (two from MSOs and one from a consulting firm) share with you the knowledge they gained while deploying advanced services.
Is your network ready for two-way services? Wouldn't it be nice if you had a
simple quiz to self-test your answer to that deceptively simple question? Well, on page 82, Ron Hranac, senior vice president of engineering at Coaxial International, offers you just that. Circle your answers to these 10 questions, add up your score, and find out if you're kidding yourself about being ready for two-way or if you've got the goods.
MediaOne in Los Angeles has substantial hands-on experience upgrading
plant for broadband services. Vice President of Engineering Marwan Fawaz
offers up tips on avoiding pitfalls and describes how MediaOne got the job
done on page 92.
Finally, from TCPs Oleh Sniezko comes straight-ahead advice for return path
design (page 98). Coaxial RF plant and the optical reverse link form the trans-
mission path for the reverse signals. Both have different configurations and roles,
and they affect performance in different ways.
Laura Hamilton is senior editor at "Communications Technology" She may be reached via e-mail at
so
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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If your business demands technical superiority and responsible project management, please contact HAL-TEC, the company that committed to providing you with singlesource solutions.
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UNITED STATES Global Headquarters/Atlanta 5720 Peachtree Parkway NW Norcross, GA 30092 USA P. 770-441-0007 F. 770-446-8388
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INTERNET www.antec.corn
Two-Way? By Ron Hranac
Take the following quiz to see just how ready you and your network are for launching two-way. Pick an answer that is closest to your particular situation. Scoring instructions Id comments are at the end of the quiz.
replace it. Our CLI usually is in the low 40s, and this year we had our first flyover. At first the pilot thought we turned off the leakage test signal, but he did find ahot spot. That was in an apartment complex where we later found an illegal connection.
h, yes, "Bob" is afigment of my imagianon, despite the fact that he may resem-
.someone you know or have known.) ve fun!
What is your system's architecture? a. Good old fashioned tree-and-branch ith acouple really long trunk cascades. me to think of it, we sent Bob out to lance the Summitville trunk run last 11. He should be about done with it in nother week or so. It's 67 amps deep, you know. Plus three line extenders. But they're derated. b. We put afiber backbone in afew years ago, so our longest trunk cascade is b'out 12 deep. Iguess you could call it a iodified tree-and-branch, but it does make use of some fiber. c. It's fiber-to-the-feeder, of course-- Isn't that what everyone uses? There are four or five actives after the node, depending on the neighborhood. Node sizes average about 1,000 to 1,200 homes passed each.
d. We got real aggressive and went for anear-passive hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) design. There is one active after the node. 2. What kind of signal leakage program do you have?
a. Well, we need to do abetter job with leakage, but it seems there is never enough time or manpower. We try to fix all leaks greater than 50 pV/m, but we definitely treat those that are greater than 150 pV/m as an outage. They get fixed right away. Our last cumulative leakage index (CLI) was 61.
b. Everything above 20 pV/m gets logged and fixed within acouple weeks of finding it. Our last CLI was 53.
c. We fix leaks down to 10 pV/m, and all of our technical staff have operational leak detectors in their company trucks as part of the quarterly monitoring. Our annual CLI is consistently in the 45 to 50 range.
d. We fix all leaks we rind, period. In some cases we've turned off service to subscribers with leaky TV sets, at least until they have arepair shop fix it or they
3. How often do you sweep your system? a. When the system was upgraded three
years ago, the contractor balanced and swept the amps. The only time we do anything with levels now is if we have to change amodule because of an outage or similar problem. Otherwise we leave things alone. The automatic gain control/automatic level control (AGC/ALC) keeps the system running fine.
b. We adjust amplifiers once ayear by measuring the low and high pilots with a signal level meter. With our HFC architecture and the relatively short cascades, it's not necessary to sweep.
c. Our line tech tries to sweep all amps once ayear, but definitely every couple years. Bob spends alot of time doing service calls, line maintenance and leakage, so it's hard to dedicate him to full-time sweeping.
d. We have afull-time sweep tech, and every active is swept at least once per year. Bob also checks all ends-of-line on aquarterly basis to see if there are any frequency response problems.
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
83
4. What hind of drops does your system have?
a. We still have quite afew old copper braid drops, but they seem to work OK. All of our overhead drops use grip supports because we found that was alot less expensive than messengered cable.
b. After the rebuild, we installed new premium sealed F-connectors on all of the
drops, but the drop cables themselves were not changed, so we have amix of grip drops and messengered drops.
c. About five years ago, we switched to messengered cable for all overhead drops, along with one-piece F-connectors. I'd say that 10% to 20% of the drops are older and still need to be replaced, but we change out the old ones whenever we
do an install, reconnect or service call. d. All of our drops use tri-shield cabl
and all overhead drops are messengered We also use premium sealed F-connectors. We developed an installation qualit control program based on the Society o Cable Telecommunications Engineers' II staller Certification Program, and that re ally cut drop-related service calls.
In the Past, the Biggest Source
of Cable Maintenance
Problems Originated at
the Drop.
5. Is your system's design two-way capab a. When we had the system upgraded,
we weren't anticipating two-way. Even though power supplies are pretty much maxed out with just one-way, we can re power if necessary. Besides, signals can · either direction through the cable, so we're not really worried about activatinj two-way. Idon't think the feeder's DC-1 will be aproblem because Iheard that i home two-way devices can be turned uI to +57 dBmV or +58 dBmV output.
b. Yes, we had two-way taken into account when the design was done, includ powering. We'll have to install diplex flit( modules in the amps, and we might hay· to change afew high value directional c plers (DCs), but that should be about a
c. When our design was done, we spec'd two-way operation, even thoug. the system is only one-way now. Our highest value coupler is aDC-8, and ou highest value tap is either 26 dB or 29 à depending on whether the line extender output is derated. All the amps have bui in diplex filters, and powering was designed for the extra load and voltage dro that will occur when we plug in the reverse modules.
d. Not only was it designed for twoway, but all the reverse modules we-P 'stalled when the system was built. N, have to do some alignment and mayl. troubleshoot some ingress. In fact, we been using part of the reverse to get cit. council meetings back to the headend, and we've done acouple modem trials in some of our techs' homes.
.0
6. If you had your choice, how would you align the reverse path?
a. The line equipment available today is so much better than what was available than just five or 10 years ago. Most manufacturers use surface mount technology, so quality and consistency from unit to unit is almost like cloning. Frankly, it's just a
84
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
matter of plugging in the reverse modules and making sure they operate at maximum gain setting to ensure the best carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N).
b. That's easy. I'd put aCh. T-10 modulator at the end of the system and adjust for correct input and output level at each reverse amp.
c. The most cost-effective way to align the reverse is to use one of those multiplecarrier signal generators that puts out two or four carriers. That way Bob, our line tech, can easily check levels with asignal level meter (SLM) or if necessary aspectrum analyzer.
d. The reverse has to be swept at the same time the forward is swept, starting at the headend or node and working out toward system extremities. I'd probably go with something that can sweep in the presence of digitally modulated signals to ensure that we see what the whole reverse path frequency response is doing all the way back to the headend.
to local SCTE chapter meetings on aregular basis, along with requiring them to take relevant National Cable Television Institute courses. All of our installers have completed SCTE's Installer Certification program. We also purchased the SCTE two-way videotapes, collected two-way articles from CT, bought various conference proceedings manuals, books, and have
worked together with equipment vendors for product-specific training. We even follow comments and discussions that appear on the SCTE-List.
Prior to the real thing, we plan to build a"mini" system in the tech room so all of us can practice two-way alignment on a bench-top cascade instead of on our subscribers.
This Month, Two Industry
7. What role do you see training playing in successful two-way operation?
a. Structured training would be nice if there was more time in each day, but we've just got too much going on. Ifigure we can learn on-the-job as we go because that has worked well in the past. Ireally don't see alot of difference with two-way, just signals traveling in the opposite direction.
b. We already have amonthly training class, each lasting two to four hours. We've been incorporating some of the things that have appeared in Communications Technology and other publications, and the equipment manufacturers have been real good about providing copies of their instruction manuals and application notes that pertain to two-way. Mixing this with hands-on experience as we fire up the reverse should be pretty effective.
c. We bought the two-way videotape series from SCTE, the two-way book by General Instrument's Raskin and Stoneback, and have collected every related article and paper published on two-way during the past couple years. We've also had the manufacturers come in and do inhouse training for us. All of this is in addition to our regular in-house technical and safety classes.
d. Besides our weekly in-house classes, I've been sending my techs and installers
Veterans are Going to
Change Drop Cable.
Forever.
49
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
.85
8. Have you had achance to activate any reverse, and then look at what's coming back to the headend on aspectrum analyzer?
a. Our system doesn't have aspectrum analyzer, so we haven't been able to do this. Unless it's really bad, 1don't expect ingress to be aproblem, since we can turn up the in-home equipment to +57 dBmV or +58 dBmV and run all the reverse amps
at maximum. This should keep reverse signals higher than most interference.
b. Yes, we did, and Iwas surprised at the amount of ingress and other interference coming back to the headend from a relatively small area of the network. It looks like we've got some work to do.
c. Yes, we did this in one node. Even after Bob did apreliminary balance with
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the four-carrier generator there was still some ingress, although it wasn't as bad as Ithought it would be. We then put high pass filters on all of the drops in that node's service area, and it really cleaned things up, so it looks like what little ingress we do have is mostly from drops.
d. We've looked at some of the reverse from acouple nodes and were surprised to find that ingress was practically nonexistent. 1first thought Bob pulled out a reverse pad as ajoke, or maybe we had a defective or missing reverse module, but everything was working properly Ithink our drop practices and tough signal leakage program have made adifference.
9. Considering that most reverse path signals most likely will be some sort of digitally modulated signals, how do you plan to measure and set their levels?
a. Iunderstand that cable modems and similar equipment that will be in subscribers' homes is pretty much self-adjusting using something called "long-loop AGC (automatic gain control)," so it shouldn't be necessary to make any adjustments. Besides, if they're digital, they should operate over awide dynamic range and not be particularly level-dependent.
b. Since digitally modulated signals behave like wideband noise, we'll probably measure each signal in pretty much the same manner as measuring noise by making an SLM or spectrum analyzer measurement and then applying abandwidth correction factor.
c. Initially we'll use our power meter to establish each digital carrier's amplitude, compare it to aspectrum analyzer measurement, and then use an appropriate correction factor for future measurements with the analyzer.
d. We upgraded our spectrum analyzer's software with the latest version that includes digital power measurement capability and we recently ordered some field test equipment that includes the manufacturer's digital measurement option.
10. Are you and your system really ready for two-way?
a. Like Isaid before, Idon't think it's a big deal. To be honest, Ithink some of the problems we hear about are way overblown and are probably just an excuse for the vendors to sell more new equipment.
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Admittedly, we'll have to do some repowering when we install the reverse modules, but overall two-way is essentially the same as one-way operation, except that signals will go both directions. We might have to tighten afew loose connectors and change out some of the older drops, but Ithink the digitally modulated signals will be pretty robust, even with our long trunk cascades. So, yeah, we'll be ready.
b. Well, from what I've seen in some of the tests we've done so far and from what I've read or heard from others, we have a lot of work to do. It won't be easy, but we'll eventually get there.
c. We have to tighten up the plant and drops abit, and I'm sure there will be some surprises along the way, but things will settle down and two-way will play.
d. Iwas surprised by the relative lack of ingress when we fired up the reverse in a couple nodes, but we really have had some tough installation, leakage and maintenance programs in place for the past three years. Our techs and installers grumbled alot early on, but they've seen the payback with fewer service calls, better pictures, and anetwork that's now alot easier to keep working. So I'll stick my neck out and say we and the network are about 90% ready.
Scoring
OK, now it's time to add things up and see if you and your system really are ready for two-way. For each "a" answer give yourself one point; each "b" two points, each "e" three points, and each "d" four points. Now add up your score. The following comments are intended to be general in nature, so there may be some overlap in the scoring ranges.
10-15: Don't Kid Yourself. If you scored in this range, you're not quite ready for prime time, and you probably can forget about an operational reverse path until major changes are made.
If cable modems are supposed to be in your immediate future, you'll probably be limited to using telephone return versions. For RF return, it's likely that your system's tree-and-branch architecture won't easily support two-way. You may need to shorten cascades with fiber, get rid of high loss passives such as DC-16s and tap values greater than 29 dB, and possibly have to do some repowering to accommodate the increased
current draw of reverse modules. Most likely, your drops will give you a
lot of trouble, and short of replacing all bad drops up front, you can figure on using high pass filters on most one-way drops. One cost effective idea would be to replace bad drops as subscribers take the two-way service rather than outright replacing large numbers of them.
You need to tighten up signal leakage monitoring and repair to get downstream leakage well below the Federal Communications Commission's 20 pV/m limit (shoot for 5pV/m); otherwise, ingress will kill you. Buy asweep setup and have Bob start sweeping all amplifiers to clean up frequency response problems. Training needs to be placed really high on your agenda. >
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at the SCTE Cable-Tec EXPO
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dP
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
87
MCM-192
Multichannel Message Systen
Power for Emergency Alert Systems and Other Multichannel Messaging Applications
With the power to display keyed text or billboards on
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is the perfect solution to meet the [AS requirements
using multichannel text overlay displays.
The unique modular design of the MCM Series provides the flexibility to meet your specific multiple channel display requirements, including Emergency Alert Systems, pay-per-view interstitial overlay, cross-channel promotion, logo insertion and more. The MCM can even be used for multiple applications simultaneously. On achannel-by-channel basis, choose from several plug-in display cards to provide the display attributes and font quality needed for an optimum solution. The MCM offers total flexibility in displaying text such that displayed text can be unique to each channel, simultaneously displayed on all channels, or displayed on selected
channels. Display cards offer monochrome or full color presentations from asingle line message, logo, or crawl to afull page two region display with acrawl line. Local or remote access is available via PC, the Internet, touch-tone phone, or LAN.
Performance sets the MCM apart from all other solutions on the market. Each system meets or exceeds even the most demanding broadcast specifications to assure aclean signal path and no degradation of network video. And the exclusive three year warranty on the MCM is the best in the business.
APPLICATIONS
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Atlanta, GA 800-962-5966
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16-25: Roll Up Your Sleeves. Making two-way work will be achallenge, and you're right if you've guessed that there is alot to do.
If your network already has alimited amount of fiber, but the architecture is still primarily tree-and-branch, it still may be necessary to deploy abit more fiber to reduce the number of homes in each fiber service area. This will have to be evaluated on acase-by-case basis.
Tighten up signal leakage to help manage ingress; try to set athreshold lower than the FCC's 20 pV/m limit. Forward and reverse system sweeping needs to become apriority; having Bob set amplifier levels with an SLM isn't good enough. Your newer drops, assuming they were installed correctly, should present few problems, but older, non-messengered drops will cause headaches. Use high pass filters where you find problems; it may not be necessary to install them everywhere. Look at your network design, and try to get rid of high value DCs where practical.
Beef up your in-house training abit, and if you don't have them already, consider getting SCTE's series of videotapes on two-way. Look at your test equipment, and see if it's possible to upgrade one or two units with digital power measurement capability. If not, think seriously about getting adedicated instrument for measuring and setting digitally modulated signals.
probably won't be necessary to install high pass filters on all drops, but you should plan to keep some on hand for problem drops. 36-40: You've Got the Goods. If you scored in this range, deploying twoway services should be arelatively painless experience.
You're bound to have afew problems
when you activate the reverse, but they should be minor. Pay special attention to reverse levels, amplifier alignment and laser inputs. Keep the plant tight, and use high pass filters to fix the occasional problem drop. (T
Ron Hranac can be reached via e-mail at rhranac@aol.com.
26-35: You're on the Right Track. Your
architecture probably is just fine for
two-way operation, and your relatively
small node sizes will help to manage
reverse path problems.
Even though your signal leakage pro-
gram keeps things pretty tight, you'll
find that you can't let up once you acti-
vate the reverse path. If you are plan-
ning to use alow-cost four-carrier
generator for reverse alignment, use it
only for rough balance. They just don't
allow you to see what's going on in be-
tween the carriers.
Reverse sweep is the best way to
keep frequency response as flat as pos-
sible. If you haven't purchased are-
verse sweep setup yet, consider getting
one that also will allow you to measure
digitally modulated signals. Finally, it
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
89
REVOLUTIONIZED HERE WE GO AGAIN.
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CHEETAH. TECHNOLOGIES Reader Service Number 51
Building Your Advanced Network
How MediaOne Got the Job Done
By Marwan Fawaz
fyou're preparing to upgrade your plant to offer broadband services for residential customers-- or even adding service for business customers-- there are potential problems and pitfalls to consider. This article will walk you through how Media0ne addressed these considerations.
Before you start to build, be sure to consider the following: ·Have you done enough planning? Are
you allocating resources, not just for the planned services, but strategic planning that also reflects the area's growth potential? ·Have you seriously discussed potential political barriers? For instance, does your municipality want to own its own broadband pipe, and why? ·Are you sure of the reliability of your subcontractors? Do they recognize the perils of laying cable, what kind of mistakes could occur and the financial consequences if amistake does occur? ·Are your vendors promising hardware that today is still vaporware? Will it really be ready on time?
An infrastructure for all services
When Media0ne designs anetwork, our primary purpose is to create an infrastructure to support amultitude of residential and commercial services for today and the future. In the greater Los Angeles service area, for example, it seemed obvious to serve business
customers in addition to our residential customer base. The same hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) plant upgrade we were building for residential broadband service could, for just asmall incremental investment, meet the more demanding business network requirements as well.
Our service area in greater Los Angeles provides aunique high-density combination of residential neighborhood, entertainment and aerospace industries.
Our business-to-business service in the Los Angeles metropolitan area is called Media0ne Connect, and it complements our existing broadband service, which includes 750 MHz cable TV video, high-speed data, telephone services and soon will have digital video.
Today, Media0ne in California, in addition to high-speed data for our residential customers, offers businesses their own network for moving uncompressed video, voice and data at speeds up to 622 Mbps.
Our broadband network transmits this data via fiber-optic-based networks using point-to-point and/or
+NE
Key Questions for Your HFC Build
If you're planning to offer expanded two-way services over your cable plant, you'll need to address anumber of questions. Take the example from Media0ne in Los Angeles. ·Have you done enough planning?
Thinking long-term allows you to plan the amount of technology that will be needed to accommodate not just for present traffic, but for any increases in the future.A neighborhood with six fibers allocated to it may need more fiber in afew years. ·Have you seriously discussed potential political barriers? City officials always are looking for additional revenues. Be prepared to negotiate away some fiber for city use. ·Are you sure of the reliability of your subcontractors? When you are digging trenches, permits allow you only asmall window of construction time. Contractors need to be on schedule, and you need to monitor this. ·Are your vendors promising hardware that today still is vaporware? If it's still in development by the manufacturer, then you want it available by the time the entire network is available to the customers.
92
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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It is aregional Internet protocol (IP) fiber-optic-based network that supports traffic speeds from 4Mbps to 622
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connectivity available for companies, MetroNetOne-IP provides this connectivity at the highest transfer rates available in the metropolitan area.
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94
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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Figure 2: Hybrid POS, ATM backbone
Customer sites
Hub sites
Telecom center
News Moil Web DNS FTP PWII
Data center (simplified)
Netw Fore View spectrum VHS workstations, servers
in MO MO MO ter ems di
frum
AIM
AIM 0(COSS fthemet/ATM
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AIM effete
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AUE -LA.
MCI
Planning and permits
To build such anetwork in amarketplace the size and scope of greater Los Angeles, we determined the needs of the metropolitan area and allocated our resources accordingly.
Media0ne Connect allocates by clusters of business users, much as we would allocate for residential areas. Our HFC design practices call for one
node (serving area) every 500 homes, and we allocate six fibers per node. One fiber is dedicated for upstream transmission, another for downstream. Two are dedicated for redundancy, and the remaining two are allocated for potential users, splitting nodes or local ¡NET uses.
In business areas, the minimum number of fibers allocated for each cluster is eight. This number is increased by multiples of eight, depending on the size and number of business users.
Again, thinking long-term allows you to plan the amount of technology that will be needed to accommodate not
just for present traffic, but for any increases in the future. In five to 10 years, that neighborhood with six fibers allocated to it may exceed that demand as businesses grow, new buildings are built, or new technologies come along that demand heavier broadband traffic. Our options at that time will be either to extend fiber closer to residential customers or rely on wave division multiplexing (WDM) technology; the same applies for businesses.
We needed to identify the number of fiber strands to build through main routes where the businesses existed. And we did that in the planning stage, because it's more cost-effective to do in the planning stages, rather than building another bundle in the same trench you dug just afew years earlier.
Another step in the planning phase is identifying the type of business the network will serve. Media0ne Connect breaks businesses down to small, medium and large sizes based on the number of fibers allocated.
The initial thrust of Media0ne Connect is large businesses where bundles of 48 to 96 fibers are home-run back to ahub or node. Medium and small businesses are accommodated via the HFC network where traffic can be shared with residential users.
We were truly surprised by just how resistant some cities were to our plans. Cable operators traditionally are viewed as entertainment providers, and city officials always are looking for additional revenues. The lesson we learned is the need to educate, inform and prepare city officials and their communities about the short-term and long-term value of the system.
It's not engineering, but you'd better be prepared to work along with your public affairs department to solve the following riddle: "How much fiber will you allocate for city use at no cost to us?" Communicating value and understanding that this may be an opportunity for their businesses to increase their productivity vs. their competitors
I96
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
by enabling them to communicate faster and more efficiently in the long run should be explained.
After briefing and negotiating with city officials, we finally get to crack the surface of some asphalt. But opening a trench on some of these streets takes an act of God, right along with up to 10 times the amount you originally planned to spend. The city often will ask you to dig deeper trenches, and when it comes to restoring the street, they will expect you to make it look better than it did before you began. In some areas, trenching could cost $75 to $100 afoot. In other areas, it could cost as little as $10 to $12 afoot.
When you are digging trenches, you want only the finest, most trustworthy, most experienced contractors. Contractors need to be on schedule, and you need to monitor this. In Los Angeles, where we have many freeways to cross, this translates into needing many, many permits.
Those permits allow you only asmall window of construction time. There is
alitany of horror stories related to contractors' splicing acable line. We all have them. But in this environment, millions of dollars are at stake, and liability is high.
Hardware needs
The next set of challenges for Media0ne Connect is in dealing with hardware providers. In retrospect, laying down the fiber is the easy part. There's the hardware to consider: vital IP routers and ATM switches--state-ofthe-art equipment that's high in demand sometimes is hard to get delivered on time.
If it's still in development by the manufacturer, then you want it available by the time the entire network is operational for the customers. Try to get your SONET equipment supplier to talk to your ATM switch manufacturers, and in turn connect their equipment to another manufacturer's routers.
While doing all this, find support systems that provision, survey or moni-
tor all the above. Delays encountered while integrating these different transmission and switching technologies can cause missed delivery of data to avery critical and demanding customer base.
Luckily, fiber infrastructure allows us to be extremely flexible, and that's exactly the mindset you want to have. You must be sensitive to customers' needs and give them what they want, rather than dictating what they need.
If you are operating in ametropolitan area with growing businesses and there is ademand for high-speed communication, combining your engineering and design business services with residential services may be the most cost-effective way for your company to go. But it took us two years to get to where we are today. r
Marwan Fawaz is vice president of engineering for Media0ne's Western Region in California. He can be reached by phone at (310) 647-3000 or by e-mail at mfawaz@mediaone.com.
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
97
Coming Home
Remember These Reverse Path Design Considerations
By Oleh J. Sniezko
nthe hybrid fiber/coax (HF() network, two distinct elements, coaxial RF plant and the optical reverse link, form the transmission path for reverse signals. Both have different configurations, characteristics and roles, and they affect reverse path performance differently.
One of the major differentiators between these two elements is the funneling behavior of reverse path impairments. Both intrinsic and extrinsic impairments
accumulate from all sources connected to the reverse path coaxial system. The reverse optical links, however, usually are dedicated to aportion of the coaxial system and
do not add to the funneling effect unless several of them are combined at the receive end. Moreover, they virtually do not contribute extrinsic impairments.
The character of the impairments predominant in acoaxial system is different than the character of the impairments generated in optical links. The limiting impairments (egress, common path distortion, noise and so on) in the coaxial portion of the reverse path are present and funneled without the presence of the desired signals. Nonlinear distortions are
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98
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
under the control of the designer. In optical links, the only critical impairment generated without the signal present is noise. The limiting impairments are nonlinear distortions caused by laser clipping.
Another important characteristic of the coaxial section is its thermal instability. This results in level fluctuation. The optical links are reasonably stable with temperature and, due to the long-loop automatic level control (ALC), levels in these links also are stable.
These differences set different design criteria for the two distinct sections of the reverse system. The challenge is to design the network to lower the likelihood that impairments beyond the designer's control will affect network performance. Hence, the coaxial portion should be designed for the highest possible carrier-to-interference ratio to maintain acceptable performance in the presence of high-level funneled impairments. The optical link, on the other hand, should be designed for amaximal dynamic range to avoid laser clipping
by the impairments funneled in the coaxial portion.
Network analysis
Reverse network configuration and network alignment points (Figure 1on page 101) allow for this individual optimization of the HFC network's two portions. Moreover, the long-loop ALC power management system present in most of the advanced-service equipment allows for last-moment optimization of the total power load and of the individual service levels in the two portions of the network.
For example, adjusting ATI and AT2 in opposite directions by the same amount changes levels for all services in the optical link only (lowering AT 1and increasing AT2 increases levels in the optical links). Note that AT2 can be available in the receiver (usually placed interstage). Use this attenuator for adjustment, since it allows for increasing dynamic range of the output stages of the receiver (lower nonlinear distortions). Adjusting only ATI changes the levels for all services in the RF section
of the network. Adjusting only AT2 changes levels in the entire HFC network. Individual adjustments of AT3 affect only the particular service levels from the particular service area.
These possibilities allow for independent optimization of the RF levels at any point in time without service disruption if the network is designed properly.
The optical attenuator (OAT) lets you optimize or unify the optical power level to the receiver, regardless of optical loss variances among different optical links. This lets you choose the best dynamic range for the reverse optical link.
Coaxial section
The design and alignment of the coaxial portion is relatively simple. Since the service levels in this section of the HFC plant can be defined later, the only things to do are: ·Design and align it for unity gain
operation. ·Calculate the level of thermal noise at
the input to the optical node.
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·Check for sufficient dynamic range in the coaxial section of the network. Despite misleading simplicity, there is
one decision to make: Select the reference points for unity gain. The alternatives are the input to the active module or the input to the station housing.
The first alternative is easier for the designer because network performance is easier to calculate. Moreover, both dynamic range and thermal noise levels can be optimized for the coaxial section if the active module input is used as the reference point for unity gain. However, this alternative is more difficult for field implementation because many internal configurations of the reverse path are in the embedded base of the amplifiers. Although newer generations of amplifiers have mostly balanced loss from all the reverse input ports, in older amplifiers the differences in loss from different ports can be as high as 20 dB. (See Figures 2
through 4on pages 102 through 104.) The second alternative is much easier to
implement in the field. However, it results
in far from optimal reverse coaxial section performance. Acompromise would specify different levels for amplifiers or ports with high loss from the input port to the reverse active modules (trunk bridger ports,
minibridgers and such) and amplifiers m ports with low loss from the input port to the reverse active modules (trunk express ports, line extenders and the like). However, this compromise essentially is the
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
101
same as the first approach. The funneling effect of thermal noise
depends on the reference point selected, noise factors and the number of amplifiers
combined into asingle laser. The minimal level of noise is determined by ambient temperature and is inherent to all matter, including actives. However, the actives add to this minimal level due to their imperfection (internally generated noise). The equations (on page 106) quantify funneled noise for the coaxial section.
Dynamic range vs. NPR
To maintain the level of performance with funneled impairments, the coaxial network should be designed for asufficient range of inputs over which the noise power ratio (NPR) remains equal to or better than the required value. Due to a different funneling mechanism for thermal noise and for intermodulation noise caused by extrinsic interference, plots must be further interpreted based on the required carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N) and required CHAN for asingle amplifier.
Available service levels
The funneled noise and the dynamic range relationship to NPR allow calcula-
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tion of the service performance if the level of the service signal is determined. This level is limited by the maximum output level of the terminal devices, the loss between the output and coaxial section reference point and asafety margin for equipment inaccuracy and thermal instability of the network (between the terminal device output and optical receiver input). The thermal instability of levels will be compensated for by the long-loop ALC but will affect C/N and dynamic range.
Sufficient set of parameters
This analysis shows that the following set of parameters and network characteristics is sufficient to design the reverse coaxial section and calculate its performance: 1) Network configuration:
·Number of amps of different types ·Cascade depth · Loss between coaxial section
reference point and terminal equipment output
·Network margin 2) Amplifier gain from the reference point
to its output (sufficient for unity gain) 3) Gains between inputs (reference
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points) of amplifiers of different types 4) Noise factors for different amplifiers at
their reference points 5) Dynamic range vs. NPR 6) Available output level from the terminal
equipment
Optical link
The optical link performance depends
on more factors and parameters. The reasons are numerous, and examples include optical loss, lack of standards and amultitude of technological choices.
Design parameters
Two elements in the reverse optical links, the laser transmitter and optical receiver, often are specified together. How-
ever, most parameters for these components can be specified independently, and for some of them it is beneficial to do so.
Specification sheets for the reverse laser transmitters should list: ·Dynamic range as afunction of required
NPR for loads occupying 35 MHz reverse bandwidth with optical fiber link loss as aparameter ·C/N for the same optical fiber link loss for aparticular RF input signal power density in dBmV/Hz, measured at areference point (such as anode reverse input port) for different internal configurations of the reverse laser transmitter or optical node (assuming astandard optical receiver with 8 pA/Hz1/2 noise performance and 8 A/W responsivity) ·C/N as afunction of fiber loss and optical level to the reference receiver ·C/N correction factor for arecommended receiver (if different than the reference receiver) as afunction of fiber loss and optical level to that receiver (for the same laser) )1.-
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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Equation 1: Minimal thermal noise
N.(dBmVlflzl=10 ·logkr --18.75 --125.1dBmV IHz
You can easily derive dynamic range data (a plot or atable) for other link loss budgets from the standard C/N curves for lasers or complete optical links, since the only change in dynamic range caused by the loss changes is caused by C/N degradation.
The second parameter (a number) allows for setting adequate input levels to the reverse laser for the C/N required by a particular service.
The last two parameters (plots or tables) usually are combined; in some applications the receiver recommended by the laser vendor is used.
The specification sheets for the reverse optical receivers should list: ·Optimal optical input power (optical
input power at which the laser dynamic range reaches its peak) and recommend-
Equation 2: Total coaxial noise at optical node input
[
6.NI
G·NI
N,= ,,C+ 10010 *log 0,·10 10 +0 ·10 lo
Where:
N NF- NF 0 O GG. 12
=Boltzrnan constant =ambient temperature in -K -the total amplifier noise power at the node station input =the input noise power of each station type =the quantity of each station type (stations with different than unity gains between reference points are considered different) =gain between the reference points of stations of different type =gain between the input of the lost RF active (upstream) and the optical node input
ed optical input power range (for example, the range within which the laser dynamic range is better than its peak value less 3dB) ·Range of the RF output signal's total power within which the receiver operation is linear
The values of the first parameter numbers can be affected if the nonlinearity of the receiver's output stages af-
fect the dynamic range of the laser. To remedy this, perform the tests with RF output levels set to middle range in receivers with adjustable output level using an interstage pad.
Measure the second parameter numbers with low fiber loss so the output level range is not affected by the laser dynamic range. (Low optical modulation index, or OMI, can produce high
outputs from the receiver if optical loss
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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is low.) The optical input level to the receiver should be set to the optimal level.
Alink gain value is the only parameter that must be tested for the complete link. Measure this parameter at aspecified link loss, but remember the value of the link loss is not critical, since the output level of the receiver changes in adefined way.
Performance allocation
As mentioned before, keep the levels of service signals in the reverse optical link as low as possible to limit laser clipping by the funneled coaxial section impairments. Hence, by design, the optical link usually defines the C/N for the reverse path, despite the thermal noise funneling effect in the coaxi-
esete. RU GGee
--
What's Important To aReverse Path Designer?
The parameters needed to design the reverse path of the coaxial portion of a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) network are limited. The number of parameters for optical link design is higher, and the design and performance optimization process is much more complex.
Select an optimal set of requirement., for the reverse path active components The sections should be optimized for the fewest uncontrolled impairments. For coaxial networks, these are the funneled additive impairments. For optical links, it is clipping caused by funneled coaxial impairments.
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al section. This may be difficult to achieve if the reference point selection does not allow for coaxial section optimization. As arule of thumb, the author recommends setting the funneled thermal noise level of the coaxial network 3dB to 6dB lower than the optical link's thermal noise for the highest link loss.
Absolute level limits
The absolute levels for service signals are determined by long-loop ALC and level availability from the customer terminal equipment.
Summary
It is important to select optimal requirements for reverse path active components. The reverse path sections should be optimized for the best margin of uncontrolled impairments. For the coaxial network, these are funneled additive impairments. For optical links, it is clipping caused by the funneled coaxial impairments.
Both main sections can be designed and optimized almost independently except for the level relationship between them. T
Oleh Sniezho is vice president of engineering for TC1 Communications. He can be reached at (303) 267-6959.
108
JUNE 1998 e COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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Six ments Aaking c-Way
Work
By Thomas J. Staniec
Two-way captures cable engineers' attention. Various organizations work at afeverish pace, with all manner of discoveries coming to light. Functionally, at the end of the day, only one question needs to be asked: "Just what does it take to make atwo-way network perform in amanner that will support high-quality communications services?"
The answer is being pursued by many individuals, and the answers given may look widely disparate. Therein is the rub: How anetwork performs largely is determined by the choices made for agiven system over aperiod of time. So, generally, astandard solution to return operation is virtually impossible.
When confronted with this situation, the procedure should be the establishment of areasonable expectation, askeletal operations method provided in acustomized manner and the mental ability to "go with the flow" This article will address askeletal operations method that has proven successful in the deployment of two-way communications networks.
The lay of the land
Today, numerous networks have been built with high bandwidth and advanced technology In many cases, equipment was
selected based on cost, performance and the type of business we envisioned the industry would provide to customers. That business service analysis has led to the use of interesting combinations of different manufacturers' equipment.
The days of turnkey systems or onemanufacturer allegiance are gone. Now it is not uncommon to see forward lasers from one manufacturer, fiber node housings from another, and forward receivers and return optics in the housings from a third ... you get the idea ... not to mention that amplifiers may be from yet another source. Given these combinations, just how do you make the configuration operate cohesively?
How can anetwork with this wide diversity of equipment be operated and maintained to provide ahighly reliable communications network? This is no easy feat, and the problem is compounded by a
general lack of two-way operating experience in the industry. As the installation of Road Runner has progressed, a"cookie cutter" installation procedure for the hybrid fiber/coaxial (HFC) network has seemed like the Holy Grail.
Reality is proving, however, that the mix of equipment makes asystem demand not cookie-cutter procedure but an exercise in compromise. Isay compromise because, while all equipment theoretically is equal, in reality it is not. Therefore, athorough evaluation is required to determine how best to operate the overall network.
The best place to start is at beginning
Surprisingly, starting at the beginning often is overlooked. What is the beginning? It starts with an assessment of the network as asum of parts to ensure consistency of operation. One important element of this starting assessment is that it should assess more than the physical network. It is all-inclusive. It should look not only at what comprises the network but also at: 1) What you know 2) What your personnel know 3) Your operational procedures for main-
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5) The equipment types used in the network and their operational requirements
6) The attitude your organization brings to the job
Those six items cover alot of ground. Success is based largely on how well-prepared you and your organization are for operating acommunications network. To quote J. Danforth Quayle, "If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure." In this case, no truer words were ever spoken. So as not to "run the risk of failure," asound case can be made for the "Five Ps:" Prior Planning Prevents Poor Perfor-
mance. In short, when you start, take a real inventory and develop aplan based on that inventory.
"Make anew plan, Stan"
So Stan, how do you make anew plan? You can start by doing ahard-look, noholds-barred analysis of where your organization is positioned. That may be areal
eye-opener (and not pleasant), but it's the only way your organization will grow in the long term. In large part, training invariably proves to be aproblem.
For example, Time Warner has established an information base and program design to deal with return operation in conjunction with the national training center and engineering and technology
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Creating areliable two-way network is no easy feat. Network performance depends largely upon choices made for a given system over aperiod of time, and systems have equipment from many different manufacturers, which complicates matters. Thus, astandard solution is nearly impossible. You need to establish reasonable expectations, a skeletal operations method and considerable flexibility.
One important element of this starting assessment is that it should assess more than the physical network. It is all-inclusive. It should look not only at what comprises the network but also at: 1) What you know 2) What your personnel know 3) Your operational procedures for
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Reader Service Number 69
departments. These groups examine, debate and implement solutions, which will be integrated into training programs and operational procedures designed to develop the shortest path to two-way operation in acommunications environment.
Digital readiness everywhere is the Holy Grail. And an in-depth training program with askeletal format for implementation by all users is the focus.
Starting the equipment assessment
Having operated two-way networks for about 14 years, Iwould say Ihave tried, failed, regrouped, tried and failed again more times in one lifetime than I prefer to remember. Building atheory, testing it, modifying it or discarding it is second-nature at this point. The principles of sound operation for the return network are comparable to the forward but with some twists.
Some of the obvious differences in the return network are noise funneling, flat input levels at all amplifiers and the seriousness of ingress. If you take the equipment combinations discussed earlier, an even higher level of complexity is added. To overcome the eclectic combination of equipment, start by assembling all the data sheets and alignment instructions for the manufacturers' equipment used.
Verify the operational range of each type of equipment. Once the levels for each piece of equipment are established, try to find acommon level set that can be used across the network platform. This sounds easy, but, as Ihave experienced, it is not. The problems center on anumber of points all the way from the input to the return amplifiers in the line extenders to the output of the return receiver.
The make-or-break point in anetwork is the return laser transmitter, so your constant level setup procedure should use the laser drive level as the point of operation. The output of the return optics receiver should be set to the same level as the return laser input.
In reality, the blanket statement of using the return laser input as your gold standard is merely agood first approximation. However, the operational levels provided by the manufacturer assume Gaussian noise and only the desired carriers.
Actually, in real life nothing could be farther from the truth. The return network
has ingress from fixed frequencies, impulse interference and avirtual raft of undesired trash that saps the usable range of the return laser. When you couple that with some really flaky lasers, you have a network that operates poorly with no operational headroom.
One way to combat this phenomenon is to test the return lasers with asimulated
digital test signal that shows the point of best operation for the return laser. Armed with this information, you can establish a much more educated reference level.
Currently, in almost all Road Runner installations, areturn laser test is run using an arbitrary waveform generator and a spectrum analyzer to determine the range of operation for the return lasers in a
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given system. The test was devised by Jack Moran of Motorola 15G and formatted on aLe Croy arbitrary waveform generator with aHewlett-Packard 8591C spectrum analyzer using aK-31 digital power measurement option.
Running the tests takes acouple of hours and provides good insight into how aspecific return optics combination performs and how much headroom you may need to establish. With this information, you can set up your equipment in amanner that assures good operation.
Note that Imentioned "return optics combination." The reason is that return receivers can be just as flaky as the return transmitter (if not worse). Recent work in one network found areturn receiver that overloaded easily and, with a1dB increase in level, could be driven into composite triple beat (CTB) so badly that it was rendered unusable.
The system corrected for the problem in two ways. First, a5dB optical pad was installed in front of the return receiver; second, avery high value pad was installed at the RF input to the return laser transmitter. The effect was stunning. The use of both attenuators gave the optics combination avery tight 12 dB operational window at the laser input and apoor carrier-to-noise ratio (C/N) at the output of the return receiver.
The laser testing revealed that the optical attenuator was contributing more than just attenuation to the problem. The unit could not be mated and unmated reliably without severe deterioration to the network's operation. The problems were traced to aless than precise fit and optical return loss of the attenuator. Using adifferent optical attenuator by another manufacturer yielded about a6to 8dB improvement in the RF input to the return laser. That provided awindow of about 20 dB up from the original 12 dB.
The engineering lesson to be learned from this is: When return optical links average 1dB to 3dB and return lasers typically have a-3 dB output power, buy a return optical receiver that can handle -4 dBm input. Secondarily, make sure the RF portion of the receiver can handle the RF power being presented to it by the output of the optical receiver. In general, opt for a linear receiver and parameters based on video signals.
This example presented one more interesting phenomenon. The RF noise floor changed significantly depending on the optical attenuator used to cut the input power to the receiver, lf you choose to attenuate in the optical path, make sure the unit you use has avery high optical return loss, probably in the range of greater than 50 dB. This observation also makes acase
for the use of optical isolators on the output of the return transmitters. Yes, Iam aware of the cost of optical attenuators/isolators. But this paper is about what improves headroom and makes anetwork operate better.
More work could be done to verify how network operation is affected by the proper use of added loss to the
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
119
return optics paths. Testing has shown that these short optical paths in the return may affect the operation of the receiver and laser pair. Interestingly, testing done with anumber of optics combinations suggests that overloading of the receiver may happen more often than previously realized. If you note unpredictable performance from the op-
tics path, further investigation of the return receiver might be warranted.
CLI: Is it relevant to the return?
That is truly an interesting question. My stock answer is, "No, there is not alot of correlation." However, acurious observation was made at some Road Runner locations. These locations have nearly zero
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ingress in the return portion of the band without high pass filters, equalizers or any other devices. This is arecent observation, but when looking at cumulative leakage index (CLI) flyover results for "clean" systems vs. systems requiring work in the return, acommon thread emerges. Every one of the clean systems has on its flyover 99% of all leakage in the range of -6 dB to -20 dB at the flight altitude.
This means that the ground-based CLI ride readings are between 5pV/m to 10 pV/m everywhere in the system, including all drops. The procedures require that all installation, service and supervisory personnel carry leakage detectors and check all drops at each visit.
As health professionals say to people who want to eat better and get in shape, "This is alifestyle change." This is not a short-term procedure. You do not just slap on adetector and hope in the course of a month to have all your problems resolved. This is astaged process where the screws are tightened down on all leaks no matter how big or small.
Circumstantially, after having seen this success in handling leakage, Iwould agree that in these cases, lack of signal leakage is agood predictor of aclean return system.
That said, based on asmall sample of data, if you are operating only to the Federal Communications Commission limit of 20 pV/m, the data from aflyover probably is not an adequate reference marker. You will need to study the individual breakdown of leaks measured. If 70% or fewer of your leaks are not in the lowest category, predicting the quality of the return probably is not accurate.
Note that this is only discussing flyover. Ihave not yet seen documentation on how ground-based measurements correlate. My guess would be that if you were doing leakage to 5pV/m in the coaxial plant and all of the drop system, you would in fact have aclean return network. Keep in mind that this resolves static fixed frequency ingress. But it does not necessarily have any effect on impulse ingress, as evidenced by its presence.
Two questions to ponder are: "Can I make alifestyle change and make it stick? Will Ihave the support 1need and the manpower to do this job?" If you cannot answer affirmatively, you need to consider other options.
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So how should Iproceed?
One process that has been successful is to amass all pertinent data on the equipment used in the network. In general, networks that operate well use lasers and receivers with specifications for video operation. When selecting units described as digital, be careful. You may get more than you wished for. That is not to say all units are problematic--they are not. But you need to do your homework.
Select alevel for use across the complete platform. Run the output of the receivers the same as the input to the laser. Make sure your receiver matches the operation of the laser you have chosen on your typical optics link so you do not overload it. If you must use optical attenuators, make sure they have agood optical return loss.
In the RF portion of the network, make sure you are fully aware of all internal amplifier losses to the input of the return amplifier. Balance for flat levels to the input of every return amplifier. Treat the signals as video signals and operate them in accordance with the established level set derived by performing laser operational tests. The laser testing should establish the video C/N point of 30 dB and the carrier-to-CTB point of 30 dB. Determine the extent of typical ingress in your network and apply alevel back-off to accommodate what could be significant undesirable power in the network. At setup, target a receiver output C/N, referenced to video, of no less than 40 dB.
Resolve your ingress problems in whatever manner works best for your organization and personnel. If you can make the lifestyle change, do it. If you cannot, you have the options of total filtering, problem/partial filtering, spot problem correction or hoping for amodulation scheme so robust that you never have to worry about the return at all. If you choose the last one, I'd like to talk to you about a bridge Ihave for sale. (T
This article was adapted from atechnical paper presented at the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers Cable-Tec Expo '97.
Thomas Staniec of Time Warner can be reached at (315) 433-5222.
Reader Service Number 76
122
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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--< T. P.
Input +11 dBmV Gain is 13 dB (64 channels)
+41 dBmV output
QRAM750
QRBA; 750
I6-channels
+39 dBmV
-< T.P.
Sweep Insertion
Pad EQ 80-channels
optiatTU
T.P.
Amplifier output ranges and usage:
+45 to +40 dBmV use Feedforward +40 to +38 dBmV use Quadra-power +38 to +36 dBmV use Power-doubled +30 to +25 dBmV use Push-pull
-r-
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o
- T.P.
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To 1PPV Demod
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Nodes
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Typical forward isolated laser transmitter & modem. Use QRBA for old style lasers that need +30 dBmV inputs! (This example is ONE of 64.)
Isolated Reverse Node
or QDEJ200
<bvQ
Laser Input
-- '
T.P.
To Status Monitor
Amp Input +19 dBmV Output at +36 dBmV
Passive isolation using 10 dB pads)
<wv
lb 1PP Demod
lb RF I Modem
To Status Monitor
+30 dBmV
QISO/R75 Unity Gain
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T)Sweep Receiver
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e ·
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'11
crAleCowa6og d1/2
see
w .»
414 Mr.
What thc
rchitectural Summit Tcachcs
Its Technical Stall
tie
ire By Pam Nobles
T drifted sweetly over the hills and through the ravines. Asmall tw
smoke from his campfire seemed to intertwine with the harmonica's notes as the
breeze carried them both. The cowboy looked out over his cattle, all resting peace-
fully. Yes, he was alone out here on the range-- but not really. He had awhole com-
fumy behin dhim -- çpttinn dip riirortinn nn hic rnmnncc Hoknow who m wnc
/
---
Imam 1.,········ ···
.11
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going and what it would look like when he got there. It was up to him to determine
the specific path to his destination.
124
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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The cowboy theme is appropriate for this year's Architectural Summit, since we will kick off our second annual summit on June 7in "cow town" Denver three days prior to the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers Cable-Tec Expo. It also is appropriate to compare our engineers to cowboys. They both work alone, are autonomous and are their own bosses. Jones Intercable's corporate Technical Operations group sets the "guardrails" and points the direction.
As our strategic direction moves us from limited partnerships to companyowned properties, the operating systems need to embrace the reality that they are not "islands." The big picture includes more standards and more direction--we continue to balance unique solutions with proven best practices or standards.
Jones' engineers and managers will benefit from three summit themes: 1) Share lessons learned 2) Set company direction 3) Promote company philosophy
Share lessons learned
The purpose of the Architectural Summit is to share the lessons Jones Intercable associates have learned and provide apath to implementation. Sharing lessons learned always has been practiced at Jones, and we will continue to formalize this process.
Originally called Architectural Summit because of the communication of the company's architectural standards, this year we will include Technical Operations' updates, since much of what we learned last year now is "business as usual." Amajor component introduced last year was the company's construction standards and contract labor request for proposal (RFP) procedures. We will examine the major construction projects in progress and discuss what this investment means. We'll review our risks as acorporation, specifically with respect to committed construction in progress. The -on-time, on-budget, as designed" financial project tracking process was developed to track this risk and will be introduced at the summit. This process was developed and piloted with the aid of our
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system project managers and will receive the "final blessing" at this meeting.
We'll revisit our architectural philosophy, and update our definition of what a "Full-Service Network" means to Jones and our rebuild/retrofit migration philosophy. Systems will share "war stories" of lessons learned and look for common themes. For example, if mapping consistently holds up construction progress, what might we do about it?
With the advent of major construction projects comes the concern for the safety of our contractors. Part of our responsibility is bridging the gap between the project
BOTTOM I'Air
LIIVE
An Architectural Roundup
Each year, Jones Intercable's Technical Operations Group meets to discuss the technology of the day and how to incorporate it into the company's routine operations. It's a"How are we doing?" reality check that enables Jones' technical staff to consistently provide cutting-edge service to its customers, and to motivate employees to deliver their best.
The 1998 Jones Intercable Architectural Summit will be held this year in Denver three days prior to the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers Cable-Tec Expo.
Jones engineers and managers participating in the summit will benefit from three themes: ·Share lessons learned: The purpose
of the Architectural Summit is to share the lessons Jones Intercable associates have learned and provide a path to implementation. ·Set company direction: One day is devoted to new architecture for Jones and to introduce the company's return path strategy. ·Promote company philosophy: The Summit provides an opportunity to strengthen the values by which Jones operates, which are made stronger through face-to-face interactions.
126
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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ntroducing Alcoa Fujikura Ltd.'s new line of OSP Environmentally Controlled Optical Enclosures (ECOE).
Jow, you can keep your cool with our new weatherproof optical enclosures. All three models are equipped with ldustry standard fiber optic and electrical components, plus an internal environment control system that maintains a onstant temperature inside regardless of the weather outside. And, if that doesn't make you smile, our 10 year earranty on the ECOE's cabinet will. We also engineer, furnish, install and provide complete turn-key solutions luaranteed to meet your needs and suit your comfort level. For more information on our new line of optical .nclosures call us at 1-800-AFL-FIBER (option 1). Visit us at the SCTE CABLE-TEC EXPO '98, booth 707.
Slide out splice trays accommodate up to 576 single fusion splices. ECOE houses slack storage racks for OSP cable and buffer tubes. Mechanical chamber houses all electrical components and the air conditioning unit. The door is louvered with screening for ventilation. ECOE 3is equipped with 6equipment racks adjustable from 19" to 23". The front 3racks are standard swing out versions. Each rack is drilled to EIA standard 1.75" spacing to accommodate 25 rack units. The total rack space for the cabinet is 150 units. (ECOE-3 feature only) Unit is equipped with up to 8000 BTU of air conditioning with end to end chamber air duct system (on ECOE 3models -forced air on other 2models) for even cooling throughout the equipment chamber. An electric heating unit is provided for cold weather climates. Cabinet provides for grounding and bonding with convenient grounding points located throughout the unit. Battery compartment located underneath main chamber will hold aquantity of 12 batteries. Tray slides out to enable easy serviceability of the batteries.
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managers and the systems' safety managers. What exactly is the safety managers' role in large construction projects? How do they balance this with their already full plate of safety issues? In partnership, we will determine this and communicate and implement the necessary processes.
"Deliverables" continue to be important--we're not just spouting philosophy, but are equipping our engineers with the tools for successful implementation.
I "Innovation 1 and creativity always have been asource of pride for the cable incustry-- we strive
to leverage this in our associates."
Set company direction
We will devote one day to new architecture for Jones, and introduce the company's direction for return path with respect to design, implementation (construction) and operations. Lessons learned continue to include research that the corporate network management group has sponsored.
Promote company philosophy
The Summit also provides an opportunity to strengthen the values by which Jones operates, which are made stronger through face-to-face interactions. All associates, existing and new, need to be aligned with the company's overall culture and philosophy. Innovation and creativity always have been asource of pride for the cable industry-- we strive to leverage this in our associates.
Philosophy and stories: To know where we are going, we need astarting point.
Stories provide the initial vision, create this common experience, and give us all something in which to believe. Sharing the stories of successes and failures is atheme woven throughout the Summit. Jones continues to use "storytellers" to keep the culture alive,
to develop and tell our own success stories and, in this way, continue to pass on lessons learned. Philosophy and the development of leaders: We recognize at Jones that people are more than company assets. They are unique, emotional, creative individuals, needing relationships, all with their own gifts, all wanting to have purpose in their lives. Aleader's goal is to create an environment that allows associates to flourish, one that allows us all to use our unique gifts. Leaders lead by creating an environment of self-management, where motivation factors--achievement, recognition, challenging work, responsibility and growth--are intrinsic to ajob. Leaders instill asense of significance, an experience of equality, acontagious enthusiasm, acommitment to growth and aunifying passion. Leaders create avision to be shared. Shared ideas and beliefs become duties to which people willingly respond. This is the type of environment we strive to create at the Architectural Summit and throughout Jones. Remember, it's people, not technologies, that get the job done. We have found others within the industry willing to share with us, and we appreciate their openness. We will continue to share conclusions with the industry through papers and magazine articles in Communications Technology. Each topic will be covered in enough detail so application of what is learned is immediate. So, share some lessons with someone this week. And, if you're attending the Cable-Tec Expo, don't be surprised if you see one of those bandanna-wearing, harmonica-playing engineers from Jones Intercable out sharing as well. (T
Pam Nobles is manager of technical development for Jones Intercable. She can be reached at (303) 792-3111.
128
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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Reader Service Number 82
Test Your Return
Six Questions for aTighter Reverse Path
By Dan Kahn
The topic of return path testing invariably calls up anumber of questions, particularly related to how this testing compares to the forward path. This article discusses some of
would have perfect isolation from the forward path signals, but this is not the case in the real world. To eliminate this potential distortion, install alow pass
the most frequently asked questions raised when engineers work on the return.
filter covering the frequency band of your return path before the input to
III When using aspectrum analyzer, why do Ineed to filter out the forward path signals when measuring
forward path carriers may overdrive the mixer, causing distortion in the analyzer. An ideal return path test point
the analyzer prior to making the noise measurement. A diplexer with the forward path side terminated works well for this in acrunch.
return path noise? To answer this question, let's look at
the front end of aspectrum analyzer
ailliimmIllPillgiliemi
Figure 1: Spectrum analyzer front end '..., .r
' -'-'-- '.--l'
and see why this happens. (See Figure
1.) The first thing the RF signal sees
when it enters the analyzer is avariable attenuator followed by abroadband mixer. The local oscillator, which
Variable input attenuator
Mixer
low pass IF fi ter
drives the mixer, is swept between the
limits set by the start/stop frequency
parameters. Since any band-limiting
devices are after the mixer, all the en-
ergy entering the analyzer hits this
first mixer. This mixer has alimited
dynamic range, and the amplitude of the forward path carriers may be as
'
much as 40 dB higher than the noise
being measured at the return path test
point. Since the analyzer input attenuator
Swept local oscillator
is set low for noise measurements, the
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What is return loss, and how does affect performance?
Return loss is the amount of power reflected from amismatched load relative to the amount of power delivered. The ratio is expressed in dB, with a value of 0dB equal to 100 percent reflection and ahigh value indicating a well-matched load. A return loss of 30 dB means 0.001% of the power is reflected by the load back to the source. With this small amount of power being reflected, the source and load are considered well-matched.
Reflected power will add to and subtract from the incident power, thus changing the incident amplitude as a function of the distance between the source and load. The term "standing wave" refers to the changes in amplitude due to amismatched source and load impedance. Both the source and the load experience return loss. There also will be reflections from amismatch in source impedance. These
Figure 2: Determining the "X" value
Fiber 1 Fiber 2
Return equipment
TPn
Minimum output level =The "X" level TP1 =TP2= IPn
--
reflections repeat until the amplitude of the reflection is so small that it is of no consequence.
Return loss, or the reflected power from amismatch not only has varying amplitude; it also has avarying phase
that changes over transmission distance. In an analog video signal, phase and amplitude variations change
the hue and the saturation of the color signal as well as the RF carrier level. Since digital information is both
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132
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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Reader Service Number 86
amplitude and phase modulated, any variations caused by mismatches will have an effect on the reception of the correct information. This is the reason the Multimedia Cable Network System (MCNS) modem has aspecified input return loss of greater than 6dB. The better the match, the fewer problems you will have with data, and the better your operating margins will be.
3How do Ifind the "X" value when balancing the return path?
The first concept you must understand has to do with the reverse active node. Each manufacturer has arecommended power level that must be supplied to the amplifier feeding the laser for best carrierto-noise ratio (C/N) versus distortion/clipping performance. This varies among suppliers and their models. Most test equipment manufacturers recommend aligning the return path with a signal at least 10 dB below this level to prevent any additional load on the lasers.
Figure 3: Carson Curve
-84 --
-78
-72
65 dB CiCIB
-66
-60 Equal performance (conventional cable and HFC systems)
-46
-49
-52
-55
-58
-61
l o 1 2 3 _
6i 7 8 9 10
11
12
13
14
Once this alignment power level is determined, the internal losses between
the amplifier and the return path alignment injection point must be calculated
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These two values determine the proper level to be injected into the return path test point for alignment. This is not the "X" value since we do not know the loss from the node to the headend. A measurement of the RF power out of the optical receiver (See Figure 2on page 132.) is the first step in determining the "X" value.
A note on measurement technique: It is agood idea to check the optical power that feeds the receiver to assure the path loss is within the design specification. If the power is too low or too high, the receiver may not be operating in its linear region. The receiver supplier will specify the required power and limits into the device. This must be
Reader Service Number 88
BOTTOM InuLIME
Return Path Questions Answered
Why filter out forward path signals when measuring return path noise? Since the input attenuator on aspectrum analyzer is set low for noise measurements, the forward path carriers may overdrive the mixer, causing distortion in the analyzer.
What is return loss, and how does it affect performance? Return loss is the power reflected from amismatched load relative to the power delivered. Reflected power from amismatch has varying amplitude and varying phase. Since digital information is both amplitude and phase modulated, any variations will affect reception.
How do Ifind the "X" value when balancing the return? Measure each of the return receivers and record the output power when the proper alignment signal is inserted at the optical node. The lowest level of all the measured outputs becomes the "X" value.
How can Isweep through active digital carriers and not cause interference? If the duration of the swept carrier is short enough, the impact on the transmitted data will be negligible. Some data may be lost if the TDMA carrier is on during the sweep pulse, but interleaving lets it be saved.
Why do Istill need sweep alignment when there are only five amps in my cascade? The flatness performance of the optical portion of the plant acts like the first 10 amplifiers in an allcoaxial network. The last five amps still require good alignment to provide the best performance to the subscriber.
Why is automatic gain control (AGC) not used in the return path? It would require apilot carrier from the last sub of each leg in the plant. Also, the actives would need the electronics to use the pilot carrier to control the AGC. Lastly, the basic level control of return carriers, including the MCNS cable modem, would make it difficult.
_JUNE 19 98 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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Reader Service Number 89
done before attempting to align the coaxial portion of the plant.
Measure each of the return receivers and record the output power when the proper alignment signal is inserted at the optical node. The lowest level of all the measured outputs becomes the "X" value. To arrive at this level, each of the higher level outputs should be adjusted
to the "X" value, either by adjusting the output level, if this adjustment is available, or by adding inline attenuation. The goal is to have all inputs to the combining network at or close to the saine level.
As each return amplifier is aligned. MM.ing toward the subscriber, the pad and equalizer of each return amplifier is adjusted to re-establish the "X" at the headend.
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"An ideal return path test point would
have perfect isolation from the forward
path signals, but this is not the case in the
real world."
4How can Isweep through active digital carriers in the return path and not cause interference? Forward and reverse data information is very fragile, and some people arc concerned that the alignment and test of active carriers will cause interference. If the duration of the swept carrier is short enough, the impact on the transmitted data will be negligible.
Does this mean that there is no effect on the digital information with small pulse duration? Absolutely not. Some data bits may be lost if the time division multiple access (TDMA) carrier happens to be on during the sweep pulse, but the data interleaving built into the data transmission protocol allows these lost bits to be reconstructed, preventing loss of service.
When the pulse duration becomes a significant part of the data frame size, this correction is impossible. If the pulse duration is in the millisecond region, the correction mechanisms cannot recover the loss of data. If there are specific carriers that may be affected, no matter how small the pulse duration, then placing aguard band around them will prevent any sweep at those selected frequencies.
5Why do Istill need sweep alignment when there are only five am, plifiers in my cascade?
This seems like avalid question since the amplifiers arc flat and there are so few of them. The problem is that the flatness performance of the optical portion of the
13S
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
plant acts like the first 10 amplifiers in an all-coaxial network. (See Figure 3on page 134.) Therefore, these last five amplifiers still require good alignment to provide the best performance possible to the subscriber. This is more thoroughly discussed in "Sweep Testing for Improved System Operations," apaper presented at the 1995 Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers Cable-Tee Expo by Syd Fluck and Jerry Green.
6' Why is automatic gain control (AGC) not used in the return path?
First, AGC in the return path would require apilot carrier from the last sub of each leg in the plant. Second, the actives would have to have the electronics to utilize this pilot carrier to control the AGC. In addition to these two reasons, the basic level control of return carriers, including the MCNS cable modem, would make it difficult. A level control called "Long Loop AGC" is used to control the
"Most test equipment manufacturers recommend aligning the return path with asignal at least 10 dB below this level
to prevent any additional load on
the lasers."
output po`` CI ol tlic ii dciii. lhe headend controller commands the modem to adjust its power level to be within specified limits. If the actives enabled AGC, the potential would exist for these two control loops to fight each other. T
Dan Kahn is asolutions architect for cable TV applications with Hewlett-Packard and is based in Newfoundland, PA. He can reached at dan_kahn@hp.com or (800) 477-6111 ext. 5651.
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
139
IP Telephony Over Cable The Logical Solution
By André J. Danis
Cable companies are overwhelmed by the plethora of new service possibilities facing them today, but telephony services likely will be in the forefront. It is expected that the cable industry could be offering local telephony services later this year, with service expanding to residential areas in 1999.
Why telephony? Telephones are ubiquitous, and the business of carrying voice represents tens of billions of dollars ayear. But the main reason that cable companies will enter the telephony business will be to effectively compete with the service offerings of the telephone companies, who soon will be offering broadcast services to
their base of customers. How do you provide telephony over
cable? There are anumber of options. The first choice would be through fiber direct-
ly into the home. Asecond route would be through frequency translation devices, which pick afrequency channel as areturn path over cable.
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
The option of choice, however, would be Internet protocol (IP) technology, which would bypass many of the costs and make use of an already existing infrastructure. If acable company offers IP telephony over cable, it would be able to offer more services than just voice and fax--including high-speed Internet service, e-mail and so forth. Furthermore, IP quickly is being recognized as the de fad() transmission protocol. Millions of users currently surf the Internet on aregular basis and enjoy the benefits of IP. As a packet-based protocol, IP facilitates the convergence of voice and data and enables the maximization of all multimedia.
Telco limitations
The phone network has evolved very little over the past 100 years. The sub-
scriber local loop consists of two-wire copper feeds that carry a3kHz voice band. As changes have occurred and new telephone services have been implemented over time, the 3kHz voice band has not varied. In contrast, cable networks have the capacity to deliver substantial bandwidth to the subscriber via acoax infrastructure. Whereas analog modems operate at speeds below 100 kbps, because the transmission occurs over acopper pair, acoax cable terminating with a cable modem easily can accommodate speeds of 10 Mbps or faster.
Capable of transmitting several Mbps in either direction, acable modem is not restricted by the inconsistent nature of copper cable when faced with delivering real-time multimedia such as voice. A cable modem can carry voice effectively at high speeds over long local loops. The modem's physical interface to the customer premises equipment consists of an Ethernet connection, making personal computer (PC) interaction with the network simple and straightforward.
Astandard analog telephone does not interface to 10BaseT or transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP). Despite technical evolution, the telephone still is omnipresent in the telephony world. It is available worldwide, is easy to use, and most importantly, customers feel acertain familiarity with the telephone
that they don't with new competing technologies. People have invested in their telephones and are--today--reluctant to give them up.
Gear considerations
Because consumers are reluctant to abandon their comfortable traditional phones, cable companies must be prepared to offer new telephony service using existing home equipment. Companies today are developing analog telephone
Use IP for Telephony
Cable is growing daily. Deregulation and new infrastructures let cable compete with traditional telephony carriers. While telcos struggle with recurring bandwidth problems, cable companies see telephony differently.
Why telephony? Telephones are ubiquitous, and the business represents tens of billions of dollars ayear. Mainly, though, cable companies will offer telephony to compete with telcos who offer broadcast service.
IP works well. When running telephony over cable, the option of choice is Internet protocol (IP) technology, which bypasses many costs and uses existing infrastructure. By offering IP telephony, acable company can offer more than just voice and fax--including high-speed Internet service, e-mail and so on. Further, IP is becoming the transmission protocol. As apacketbased protocol, IP facilitates the convergence of voice and data and helps maximize all multimedia.
Fewer constraints. Cable networks lack many technical constraints faced by telcos. Hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) infrastructure makes high-quality voice carriage possible, and the cable industry is expected to deploy telephony soon. With potential for high speed, multiple channels and ample bandwidth, telephony over cable likely will prosper. The most efficient transport method is IP, which could help provide quality value-added services.
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
141
adapters to allow aplain old telephone to communicate with an IP network. These new devices convert the analog signals from the telephone into IP packets and transmit the packets to the cable modem via Ethernet. In addition, some of these devices provide multi-line capability.
Some companies also are developing IP telephones that connect directly to cable
modems. As Ethernet becomes more affordable, these types of devices will become more economical, and their inherent strengths will take center stage. These strengths include centralized applications and applets, including directories such as the yellow pages, advanced features such as automatic call distribution, or full-blown feature bundles for general
business usage. At this point, IP telephones and the servers that bring them to life will be marginalized to the business world, competing with more rigid and less compelling services such as Centrex.
IP phones could open up numerous new opportunities for cable companies. Physically, an IP phone would not be constrained by elements such as the dial pad. Tomorrow's phone will browse, surf and talk in away that is technically unique compared to current applications, allowing cable companies to establish their own communications signatures, as the telephone company did with the analog phone.
"The cable network is not bound by many
of the technical constraints of the public switched telephone network
(PSTN)."
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Operating environment
The public telephone network represents the ultimate client-server environment. A telephone company has centralized equipment that sends signals out to other facilities, which in turn reach customers. The telco central offices act as physical hubs that terminate cable from the customers' premises and interconnect with other offices. This network-centric approach has served the phone industry well but may not benefit the cable world. For the cable structure to evolve into ascalable, multi-purpose carrier network, operators will need to develop adistributed server environment, rather than replicating the hierarchical toll network that exists today.
In aserver-based environment, services--and servers--effectively co-exist alongside one another on anetwork
142
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
RDU
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'he RDU is easy to implement. Isimple numerical readout of .ctual HE levels from anywhere in 'he cable system, along with the ngress /noise across the full return pectrum, are displayed real time.
'he RDU provides asimple answer oone of the major issues when iF modems have problems. sit the RF link or the software?
oneed for aHE engineer on the )hone with your field installer. No naking ajudgement call on critical ngress /noise to carrier levels. The ZDU provides the answers in a imple easy to understand format. 'he RDU saves valuable time. tfinds the marginal installations othe subscriber gets troublefree ·er.vice from the start.
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RDU software status monitors ingress /noise, where you designate, by frequency. It averages the data and displays an ingress /noise number, real time, creating simple benchmarks for profitable two way cable system operations.
The RDU is an efficient new tool to maintain broadband networks. Test carriers can be documented from every installation and service call. See your return system on avideo channel and or use the data output and access the RDU over amodem. Keep it simple to succeed.
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without any geographic or physical constraints other than standards for communicating. New gatekeepers will handle call control and call functions,
providing back-office services such as authorization, call routing, number translation and call records for billing resolution. Under these circumstances, auser in Dallas may transparently re-
ceive Web tone from aserver in Detroit, or anywhere else in the world. Servers simply would be logical extensions of the network, not physical ones. A decentralized architecture, therefore, is much easier and more cost-effective to implement.
Voice services are being carried over IP networks today. Aquestion still to be
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addressed is whether services can be delivered while maintaining quality of service. To develop aresilient, scalable network that can achieve toll-quality service, anumber of competing standards must be considered. These standards address voice compression, bandwidth reservation, interoperability, network signaling and anumber of other elements. While some of these standards still are in the evolutionary stages, they nonetheless are important and deployable in today's networks.
In the future, customers ultimately will have to contend with two distinct networks delivering voice services: the cable network and the public switched telephone network (PSTN). IP/PSTN gateways provide alink to the PSTN from IP networks by converting analog, Ti and integrated services digital network (ISDN) traffic to IP and vice versa.
Unlike servers, which are based on the network, gateways reside throughout geographic locations, ready to process traffic at local and regional levels. The gateway's success resides in its ability to provide alink to the PSTN at the local loop's level, such that calls originating from one area can be transported over the cable network to another destination. This method of toll bypass has become an industry unto itself, with numerous service providers offering this alternative calling method to customers worldwide.
The cable network is not bound by many of the technical constraints of the PSTN. Cable companies are about to prove their ability to deliver toll-quality voice over ahybrid fiber/coax (HFC) infrastructure. The cable industry is expected to start deploying telephony services quickly. With the potential for faster speeds, multiple channels and ample bandwidth, it seems inevitable that telephony over cable will prosper. The most efficient transport method obviously is IP, which would open anumber of doors in the provision of quality, value-added services. (T
Andre Danis is director of business development for Vienna Systems Corp. and can be reached via e-mail at adanis@viennasys.com.
144
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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Lower Your HFC Upgrade Costs
Heterojunctive Amps Eliminate Actives, Cut Power Demands
By Chris Day
Tobe successful in the ongoing contest for delivery of cost-effective information services to the home, hybrid fiber/coax (HF() operators will need to successfully manage the total costs of upgrading their networks.
morphic high electron mobility transistors (PHEMTs).
Other device constructions utilizing
Some of these costs include: ·New forward and reverse opto-electron-
ics and RF electronics ·Fiber installation ·New powering architectures to handle
increased consumption
Now more than ever, customers expect networks to provide near-perfect uptime with no disruption of fragile digital content. This necessitates upgraded powering architectures with uninterruptible power (UPS) and standby supplies.
When considering the cost of upgrading network power designs to provide these improvements, it is easy to overlook the fact that the most direct way of minimizing these costs is to reduce the consumption requirements of the active hardware.
For example, more efficient amplifiers would allow power supplies and their backups to be smaller, cost less and be easier to install at central locations.
Drop-in upgrading of actives (with minimal resplicing) would be more plausible, since incremental loading from return path activation is offset by lower consumption in the forward electronics. This would help alleviate the often troublesome task of obtaining local government approval for new power supply locations. If needed, any new power supply enclosures would be smaller and easier to locate. System downtime during upgrades
also would be minimized. Alternatively, lower consumption in the
actives could be used to extend the backup run-time of the system--without resorting to larger capacity batteries and generators. In this case, network uptime and customer satisfaction would be improved.
Improvements in the efficiency of the actives would provide the system designer valuable degrees of freedom, which could be put to use anumber of ways depending on the particular network. Whatever the situation, reduced consumption would directly provide much-needed flexibility to cost-effectively upgrade the network.
High-performance heterolunction devices
Fortunately, afamily of next-generation device technologies now is available, which reduces the power consumption in forward path amplifiers by more than 50%. These devices originally were developed for wireless applications where high efficiency is critical for prolonged battery life.
The common trait of all the devices in this family is that they each use heterojunction in the active structure. In simple terms, aheterojunction is adiode formed by bringing together "n" and "p" type materials, where the intrinsic materials are different. The heterojunction can be applied to bipolar transistors to make heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs). or to field-effect devices to make pseudo-
ANew Take on Amps: Heterojunction
To compete on alevel playing field with alternate delivery technologies, hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) operators will need to enlist the capabilities of an emerging family of semiconductor devices known as heterojunction amplifiers.
Amplifiers based on new heterojum tion devices have demonstrated the ability to reduce the power consumption in forward path amplifiers by as much as 50%, while offering increased RF output levels.
This combination of areduction in power consumption and an increase in RF output level means system architects will face amuch easier task in upgrading their networks to have both battery backed-up power and return-path capability. Power supply locations are more easily centralized, and potentially fewer actives will be needed since each amplifier can output higher signal levels.
In short, amplifier designs based on next-generation heterojunction devices will enable HFC operators to spend less on system upgrades and to compete on an even playing field against alternate delivery systems.
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Comparative CTB of silicon power hybrid doubler with two heterojunction amplifiers.
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one or more heterojunctions also are possible. Invariably, what results are devices with major advantages over their older silicon bipolar and gallium arsenide metal semiconductor field effect transistor (GaAs MESFET) counterparts including: ·Improved high-frequency response ·Higher gain ·Lower noise ·Better linearity ·Higher efficiency
Recently, there has been interest in using GaAs MESFET devices in cable TV amplifiers. GaAs MESFET devices have been successful in microwave and wireless applications for quite some time and generally are regarded as a baseline technology. However, the next step forward in device technology currently is taking place with heterojunction devices.
An increasing number of reputable companies is offering discrete and RFIC products based on heterojunction devices. Additionally, other companies now provide afull range of foundry services to outside customers. The size of this investment by microwave semiconductor companies is evidence that heterojunction devices are viewed as the technology of choice in performance applications.
It's often said that heterojunction devices are more expensive than older device technologies. In HFC applications, however, the savings in direct utility power costs alone easily will pay back this
'Now more than ever, customers expect ne-works to provide near-perfect uptime with no disruption of fragile digital content."
small difference in avery short period of time. These operating cost savings are in addition to the described savings in upgrading costs.
It's also sometimes believed that heterojunction devices are not reliable. While early reliability studies showed poor results, many fabricators have fixed the problems and now demonstrate solid reliability. Many types of heterojunction devices currently are being shipped in
large volumes into anumber of critical wireless applications where their superior performance often provides adecisive advantage.
Designing with heterojunction devices
The same characteristics that make heterojunction devices so attractive in wireless applications also can be put to work in numerous HFC applications. The improved gain-bandwidth of these devices provides the amplifier component designer valuable latitude, making it possible to employ amplifier topologies not feasible with older devices.
The most obvious application for these devices is the familiar cable TV output hybrid amplifier. The accompanying figure compares the composite triple beat (CTB) performance of two prototype heterojunction output hybrid amplifiers with that of afamiliar silicon power hybrid doubler (PHD). Even though the two heterojunction amplifiers consume 50% and 25% less power, for a-65 dBc CTB budget they respectively provide 2dB and 4dB higher RF output level than the silicon PHD.
Both heterojunction amplifiers have higher gain than the silicon PHD; flatness, noise and match are similar. By scaling the device sizes, similar power savings can be achieved in input (push-pull) hybrid amplifiers. These results demonstrate the ability of heterojunction devices to cut the power consumption of all forward path amplifiers by more than one-half while at the same time providing for an increase in output level.
Higher output capability also can be used to lower the cost of upgrading. Depending on the particular system, higher output amplifiers make it possible to eliminate some active elements altogether, resulting in adirect savings in capital costs. Alternatively, the improved output performance provides valuable margin in the noise/distortion budget, which can be used to ease the requirements on other parts of the system, such as the optical link. In either instance, the cost of upgrading is reduced. CT
Chris Day is president of Linear Circuit Innovations Inc. in Santa Rosa, CA. He can be reached at (707) 579 2676 or at cbday@sonic.net.
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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CableLabs Turns
Alook back
Richard Leghorn
By Robert Wells
oday, (obleas is ahigh-profile player in the cable/computer communications scene with Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DO(SIS), its PacketCable program, OpenCable (its digital set-top initiative) and its high-speed data project.
Many who are affected directly by these current activities, cable engineers, technicians, and vendors--allies and competitors--know little of what CableLabs' founders envisioned when they formed the organization 10 years ago.
Hindsight reveals the set of guiding principles behind the concept that drives the organization today and focuses on one man, Richard S. Leghorn.
In 1984, Leghorn first articulated the need for acable research and development consortium and defined the core principles that continue to drive CableLabs today.
"If CableLabs has aGeorge Washington, it's Dick Leghorn, who was CableLabs' first president during its organizational phase," says Tom Elliot, the veteran TeleCommunications Inc. technology executive who was CableLabs' first visiting executive and today is its senior vice president of technical projects.
Leghorn's distinguished career includes pivotal roles in high-stakes U.S. Air Force programs such as U-2 spy planes, ICBMs and the first reconnaissance satellites. He later went into the cable business, where an avocation grew into asubstantial operation, based in Cape Cod, MA.
After selling his cable holdings to TCI and others in the early 1980s, "I wanted
to use my background in technology innovation to give something back to the cable industry" Leghorn said during arecent interview at CableLabs, where he remains an active board member.
In 1984, Leghorn's first drum-beating efforts for aresearch and development consortium were met with polite interest, but the attention of cable executives was focused elsewhere, he says.
Undaunted, Leghorn paid $50,000 in September 1987 to hire Rand Corp. economist Leland Johnson to examine the issues and options of structuring acable research and development entity, drawing on the experiences of other such consortia in the industry.
The timing was right for such an en-
deavor in the industry. The National Cooperative Research Act, passed in 1984, required compliance with antitrust laws, while minimizing the antitrust exposure of companies within an industry coming together to conduct research and development. It also eliminated the treble damages aspect for antitrust violations by such consortia.
"By 1987, the Japanese were coming with high definition, the telcos were coming with fiber, the top cable executives were less focused on their turf battles and battles with Congress. We were able to get their attention," Leghorn says. )10-
150
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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In October, the National Cable Television Association voiced its support and lent start-up money but agreed with Leghorn that, while the two organizations should be affiliated, the consortium should not be an arm of the lobbying organization. "After that," Leghorn says, "things went awfully fast. We had adecision to go ahead in Fall 1987, afirst committee meeting chaired by Dr. John C. Malone,
chairman and CEO of TCI, in January 1988 and were off and running by that summer."
By September 1988, operators serving 85% of North American subs agreed to pay 2cents per sub, per year, for aminimum of three years. This is the funding formula still in effect today.
Careful attention went into asearch for aCEO. Eventually, Dr. Richard R. Green was lured from the top technology and operations post at Public Broadcasting
Service, after some initial hesitation, Green says.
"What brought me on board was reading those early documents. Iwas struck by the powerful concept they expressed · and how thoroughly these guys had thought everything through," says Green, who still is the CEO of CableLabs. Startup offices in Washington DC, and Cambridge, MA, were followed by apainstaking choice of making apermanent home in Colorado.
Asystems approach to cable's technological future was among the core ideas that attracted Green. To Leghorn, this meant employing techniques that were being used at the time only in hush-hush
military projects, where he learned them, and at Bell Labs, where they juggled numerous sub-projects so they all would come together on time.
Asecond part of Leghorn's vision was to focus on the innovation phase in the process of technological change. Here, he drew from the writings of economist Joseph Schumpeter, who conceived the process in three phases: invention, innovation and diffusion of technology.
"What we were not going to do was spend money on invention. There was enough ongoing invention out there in industrial and other laboratories," Leghorn says. He similarly argued that the labs should be excluded at the diffusion stage,
when operating-company engineers are making their deals with vendors, and many varieties of products are being shipped in volume.
In between lay the critical innovation phase, which Leghorn defines as, "the phase where you marry technological 'push' to market 'pull' and apply your financial and operational strengths to get into the marketplace."
As Leghorn is fond of saying, "Innovation is abusiness function." Thus, Leghorn and others agreed the consortium must be run by the top CEOs of cable operating companies, who, to this day, hold seats on the board. "CableLabs is unabashedly auser-driven and business-driven organization," he says.
Having CEOs at the helm means
Looking Back on 10 Years
CableLabs, at age 10, continues to employ the techniques envisioned by founding father Dick Leghorn, including: ·Asystems approach to managing big
projects, which Leghorn learned while designing ICBMs and spy satellites ·Afocus on nurturing innovation, an imperative Leghorn learned from economist Joseph Schumpeter
Innovation, as practiced at CableLabs, means joining the "push" of ne.` technologies to the "pull" of demand that is created when MSOs together decide what they want to buy.
It means putting the chief executive officers of cable operating companies in charge of CableLabs, so they can move decisively and reach out to peers in other industries.
Employing these techniques, CableLabs has taken on challenges from hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) to digital video compression and used them to develop interoperable products for high-speed data and digital set-tops.
Reader Service Number 100
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decisions are made fast. It also makes high-level confabs possible with CEOs in other industries.
These meetings have been crucial to recent alliance-building in the "convergence" era, Green says. For example, a mid-1997 meeting of CableLabs board members with Microsoft's Bill Gates sparked a$1 billion Microsoft investment in Comcast that has been credited with reversing Wall Street's dour appraisal of cable stocks.
"CableLabs is unabashedly auser-driven and business-driven organization."
.111·M·
The CableLabs technique for focusing market demand is bringing together the chief technical operators of MS0 companies, all of whom sit on atechnical advisory committee and influence their companies' future technological investments.
Through subcommittees, or ad hoc groups, these executives cooperatively develop aset of technical specifications for new products they intend to deploy on cable networks. Input for this spec-defining and market-creating process comes from vendors through atwo-stage process involving request for information (RFI) and request for proposal (RFP).
"That is not anew technique. It's aclassic technique, but it has been extremely effective for scouring the landscape, finding out what neat ideas are out there and then shaping them into actual business between operators and vendors," Leghorn says.
"One of our goals from the outset," says Green, "was to change the industry's business model because we'd outgrown the old one, which was based on individual vendors' supplying proprietary technology to subsegments of the industry.
"While this model had worked for a long time, the difficulty with it was that it didn't enable you to become atelecommu-
nications industry. To do that, you need the scale-economics of many cable operators buying into the same basic requirements--in other words, interoperability." Green says that as cable networks become interconnected, interoperability is crucial.
CableLabs' first RF1/RFP process for electronic program guides got an indifferent vendor response. But, over time, an increasing number of vendors has come to see the value of participating. Vendors haven't always loved the drive toward interoperability, Green says, but most have come to see that it means abigger and potentially worldwide equipment market.
CableLabs' 10-year history, says Elliot, has been one of going forth, armed with the founders' methodology, and responding to whatever are the most pressing technological demands. The early focus was on the deployment of fiber, with CableLabs playing akey role in defining cable's hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) topology.
"We were addressing many day-to-day, in-your-face reliability issues, things like standardizing cables and improving connectors," Elliot says.
The more recent shift of attention to digitization is an inevitable outgrowth of the evolving cost/performance of microprocessors and memory, Elliot says. Even more recently, the explosion of the World Wide Web is forcing CableLabs to react to opportunities and challenges.
"What's going to happen is the world is going to figure out how to embed television into the Internet. We, being TV-centered, are inclined to want to figure out how to imbed the Internet into television. We've got to be careful," Elliot says.
Thus, the story returns to DOCSIS, PacketCable, and OpenCable, the latest examples of CableLabs' role in helping MSOs join together to deploy interoperable products. In this case, it means products that display television, but do a whole lot more.
The problems to be solved change frequently, but the methodology put forth 10 years ago still provides tools that, used deftly, should keep cable in the game. CT
This article was written especially for "Communications Technology" by Robert Wells on behalf of Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabs), of Louisville, CO. Wells can be reached via e-mail at wells@rmi.net.
Reader Service Number 102
154
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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tAntiÀeo 'PsYivney'
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By Kenneth H. Metz
igital video is here. Millions of people already have experienced the multitude of programming choices, each providing crystal-dear pictures and CD-quality sound. This primer provides an overview of the basic concepts behind digital video technology and addresses some of the key considerations underlying its successful deployment.
Analog vs. digital
Digital signals differ vastly from analog signals due to their robustness against the impairments of storage and transmission media, allowing excellent picture quality to be maintained for multiple generations of copying and over long transport distances. The common impairments of cable TV systems affect digital signals quite differently and only indirectly.
Moreover, errors that do occur frequently can be detected, corrected or "masked" using processing techniques that exist only in the digital domain. Any analog video signal can be represented in digital form with an arbitrary degree of precision. Still, there is aprice that must
be paid in terms of signal transport capacity and perceived service quality.
Analog to digital
The process of analog to digital signal conversion is briefly reviewed here. A more comprehensive discussion can be found in my June 1997 Communications Technology article, "Going Digital? Think Bit Error Rate."
Most digital video signals are created directly from analog video signals through aprocess of sampling, quantization, encoding and multiplexing. Unlike the continuous analog video waveform, the resulting digital video signal consists of asequence of numer-
ical values representing sampled measurements of the original waveform. This representation is suitable for digital processing, storage and transmission techniques that are fundamentally different from their analog counterparts. In particular, digital video compression algorithms are capable of dramatically increasing the overall program carrying capacity of acable TV system by allowing multiple programs to be transported within asingle 6 MHz channel.
Although several different digital video formats have been defined, the one most suitable for video compression is defined by the international standard CCIR-601 and is derived from abaseband analog video signal consisting of a single luminance component and two chrominance components. These analog signals are "sampled" (measured at regular time intervals) at rates that must be at least as great as twice their bandwidths in order to avoid certain errors known as "aliasing."
In the case of CCIR-601, the respective sampling rates have been chosen to be
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Figure 1: CCIR-601 sampling
525 line/30 FPS
Hour sync --
858 total
122
samples
per line
16 samples
864 total samples per line
Start of line n
Luminance sampling rate =13.50 MHz Chrominance sampling rate =6.75 MHz
12 samples
Start of line n+1
13.5 Msamples/sec and 6.75 Msamples/ sec, well in excess of the NTSC lumi-
'lance bandwidth of 4.2 MHz and amaximum bandwidth of 1.5 MHz for the
chrominance components. These sampling rates were chosen to maximize the compatibility between the digital counterparts of the standard NTSC and phase alteration line (PAL) analog TV systems. (See Figure 1.)
Quantization is the process that limits the precision of the measured samples of the analog waveforms to values that provide acceptable subjective quality. In the case of digital video, this typically is taken to be one part (plus or minus) in 512 of the peak-to-peak value of the analog video waveform. Thus, the resulting digital signal representation consists of a sequence of samples that can assume any of 256 discrete values. The quantization stage is irreversible. Figure 2(on page 164) illustrates the quantization levels specified by CCIR-601. The amplitude of synchronizing pulses falls below the minimum waveform value that is represented. This is due to the fact that synchronization information is transported using special digital code words rather the actual sync pulse signal level.
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of redundant timing information per 8bit sample to ensure accurate signal recovery at the receiver.
The overall bit rate is (8+1) bits/ sample x27 Msamples/sec=243 Mbits/ sec, of which 8bits/sample x27 Msamples/sec=216 Mbits/sec of digital video information is contained for all three components. The details of these signal
iIte
formats and interfaces are described in the international standard CCIR-656.
Digital transport
Digital signals can be transported over broadband networks, such as hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) systems, by modulating radio frequency carriers much as in the case of analog video signals. However, the
two differ markedly in that digital signals can assume only adiscrete number of possible values, unlike analog signals, which vary continuously over time. These discrete signal values are used to modulate the carrier among asimilar number
of states, including amplitude, phase or a combination of amplitude and phase.
Discrete amplitude modulation (AM) involves keying the carrier level between afixed set of allowed amplitudes, typically anumber equal to the number 2raised to some power. For example, in the simplest case, 21=2 possible states, each representing asingle bit of information. In this case, the carrier level must be switched between these two states at the same rate as the digital bit rate. Similarly, with 22=4 possible carrier levels, each
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"Most digital video signals are created directly from analog
viceo signals through aprocess of sampling, cuantization, encocing and
multiplexing."
representing two bits of information, and the carrier state must change at arate of 1/2 the digital bit rate. In general, the use of "n" bits per carrier state (also known as a"symbol") allows for 2^ states among which the carrier level must switch at a rate of 1/n times the digital bit rate.
It was noted earlier that an analog signal can be represented in digital form if it samples at arate at least twice as great as its bandwidth. Asimilar principle applies to transporting multilevel digital signals over an analog transmission channel. In theory, such signals may vary at arate not exceeding twice the channel bandwidth in the case of baseband transmission (carrier frequency of zero) or ideal single sideband (SSB) transmission. Thus, for
162
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Figure 2: COR-601 quantization
Luminance (Y) 255 235
Peak signal level
16
Horiz Sync
Chrominance (U &V) 255 240 128
16
o
Start of Line n
Active line
Positive peak signal level
Active line
110-
Negative peak signal level V e
8-bit quantization for both luminance and chrominance components
Start of line n,-1
pure SSB it would be possible to modulate acarrier at arate of twice its
bandwidth or 12 Msymbols/sec for a6 MHz cable TV channel.
However, the theoretical maximum symbol rate requires the use of filters possessing roll-off characteristics with vertical slopes that cannot actually be achieved. In practice, waveform-shaping filters have gradual roll-off characteristics, thereby reducing the rate of change of digital symbols that it will support. A practical symbol rate for amplitude modulation-vestigal sideband (AM-VSB) modulation is slightly more than 10 Msymbols/sec. Thus, with 3bits per symbol, corresponding to eight possible carrier levels, the maximum bit rate supported by AM-VSB is approximately 3 bits/symbol x10 Msymbols/sec=30 Mbits/sec. Digital AM-VSB is the modulation technique sanctioned by the Federal Communications Commission for advanced TV systems (ATV), including high definition TV (HDTV).
It also is possible to transpon digital signals over analog transmission channels using double sideband modulation. For example, acommon scheme used in satellite transmission is quadrature phase shift
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
TIMES-LINE
1948
Times Fiber and the Cable Industry Celebrate their 50 Year Anniversary
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1976
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1968
Fillies iniroducc Ii i-loss cables to the industry
1969
Tintes introduces copper clad center conductors saving the industry millions of dollars.
1981
Times establishes the world's first fiber optic earth station link.
1978
Times Wire and Cable announces name change to Tintes Fiber Communications, Inc.
Times introduces the fiber based Minillub I.
1984
Times is first to introduce a full line of WV coaxial cable
with 600 MHz capability.
1983
1979
Times advances dielectric state-of-the-art by introduction of low-loss gas-injected foamed polyethylene dielectrics.
Times develops 400 Mllz expanded
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1986
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Times leads the industry again in introducing afull line of 16Ilz cables.
1996
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1998
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Table 1: Digital capacity of 6MHz channels with various modulation schemes
Modulation scheme OPSK 16- OAM /4-VSB 64-0AM/8-VSB 256-0AM/16-VSB
Theoretical bps per Hz
Practical Mbps in 6MHz 10 20 30 40
keying (QPSK), where four combinations of two bits are used to switch the carrier phase among four possible states at constant amplitude at arate of 1/2 the digital bit rate. Combinations of amplitude and phase modulation also are possible, the most common being quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). Examples include 16-QAM and 64-QAM, which correspond to 4bits per symbol and 6 bits per symbol, respectively, corresponding to symbol rates at which the carrier is varied at 1/4 and 1/6 the digital bit rate.
Because double sideband effectively doubles the transmission bandwidth without changing the signal content, it
follows that the theoretical maximum symbol rate is reduced to the channel bandwidth, or 6Msymbols/sec for a6 MHz cable TV channel. Practical filter designs limit this to approximately 5Msymbols/sec. Thus, 64-QAM can support a total digital capacity of 6bits/symbol x5 Msymbols/sec=30 Mbits/sec. Table 1summarizes the theoretical and practical digital transport capacities of several different modulation schemes.
It would seem that there is no limit to the digital capacity of an analog channel because digital modulation schemes with ever-increasing numbers of carrier states could be used.
Unfortunately, additional capacity does not come for free. Digital signals are subject to noise and distortions associated with the transmission medium. Unlike analog signals, the effect of such impairments is not felt until acritical threshold is reached, at which point the digital receiver makes errors in determining the exact state of the received carrier. The greater the number of possible carrier states, the more sensitive the digital signal becomes.
An error made in the determination of the carrier state may cause one or more bits to be received in error. The bit error rate, the ratio of errored bits to total received bits, is the standard measure of digital transport performance. Digital compressed video can withstand bit error rates up to approximately one in amillion before any noticeable signal degradation can be perceived visually.
The actual threshold of error visibility in aparticular implementation is acomplex function of compression ratio, modulation method, error detection/cor-
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Table 2: Digital video compression programs per 6MHz
Compressed program bit rate
Digital modulation technique
(Mbps)
OPSK (9 Mbps)
16-0AM (18 Mbps)
64-DAM (27 Mbps)
9
2
3
6
3
4+
4
2+
6+
3
3
6
9
2
4+
9
13+
1.5
6
I 2
18
Assumptions Sp /sec signalling rote with 10 net overhead
rection approach and the effectiveness of error masking techniques.
Digital compression to the rescue
If you compare the nominal bit rate of the CC1R-601 digital video signal with the carrying capacity of the 6MHz cable TV channel using practical modulation schemes, the conclusion is quite revealing: More than eight channels would be required to transport asingle digital video
signal using 64-QAM! This is the single greatest problem to overcome for the practical digital transport of video signals.
Fortunately, recent developments in video compression techniques and standards in combination with advances in digital processing technology have made it economically feasible to dramatically reduce the digital bit rate required to represent avideo signal while providing acceptable subjective quality.
Video compression algorithms take advantage of two major factors affecting the required bit rate. First, it must be recognized that all video signals consist of asequence of frames that frequently differ only slightly on aframe-by-frame basis. Thus, there is considerable temporal redundancy in most video signals. Also, each video frame likely contains many
objects with gradually (spatially) varying luminance and chrominance values, representing another form of redundancy. Moreover, much of the time the motion of these objects from frame to frame constitutes the major contributor to temporal redundancy.
These characteristics permit the contents of sequential frames to be predicted from previous frames with ahigh degree of accuracy. Instead of sending all the bits associated with aparticular frame, it is possible to transmit certain prediction parameters along with the prediction error signal using amuch smaller number of bits. Certain values of these parameters have been found to occur more frequently
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168
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Reader Service Number 120
than other values, permitting the use of even fewer bits to represent these situations as ameans of lowering the average number of bits required. (This is similar to the manner in which the Morse code uses shorter symbols to represent those letters of the alphabet that are most frequently used and longer symbols for infrequently used letters.)
The second factor facilitating video compression is the imperfect nature of human vision. Errors in luminance or chrominance are not visible below certain threshold values. It also is true that errors are more difficult to detect in fine details and in rapidly changing scenes. This permits small differences to be either ignored or represented with reduced accuracy with little or no visual consequence.
The net effect is adramatic reduction in bit rates required to transport video with acceptable subjective quality. In fact it is practical to provide multiple video programs within asingle 6MHz channel. as illustrated in Table 2, for various fixed compressed bit rates and different modulation schemes.
Today, as few as six programs per 6 MHz (or equivalent satellite bandwidth) have been deployed successfully, and as many as 24 have been proposed. The actual number chosen is afunction of several factors, including the desired visual quality, the amount of movement (for example, action scenes vs. "head and shoulders") and the specific details of the compression algorithm.
Compression algorithms generally are devised such that advances in algorithmic approaches can be implemented through changes in compression hardware ("encoders") with no impact upon the existing base of decompression hardware ("decoders" implemented within set-top terminals). This is particularly true of systems based upon the Moving Pictures Experts Group (MPEG-2) standard, which contains many options that can be employed with increasing complexity as integrated circuit technologies continue to advance and associated costs decrease over time.
Kenneth Metz, PE., Ph.D., is senior director of technologies for Time Warner Telecom in Englewood, CO. He can be reached at (303) 566-1450.
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
169
By Mike Thaw
This is an article about money! Specifically, this article discusses how acable TV system can use its excess fiber to generate revenue from non-traditional applications.
First, sonic definitions: The standard or traditional method for generating revenue for cable TV companies is by de-
livering broadband service to the home. Thus, all other ways of generating income will, for the purposes of this
SCTE INSTALLER PROGRAM INFORMATION REQUEST CARD
The SCTE Installer Certification Program was created to establish minimum skill requirements for CATV installers and installer/technicians. Participants in the program must successfully complete practical examinations in the areas of cable preparation and meter reading, as well as awritten examination on general installation practice. The program is being administered by local SCTE chapters and meeting groups under the guidance of SCTE national headquarters. All candidates for certification in the program are recognized as SCTE members at the Installer level, and receive acopy of the SCTE Installer Manual.
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170
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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article, be considered non-traditional applications. Two that will be touched upon only briefly are home-delivered telephony and Internet access.
We will focus instead on other types of customer applications. Each application will include typical system designs, costs, customer charges and return on investment (R01).
"This opportunity for generating revenue from customers other than homes is in its
infancy."
The big picture
Why should cable TV systems bother with anything other than delivery of services to the home (including broadband and Internet access)? Why devote precious resources--time, money and people--to chasing other types of customers? The reason is simple: Lots of money can be made--at ahigher rate of return, with higher profit and much more money
going to the bottom line. How much more? Let's look at atypical
midsize upscale suburban system with 20,000 subscribers. Below I've illustrated the revenue stream from the traditional cable TV application--delivery of broadband service to the home. Acustomer base of 20,000 subscribers, each paying $40 per month, equals $800,000 per month in gross revenues. At a10% profit margin, you get $80,000 per month before taxes. You can quibble with some of the figures that Iuse throughout this article, but Ido not believe the overall result can be disputed.
A typical community also may have 10 schools, five municipal buildings, two hospitals, one college campus, one courthouse, one prison and 30 businesses that are realistic candidates for some type of service. Table 1(on page 174) shows the potential revenue that can be generated by these types of customers.
Is that kind of revenue typical? Maybe not for all the systems in one community. However, Ihave personal knowledge of each type of application where that type of customer is paying that amount of money (or more) for those types of services. It also is afact that the rate of return is significantly higher for these types of applications.
And you ain't seen nothin' yet! The types of services available (and the
172
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Figure 2: Mid-range video/Ti/data system
I 0
Heodend
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Why use two fibers when singlefiber transmission is available? This is simple economics. The difference in equipment (transceiver) costs typically is $500 to $1,000. So two single fiber transceivers cost approximately $1,500 more. The typical cost of asingle fiber (in amultifiber cable) is $300 per kilometer including installation, right-ofway and so on. By using only one fiber instead of two in a20 km run, the total savings would be $4,500. The
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demand for them) will only increase in the coming years. This opportunity for generating revenue from customers other than homes is in its infancy. It is at most 3 to 5years old. Imagine what the future will bring.
Delivering data service
II noone in your organization is calling on school districts in your territory, shame on you. With the new Superfund, there is money available for all types of distance learning. Almost every school building has an Ethernet local area network (LAN). Some of the most common types of applications are requests by school districts to interconnect all the LANs in each school together in awide area network (WAN). Today, more than 500 school districts are interconnected via cable TV fiber across the United States. Some vendors ship at least three fiber-optic Ethernet systems for schools each week. Business, hospitals, municipalities and universities also are potential customers.
The Ethernet system design shown in Figure 1(on page 172) can be accomplished using either one or two fibers to each school, at either 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps (Fast Ethernet). Gigabit Ethernet also is available now for long distance transmission. Typical costs, charges and ROI are contained in Table 2(on page 174).
Impressive? These are very realistic figures. This application is areal moneymaker.
Money-Making Possibilities
Are you getting the most revenue from your system? Using dark fiber capacity to sell services to non-traditional customers may be agood way to get additional cash and offset the cost to upgrade, build or rebuild the system.
If this idea sounds good to you, here are afew things to remember: ·Offer good value, and don't max out
acustomer's budget. If your salespeople propose asystem that is too costly, your customer will not be able to afford it. Multimedia systems in particular vary in cost and performance among vendors. ·Consider Gigabit Ethernet. As prices begin to drop, you'll find this system is better for carrying data than ATM; soon you'll also see options for carrying video and voice (Ti, T3). Quality of Service (QOS) will be added shortly to improve voice and video transmission. You may get similar (or better) performance than ATM at half the price. ·Make sure you sell the right package. Some cable TV systems are leasing the fiber only and having their customers buy the equipment. They may not have the manpower to properly address this market. When bottom line profits can be increased by 25% to 50% (or more), how can you not justify additional personnel?
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Table 1: Revenue stream generated from non-traditional
Customer
Type of service
Monthly charge
Unit
Total
10
Schools
Video, dota, II
$2,000
5
Minicipal bldgs
Data &T1
$1,000
2
Hospitals
Video &data from
1
Court/prison
1
College
1
Municipality
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Video arraignment
$600
Video, data, Ti
Traffic signals plus CCTV
30
Business
Data R. Ti
$1,000
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Table 2: Financial details for ethernet WANs
Costs
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$3,000 $7,500
100Mbps $7,000
S3 000 $10,000
Typical customer charges (per month)
Schools
50+'0
All others
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savings would be even greater for longer distances.
Multimedia systems
Here's where it really gets interesting. Many types of multimedia systems can deliver video, voice and data over fiber. They range in price from $4,000 per location to $80,000 per location (and maybe more). It all boils down to three questions: ·What does my customer want? ·What will he pay? ·What will we (cable TV company) pro-
vide and what will he provide?
What does $4,000 bring? If an Ethernet
over fiber system already exists, $4,000 will buy avideo codec. This device can be installed in any computer to add video and audio to any digital network. A video codec installed in any two computers on the network will enable them to videoconference.
What does $80,000 or more buy? Asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) or synchronous optical network (SONET), drop and repeat broadband, Ti and data (Ethernet)--plus alot of additional bells and whistles. As acompromise, details are included for amid-range system to interconnect all 10 schools with video, Ti and data. (See Figure 2 and Table 3.)
174
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Reader Service Number 125
Table 3: Financial details
Equipment required
Each remote location (1) Single fiber supermux (1) Ethernet converter
Central location (10) Single fiber supermux (1) Ethernet 10/100 switch (1) Digital Ti cross connect (1) Video matrix switch
Cost All equipment
(prorated per location) Fiber
10km x$300/km Total cost (per location)
Typical charge (per location per month) ROI (per location per year)
Doing it right
As mentioned earlier, this market is in its infancy. If your organization does not have people dedicated to sales for these types of customers, you are losing money. Even companies that have salespeople calling on schools and businesses are discovering they don't have enough salespeople. This market is very lucrative, and the opportunities are expanding monthly.
"If your organization does not have people dedicated to sales for these types of customers, you are losing
money."
New technology and the demand for it are creating these opportunities. However, before this article ends, there are three other important points to be made.
1. It is important to get the most bang for the buck.Your customers have budgets--particularly school systems. If your
$20,000 -$25,000
$3,000
$23,000 -28,000
$90 -$1,400
50 0o
salespeople propose asystem that is too costly, your customer will not be able to afford it. Multimedia systems, particularly, have the most variance in cost and performance among vendors. There is no sense in proposing achampagne system to a customer with abeer budget.
2. One of the exciting new technologies that is emerging rapidly is Gigabit Ethernet. Usage is going up, and prices will begin to drop rapidly. It is better for carrying data than ATM, and very shortly there will be many options for carrying Video and Voice (Ti, T3). Quality of Service (Q0S) as afeature will be added shortly to improve voice and video transmission. If your company is busy building ATM rings, you may want to take aclose look at Gigabit Ethernet. You can get similar (or better) performance at half the price.
3. Lastly, there is aright way and a wrong way to sell these services. Some cable TV systems are leasing the fiber only and having their customers buy the equipment. They may not have the manpower to properly address this market. However, this market is too lucrative. When bottom line profits can be increased by 25% to 50% (or more), how can additional personnel not be justified? CT
Mike Thaw is president of Radiant Communications in South Plainfield, NJ. He can be reached at (908) 757-7444.
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Reader Service Number 126
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
17
By Rex Porter
hat ashow. Kudos to Bob Miron, John Wynne and Decker Anstrom! With more than 30 National (able Television Association conventions under my belt, this is the first one I have witnessed with so many standing-room-only meetings, sessions and crowded booths. According to my records, 20 years ago the 1978 N(TA convention in New Orleans had atotal attendance of 5,397, and only 1,811 of those were system operators. Idon't know what the official attendance was at this extravaganza; Inever got to stop long enough to ask!
From the minute we arrived in Atlanta, there were activities at the Center, Saturday through the final day, Wednesday. On Sunday, the National Cable TV Center and Museum and CableWorld opened their exhibits, "50 Years of Cable." These showcased the early years of cable, highlighting the pioneers' vision and dedication from
1948 to 1998. In the afternoon, Alex Best defined digital TV (DTV) with "Digital for Dummies."
Cable Pioneers
On Sunday evening, Cable Pioneers and their guests met at the Fox Theater for the 32nd Annual Pioneer Dinner and Cable
Television Hall of Fame Inaugural Ceremony. Inducted into the Pioneers were Don Anderson (DIVA Systems), Richard Barnes (Scientific-Atlanta), Neal Barrington (Cox Cable), Andrew Brilliant (Speedvision and Outdoor Life Networks), Charles Broomfield (Missouri Cable N Association), Diane Christie (Comcast), Steve Dyche (NPG Cablevision), Don Edelman (Passive Devices), Jim Farmer (ANTEC), Donne Fisher (TCI), Michael Fleming (Games Show Network), Paul Gemme (Time Warner), Jim Hall (GTE Main Street), Tommy Hill (Cable One), C.J. Hirschfield (California Cable Association), Bob Johnson (BET Holdings), John Kurpinski Sr. (ICS), Jerry Lindauer (Prime Cable), Ron Marnell (Multimedia Cablevision), Michael Reynolds (RayStay Co.), Diana Riley (Jerry Conn Associates), Gene Robinson (ANTEC), Andy Szegda (PPC), Pat Thompson (Daniels and Associates), Ernesto Tinajero (Television por Cable del
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Estado de Mexico), Stan VonFeldt (Times Fiber) and Richard Wallace (Cox Cable).
Following the induction ceremonies, six members were inducted into the Cable Television Hall of Fame. These first members are George Barco, Bill Daniels, Irving Kahn, Bob Magness, Martin Malarkey and Milton J. Shapp.
Bill Gates
On Monday morning, an overflow crowd gathered to hear Bill Gates speak. As seats filled, one question floated among operators, engineers and vendors attending: "What will his message be?" The best answer seemed to be: "He will have to address two subjects. First, he will speak about Web TV. That's his biggest concern about companies such as WorldGate. Then, he must assure the cable industry that its alphabet has only two letters: 'C' and 'E.' "And that was pretty much his message. Gates is quite
the speaker and entertainer. Iprobably would pay to sit through another presentation if Iknew Iwould enjoy it as much the second time around.
Tech sessions
Monday's technical sessions featured "Bigger and Longer Fiber-Optic Pipes" moderated by David Large with Dogan Atlas (ANTEC), Robert Harris (ADC Broadband Communications), Edouard Taufflieb (Guided Wave Optics) and Shinji Tsuji (Sumitomo) as speakers on dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) and improved optical amplifiers.
Michael Aloisi (Viacom) moderated "Digital TV's Special Delivery" with speakers Ralph Brown (Time Warner), Walt Ciciora (technology consultant), Mukta Kar (CableLabs) and Rich Prodan (CableLabs).
John Caezza (Philips Broadband) moderated "Optimizing Operational Measurements" with speakers Ron Katznelson
Atlanta--Howe of Cable '98
(MCSI), Kerry LaVolette (Philips Broadband), Shlomo Ovadia (General Instrument) and Raymond Schneider (ComSonics) presenting papers on test and measurement techniques.
Richard Shimp (ComSonics) moderated "Return Solutions for Two-Way Success." Dean Stoneback (General Instrument) and Charlie Williams (Com21) spoke of shaping reliable reverse paths and cable modems in the home.
On Tuesday, Andy Scott (NCTA) moderated "Navigating the Last Mile and the Last Six Inches." Speakers were Claude Baggett (CableLabs), Mark Eyer (General Instrument) and Robert Zitter (HBO).
Nick Hamilton-Piercy (Rogers) moderated "What Makes aDigital Set-Top Work?" with Richard Annibaldi (Pioneer New Media), Ralph Brown (Time Warner) and Abhijit Chatterjee (General Instrument) speaking on how to implement and manage the extensive software content in
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
advanced set-top terminals. Dan Pike moderated "60 Minutes--A
Cable Technology Newsmagazine" with Mark Laubach (Com21), Robert Rast (General Instrument) and David Reed (CableLabs) speaking on top technical concerns such as advanced TV (ATV), packet topologies and structured data networking. Bill Kostka (CableLabs)
moderated "High-Speed Applications @CABLE" with Robert Harris (ADC Broadband Communications), Bill Kostka (CableLabs) and Shlomo Rakib (Terayon) presenting overviews on how best to support residential and business subscribers' data transport and cable modem needs, with an update on Multimedia Cable Network Systems (MCNS).
And finally on Wednesday, Tony Werner (TCI) moderated "Network Architecture" with Robert Howald (General Instrument), Dan Pike (Prime Cable) and Oleh Sniezko (TCI) speaking about modern system design.
Alex Best (Cox Cable) moderated "New Design Techniques for MDUs and Digital Headends" with Paul Harr (Scientific-Atlanta), Jim Mabry (Philips Broadband) and Adam Tom (Imedia) speaking about choices in designs.
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Reader Service Number 127
These outstanding papers can be ordered directly from the NCTA headquarters offices if you were unable to attend the show. Call (202) 775-3550.
All in all, it simply was an outstanding conference. But what were the technical buzzwords during the show? Well, at last year's NCTA, the hot topic was data via modems. By the Western Show and the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers' Emerging Technologies conference, the topic had changed to DTV. And now, at this Cable '98, during almost every press conference or conversation in the booths, Internet protocol (IP) seemed to be the thing. Apparently, ongoing research is discovering that within IP may lurk some answers for data transmission and DTV--not just IP telephony. Perhaps we should be prepared to see technology come full circle and close the loop to have all three technologies fall into one category. Anyone want to come up with a new name for all three, combined? CT
Rex Porter is editor of "Communications Technology" He can be reached in Mesa, AZ, at (602) 807-8299 or via e-mail at tvrex@earthlin knet.
178
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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www.blondertongue.com cpalle@blondertongue.com Emily Nikoo (732) 679-4000, Ext. 213 For over 40 years, Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. has been manufacturing professional quality, commercial cable television products. Products include: Reception, Headend, Microwave, Analog & Digital Distribution, Fiber Optics, Interdiction, Test Equipment, Residential and Specialty Equipment. Reader Service 425
C-COR Electronics, Inc.
60 Decibel Road State College, PA 16801 (814) 238-2461, (800) 233-2267 Fax: (814) 238-4065
WWW.C-COLCOM
Sally Thiel, Manager, Corporate Communications C-COR offers AM fiber optics. RF amplifiers, network management systems, and more for communication networks worldwide. Services include network design, training, emergency repair service and a24-hour emergency hotline. C-COR is ISO 9001 registered. Reed« Service 4155
Coble Innovations, Inc.
130 Stanley Court Lawrenceville, GA 30245 (800) 952-5146; Fax: (770) 962-6133 www.cableinnovations.com Nick Haralson Haralson@rightmove.com Cable Line, drop line, and power line surges suppressors. Including the CLPS-3009P1, DLPS-15D and PLS125. And new from Cable Innovations the UHB-2001 Universal House Box. Reeder Sink. 1126, 27
Cable Leakage Technologies
1200 Executive Drive E. #I36 Richardson, TX 75081 (972) 907-8100; Fax: (972) 907-2950 www.wavetracker.com Perry Havens phavens@wavetracker.com CLT, inventors of automated positional leakage analysis test tools of software for the cable telccomm industry. Roeder Senrke 013, 156
Coble Prep
A Ben Hughes Communication Products Co. 207 Middlesex Ave. Chester, CT 06412 USA (800) 394-4046, (860) 526-4337 Fax: (860)526-2291 www.cableprep.com deborah@cableprep.com or cableprep@aol.com Cable Prep designs and manufactures afull line of hand tools for the broadband industry. New Products include
the Pocket TerminX handtool for compression-type fittings. Product line includes the ShonCut Messenger Removal Tool; Strip/Core and Jacket Strip Tools for all major coaxial cables; CPT coaxial stripping tools for drop cables 6, 59, 7and 11; Hex Crimp Tools and accessory items. Road« Woks 1168, 70, 72
Cisco Systems
170 W. Tasman Drive, Bldg. 1-2 San Jose, CA 95134 (408) 527-6210; Fax: (408) 527-1711 Reeder Sena --
ComSonics, Inc.
1350 Port Republic Road Harrisonburg, VA 22801 (800) 336-9681; Fax: (540) 432-9794 www.comsonics.com Roy Weitzell 540-434-5165 x228 marketing@comsonics.com ComSonics is a100% employee owned manufacturer of cable TV field test equipment. We have anetwork of domestic sales people, sales reps and an international network consisting of 19 distributors. Rohr Simko 034
CommScope
P.O. Box 1729 Hickory, NC 28602 (800) 599-9265; Fax: (704) 459-5099 www.commscope.com Gina Foy Coaxial and Fiber Optic cables featuring New Power Feeder, Cable-in-Conduit, PIII, QR, and acomplete line of drop cables including several available in EZ-PAK packaging. Rieder Service 1136
CTC Joslyn
6049 Boat Rock Blvd. Atlanta, GA 30336 (404) 346-3967; Fax: (404) 344-2611 alir@comtech.com Mi Rickard (404) 346-3967, Ext. 463 CTCJoslyn manufactures quality products for outside plant applications in the telecommunications industry. Our main product lines include: closures, terminals, tools, pole-line hardware, anchors, and en(ap.(ulants. Reader Serake 1161
Display Systems International, Inc.
203 Mallin Cres. Saskatoon, SK S7K 7W8 (306) 934-6884; Fax: (306) 934-6447 www.promowarecorp.com Chris Lock sales@promowarecorp.com DSI manufacturers low-cost high-performance character generators which
use the IBM Windows platform. Program/Prevue for off-line editing on one computer and Internet Communications to elminate long distance charges are lust two of the many benefits. Reader 411,0911105
DX Communications
A Division of Itochu Cable Services, Inc. 1143 W. Newport Center Drive Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 (888) 293-5856; Fax: (954) 427-9688 Ken Mosca dxckm@aol.com Manufacturer of quality headend equipment. Products include; digital satellite receivers, 1RD's, agile modulators, satellite receivers, combiners, FM modulators, combiners, LNB's and accessories Reeder Service I/ 20, 157
Eagle Comtronics, Inc.
4562 Waterhouse Road Clay, NY 13036 (315) 622-3402; Fax: (315) 622-3800 www.eaglefilters.com Kris Wild sales@eaglecomtronics.com Eagle Comtronics is the worlds largest manufacturer of security traps, decoders, tier traps and custom, OEM diplex filters. bud« Wyk@ 11103
Exide Electronics, Inc.
8380 Capitol Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27616 (919) 713-5300; Fax: (919) 713-5350 www.exide.com info@exide.com Rick Marcotte Exide Electronics, aBTR company, is aleader in power protection, supplying Strategic Power Management solutions to abroad range of businesses and itv,titutions. Reader Service 0--
EONS Corp.
71 Lyman St. Northboro, MA 01532 (800) FONS-995; Fax: (508) 3933657 www.fons.com Alexandra Kiefer akiefer@fons.com FONS Corp. offers complete fiber optic management systems for datacorn, telecom, and CATV applications. Products include enclosures, cable assemblies, connectors, attenuators, couplers and adapters. Reader Service 421
FrontLine Communications
404 West Ironwood Drive
Salt Lake City, UT 84115 (801) 464-1600, (800) 231-1349 Fax: (801) 464-1699 www.frontlinecom.com Bill Robertson info@frontlinecom.com FrontLine provides complete EAS systems covering IF, Baseband and the only patented, proven All Channel Message system available. Affordable for any size system with applications beyond EAS. We invite comparison! Realer Undo 1128, 158
General Instrument Corp.
101 Tournament Drive Horsham, PA 19044 (215) 323-1000; Fax: (215) 956-6497 www.gi.com Geoff Roman, Sr. Vice President General Instrument is the world leader in analog and digital systems that provide video, audio and highspeed Internet/data services over cable and satellite television networks. Reedy Service 1139, 159
General Machine Products Co., Inc.
3111 Old Lincoln Highway Trevose, PA 19053 (215) 357-5500; Fax: (215) 357-6216 www.GMPtools.com Douglas H. Clemens, Vice President dclemens@GMPtools.com General Machine Products Company is amanufacturer of specialty tools and equipment utilized in the placement of aerial or underground cable. The GMP Cable Lashcrs continue to be the product of choice for lashing cable to the supporting messenger. Roder Sark. 1127
Gold Communications
100 Jersey Ave. New Brunswick, NJ 08901 (732) 418-1113 Reed« Stake 1112
Hal-Tec
405 North Rio St., Suite 240 Tampa, FL 33609 (813) 289-4119; Fax: (813) 287-3674 James Wilmouth Reeder Service #48
Harmonic Lightwaves, Inc.
549 Baltic Way Sunnyvale, CA 94089 (800) 788-1330, (408) 542-2500 Fax: (408) 542-2511 harmonic-lightwaves.com info@harmonic-lightwaves.com John Dahlquist Harmonic Lightwaves is aworldwide supplier of highly integrated fiber optic transmission, digital hcadend and element management systems for
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
the delivery of interactive services over broadband networks. Rod« Sink. #47
Hewlett-Packard Co.
Test and Measurement Organization P.O. Box 50637 Palo Alto, CA 94303-9511 (800) 452-4844 xHPTV Fax: (303) 754-4990 hp.com/go/catv hpcatv@aol.com Hewlett-Packard Company offers a comprehensive range of test equipment to keep your broadband system at peak performance--from manufacturing through the headend and into plant maintenance.
Rieder Servke #29, 160
Holland Electronics Corp.
4219 Transport St. Ventura, CA 93003 (805) 339-9060, (800) 628-4511 Fax: (805) 339-9064 Michael Holland For over 10 years Holland Electronics Corp. has been one of the major manufacturers and distributors of passives, connectors, amplifiers, head-end, fiber optic equipment and installation accessories. Our focus is on quality products for the international and domestic markets.
Roder Service 4175
Hopewell Precision
19 Ryan Drive Hopewell Junction, NY 12533 (800) 221-2737; Fax: (914) 226-7285 Lloyd Albritton
Reader Service #88
Hukk ENGINEERING
3250-D Peachtree Corners Circle Norcross, GA 30092 (770) 446-6086; Fax: (770) 446-6850 Gene Faulkner gene.faulkner@hukk.com Hukk ENGINEERING Digital Test Equipment for the CATV Industry. This equipment gives bit error rates and other tests for QAM and QPR digital services.
be& Sin*, 6132
iCS Inc.
1143 W. Newport Center Drive Deerfield Beach, FL 33442 (800) 327-4966, (954) 427-5000 Fax: (954) 427-0934 Rod Hicks, Senior Vice President iCs Inc. is aleading full-service stocking distributor for General Instrument, Scientific Atlanta, PPC, Joslyn, Diamond, DX and many more. iCS operates ten sales offices and nine warehouses conveniently located in North and South America. iCS pro-
vides repair of converters, materials, management and financing.
Reeler Sinks 666, 73
Idea/onics
Box 369 Mayville, North Dakota 58257 (701) 786-3904; Fax: (701) 786-4294 Austin G. Kramer Manufacturer of RF & IF Emergency Alert Systems (EAS) to meet the FCC mandate. Manufacturer of the first RF comb generator. Sales of complete EAS systems starting under $5,000.00
Raeder Slinks 164
ISC Datum, Inc.
1217 Digital Drive #109 Richardson, TX 75081 (972) 234-2691; Fax: (972) 234-5480 fastlane.net/nisc Byron Smith isc@fastlane.net RF Modems up to 64 kbps data rate.. These modems are used for general data transfer in school, municipal, business, traffic, signal control and other data applications where extremely large files and rapid transfer are not commonly required.
WIN Service #130
KES (Klungness Electronic Supply)
P.O. Box 885 101 Merritt Ave. Iron Mountain, MI 49801 (800) 338-9292; Fax: (906) 774-6117 Greg Michaud (906) 774-6621, ext.276 Distributes afull line of broad hand products/delivers construction equipment, executive level stocking distributor/complete system integrator specializing in interdiction, data, Internet integration, CATV, load management distance learning/substation/distribution management.
Reeder Service ITS, 161
Laser Power Corp.
12777 High Bluff Drive San Diego, CA 92130 (619) 755-0700; Fax: (619) 259-2761 www.laserpower.com leilabady@laserpower.com Pedram Leilabady Laser Power Corp. designs, manufactures and markets high performance laser optics and laser systems for telecommunications, military, industrial and medical applications. Reader Service #90
Learning Industries
15339 Barranca Parkway Irvine, CA 92618 (800) 4-LEAM1NG; Fax: (714) 7273650
www.leaming.com Laura Klepitch lic@leaming.com Manufacturer of BTSC Stereo/SAP encoders,BTSC Stereo/SAP decoders for rebroadcasting off-air signals, audio AGC. FM modulators/demodulators/upconvertors, CATV/SMATV audio-video modulators.
Reader Service #69
Lena Tool Corp.
RR2 Box 330A Cogan Station, PA 17728 (800) 233-8713; Fax: (717) 494- 0860 www.lemco-tool.com Michael R. Miller (714) 494-0620 lemco@mail.csrlink.net Drop installation tools include: CU preventing torque wrenches; hardline coaxial splicing tools perform on-step cable preparation; Aerial construction tools for safe and productive system deployment.
Reeder Service #59, 134
Lindsay Electronics
50 Mary St. West Lindsay, ON K9V 457 (705) 324-2196; Fax: (705) 324-5474 From USA: (800) 465-7046 www.lindsayelec.com sales@hq.lindsayelec.com David Atman Focused on the last mile, our revolutionary new technology creates communication equipment to solve system problems before they become subscriber problems. This is achieved through applied ISO continuous improvement disciplines, innovation, and strict attention to details.
It6War Service #33, 162
Main Line Equipment Inc.
837 Sandhill Ave. Carson, CA 90746 (800) 444-2288, (310)-715 6518 Fax: (888) 4mainline (310) 715-6675 www.mle.com mainline@worldnetatt.net Mark Lipp Buy, sell and distribute, new, excess, and refurbished fiber optics, active electronics, converters, and passives. We manufacture acomplete line of replacement pads, equalizers and plug-ins for most major manufacturers that meet or exceed original factory specifications.
Reader Service #98
Masterack
905 Memorial Drive, SE Atlanta, GA 30316 (404) 525-5501; Fax: (404) 659-9316 bider Service #117
MHZ MEGA HERTZ
6940 South Holly Circle, Suite 200
Englewood, CO 80112 (303) 5779-1717; (800) 525-8386 Fax:(303) 779-1749 www.megahz.com TUGS08A@Prodigy.com Steve Grossman MEGA HERTZ represents or distributes: off air or satellite antennas; character generators; commercial insertion products; emergency alert systems; fiber Tx/Rx; stand-by generators; headend electronics; satellite electronics; stereo processors; test equipment; custom traps and filters.
Reid« Simko ra, 3S, X, 49, 91, 121, 129, 163, 136
Microwave Filter Co., Inc.
6743 Kinne St. East Syracuse, NY 13057 (800) 448-1666, (315) 438-4700 Fax:(315) 438-1467 www.microwavefilter.com Elizabeth Buck (315) 438-4718 Passive electronic filters and filter networks for signal processing and interference ,,itppre,,sion
Reader Service #110, 164
MK Battery
1645 S. Sinclair St. Anaheim, CA 92806 (714) 937-1033, Fax: (714) 937-0818 www.mkbattery@mindspring.com Linda Hoitt
Reeder Service #116
Molex Fiber Optics, Inc.
5224 Katrine Ave. Downers Grove, IL 60514 (630) 512-8750; Fax: (630) 512-8777 www.molex.com Renee Mousavi rmousavi@molex.com Molex Fiber Optics, Inc. aleading worldwide supplier of fiber optic products, offers afull range of active and passive solutions, serving the CATV, Telecommunication and Datacommunication markets.
Rimier Service 689
Monroe Electronics
100 Houscl Ave. P.O. Box 100 Lyndonville, NY 14098 (800) 821-6001, (716) 765-2254 Fax: (716) 765-9330 monroc-electronics.com James Lepsch James-lepsche@juno.com Manufacturer and distribute headend equipment. Switchers, programmable timers, cue tone encoders/decoders, AN and IF/RF switches, telephone couplers, sensing switches, program timer software and total systems.
bed« Sinks 6100, 165
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Moore Diversified Products, Inc.
1441 Sunshine Lane Lexington, KY 40505 (606) 299-6288; Fax: (606) 299-6653 www.MooreDP.com mooredp.com Gia Phelps and Bob DeMuth Moore diversified Products, Inc. is a manufacturer of metal and plastic products that store, organize and protect fiber optic and coaxial cable in outside plant construction.
Red. Sinks f60
Ntultilink
580 Ternes Ave. Elyria, OH 44035 (440) 366-6966; Fax: (440) 366-6802 WWW. muItInkinccom/mul tInki ne mulink@ix.netcom.com Steve Kaplan Multilink is aleading manufacturer of cable television supplies. Multilink manufactures plastic enclosures, metal enclosures, and splice closures as well as fiber optic, and telecommunications products.
Reader Servke #6, 140, 166
Norscan
301-F3 10th St. NW Conover, NC 28613 (704) 464-1148, (704) 464-7608 norscan.com jc@norscan.com John Chamberlain (704) 464-1148 Norscan manufacturers afull line of fiber optic preventative maintenance and monitoring equipment.
tad« Service 0135
Noyes Fiber Systems
P.O. Box 398 Laconia, NH 03247 (603) 528-7780; Fax: (603) 528-2025 www.noyes-fiber.com heathered@noyes-fiber.com Heather Duke Noyes Fiber Systems is amanufacturer of fiber optic test equipment. Products include mini-OTDR'S, light sources, power meters, return loss meters, inspection microscopes, visual fault identifiers, live-fiber identifiers, talk sets and test kits.
Rader Sava 076
Oldcastle Precast Inc.
4478 Greer Circle Stone Mountain, GA 30083 (770) 493-5420; Fax: (770) 493-5425 oldcastle-precast.com Rick Sauer (770) 493-5444 rick.sauer@oldcastleprecast.com Oldcastle is aleading manufacturer of precast concrete products used in the construction of Telco, CATV, PCS, and other communications networks. Buildings, CEV's, Cabinets, Fiber Manholes and Pads are
just afew of the many products provided to serve network construction.
Reader Service 0111
Omega One LLC.
144 McQueen Blvd. Summerville, SC 29483 (888) 875-1144; Fax: (803) 875-0055
Reader Sava ISO
Ortronics
595 Green Haven Road Pawcatuck, CT 06379 599-1760; Fax: (860) 599-1774 www.ortronics.com connect@ortronics.com Ortronics, aleader in flexible network solutions, provides fiber optic wall or rack mount cabinets, adapters, cable management, patch cords, and pigtails for datacom, telecom, residential and CATV applications.
Reader Service 096
PDI-Electronics for Telecommunications
6353 West Rogers Circle #6 Boca Raton, FL 33487 (561) 998-0600; Fax: (561) 998-0608 www.pdi-eft.com Johathan Edelman (561) 998-0600 PDI.Electronics@worldnet.att.net PDI manufacturers and distributes every product that any type of cable system may need. From high tech headend products to passives and tools, PDI has it all.
Reader Service 011, 167
Performance Power Technologies
P.O. Box 947 Roswell, GA 30077 (770) 475-3192; Fax: (770) 343-8492 Jud Williams Batteries-Standby, Battery Chargers Test Equipment, Diagnostic Monitoring Systems, Power Conversion Products, Power Supply Products, Test Equipment. Power Supplies for Cable and Telecom featuring the "Magnum UPS" 90 volt 32 Amp HFC Centralized Node Powering System with "Smart/Gard" output protection. be& Soaks .88
Phosecom Inc.
20400 Stevens Creek Blvd., 7th Floor Cupertino, CA 95014 (408) 777-7799; Fax: (408) 777-7787 www.speed-demon.com Yvonne Avery (408) 777-7784 yavcry@specd-dcmon.com Phasecom's mission is to develop and market state-of-the-art solutions that enable high speed data and voice communications over existing and future
broadband network infrastructures for residential and commercial applications.
Rader Sinks 074
Philips Broadband Networks
100 Fairgrounds Drive Manlius, NY 13104 (800) 448-5171; Fax: (315) 682-9006 wwl.v.be.philips.com/pbn C. Murray (315) 682-9105, Ext. 2271 Philips Broadband Networks, known for broadband RF and fiber-optic transport systems, is also aleader in advanced systems used to provide telephony and high-speed data services over your HFC video network. The company also supports wireless cable and digital video communication systems. Get connected with Philips--The Reliable Choice
Reader Service 058, 168
Pico Macom, Inc.
12500 Foothill Blvd. Lakeview Terrace, CA 91342 800-421-6511, (818) 897-0028 Fax: (818) 834-7197 www.piconet.com Dan Ward pico@piconet.com Pico Macom offers afull line of quality hcadend components including satellite receivers, agile modulators and demodulators, signal processors, amplifiers, and completely assembled headends. Pico also manufactures the complete line of Tru-Spec 1GHz drop and installation passives, splitters, couplers, switches and connectors for CATV/MMDS/SMATV and DBS installation
Reader Service 0124
Pioneer New Media
2265 E. 220th St. Long Beach, CA 90810 (310) 952-2111; Fax: (310) 952-2990 www.pionecrusa.com George Applegate gapplega@pnmt.com For more than two decades, Pioneer's mission has been to engineer technology that expands the limits of cable TV. At Pioneer, we deliver the innovative product, that ,,ystem operators require.
Reader Service 065, 169
PLEXCO
1050 IL Route 83 Bensenville, IL 60106 (630) 350-3700; Fax: (630) 350-2704 www.plexco.com Jim Stilling (630) 350-3716 info@plexco.com PLEXCO Communications Conduct is made from PE3408 polyethylene. PE conduit (available in multiple colors) is coilable, resistant to aggressive soils and moistureproof. Cable in polyethylene conduit experiences less failures
than direct buried cable.
Rader Saar #84
Power &Telephone Supply Co.
2673 Yale Ave. Memphis, TN 38112 (901) 320-3080; Fax: (901) 320-3082 www.ptsupply.com Mary Bowen Provides material distribution services to the communications, network, and CATV industries.Full-line stocking of cable, fiber optics, hardware tools, and CATV industries.
Reeder Service 019, 170
Precision Volley Communications Corp.
1000 River St., Suite 301 Springfield, VT 05156 (800) 773-9317; Fax (802) 885-9317 www.pvc2.com Marsha Alldredge marsha@pvc2.com Precision Valley Communications Corp. is amapping, engineering and design contractor celebrating 10 years of service to the broadband industry.
Red« Scala I--
Preformed Line Products
P.O. Box 91129 Cleveland, OH 44101 (440) 461-5200; Fax: (440) 442-8816 www.preforrned.com Michelle Weninger Preformed Line Products is aleading supplier of high quality cable anchoring and control hardware and systems, overhead and underground splice cases, and fiber optic splicing and high speed cross-connect devices. Serving electric power utility, communications
and CA-n/ customers worldwide.
Ruda Simko 1112
PROMAX
xventura@promax.es Xavier Ventura 011-34-93-260-2002; Fax: 011-34-93338-1126 (Spain) US Distributor: NCS Industries Harry Williams or Dick Grasso (800) 523-2343
Rrear Sonia NI
Quality RF Services, Inc.
850 Parkway St. Jupiter, FL 33477 (800) 327-9767; Fax:(561) 744-4618 Jerry K. Thorne Quality RF Services manufactures RF amplifiers and equalizers for bandwidth upgrades of CATV systems, laser drivers and isolation amplifiers for the Headend, high-quality amplifiers for the MDU, hotel/motel industry and the home. CATV repair
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
service is our specialty. bed« Sauk. 1177
Quintech Electronics and Communications, Inc.
Airport Office Center Route 286 North Indiana, PA 15701 (800) 839-3658; Fax: (412) 349-1412 quintech@americantelepon.com Paula McClure QEC is in the business of designing and manufacturing hardware which facilitates the tactical migration from archaic analog to future digital technology Working within the analog of discipline (technology, cable, wireless, broadcast or awe create products that bridge the gaps which continue to exist between converging technologies, and as yet distinct industry segments. Reeder Service #52
Radiant Communications
5001 Hadley Road P.O. Box 867 South Plainfield, NJ 07080 (800) 969-3427; Fax:(908) 757-8666 www.Radcom.com Radiant3@ix.netcom.com Jean Harding (908) 757-7444 Manufacturer of fiber optic distance learning systems, haschand and broadband video/audio/data transmission systems, and high quality fiber optic components such as couplers, attenuators, adaptors, connectors and assemblies. Reader Service /31, 171
RDL, Inc.
7th Ave. & Freedly St. Conshohocken, PA 19428 (610) 825-3750; Fax: (610) 825-3530 louder Service /109
REUEC
6221 N. O'Connor Blvd., Suite 105 Irving, TX 75039 (972) 501-3432; Fax: (800) 800-1280 www.relteccorp.com Mark Wise (972) 501-3248 RELTEC is aleader in the design, manufacture and sale of abroad range of telecommunications systems, products and services to wireline and wireless service providers and OEMs around the globe in three categories: Access Systems, Integrated Wireless Solutions and Network Components and Services. RELTEC operates manufacturing plants in North America, Europe, Asia/Pacific and Latin America with over 5,250 employees worldwide. Reader Sinks 093
Ripley Co.
46 Nooks Hill Road
Cromwell, CT 06416 (800) 528-8665; Fax:(860) 635-3631 Ronald Cote Ron@ripley-tools.com Ripley Company is the leading manufacturer of cable preparation tools for the CATV and Telecommunications Industries. Our tools have been used by contractors and installers to prepare all types of cables for more than 30 years. Reader Service #63
Riser-Bond Instruments
5101 N. 57th St. Lincoln, NE 68507 (800) 688-8377; Fax: (402) 466-0967 www.riserbond.com John Ramus (402) 466-0933 jrasmus@riserbond.com Riser-Bond Instruments is aleader in manufacturing TDRs with unique and exclusive features to quickly and easily locate and identify faults and conditions in any metallic two conductor cable. Reader Servke 414, In
Sadelco, Inc.
75 West Forest Ave. Englewood, New Jersey 07631 (800) 569-6299; International: (201) 569-3323 Fax:(201) 569-6285 Mr. Leslie Kaplan, V.P. www.sadelco.com sadelco@aol.com Designs and manufacturers signal level meters and calibrators. Reeder Simko /23
Scientific-Atlanta
4261 Communications Drive Box 6850 Norcross, Georgia 30091-6850 (800) 433-6222; Fax:(770) 236-7770 www.sciatl.com Uwe Trode Scientific-Atlanta is aleading supplier of broadband communications systems, satellite-based video voice and data communications networks and worldwide customer service and support. Reeder Service 02, 173
Sencore Inc.
3200 Sencore Drive Sioux Falls, SD 57107 (605) 339-0100; Fax:(605) 339-0317 www.sencore.com Brad Johnson (605) 339-0100, ext.123 sales@sencore.com Sencore will be exhibiting afull line of CATV and Wireless cable test instruments, including: MPEG-2 Transport Stream Analyzers, handheld signal level meters designed for QAM digital signals, and video performance test instruments. Each unit is designed to meet all your system's analyzing and trou-
bleshooting needs. Reader Service 03
Siecor Corp.
489 Siecor Park Hickory, NC 28603 (704) 327-5806 Roble Cline Siecor, recognized as atelecommunications technology leader, specializes in optical fiber cable, interconnect hardware, termination and splice equipment, test equipment and training. Reeder Sink. /55
Silicon Valley Communications
931 Benccia Ave. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 (408) 739-8800; Fax: (408) 245-9873 www.svci.com sales@svci.com Ed Feghali (408) 245-8800 Silicon Valley Communications, Inc. offers the most comprehensive line of optical transmission products including 1310 and 1550 nm transmitters, high performance optical amplifiers, indoor/outdoors receivers, and Network Management System. Reader Servke 087
SkyConnect
1172 Century Drive, Suite 200 Louisville, CO 80027 (303) 218-9100; Fax: (303) 218-9112 www.skyconnect.com Lindsay Combs (303) 218-9108 Icombs@skyconnect.com SkyConnect meets the demands of the growing cable advertising industry by delivering the most complete digital advertising insertion solutions available. SkyConnect's product line is based on Digital Equipment Corp.'s 64-bit Alpha+ server. Reel« Sankt /86
Standard Communications Corp.
P.O. Box 92151 Los Angeles, CA 90009-2151 (310) 532-5300; Fax: (310) 532-7647 www.standard@standardcomm.com Shirley Hooper shooper@ibm.net Standard Communications Corp. is a global manufacturer of complete cable system solutions offering analog and digital satellite receivers, frequency agile modulators, BTSC generators, and the STRATUM Modulation System. Reader Servis 09
Stanford Telecom
480 Java Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94089 (408) 745-2685; Fax: (408) 541-9030 www.stanfordtelecom.com William Patton Bill.Patton@stelhq.com
Stanford Telecom produces modulator and demodulator ASICS and assemblies for transmission and reception of return path data in HFC systems. Included is asubscriber modem modulator/demodulator in HFC systems. Included is asubscriber modem modulator/demodulator on one chip. lieder Sinke /43, 174
Stirling Connectors
120 Gibson Road Markham, ON DR 2Z3 (905) 475-6920; Fax: (905) 475-7228 Reeder Sinks 0131
Superior Electronics Group, Inc.
6432 Parkland Drive Sarasota, FL 34243 (941) 756-6000; Fax:(941) 758-3800 www.cheetahnet.com Pamela Girardin (941) 756-6000, ext. 1340 Pamela.girardin@cheetahnet.com Through its internationally established Cheetah product line, Superior Electronics provides broadband status and performance monitoring solutions to world leaders in cable TV and telecommunications. Reeder Service 451, 139, 175
Telecrafter Products
12687 W. Cedar Lakewood, CO 80228 (800) 257-2448; Fax:(303) 986-1042 Ronnie Cox and Jim Marzano mail@dropsupplies.com Supplier of drop installation products for CATV, DBS, and wireless operators, including drop cable fastening products for single or dual cable, cable identification markers, residential enclosures, and more. Reeder Service k8, 10, 176
TeleWire Supply
94 Inverness Terrace East Englewood, CO 80112 (1) 88-TELEW1RE; Fax: (303) 643-5797 www.telewiresupply.com Mark Howard TeleWire Supply, adivision of ANTEC Corp., is aleading international supplier of products needed to build and service abroadband communications network. Reeder Woke /7, 152
Tempo Research Corp.
1221 Liberty Way Vista, CA 92083 (800) 642-2155; Fax: (760) 598-5634 www.temporesearch.com Lucia Morales, (760) 598-8900, Ext. 243 Manufacturers of outside plant test equipment for maintenance, installa-
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
tion and repair technicians, including TDR's and Coax Tracer Systems. Reeder Servke /133
Time Manufacturing
P.O. Box 20368 Waco, TX 76702 (254) 399-2137; Fax: (254) 399-2651 Lee Taylor Reeder Servke 442
Times Fiber Communications, Inc.
358 Hall Ave. Wallingford, CT 06492 (203) 265-8500; Fax: 203) 265-8749 www.timesfiber.com (203) 265-8477 Rosemary O'Hanlon The oldest and one of the largest and most technically advanced manufacturers of state-of-the-art coaxial cable, we can supply cables that meet the quality, durability and consistency you need to make your customer's business grow. Reeder Service /114
Toner Cable Equipment, Inc.
969 Horsham Road Horsham, PA 19044 (215) 675-2053, (800) 523-5947 Fax:(215) 675-7543 www.tonercable.com Info@tonrcable.com Toner Cable Equipment, Inc. has 27 years of RF experience as asingle source supplier of equipment to the television distribution industry providing headends, satellite receivers, meters, modulators, taps, splitters, fiber optics and more. Rider Service 1167
Toshiba
9740 Irvine Blvd. Irvine, CA 92618 (714) 461-4654; Fax: (714) 583-3597
www.internet. toshiba.com webmaster@toshiba.com Steve Rasmussen (714) 587-6631 Toshiba offers MCNS modems and MCNS gateway solutions, plant and market analysis, system design, installation and maintenance. Toshiba's systems arc operating in 6major markets actively servicing over 12,000 cable subscribers. Reeder Servkie 05
Trilithic Inc.
9202 East 33rd St. (800) 344-2412; Fax: (317) 895-3613 www.trilith.com Bob Jackson (317) 895-3600, ext. 152 bjackson@trilithic.com Trilithic designs and manufacturers: Portable HFC test equipment; ingress monitoring systems; EAS compliance systems; RF and microwave components. Reeder Service 1153, 54, 57, 137, 177
Trilogy Communications, Inc.
2910 Hwy. 80 East Pearl, MS 39208 874-5649, (601) 932-4461 Fax: (601) 939-6637 WW%V. tri logycoax.co m Scott Nelson (601) 932-4461 info@trilogycoax.com Manufacturer of MC2, the first low-loss, exceptionally high quality trunk and feeder coax, which is ideal for CATV hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) networks. Trilogy also offers afull line of quality MVP drop cables. 150-9001 certified. Reeder Service #91
Trompeter Electronics
31186 La Baya Drive Westlake Village, CA 91362 (818) 707-2020; Fax: (818) 707-0190 www.trompeter.com Dale Reed
dale.reed@trompeter.com Established in 1960, Trompeter is a USA manufacturer of high value wireline coax, triax, and twinax transmission line connectors, cable, and the tools required for assembly. In addition, the company has a broad line of patch panel insertioncontrolled interconnect modules and arapid response cable assembly business. The firm is ISO-9001 and enjoys an international presence in the Telecommunications, Broadcast and MiVAcro markets. Reeder Semite /17
Tole
1605 E. Iola Broken Arrow, OK 74012 (800) 331-5997; Fax: (918) 251-1138 Mark Schumacher and David Chymiak Tulsat is adistributor for Drake, Blonder Tongue and California Amplifier. 70,00 square feet of complete repair facility and warehousing. Refur bished headend and line equipment, taps, traps, pin connectors and cable. Reeder Servke 171, 83
Videotek, Inc.
243 Shoemaker Road Pottstown, PA 19464 (800) 800-5719, (610) 327-2292 Fax: (610) 327-9295 David C. Hirsch dchirsch@videotek.com Located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, Videotek, Inc., is aleading manufacturer of test and measurement equipment, video demodulators, routing and production switchers, color correctors and processors, and related equipment for the professional video and television broadcast markets. Videotek is committed to Zero Defects and is ISO-9001 certified. holy Sinks 178, 178
Viewsonics Inc.
6454 E. Rogers Circle Boca Raton, FL 33487 (561) 998-9594; Fax: (561) 998-3712 viewsonics.com viewson@ix.netcom.com Cynthia Ackerman Designer & manufacturer of more than 200 products for the CATV & MMDS industries for over 23 years. Reeder Service 045
Watkins-Johnson Co.
3333 Ilillview Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94304 (800) 951-4401; Fax: (650) 813-2447 www.wj.com Ann Latham (650) 813-2256 wirelessinfo@wj.com Watkins-Johnson designs and manufactures high performance RF signal conversion components, sub-assemblies, and systems. Markets include wireless telecommunications infrastructure. CATV headend and distribution. WLAN, and others requiring high dynamic range RF products. Reeder Service 031
Wavetek Corp.
5808 Churchman Bypass Indianapolis, Indiana 46203 (317) 788-9351; Fax:(317) 782-4607 www.wavetek.com Gary Culbertson Wavetek Corp. designs, manufactures and markets worldwide abroad line of electronic test and measurement instruments for the cable television, telecommunications, wireless communications, radio, video, LAN, ATE and metrology markets. Wavetek offers signal level, analysis, leakage and home wiring meters, sweep systems, headend monitoring, and bench sweep equipment. ludo Sink. /1, 2, 179
Real-World Technology Solutions for the
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Communications Technology's advertising sales professionals will go out of their way to help you get results. So get serious about your marketing program and call Communications Technology today!
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
TIME IS RIMING
Whatgag you d
meet
EA
itinces?
Frontline, one stop shopping, one call service.
Call now for afree EAS -enSultation.
X800) 231-1349 ·(801) 464-1600 ·Fax: (801)464-1699
www.frontlinecom.com · infoefrontlinecom.com
Reader Service Number 128
_ 'eleeq,"
The winds of change are upon us. On December 31, cable and wireless operations must be in compliance with the new Emergency Alert System requirements. For you, it means more work and some new equipment.
Don't panic. FrontLine has everything you need. We're the EAS specialists, and we can advise on and supply the best solution for your operation--whether it's baseband switching, IF, text messaging or acombination of these. Our patented All Channel Messaging (ACM) system is loaded with functionality to take you beyond EAS. You can use it for the community bulletin board or local sports scores. Better yet, use it to advertise and switch that pay-per-view special. FrontLine is dedicated to innovations in EAS technology. For instance, we are the only company offering aDigital EAS system. And we're rising to new levels with Audio-Tag', providing revenue generating sponsorship of EAS tests and alerts as astandard feature, and FrontPagerrm, an automatic EAS paging system. FrontLine: the source for all your EAS needs.
rflflhlTl 111111 Mill ILi III
CATIONS
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MARKETPLACE
Blast Dust
Dust Blaster, from American Polywater Corp., is ahigh-pressure aerosol spray with maximum cleaning power. Its inert gas is nonflammable, ozone-friendly and will not abrade or degrade surfaces, including plastic. It effectively dusts avariety of electronic devices. Reeder Service #312
Safety Labels
New safety labels from VIP Products scream "WARNING FIBER OPTIC CABLE" in black on telecommunications orange and also are effective for identifying innerduct or conduit. The labels come in two sizes, and they are made of durable vinyl with permanent adhesive backing that can withstand temperature extremes from -25° to 165°. A slit liner simplifies removal. Custom labels may be ordered in various sizes, colors and legends. Reader Service #310
High-Speed Optoelectronics
Anew range of optoelectronic components from Lucent Technologies' Microelectronics Group helps system manufacturers use low-cost automation assembly processes. High optical output power, low-profile footprints and high-level on-board integration are standard to the new components, developed last year by Bell Labs. Lasers, photodetectors, transceivers, transmitters and modulators foreshadow the future in microelectronics technology These products `irc cleigliecl for avariety of data and telecommunications transmission applications. Reader Service #311
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Reader Service Number 129
Set-Top Box
An innovation from Texas Instruments and Integrated Systems. facilitates differentiated digital signal processor-based set-top design and gets the plan to market fast.
The kit combines TI'S TMS320AV7000 series of single-chip set-top digital signal processor (DSP) solutions with ISI's pS0System, real-time operating system (RTOS) and networking products into a pRISM development environment to facilitate the design process. This integrated approach provides the developer with a complete platform for focus on building the application-specific software that can make the set-top areal stand-out.
The AV7000 single-chip architecture integrates a32-bit, 40 million instructions per second (MIPS), ARM7TDMI reduced instruction set (RISC) processor, transport/decryption module, traffic interface manager, MPEG-2 video decoder, graphics accelerator and an NTSC/PAL encoder. The AV7000 series is specifically targeted to digital satellite system and digital video broadcast applications. Reader Service #309
186
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Plenum-Rated Tubing
Chicago-based Richco Inc. has introduced new optical fiber bend-limiting tubing (OFBLT). The plenum-rated material complies with National Electrical Code 770-53A and is rated for temperatures up to 320°. Its superior crush protection limits the bend radius to 30 mm. It's intended for routing fiber in ceilings equipped with plenum spaces Reader Service #308
Software Time-Saver
A tool set from Renaissance Systems, scheduled for release this quarter, cuts application development revision time. The framework's key features include: an MDI application "wizard," which hastens personal computer (PC) applications prototyping with modules such as Connection, Database, Distributed Program Call and Remote Command; quick SQL interface that allows programmers to test SQL grammar immediately while connected to the AS/400; ability to handle data type conversion between any native OS/400 data type and the corresponding Visual Basic data type; and Database and Distributed Program Calls, which execute faster than ODBC calls, and the latter's interface that is compatible with any native AS/400 ILE or non-ILE programming language. Reader Service 006
DWDM Tester
Optical fiber testing solutions from PK Technology tutor telecommunication service and test providers with anew optical channel analyzer (OCA) and data acquisition system.
The Model 790 OCA module for the Model 700 mainframe offers wavelength meter accuracy and optical spectrum analyzer functionality. Because it's designed specifically for emerging dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM), it can completely characterize optical carrier performance by measuring wavelength, power, signal-to-noise ratio (S/N), channel spacing and drift. Deliveries are scheduled to beginin July.
The7600 ISA bus-based data acquisition system enables telecommunication system developers and providers to easily integrate optical fiber characterization and measurement functionality into their communication systems. Modules for high dynamic range remote optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR) applications are available now, and DWDM transmission measurement applications are coming soon. Reader Service #307
Lift Repair
Mobile Tool International has expanded its Fleet Support Division to include servicing its competitors' lifts. MTI Fleet Support reps will perform repairs, maintenance and safety inspections on aerial lifts made by Altec, Versalift and Terex-Telelect, as well as MTI's own lifts--Telsta aerial lifts, Holan insulated aerial lifts and MTI Access trailer-mounted lifts. "If you need it repaired, we'll work on it," MTI says. Reader Service #301
Video Management Service
Video Networks Inc. has introduced Media Tracker, aservice to automate scheduling and delivery of video media.
·targammilmaim
The system lets operators store, schedule and transpon
digitally encoded media for immediate, same-day or next-
day delivery over VNI's nationwide terrestrial and satellite
network. Media Tracker combines an interactive, secure
Web-based interface with Managed Network Services for
receipt verification and real-time reporting status.
The system also can be combined with VNI's Elec-
tronic Commerce service to provide such transaction-
based video clipping services as news-on-demand or commercial video distribution.
Reader Service 003
ISCDatacom
Frequency Agile
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eme
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Reader Service Number 130
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
187
Powering System
Exide Electronics has enhanced its Lectro Powernode centralized powering system-- it now includes the ZTT/Plus (zero transfer time) standby power supply module. The ZTT/Plus and DC generator combination offers powering capabilities up to 5.2 kW and the ability to handle 100% step loads without output waveform degradation.
The DC Powernode accommodates up to five Lectro ZTT/Plus modules in a4+1 configuration, with one unit in "hot-standby" mode. The unit also features "batteryfriendly" charging topology to maximize battery life by adjusting charging levels according to environmental conditions. Reader Service #302
Stirling Push Ei Lock Connectors*
Unique, high quality one-piece connectors for drop cable applications
Stirling SPI Connectors are the result of our continuing research and development which addresses the ever changing technological needs of the global telecoms industries. Stirling SPI Connectors have been tested and certified to SCTE electrical and environmental standards by Ortech Canada, an independent test house which meets the ISO 9002 requirements.
Chamfered edge for ease of cable entry
·One piece connector with no separate parts
·Outer body slides over "0" ring providing protection from U.V. exposure
·Standard 'to" hex nut for use with )4" prep tools
·All brass nickel plated construction
·Excellent water ingression test results to SCTE specifications
·Excellent RFI test results
·Cable retention exceeds cable breaking force
STIRLING CONNECTORS INC.
Over bventy-liye years of dedication and excellence as a leading full-line manufacturer of cable connector products
for further information please contact Stirling Connectors Inc. 120 Gibson Dr., Markham, ON, Canada l3R 223 Telephone (905) 475-6920, Fax (905) 475-7228
·Patent Pending
MI 1Willi MI II BIM 11111141111.11111
Reader Service Number 131
Detectable Conduit
Pyramid Industries has developed a detectable HDPE conduit, called Toneable Duct. It's manufactured with either single or multiple copper conductor wire within the wall of the duct so that it can be located using conventional toning and transmission equipment. The duct is intended for direct-bury and directional-bore applications and locating dielectric fiber cable systems. It comes in avariety of wall thicknesses and can be spliced. The conductor wire is 22-gauge solid bare copper of 300V maximum voltage and 16.2 ohms resistance per 1,000 feet. Reader Service #297
Passive Combiners
R.L. Drake Co. has added the Dracom 1201PC and 1601PC passive combiners to its line of commercial headend equipment. The units can combine outputs of up to 12 or 16 audio/video modulators and/or channel processors onto asingle coaxial cable.
Both the 1201PC and the 1601PC boast directional coupler design to ensure high port-to-port isolation and low insertion loss. Both use standard 19-inch rack-mount panels and are 1.75 inches high. They also feature 20 dB monitor outputs on their front panels and have afrequency range from 5MHz to 600 MHz. Reader Service #305
188
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Fiber-Optic Switching System
Physical Optics Corp. has introduced its POC912 fiber-optic 1:2 bypass switching system. The fiber route protector switch allows automated switching of primary and secondary fibers while protecting against faulty fibers or the loss of return data links from aprimary source.
The POC912 operates in either multimode or single-mode without modification of existing fiber equipment. An alarm connection is included to signal the user when the system switches to a secondary path. Reader Service #304
Coble Modem
The Networks division of Samsung Telecommunications plans to make the InfoRanger cable modem available to MSOs in July. The unit is expected to meet Data Over Cable Systems/Interoperability Specification (DOCS1S) certification from CableLabs in June.
The modem incorporates remote diagnostics, remote downloading of software, and light emitting diode (LED) displays to indicate readiness status, incoming e-mail messages and network traffic load.
Reader Service #300
The brihtost constellations at your licrlip
Curing Oven
Fiber Instrument Sales' Connector Heat Oven is available in 110 or 220 volt models and allows for even heat distribution, minimizing connector heat loss. The unit will cure up to 24 connectors at once, and it accommodates FC, ST, SC, D4 and SMA style connectors. It also features temperature control and indicator lights for "power on" and "heat on." The oven is portable and operates from standard plug outlets. A stand for placing cords during the curing process also is available. Reader Service #299
Surge Protection
The Surge/Gard from Performance Power Technologies protects against the effects of random surges that blow fuses and cause system failures. The unit automatically resets itself after 60 seconds, eliminating many power supply-related shutdowns and unnecessary truck rolls.
The device is packaged in acoaxial housing for installation between apower supply's output and the power inserter. It also can differentiate between short circuits and system overloads, responding accordingly. Reeder Service #298
ill or years, Ilukk Engineering has been answering its cable industry customers' testing needs with aunique solution -- Comprehensive digital-signal diagnostic equipment. With the Iltikk CR1151B QPR Monitor, we pioneered the widespread use of bit error testing in CATV networks. Now, for an all-new generation of digital equipment needs, Ilukk Engineering is introducing the CRI200! The CRI 200 brings hit error testing to QAM-modulated digital signals, whether they are high speed cable modems or compressed digital video. The CRI200 with its easy-to-read constellation display offers you:
·Pre-AND Post-FEC bit error rate
·Signal -to-noise ratio ·F.rrored and severely errored second counts.
The CR 1200 is one of the most versatile products of its kind on the market. The successful combination of superior analog testing and up-to-date digital display features makes Hukk Engineering products stand out as a favorite in the industry.
Hukk
ENGINEERING
250-D Peachtree Corners Circle Norcross. CA 30092 Plume: 888-236-8948 Fax: "70-446-6850 www.hukk.com
Visit us at Booth 911 at the SCTE EXPO in June.
Reader Service Number 132
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
BOOKSHELF
The following is alisting of some of the videotapes currently available via mail order through the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers. The prices listed are for SCTE members only. Nonmembers must add 20% when ordering.
·Regulation and The Cable Industry Featuring Steve Ross, John Wong and Alan Stilwell from the Federal Communications Commission, Dave Large and Wendell Bailey. The program covers topics such as regulations for compatibility between cable equipment and subscriber-
SCTE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
NAME :
MSO :
COMPANY:
ADDRESS: CITY: ON-LINE ADDRESS :
PHONE : FAX :
TITLE:
STATE :
ZIP:
HAM RADIO CALL SIGN :
Affiliation:
0 Cable
0 Telephone
0 Other:
Job Description:
0 Manager/Administrator CI Installer CI Engineer
D Operations CI Sales CI Technician
0 Financial 0 Construction 0 Other:
Membership Type: 0 Individual @ $-10
0 International @ 560* 0 Sustaining Member Co. @ $250
*Applicants from outside the U.S. include an additional 120 for mailing expenses.
Make checks payable to SCTE. or include MasterCard or Visa information below. Please make payments in U.S. funds, drawn on aU.S. bank. SCTE is aSOI (c) (6) non-profit professional membership organization. Your dues may be tax deductible. Consult your local IRS office or tax advisor. Additional member material will be mailed within 30 days. Dues are billed annually.
An Individual SCTE member will receive all standard benefits of membership. A Sustaining member is listed under the company name and has one contact person who is afforded all benefits of an individual membership. Sustaining member companies are given discounts while exhibiting at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo.
Type of Card: 0 MasterCard 0 Visa
Card#:
Exp. Date:
Signature:
Sponsoring Chapter or Meeting Group:
Sponsoring Member:
Send Completed Application to: SCTE, 140 Philips Road, Exton, PA 19341-1318 or Fax to: (610) 363-5898
Complimentary Subscription Application
O YES ! Iwant to receive/continue to receive aFREE subscription to O NO Communications Technology. SCTE's Official Trade Journal.
Signature
Date (Signature and date required by U.S. Postal Service.)
B. Please check the category that best describes your firm's primary business (check only one):
Cable TV Systems Operations combined
03.0 Independent Cable TV Systems
04.0 MSO (two or more Cable TV Systems)
05.0 Cable TV Contractors 06.0 Cable TV Program Networks 07.0 SMATV, DBS Operator 08.0 MMDS, STV or LPTV
Operations 9A.0 Microwave 9E10 Telecommunications Carrier 9C.C1 Electric Utility 90.0 Satellite Manufacturer 9E.C1 Satellite Distributor/Dealer 9E 0 Fiber-Optic Manufacturer 10.0 Commercial TV Broadcasters
11. Ll Cable TV Component Manufacturers
12.0 Cable TV Investors 13.0 Financial Institutions, Brokers
&Consultants 14.C) Law Firm or Govt. Agencies 15.0 Program Producers,
Distributors and Syndicators 16.0 Advertising Agencies 17.0 Educational TV Stations,
Schools and Libraries 18. Li Other (please specify)
C. Please check the category that best describes your job title: (check only one)
19. J Corporate Management 20. Management 21. J Programming
TechnicaUEngineering 22.0 Vice President 23.0 Director 24.0 Manager 25.0 Engineer 26.0 Technician 27.0 Installer
28.0 Sales 29. 0 Marketing 30.0 Other (please specify)
D. Which one of the following best describes your involvement in the decision to purchase a product/service? (check only one)
31.0 Recommend 32.0 Specify 33.0 Evaluate 34.0 Approve 35.0 Not involved
owned equipment, short-and long-term compatibility requirements, single channel vs. simultaneous access, decoder interfaces, alternatives being negotiated with consumer electronics industry including disagreements, how the rules being developed can be carried out, anti buy-through and must-carry arrangements, rate regulation rules, broadcasters' petition for second channel, and onscreen violence and how it affects cable. (90 min.) Order T-1150, $45. ·Advances in System Architectures -Featuring moderator Jim Ludington, J.R. Anderson, John Mattson, Karl Poirier, Don Gall and Doug Wolfe. This is the video for anyone interested in creating designs that will stand the test of time. Issues discussed include: how deep fiber should go into the network, how many fibers should go to the node, hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) architectures, fiber-rich design, fiber deep design as an alternative, the current status of system architectures, the addition of switched and interactive services, the impact of digital networks, evolution toward afuture architecture, radial distribution node and how to control the costs of fiber splicing and testing. (90 min.) Order T1151, $45. ·Convergence -Larry Lehman serves as this videotape's moderator, with speakers Ken Matz, Chuck Merk and Andy Pall. The program provides an overview, plus trends in telephone and video systems, characteristics and distribution networks. Also discussed is the evolution of services, distribution architecture and trends toward regional interconnects. (75 min.) Order T-1153, $45. 1-r
Note: The videoknes are in color and available in the WS( I/2-inch VHS format only. Prey are available in stock and will be delivered approximately three weeks after receipt of order with full payment.
Shipping: Videotapes are shipped UPS. No PO. boxes, please. SGE pays surface shipping charges within the continental U.S. only. Orders to Canada or Mexico: Please add S5 (U.S.) for each videotape. Orders to Europe, Africa, Asia or South America: SUE will invoice the recipient for additional air or surface shipping charges (please specify). Rush' orders: o515 surcharge will be collected on all such orders. The surcharge and air shipping cost can be charged to aVisa or MasterCard.
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. SCTE accepts MasterCard and Visa. To qualify for SCTE member prices, avalid SCTE identification number is required, or ocomplete membership application with dues payment must accompany your order. Orders without full and proper payment will be returned. Send orders to. SCTE, 140 Philips Rd., Exton, PA 19341-1318 or fax with credit card information to (6101 363-5898.
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
CALENDAR
June
3: Bluegrass Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers Chapter technical seminar, Holiday Inn, Elizabethtown, KY. "Fiber Issues" with Max Henry of Time Warner Cable and representatives from Siecor and FONS. Contact Max Henry, (502) 435-4433. 7-11: SuperComm, Atlanta. Call (202) 326-7300. 7-11: IEEE International Conference on Communications (with SuperComm), Atlanta. Call (212) 705-8248. 9: Wheat State SCTE Chapter testing session, Wichita, KS. Broadband Communications Technician/Engineer certification examinations to be administered. Contact Joe Cvetnich, (316) 262-4270. 10-13 SCTE Cable-Tec Expo, Convention Center, Denver. Contact SCTE national headquarters, (610) 363-6888. 11: SUE Satellite Tek-Seminar Program, Galaxy IR, Transponder 14, 2:303:30 p.m. ET. Topic: "Digital Systems Deployment". Contact SCTE national headquarters, Janene Martin, (610) 363-
6888, ext. 220. 18: New England SCTE Chapter technical seminar and testing session, Holiday Inn, Boxborough, MA. BCT/E and Installer certification exams to be administered. Contact Brian Bedard, (413) 562-9923, ext. 228. 19: Oklahoma SCTE Chapter testing session, Edmond, OK. BCT/E, Service Tech-
nician and Telephony certification examinations to be administered. Contact Tom Heddlesten, (405) 348-5750, ext. 312. 24: Badger State SCTE Chapter technical seminar, Holiday Inn, Fond du Lac, WI. Topic: "Annual Safety Seminar" with
speakers to be announced. Contact Robert Shugarman, (608) 238-9690. 25-26: 1998 Forum on Cable/Telco Franchising & Competition, Embassy Row Hilton, Washington, D.C. Call (212) 302-1800. CT
olve Coax and -go Pair gzIe
Planning Ahead
July 8-10: Wireless Cable Show, Philadelphia. Call (202) 452-7823 July 20-23: New England Cable Television Association, Newport, RI. Call (617) 843-3418. July 27-31: Fiber U & Wire U, Boston. Call (800) 537-8254. Sept. 22-24: Great Lakes Cable Expo, Chicago. Call (317) 845-8100. Sept. 30-Oct. 1: Private & Wireless Show, Dallas. Call (713) 975-0030. Oct. 13-15: Mid America Show, Kansas City, MO. Call (913) 8419241.
Putting The Pieces
TIMPthPP _With mu.-
15 years of supplying the Telco industry with test and measurement equipment, Tempo Research has more than just experience to
bring to the Cable TV
nnorntn"r·IA/11041pr
identifying aspecific coax cable within a bundle of drops or locating impedance mismatches, Tempo Research products
assist in installing, main-
taining and repairing
coax or twisted pair plant. Call us today at (800) 642-2155.
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JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS IECHNOLOC,Y
191
(AILE TRIVIA
Our history guru (aka Editor Rex Porter) has provided these trivia questions on the cable industry Answers to the last set of questions appear first. (The last "Cable Trivia" ran on page 118 of the May issue.) The person supplying the most correct answers will be awarded aspecial Trivia T-shirt. You may win only once per calendar year.
To be in the running for aprize, your answers need to be postmarked or faxed to us by the 20th of the month of the issue date in which the specific trivia test appears. Good luck! Send your answers to: The Trivia Judge, Communications Technology, 6565 E. Preston, Mesa, AZ 85215 or fax: (602) 807-8319.
Trivia #22 answers
1) On Monday, July 8, 1997, Bill Gates met with top cable executives to demonstrate MicroSoft's new set-top box. The software that MicroSoft's system would use is: Windows CE
2) The 1994 Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers' Cable-Tec Expo was held in: St. Louis 3) The 1995 SCTE Conference on Emerging Technologies was held in: Orlando, FL 4) In 1994, these two giants scrapped their $4.9 billion deal, citing changes in Federal Communications Commission rate rules as the reason. They are: Cox and Southwestern Bell 5) The FCC has selected, as the cutoff date for TV stations transitioning from analog to digital broadcasting, the year: 2006 6) The word "bit" is so named because: It is acontraction of binary and digit 7) The Japanese word "Karaoke" means: empty orchestra 8) The digital encoding of the amplitude of asignal is known as: PCM 9) Abyte contains: 8bits 10) In digital systems, atechnique that re-arranges the data in aspecific way, usually to cause bursts of transmission errors to be spread out in the data, is called: interleaving
Trivia #23
1) In aSAW filter, the acronym "SAW" stands for: A) standing audio wave B) second area warp C) surface acoustic wave D) synchronously active wave
2) In June, 1990, aSan Diego-based division of this major company announced an industry "first"--its all-digital system for transmitting afull high-definition TV (HDTV) signal in original format over a standard 6MHz TV channel. This major company is: A) Zenith Corporation B) Philips Consumer Electronics C) General Instrument D) Thompson Consumer Electronics
3) Gary Shapiro is: A) president of the Citizens For HDTV B) counsel for the National Cable Television Association
LEMCO
"Definitely...that's a better way to form a stress-free loop."
L-Series Loop Forming Tools from Lemco... for stronger, longer lasting expansion loops
800.233.8713 Fax: 717.494.0860 www.lemco-tool.com
See Lemco at Cable-Tee EXPO Booth #954
Reader Service Number 134
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOCY
C) chairman of the FCC D) president of the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association
4) Since 1993, all TV sets manufactured or distributed for sale in the United States with screen diagonals of 13 inches or greater must: A) provide stereo sound B) provide closed-captioning capability C) provide Automatic Volume Control D) provide color pictures
10) In order to allow NTSC to be interoperable with HDTV signal sources, alternate frame rates will be available, at least during the transistion period, based on the NTSC field rate of: A) 60 Hz B) 24 Hz C) 30 Hz D) 59.94 Hz
And the winner is...
At press time, there was no winner for Cable Trivia #22, which ran in the May issue. The winner will be announced in an upcoming issue. CT
5) In 1992, Philips (Magnavox) began offering aproduct named Vector. Its function was: A) cancellation of ghosts B) providing interactive TV C) providing stereo music D) noise filtering
6) The SCTE changed its name from the Society of Cable Television Engineers to Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers in the year: A) 1990 B) 1992 C) 1994 D) 1995
7) General Instrument held the first successful field tests of advanced 256-QAM transmission over hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) networks in 21 different systems owned by: A) Time Warner B) Continental Cablevision C) Rogers Cablesystems D) TCI
Watch your investment.
8) In 1996, an experimental trillion-bit asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching technique was tested around a 20 gigabit per second ATM switch manufactured by: A) Lucent Technologies B) Motorola C) Hewlett-Packard D) Tektronix
9) Adigital error protection code based on blocks of data with added redundancy capable of correcting burst errors up to a limit set at design time is the: A) Hamming code B) Reed-Soloman code C) Time code D) Aliasing code
Call up data and schematic maps of your systems on screen with Norscan monitoring software. Norscan CableView and FiberView make monitoring and troubleshooting across systems fast and cost-effective. Find out how. Call us today.
norsca
7Terracon Place. Winnipeg, MB Canada R214B3 Tel (204) 233-9138 Fax (204) 233-9188 301-F3 10th Street NW, Conover. NC USA 28613 Tel (704) 464-1148 Fax (704) 464-7608 Web http://www.norscan.com E-mail support@norscan.com
Reader Service Number 135
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
AD INDEX
RR#
107 62 80 4, 150 40 16, 151 95 104 22 -7, 152 123 122 125,126,153 30 56 118 18, 154 108 46 25 115 155
102 26, 27 13, 156 68,70,72 94 33 101 -36 79 34 61 105 20, 157 103 --21 128, 158 39, 159 127 112 48 47 29, 160 75 -88 132 66, 73 64 -130 85 15, 161 90
138 69 59, 134 32, 162 119 -98 117 24, 35 38,49,91 121, 129 163,136 110, 164 116 89 100, 165 60 --
Advertiser
3Com ADC Telecommunications.. . Alcoa Fujikura Alpha Technologies Alice AM Communications Amherst International Anicom Multimedia Wiring Service ANTEC Network Technologies ANTEC Network Technologies ANTEC TeleWire Supply Arcom Arrow Fastener Co. Aska Communications Aurora Instruments Avantron Avcom Barco Batteries Plus Belden Wire and Cable Blonder Tongue Budco C-Cor Electronics, Inc.
Cable AML Cable Innovations Cable Leakage Technologies Cable Prep Cable Resources CableSery CI-12M Hill Cisco Systems Commscope Communications & Energy Corp Comsonics CTC/oslyn Display Systems DX Communications Eagle Comtronics Electroline Exide Electronics Fiber Optic Network Solutions Frontline Communications General Instruments GMP Gold Communications Hal-Tec Harmonic Lightwaves Hewlett Packard Holland Electronics HollyAnne Hopewell Precision HUKK Engineering iCS Idea/Onics IEC ISC Datacom ITW Fastex Distribution Klungness Electronic Supply Laser Power
Leader Instruments Learning Industries Lemco Tool Lindsay Specialty Products Line Ward Literature Library Mainline Equipment Masterack Mega Hertz Mega Hertz Mega Hertz Mega Hertz Microwave Filter MK Battery Molex Fiber Optic Monroe Electronics Moore Diversified Products Motorola Multimedia Group
Page # RR#
Advertiser
Page #
159 107 69, 127
5, 71, 204 48-49
19, 204 144 157
25, 72 Insert 9 204
172 171 174,175,204 36 100 168 21,75,204
160 56 29
166 61, 204
154 30, 31 16, 204
115,117,119 143
39, 88
153 64 43, 74 126
41 106 158 23, 204 60, 155 67 Insert 24 185, 204 47,77,204 178 164 81 57, 65 34-35, 204 122
Insert 136
189
113, 120 109 195
187 132
18, 204 138
82 116 184, 192 38,69,205 168
66 149 167 27, 42 46,88,139
169, 186 205, 207 162, 205
166 137 152, 205 68, 105 69
6,166,140 44 135
76 Ill 50 50 96 11, 167 --28 74 58, 168 124 65, 169 84 19, 170
-82 77
52 31, 171
109 93 120
63 14, 172 23
2, 173 -3 55
87 86 141 9 43, 174 131 51, 139 175 8,10,176 41 -92 133 42 114 67
5 99
53
54, 57 177, 137 97
17 71, 83
78, 178 45
81 · 113 37 1, 12 179 106
Multilink
NCS Industries Norscan
Noyes Fiber Systems
Oldcastle Precast
Omega One Omega One Onronics
Passive Devices
PBI Customer Service PBI List Sales Performance Power Technologies
Phasecom
Philips Broadband Networks Pico Macom
Pioneer New Media
Plexco Power & Telephone Supply Precision Valley Communications Preformed Line Products
Quality RF Services Quintech
Radiant Communications
RDL RELTEC
Rifocs Corporation Ripley Company Riser Bond Instruments
Sadelco
Scientific Atlanta SCTE Sencore Siecor Silicon Valley Communications SkyConnect
SpanPro Standard Communications Stanford Telecom Stirling Connectors Superior Electronics Superior Electronics Telecrafter Products Teledyne Tellabs
Telonix
Tempo Research Time Manufacturing Times Fiber Communications
Toner Cable Equipment, Inc
Toshiba Tri -Vision Electronics Trilithic
Trilithic Trilithic Trilogy Communications Trompeter Electronics Tulsa( Videotek, Inc. Viewsonics Vision Teq Wade Antenna
Watkins-Johnson Company Wavetek Corporation
Wavetek Corporation Wireless Cable Association
8,205,212
54 193
122
163
84,85,86 87,89 145
13,68,205
206 206
33
121
102-103, 205 173
110-111, 205
132 22, 205
76 129
123 93
37, 205
161 142
169 108 17, 205
26
2 205 79, 170, 190
3 98-99 78, 135
133
134 11
53, 206 188
90-91, 211 206
10,12,206 51 69
139
191 52
165
114
7 151 70, 95
97, 101 206, 209
147 20
118, 131 125, 206
55 128 164
45 gate cover, 14-15
73, 203 158
Reprints List Sales Customer Service Merchandise/Back Issues Editorial Advertising
(301) 340-7788, ext. 2009 (301) 340-7788, ext. 2026
(800) 777-5006 (800) 877-5188 (301) 340-7788, ext. 2134 (301) 340-7788, ext. 2004
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
International Engineering Consortium Publications
Annual 14,1e...41 omenunkatior Volume I
Annual Review of Communications 1998
This 1,100-page resource chronicles the most
recent advancements in telecommunications
business and technology. Over 200 papers cover topics such as business strategy, marketing, and
regulations; multimedia, the Internet, and on-line services; network technology and applications; computer/telecommunications developments; wireless communications; ATM; intelligent networks;
operations and quality control; and much more. The book features an exclusive CEO Reports section.
Forthcoming June 1998
The Future of Wireless Broadband
Local Access
For many service providers, terrestrial wireless
broadband is perhaps the least costly of all the
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alternatives for providing broadband local access service to U.S. business customers and residences. This new research report examines the full
114moddltre
implications of terrestrial wireless broadband as a
service delivery vehicle and presents adetailed
L)
analysis of the market, suppliers, customers, vendors, products, and the future outlook of this
emerging local access architecture. Topics covered include growth scenarios
for wireless broadband, prospective market demand, current deployments
and growth strategies, current regulations, technology/ cost comparisons
with wireline options, etc. Forthcoming July 1998
e
The Future of ATM and Broadband Networking: 2000-2010 Based on extensive industry interviews and in-
depth surveys, this research report examines the
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technology, markets, strengths, and limitations of key broadband networking architectures, including
ATM, 100-Mbps Ethernet, FDDI, Gigabit Ethernet,
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ADSL, frame relay, and satellite distribution sys-
tems. The study examines broadband networking
within various contexts, including business campus
backbones, metropolitan areas, college campus
networks, residential markets, wide-area networks, and global high-band-
width links. The pros and cons of each technology option are evaluated,
and strategies for deploying and utilizing each are offered. February 1998
The Satellite Revolution: The Shift to Direct
Consumer Access and Mass Markets
This new report examines the cost, technical perfor-
mance, and service competitiveness of emerging
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satellite systems. Special attention is given to how new satellite systems will compete with each other and with alternative terrestrial telecom services. Satellite markets that are covered include fixed
satellite services, the new high data-rate multime-
dia satellites, and mobile satellite services. The
report projects key market developments for satel-
lites over the next five to seven years. The relative growth of each market
segment is analyzed on the basis of space segment technology, ground segment developments, service range and flexibility, and costs. February 1998
Intelligent Networks: Technologies,
Applications, and Business Challenges,
Volume 3
This new comprehensive report covers the latest
ieurte
T.M11.1n. Menem ell OM«. linimo·
developments and practical experiences in implementing intelligent network technology. Designed for decisionmakers responsible for network management
and business planning, this volume reviews the present
1©
business climate for IN services and operations and
offers concrete advice for successfully developing IN services. Topics covered include integrated platform
strategies, small business and residential IN opportunities, regulation vs.
market-based drivers for IN, mass-marketing AIN services, billing and
security issues, optimizing IN architectures, and more. This is Volume 3in
the IEC's annual series on Intelligent Networks. February 1998
Telecommunications Engineering and Operations:
Network Challenges, Business Issues, and Current
Developments
The road to telecommunications survival rests upon
successful navigation of the open competitive
hemormIll
Clineompl. rulteu
awl
environment mandated by the FCC. Service providers must reconsider how they deliver and manage services
end-to-end and may even have to redetermine the
nature of their customers. This comprehensive report
F:
helps companies meet this challenge by sharing the experiences and insight of key industry professionals
in areas such as local number portability, local loop
unbundling, network integration and interoperability, customer service
management, operations support, TMN, migrating to broadband
infrastructures, and more. January 1998
Broadband and Multimedia: Current
Developments, Applications and Technologies,
Volume 2
This comprehensive report examines the state of
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broadband/multimedia applications in the
information industry today and the future direction of multimedia developments, opportunities, and
I:1
technologies. It provides the perspective of key industry leaders on developments in the area of
multimedia applications over existing and future
communications networks as well as emerging
opportunities over the next years. This is Volume 2in the IEC's annual
series on Broadband and Multimedia.
For more information on any of these new publications, check the appropriate box(es) below:
Annual Review of Communications 1998
CI The Future of Wireless Broadband Local Access
JThe Future of ATM and Broadband Networking: 2000-2010 nThe Satellite Revolution: The Shift to Direct Consumer
Access and Mass Markets
Intelligent Networks: Technologies, Applications, and Business Challenges, Volume 3
Fax this form to +1-312-559-4111.
NAME
Telecommunications Engineering and Operations: Network Challenges, Business Issues, and Current Developments
-IBroadband and Multimedia: Current Developments, Applications and Technologies, Volume 2
COM PANY
TI ,LE
ADORE SS CITY PHONE
STATE
ZIP
FAX
Visit www.iec.org for
Technology Tutorials
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E-MAIL
International Engineering Consortium ie 549 W. Randolph, Suite 600 to. Chicago, IL 60661-2208
Phone: 312.559.3730
Fax: 312.559.4111 to Web: www.iec.org 411, e-mail: publications®iec.org
CMT
AClear Picture of Cable TV's Future
RAJ
Join us in creating the future of television and turn our vision into your career. Ameritech's cable TV company, Ameritech New Media, is changing your TV from something you watch to something you use. Right now, we're looking for someone to assist us with our cable TV operations in the Chicagoland area.
TELECOMNICNICATIONS 21" Century Telecom is a state-of-the-art video, data and voice telecommunications company located in downtown Chicago. We are expanding rapidly and offer arare and exciting opportunity for results-oriented team players that are interested in helping us provide our customers with the most technologically advanced communications package in the world. If you have atechnical or sales background in cable TV, telephony and/or Internet and data services, please send your resume to Marty Burris. FAX (312) 4702I30 or call (312) 470-2 I00. EUE.
lef ss-- s·
21 stcentury.net
Lead Architect
You will be responsible for the development, implementation and operationalization for technical architectures of the integration of digital software and hardware systems (and network security/integrity) in a video network/operations environment. BS or Master's in Engineering or Computer Science with 3-5 years strong experience with system architecture and security necessary. System experience in avideo, audio or multimedia delivery and standards, web site implementation, LAN/WAWTCP-IR and Satellites amust.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits. For consideration please fax a resume to: Dept. KR-LA 888/216-6337, EOE
SCTE Sustaining
F Peter
Member
roehlich & Co. executive search
PO. Box 339 Weatherford, TX 76086 (800) 742-4947 FAX (817) 594-1337
email: pi search@flash.net web: http://www.11ash.neti-plsearch
All levels of Technical Positions Corporate to Hourly.
Operators and Manufacturers Call or Write. Fees Paid.
dir
Since 1975 we have served the cable -tv industry by
matching talent with opportunity
Jim Young & Associates
One Young Plaza, Weatherford, Texas 76086 Call (800) 433-2160 ·Fax (817) 599-4483 ·E-mall jyoung@staffing net
BROADBAND.
IT'LL CHANGE EVERYTHING.
At Media0ne, you'll have an impact on millions of homes across America. Our Broadband technology will enable people to send and receive video through their PC and access the Internet with the fastest home service available. Join us at Media0ne. together we'll change everything. Pompano Beach and Hialeah, FL opportunities include: SPLICING & ACTIVATION TECHNICIANS CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION TECHNICIANS These positions require aminimum of 2years' experience, including the ability to read and interpret system design prints, splice coaxial cable, and understand design of transmission system (headend, fiber, trunk, feeder, tap and drop system). Applicants must also be able to troubleshoot and repair trunk outages and line problems. A complete understanding of trunk amplifier RF levels, AC/DC voltages, and trunk amplifier test points is required, as is acomplete understanding of system powering, balancing, and return path principles. Construction Inspection Technicians must also possess good customer service skills. We offer competitive compensation and eligibility for health care, dental, and general vision insurance coverage in 30 days. Relocation assistance is available. We also offer a401(k) plan after 90 days, tuition reimbursement, and stock options. Please send your resume, indicating Source Code ENCTFL, to: Media0ne, Human
Media0ne Resources, Attn: FM, 141 Northwest 16th St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060. FAX:
(954) 532-6612. Media0ne is An Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages the referral of diverse applicants. Pre-employment drug screening required.
Ilb, b Broadband. III, b. the way.
Cet FREËdesign kints on "Internet www.cabletools.com
1-800-465-5652GoldCom
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
No Other Rundle Holds This Many Possibilities...
At General Instrument, our employees decide the direction we take.
Come join our Engineering team that is leading the future of Digital Television. General Instrument's Digital Network Systems group is looking for talented engineers to expand it's development efforts on equipment and deliver systems for MPEG2 video and data. Ongoing developments include enhancements to deliver a host of new applications to consumers such as high-speed Internet access, video-on-demand, community networking and more via standard CATV plants. With abrand new state-ofthe-art campus in Horsham, PA. GI offers the environment and opportunity for engineers to apply creativity to enable the home theater to be atotally new experience through Digital technology.
Embedded Software/Firmware Engineers
Join the firmware development team for our North American and International Digital Consumer Terminal Products. You will develop, code, debug and document real-time embedded firmware in C, C++ and Assembly. 3 years of experience and a BSEE/BSCS are required. Position code: DNS-14-CD.
Systems Engineers
You will perform architectural analysis, functional
partitioning and requirements development in support of independent software vendors deploying their applications on our digital cable and wireless systems, and define new products and system evolution requirements. A BS or MS in atechnical discipline and 5or more years' experience in acommunication system engineering or large system engineering is required. Position code: DNS-76-CD.
Test Engineer/Programmer
You will be responsible for development, execution and reporting of results qualification
scenarios for DNS products (ACC4000D, headend, DCT/DVB) in customer specific and core business environments for existing and new functionality. You will also report and maintain status of all non-compliance issues
documented and close as resolutions become available for verification. Ideal candidate will have aBS in CS, MIS, EE or equivalent and 5-10 years' experience in computer system development. Strong written and verbal skills, PC literate, experience with UNIX, and C or C++, Windows NT, Sun Novell, Ethernet, and networking are also required. Analog, digital.
CAN and training in test technology experience is aplus.
General Instrument is located in the desirable northern suburbs of Philadelphia. We offer competitive salaries and an outstanding benefits package including afully paid pension plan and three weeks vacation. Learn more about us on the World Wide Web at: www.gi.com.
For consideration, please send your resume to General Instrument, Employee Resources Dept./(Please insert your desired position code here), P.O. Box 697, Hatboro, PA 19040-0697. Fax 215-773-7550. We are an equal opportunity employer.
JGeneral Instrument®
Knology brings high technology to your home. and
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Broadband Training
Philips Mobile Training in Broadband Technology
Acomprehensive, broadband technology seminar
Detroit, MI
Indianapolis, IN Chicago, IL
Syracuse, NY Richmond, VA Charlotte, NC
Savannah, GA Orlando, FL
September 8-10 1
September 15-17 September 21-23
October 6-8 October 27-29 November 3-5
November 10-12 November 17-19 ,
Course instnrction includes: DAY 1. Overview of CATV system elements DAY 2: System performance, practical experience/labs DAY 3 Return path issues 8answers, return path setup labs
For more information or to register, call 800-448-5171 or 315-682-9105 and ask for the Mobile Training Coordinator.
(Ask about our special class in Boxborough, MA August 17 -19
ON-SITE TRAINING IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
PHILIPS
The Reliable Choice.
JUNE 19 1), · (0\1\11 \RAM/Ns) 11( IINOlOGY
I07
Experienced cable and satellite technicians for
high-volume, high-growth DBS distributor. SIO
tdoul.Sls2:0insptearllhaotuiorn,pltuesstbionnguasnpdotteunntiinalg.
Primary of TV distrib-
Iution systems in large complexes.
2to 5years relevant experience. DIRECTV
experience aplus. Associates degree preferred.
High-growth, fast-paced entreprenurial environ-
1ment with high potential upside. Los Angeles
area only. Send resume to Installation, Dept. CT,
2110 Artesia Blvd. B-199, Redondo Beach, CA
90278-3069
HiC) Communications
is looking for experienced long term help for So. Cal. and Michigan Projects
Sweep Techs. Ingress Techs Splicers
MDU Techs. Postwire
Installers
Call (213) 735-CATV Fox (213) 735-1171 Attn: Victor De Leon Jr.
Minas:Betts
PRODUCTION DESIGN ENGINEER
THOMAS & BETTS, aFortune 500 company of Horseheads. NY is seeking aqualified Product Design Engineer to join our Design/Sustaining Engineering Department. The qualified Candidate would possess aBS/BA in Mechanical. Electrical, or Physics degree. A strong mathematical ability, with courses in materials, mechanics, statics, and dynamics, etc. Computer literacy and working experience with office software and advanced design packages. CAD system (i.e. Pro-Engineer). Thomas & Betts strives to have ateamed environment. If interested resumes are accepted at:
Thomas & Betts Corporation Attn.: HR Office PO Box Ill Horseheads, NY 14845 FAX (607) 796-5781 EEE/AA Website: WWW.TNB.COM E-Mail: SOBRIEN@TNBCOM
Wanted!
Experienced long term help for Southeast rebuilds/upgrades
Aerial Crews Fiber Optic Crews Underground Crews
Splicers Installers Field Engineers
CABLE MAN, INC. Call (601) 374-5832
Fax: (601) 374-2198
910 »la awn
ad, E
no.% a
T E
Professional Search & Placement
Management Technicians Sales Marketing Construct'
Call or Write: Wick Kirby P.O. Box 2347 Naperville, IL 60567
630-369-0126 fax wickkirby@aol.com
FEES PAID
CATV PROJECT MANAGERS
We are aleader in the Telecommunications Industry, looking for dedicated and success-
ful Project Managers, who are committed to excellence. Project Managers will be responsible for the completion of upgrade and rebuild projects. Construction projects will include aerial and underground placement of fiber and coaxial cable, node activation as well as power supply construction. Managers must have demonstrated successful planning, directing and coordination of construction projects. Please forward resumes to:
Project Manager CTM PBI, 1900 Grant Street, Suite 720
Denver, CO 80203
9Qe .9"c
INTERACTIVE GLOBAL COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
CATV
AERIAL CONSTRUCTION CREWS
Immediate openings for 6crews in the Southeast, including linemen and CATV splicing. Two year contract renewable.
Visit us at: IGC@MINDSPRING.COM Fax: (770) 6424206 Contact: Teresa Ellis Phone: (800) 240-1414 Press "24"
THE COMPASS GROUP
RECRIIITIMi SERVICES
COMPENSATION? LOCATION? CHALLENGE? RESPONSIBILITY?
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E-NIAIL: recruilltlairmailnd
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For Excellence in Fiber optics
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TESINC
6523 N. Black Canyon Highway Suite 200
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(602) 242-8110 FAX (602) 242-8227
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Call Judi: 1-800-800-7886
108
JUNL lqq8 · Com\IUN ICATIONS ILLHNOLOG1
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING &DEVELOPMENT, W. PALM BEACH, FL
Rapidly growing, full service, nationwide Prime Contractor performs every facet of Cable TV Construction, Engineering, Installation Services, Utility Construction Services and Computer Network Services, and wishes to develop o Security System Division. Qualified candidates must have Bachelor's or higher degree in Marketing, and aminimum of 5years experience in one of the above industries.
We are specifically seeking that management individual who can conceive, evolve and carry out marketing/promo tional campaigns enabling the company to reach its goals. In the next 12 months, the firm will double in size, and double again in each of three subsequent years.
This position will be responsible for the staffing and managing of the marketing team he/she assembles. Our ideal prospect is energetic, enthusiastic and creative, and possesses astrong urge to achieve goals. Results-oriented individuals will be best suited for the job.
Benefits include health/medical insurance plans, profit sharing, 401k, etc. Mail resumes to: Director of Marketing CIPC, P131, 1900 Grant Street, Suite 720, Denver, CO
80203
Drug Free Workplace/4ml Opportunity
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Visit us at booth #803 at Cable-Tec Expo
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
jiI
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(912) 557-4751 ·FAX: (9121 557-6545 800 _673.7322
AERIAL AND UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION OF (ATV, LANS, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS.
SPLICING, UPGRADES, REBUILD, NEW EXTENSIONS OF SYSTEM, BALANCE SWEEP AND PROOF SYSTEM.
OVER 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE See us at Coble
Rs
(860) 953-3770 (860) 546-1055 1(800) 466-8168 Fax (860) 953-3772
·System Audits ·Direct Sales ·Drop Replacements ·MDU Postwire and Prewire
·Installs ·C.L.I. ·As-Builts ·Underground
Contact: Ed Reynolds
80
VtaondGeorobdilwtiAnveR.d
· West Hartford. CT 06110 · Cantervury, CT 06331
FREE 44pg Catalog & 80 Audio ynie8? APP0O.
e.lbe
'RAMS AC»
PRESS
,reelé"enel
V.el·a · Aye. Ort1 ·ffloàs
0()VAMP LABS INC (213) 934-3568 1033 N Sycamore Ay LOS ANGELES CA. 90038 http://www.opamplabs.com
-- Industry
Service Since 1966
.,,1/`
JRUOMCPKEY RM OCUANTBALIENS
P.O. Box 9707 ·Helena, MT. 59604
Custom Made Jumper Assemblies
--I
All Brands Fittings/Cable
·FMale
·FFema le
·RG -59 ·RG ·56
·BNC
·RG -11
·PL
·Other
Our jumpers never leave our plant during construction, insuring inspection of each phase
Lof construction. Our quality control insures you of the lowest RF leakage possibe. Call for pricing and free sample. (406) 458-6563 I.
_.,.1i,
200
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
WE BUY & SELL SURPLUS NEW & USED
Connectors, Taps, Headend, Line Gear, Misc.
TM BROKERS
5402 Highway 95 -Cocolalla, ID 83813 Tel: (208) 683-2797 or (208) 683-2019
Fax: (208) 683-2374 SEE INVENTORY ON HOME PAGE EMAIL:moorstîcomtch. iea.com HOME PAGE:http://www.iea.com/-moorst
We Accept M/C or Visa
Is Quality Construction
Pyramid Industries offers Quality Smoothwall. Ribbed. Corrugated. Figure-8 and Toneable Duct at competitive prices and immediate delivery. Contact your local distnbutor or call us at: 814-455-7597.
FIBER TRUCKS & TRAILERS. INC.
Designs for the Future
Buy afully equipped 1998
fiber splicing trailer
for under $15,000.
1-888-544-1994
See us at Cable Tac Booth 1185
BUY
9Mr.
SELL REPAIR RMF
Supporting Broadband Networks Worldwide
·PPV Set-tops ·Custom Manufacturing
Free Pickup & Delivery Service Available
864-574-0155 Fax 864-574-0383 sales@dbtronics.com http://www.dbtronics.com
·S-A & C-COR 750MHZ EQ's
·Mag 550MHZ Upgrades, Reverse Ready
r Ai Scientific
·Addressable Control Replacement for SM4/5
Atlanta ·Integration Services for Advanced Technology
Accepting Mastercard
and VISA
Quality Cable & Electronics Inc.
1950 NW 44th Street, Pompano Bch., Fi. 33064
Tel: (954) 978-8845 Fax: (954) 978-8831
Internet: http:Pwww.Qualitye able.com
The Choice Is
SIMPLE!
Molex XPRESS Connector
·Quick Termination ST Style Connector ·No Oven, 2Minute Termination ·Very Low Installed Cost ·Standard ST Termination Tools
Voted 1997 Molex
moiex Distributor of the Year
For More 1 Boo s000 fis
Info Call
FIBER IIISIFIUMEMI SALES IOC. BRUIN YOURAEIUJOIlli
161 Clear-lu. Oriskany, NY 13424 r Tel: 315-736-2206
ram: 315-736-2285 ·www.fisfiber.com ·www.fis@teorg.com
Cable-lug the world....
Headend 1Line Equip ment 1Drop Material /Converters
(800) 978-8845
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Colorize Your Trays
eecv.
Use ColorTubes" to
organize splice trays with
tèe es.'
COLORED FURCATION TUBING
End the frustration of
finding identifying
tapes ETtags piled in the bottom of the tray
Call JAC at (800) 262-2929 Ask for ColorTubes"'
color-coded furcation tubing
When You Need Quality and Dependability, You Need
RITE CABLE CONSTRUCTION, INC.
o
Specializing in
Telecommunications Construction -Including Strand Mapping, Ashuilt Mapping. Fiber Optic Routing &
Design. Splicing Schematic. Map Digitizing. System Design. Project Management. Fiber Splicing &
Testing, Aerial & Underground Construction, Coaxial Splicing & Activation. System Sweep & Proof of
Performance Testing. Complete Residential Installation. MDU Pre-Wire/Post Wire & Material Management.
"Do it the RITE way the first time."
Les Smith. President
1-800-327-0280
P.O. Box 3040 (32723-3040)
Fax: 1-904-738-0870
1207 S. Woodland Blvd.. Suite 1
DeLand, FL 32720
Bought too much material for ajob? Order Cancelled? StucA with shod length reels?
We are always offering you the highest prices for all your surplus wire and cable. Fax or mail us your inventory!
ALWAYS BUYING · ALWAYS SELLING
We guarantee that all stock material
is priced lower than the factory and is
always new and unused. Remember
LIVE WIRE to call Live Wire with all your wire and
&CABLE
cable needs, because in this very competitive marketplace, acall to Live
Wire could make the difference between writing an
order and losing one. Selling exclusively through
distribution. All materials subject to prior sale.
1-888-897-6008 847-577-LIVE ·FAX: 847-577-5485 (5483) E-Mail: LIVEWIRECSOAOL.COM
BUY · SELL · TRADE · REPAIR · UPGRADE · BUY · Sal MAIN LINE EQUIPMENT INC.
WE BUY, SELL, AND REFURBISH PRE-OWNED LINE
GEAR, CONVERTERS, PASSIVES AND FIBEROIPTIC EQUIPMENT
WE STOCK NEW, ACTIVE ELECTRONICS AND PASSIVES
SCIENTIFIC ATLANTA, TEXSCAN (T-SERIES/PATS) GEN. INST./JEROLD, PHILIPS/MAGNAVOX
SEE OUR FM PAGE AL) ON PAGE 149
TOP DOLLAR PAID FOR YOUR OBSOLETE INVENTORY! WE MANUFACTURE REPLACEMENT PADS, EQUALIZERS AND PLUG-IN'S
PH: 800.444.2288/310.715.6518 · FAX: 888.4.MAINLINE/310.715.6695
·
EMAIL: MAINLINE@WORLDNET.ATT.NET · WEBSITE: WWW.MLE.COM
BUY · SELL · TRADE · REPAIR · UPGRADE · BUY · SELL
BRIDGEPOINT
COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Aerial
New Build Fiber Placement Installations
Underground Rebuild Upgrade Splicing Splicing
(800) 766-2188
DALLAS ·HOUSTON ·PHOENIX ·BOSTON ·HONOLULU
New Construction ·Installs ·Balancing ·Splicing
Cable Construction, Inc.
Performance Built Our Company Specializing In Rebuilds and
Fiber Optic Installation & Splicing
Harold Bigham (850) 932-6869
P.O Box 903 Gulf Breeze, FL 32562
I\K NORTH AMERICAN CABLE EQUIPMENT, INC.
Your Source For Commercial And Residentn I
CATV And Satellite Equipment Call For Our 176 Page Catalog
·Belden
·Cable·Tronix
·Blonder Tongue
·Pico Macom
·CommScope
·Holland Electronics
·Gilbert
·Sony Satellite
·Sadelco
·Atlas/Soundolier
·Qintar
·Champion
·Winegard
·California Amplifier
·Chaparral
·Grundig
·Videonics
·Spaun
·Nextwave
·Norsat
·KTI
·Tyton
·DLS
·Telecrafter
·Video Mount Products ·Middle Atlantic
·Microwave Filter Co. ·Newpoint
·Force, Inc.
·Arrow Fastener Co.
·Thomas & Betts
·West Penn Wire
PHONE: (800) 688-9282 FAX: (610) 429-3060
3Locations To Serve You NV, TX, PA
202
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
S
.NEs iii
WE BUY AND SELL QUALITY
BBRROADBAND INTERNATIONAL EQUCIAPTMVENT
LINE AMPLIFIERS, TAPS, CONNECTORS CONVERTERS -ALL TYPES AND MAKES
HEADEND EQUIPMENT
t'SA ·(700) 031-2324 ·Fax (7(10)631-1184
BUY-SELL AD INSERTION EQUIPMENT: Falcone, Channelmatic, Texscan, Ad Systems & Wegener SUPPORT SERVICE & CONSULTING AVAILABLE, ALSO!
Call Steve @ 871-860-5330
PTL Test Equipment, Inc.
. ArNr . l'AM ·In
·I. ',O.K. ·
NE.
.(-EDt NI · ·.4 4SLS ·U.
·D,41AN ,LE ·,IN1 SiVIEPINCo
HERMAN JJOHNSTON
..FS·DEN ,
NATIOM%1DE I0%% Elt CON1PANY
.r.· ·
·f.fit WOW.,
CE,lUt AR ·PCS ·NMI LOSS TOWERS
PO 001r uo·K,00. KENtuCKY
1
Emergency Alert Systems By
MEA/ONiCS
TO MEET THE FCC MANDATE or For local franchise requirements Complete Audio and Video or Audio only systems available. Compatible with all headends.
RF & IF
Solutions starting under $5,000
IdEA/ ONICS
The Pioneers in Emergency Alert Systems
(701) 786-3904 Fax: (701) 786-4294
100's of Items in Stock!
A Quality Pre-owned, Current Models · Hundreds of items just arrived · Guaranteed to meet OEM Specifications · Volumn Discounts Available · HP, Tektronix, Wavetek, Trilithic, Calan, ect.
Signal Level Meters Video Testing Network Analyzers TDR's Bench Sweeps
Spectrum Analyzers Leakage Detectors Sweep Systems Return Alignment Fiber Optics
Phone: (561) 747-3647
Fax: (561) 575-4635
BUY-SELL-LEASE-TRADE
GET READY FOR RESULTS... FAST!! WITH Communications TechnologyCLASSIFIEDS.
FAX YOUR AD OR CALL NICOLE BOVRE AT 303-839-1565 extension 33 · 303-839-1564 fax
Enhance your ad with
Ai V For more information please call Nicole Bovre at T800-325-0156, x33
PDI SURPLUS EQUIPMENT
Remote Controls, Top Cases &More
all makes and models in stock now -- same-day shipping
(FT 2000 remote
complete line of compatible remotes for: Pioneer, SA, 10(0111, H111111111, Panoseint, Jerrold, iersth
"look-alike" models and original designs available
Custom Design & Manufacturing
power supplies
front panel I/O controller
custom set-top applications remote control design and code
8580 6-button case
nvn Lon Visit us at SCTE Booth 4523 for special shoot offers. quantity discounts 800-881-7857
TECHNOLOGIES, INC. call for free samples call Sam -5pm PT M-F
We Buy, Sell and Trade! New or Refurbished
· Trunk Amps · Line Extenders NI Taps
· Converters II Test Equipment · and much more!!!
All equipment is refurbished and tested in PDI's state of the art test facility.
1year warranty on all surplus equipment!!
1-800-242-1606 (561) 998-0600 FAX: (561) 998-0608 http://www.pdi-eft.com E-Mail JonPD1@aol.com
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
203
Communications Technology's
The New XM Series 2
Alpha Technologies is now shipping the latest addition to its CableUPSO offeringthe new XM Series 2Cable TV uninterruptible power supply. The XM Series has earned the trust of Cable TV operators worldwide. The XM Series 2builds on this success while incorporating industry leading technology and operating improvements. Find out what the new XM Series 2 has to offer your system today. Phone: 800 421-8089 Fax: 360 671-4936 www.alpha.com
jTh
Reader Serv ,ce No 150
BARCO hardware and software
improve the quality and reliability of signal delivery. BARCO CATV equipment incorporates advanced capabilities to remotely monitor and control signal distribution system-wide, maximizing up-time and subscriber satisfaction.
BARCO, Inc. 3240 Town Point Drive Kennesaw, GA 30144
Tel: 770-218-3200 Fax: 770-218-3250
www\barcousa.com
13PRC
Reader Service No 154
Only FrontLine Communications provides the range, quality and expertise that guarantees EAS compliance from the simplest to the most complex installations. FrontLine offers complete systems and straightforward installation, true one-stop- shopping and one-call customer service. And, only FrontLine systems include Audio-Tag to offset compliance costs.
Contact the EAS professionals at FrontLine today for afree EAS Planning Guide.
rflflhlTl IIIÇ 111,111 ILII1L
Reader Service No. 158
204
AM Communications
AM Communications is a leading supplier of monitoring sys-
tems for HFC transmission networks. AM's OmniStat product offers solution for virtually every brand and kind of network equipment.
PHONE: (212) 538-8700 FAX: (212) 538-8779
www.amcomm.com
AMA Reader Serv ,ce No 151
C-COR has nearly 45 years of experience in the design and manufacture of AM fiber optics, RF amplifiers, network management systems, modems, passives and 90 volt powering options used in a variety of communication networks worldwide. C-COR also offers afull line of technical customer services and is ISO 9001 registered.
Phone: (814) 238-2461; (800) 233-2267
Fax: (814) 238-4065
wvvw.c-cor.com
acoq ELECTRONICS INC
Tele Wire Supply
Tele Wire Supply If rebuilding or upgrading your System is on your
mind...Our
catalog should be
on your desk. TeleWire Supply's full-line catalog includes virtually all of the quality,
name brand products you need to build and maintain your network. Includes product and ordering information, glossary and application tips.
PHONE: 1-88-TELEWIRE
FAX:
(303) 643-4797
http://telewiresupply.com
Reader Servee No 152
ASKA Communication Corp otters variety of connectors, adaptors, splitters, tools and other accessories for broadband drop applications. ASKA excels as one of the worldwide leading manufactures of installation parts and accessories for your CATV, MMDS, or Satellite applications. Whatever your needs, ASKA has the solution.
Phone: (800) 317-6625 (954) 486-0039
Fax: (954) 486-0202 www askacom corn
National Sales Office: Phone: (800) 840-6350
(508) 730-1065 Fax: (508) 677-2511
ASKK
CORTIUMCOTIOR CORP lier Service No 153
Signal Leakage Detection
Cable Leakage Technologies (CLT) If your company is sending out trucks equipped with detection meters for leakage monitoring. CLT has a system that will save you time and money-the new Wavetracker. With Automatic Positional Leakage Analysis, you can assign drivers with little or no technical background. Your vehicles won't crawl along at five miles per hour. They'll drive at or near the legal speed limit.
Call 800-783-8878, fax: 972-907-2950,
o web: http://www.wavetracker.com
CLT CABLE LEAKAGE TECHNOLOGIES
DIR-777 Digital Satellite Receiver
The DIA -777 represents a powerful addition to a long line of breakthrough products from DX, the world's leading supplier of CATV delivery products. For information on this and other quality headend products, call DX communications at
888-293-5856.
Reader ServIce No 155
Reader Serv,ce No 156
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN THE
CABLE INDUSTRY,
General Instrument® Corporation is the world leader in analog and digital systems that provide video, audio and high-speed Internet/data services over cable and satellite television networks.
Telephone: 215-323-1000 General Instrument® 101 Tournament Drive Horsham, PA 19044
op www.gi.com General Instrument
Reader Service No. 159
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard provides acomplete range of broadband test solutions, from the R&D phase through manufacturing and into plant maintenance. The HP CaLan 3010R/H sweep/ingress analyzer lets you align both the forward and reverse paths, as well as measure signal levels, all in the presence of ingress. And, HP CaLan sweep technology lets you sweep through active digital
IMO traffic without interference.
Phone: 800-452-4844 Fax: 303-754-4990 www.hp.com/go/catv
Reader Serv ,ce No 160
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Reader Serv,ce No 157
KES distributes the "Little Oscar hand held signal generators permitting easy activation of the return path using two
independently controlled CW carriers. Oscar-Il has fixed frequencies at 6MHz and 39 MHz. Oscar-IV is frequency agile from 5MHz to 50 MHz. Acompanion unit
to the Oscar. Model RPC-III is installed at the headend and translates the return carriers to downstream carriers. Using
"Little Oscar and the technician's field strength meter. one technician can align and maintain the return path.
PHONE: FAX:
Nis (800) 338-9292
(906) 774-6117
wvAv.ccikes.com
-4
Reader Service No 161
Product and Data Showcase
Amplifiers
Lindsay Electronics focused on the last mile. our Hardline Passives, Subscriber Amplifiers, Apartment Amplifiers. Power Passing Mu'Maps, and Distribution Amplifiers work from a 1GHz platform Our revolutionary new technology creates communication equipment to solve system problems before becoming subscriber problems Achieved through applied ISO continuous improvement disciplines. innovation and strict attention to details
Call 800-465-7046 Fax: 705-324-5474
Reader Service No 162
Multilink's New Adjustable Plastic Sno-Shoe
The Adjustable Sno-Shoe from Multilink Inc. Eliminates the need for figure eighting and when used with the available extensions. larger amounts of fiber can be stored at one time. Also available rn four different mounting styles. strand mount, wall mounts, and either vertical or horizontal on the pole. The plastic design of the Sno-Shoe allows for a nonconductive part and comes with a 20 year pro-rated warranty!
Reader Service No 166
POWER AND TELEPHONE SUPPLY SINCE 1963
Power & Telephone Supply has for 35 years provided superior material distribution services to the CATV. network and communications industries. Full-line stocking of cable, fiber optics, hardware, tools, and systems from each industries' top manufacturers make Power A. Tel the distributor to know, no matter what your material requirements might be'
We distribute all over the United States, as well as Canada. Europe. Latin America. Asia and the Caribbean
For more information about fast delivery. call us today or visit our web site
PHONE: (800) 238-7514
FAX: (901) 320-3082 www.ptsupply.com
e*tie?* rkeP4,
MEGA HERTZ MHz has lust released its' 1998 CATV product catalog ,'
MHz is a leading distributor of "Unique products for the 21st Century cable operators"' Included in this 560 page catalog are products covering: Amplifiers. Antennas (Off Air and Satellite). Character Generators. Commercial Insertion, EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEMS, Fiber. Generators (Stand-by and portables). Headend Electronics. Interdiction, Microwave, Satellite Electronics, Stereo (BTSC/FM/SAP), Switching & Control and Test equipment
Denver: 800-525-8386 St. Louis: 800-821-6800 Atlanta: 800-962-5966 Ocala: 800-922-9200 Phoenix: 800-883-8839 Indianapolis: 800-761-7610
www.megahz.com
"UNIQUE - PRODUCTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY! Reader Service No 16,i
PDI manufactures highly engineered headend electronics. Other proprietary products include custom filters, dual path amplifiers, etc.. PDI also maintains a substantial surplus and distribution operation.
PDI -Electronics For Telecommunications
Phone: 561-998-0600 Fax:561-998-0608 www.pdi-eft.com
texocommuntcolforus Header SP,..· No 167
Radiant Communications it
Radiant Communications introduces the Series VC-500, a high quality video codee that interlaces with standard analog video/audio signals and converts them to digital signals, whichcan be transmitted if used with Radiant's Ethernet Systems and can be sent up to 100km over singlemode fiber to any PC on the network. The VC-500 also can be used over (SON lines.
PHONE: (800) WOW -FIBR
FAX:
(908) 757 -8666
WWVV.radcom.com
Filter prices have been reduced by up to 3(Pii on most popular models featured in
our new Cable Television Catalog Vol. 104
It features afull line of "Brickwall -notch filters which delete single or multiple channels up to 1GHz without sacrificing adjacent channels It also includes the
widest selection of bandpass filters.
headend highpass and lowpass filters up to 1GHz. Pay-TV traps. phase cancellation
filters. bandspldters. CARs band. 12 and 18 GHz. Ku Band and TVRO terrestrial interference filters among others Foreign
distributors sought
Colad: Terry Owens, sales manager. Microwave Filter Company, Inc.. 6743 Kinne St.. East Syracuse, NY 13057. Call 800-448-1666 or (315) 438-4700. FAX: (315) 463-1467.
Internet: http://www.microwavetilter.com E-mail: mIcsales@microwaveliner.com
Reader Service No 164
Philips Broadband Networks, known for Diamond Systems broad-
band RF and fiber-optic equipment, also offers Crystal LineTM telephony and
data systems over your HFC video network. Get connect-
ed with Philips -The Reliable Choice.
Phone: (800) 448-5171
Fax:
(315) 682-9006
www.be.philips.com/pbn
PHILIPS
Reader Senace No 168
Riser-Bond Instruments manufactures metallic TDR's for superior cable fault location. Model 1205CX with new sub nanosecond pulse width (smaller that 1nanosecond) provides increased sen sitivity to identify
very small, often unsuspected faults that may be within inches of each other. Troubleshoot and locate faults in truck, distribuition, and drop cables.
Phone: (800) 688-TDRs
Fax:
(402) 466-0967
www.riserbond.com
Riser Bond INSTRUMENTS
Reader Service No 171
No 172
JUNE lq9 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
Monroe designs and manufatures switching and control products for the Cable TV industry. Including Program Timers. CTMF & VIRC Remote Controls, IF/RF, Video and Baseband Switches. Standard and Custom systems are marketed worldwide.
Monroe Electronics, Inc. 100 Housel Ave. Lyndonville, Ny 14098 800-821-6001 fax 716-765-9330 monroe@monroeelectronics.com WEB monroe-electronics.com
James Lepsch Director of Marketing 1-800-821-6001
NE\ MONROE ELECTRONICS
Voyager Digital Set-top Box Pioneer New Media Technologies
The Voyager digital set-top box is equipped with aPowerTV operating system, Which will support resident, broadcast and on-demand applications Other features of the digital terminal include an enhanced on-screen display and VCR controller, an interactive program guide with immediate access pay-per-view purchasing options. and MPEG-2 video decompression, which will deliver superior video quality and offer increased channel capacity it uses a32 bit CPU Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) microSPARCTM II microprocessor, and uses IP addressing enabling the digital set-top to act as arouter to apersonal computer or other consumer electronic device
Phone: (310) 952-2111 or visit our website at http://www.pioneerusa.com
1111111111IN
Reader Service No 169
Scientific-Atlanta provides end-toend solutions to enable two-way. interactive HFC architectures. Products include the Prisma'" Digital Transport System, Continuum ru Headends, Prisma DWDM, 1310/1550nm optoelectronic transmitters and nodes, RF coaxial electronics and Drop Network components, and comprehensive Element Management.
marl Tel: 770-903-5000
Fax: 770-903-4617 www.sciatl.com
Scientific Atlanta
Reader Service No 173
205
Communications Technology's Product and Data Showcase
Stanford Telecom supplies modulator and demodulator products for subscriber and headend interactive HFC equipment. We provide afull function modulator/ demodulator on asingle ASIC chip for subscriber modems, and burst demodulator assemblies for reception of upstream signals at the headend.
www.stanfordtelecom.com
STANFORD
E
E EEEn =,«IFEWE
Reader Service No 174
Videotek introduces the BTSC-100 Aural TV Stereo Demodulator for high-quality BTSC and SAP demodulation. This new compact TV Stereo demodulator packs high performance in a small package. Small, powerful, and priced right for CAN applications, the unit can be used in headends or other distribution locations where the aural information is available -- in 4.5 MHZ or composite formats -- and wherever there is a need for local baseband audio insertions.
Phone: (610)327-2292 Fax: (610)327-9295 www.videotek.com
VIDEOTEK
Mel A Zero Defects Company Reader Service No 178
Superior Electronics Group, Inc. is the global innovator of automated monitoring systems for cable TV and telecommunications networks. Through its internationally established Cheetah product line -Superior provides comprehensive status and performance monitoring solutions to world leaders in cable TV and telecommunications.
Phone: (941) 756-6000 Fax: (941) 758-3800 Web: www.cheetahnet.com
As a supplier of a full line of cable markers. Telecratter Products offers write-on tags to fit several applications. Its new larger, lengthwise-mounted Sidewinder fits easily into more confined spaces such as head-ends and pedestals. and features the same epoxybased write-on surface as its other permanent markers.
Phone: 800-257-2448 Fax: 303-986-1042 E-mail: mail@dropsupplies.com
e icicas lice Ies
Trilithic, Inc. If your cable system serves 10.000 or more subscribers, the time has come toact on EAS compliance. Trilithic makes it easy with afree video describing EAS compliance step-bu-step. You'll find the answers you need to create an effective EAS compiance strategy that deals with IF substitution, crawls/all-channel messaging, video substitution, and control of remote hub sites.
Call today for asneak preview of things to come, 800-344-2414, tax: 317-895-3613. web: http://www.trilithic.com
FREE
BAS Compliance Video
Reader Service No 175
Reader Service No 176
Reader Service No 177
Waveteke new PathTrak.' Performance Monitoring System is the first return path monitoring system devoted to monitoring and analyzing multiple return paths in today's advanced HFC networks. The PathTrak system is designed to improve the availability and quality of return troubleshooting and fault location time PathTrak automatically isolates problems to asingle return path. The new PathTrak also stores historical performance records to aid in characterizing return path performance and trend analysis.
Contact Information: (317) 788-9351 800-62-5515 www.wavetek.corn
Reader Service No 179
lit o
.CUSTOMER.
.t.
Fax Us Your Comments Today!
C
SERVICE
Your opinions and feedback are important to us.
ri
1.1
b At Communications Technology
.,
The Customer is Always #1
Subsupnoni
b· Address Changes
> AdcCtional Produds
C s rlk moerntds.or Requests
Bock Ins ues
411
Phillips Business Information, Inc.
,Communications Technology
(liiIiepr.j
ii Sern Imtie. Rant Stile 309
Potomac. SID !Mg Tel: dleet 7774105 or OM 424.3338
13011 309.3847
1.:·mail: rheum,. ires.phi...
Name Date
4'. Company ;!!` Title ·Phone
Fax
FAX COMMENTS BACK TO (301) 340-7136. THANK YOU!
Break the Bank
[Not your Budget]
· Want to generate solid sales
leads while staying within your budget?
With over 30 different high-tech lists from which to choose. Phillips will maximize your profits while minimizing your costs!
Access the industry's most influential decision-makers...
Call Susan lncarnato today at (301)340-7788, ext. 2026 or fax (301)738-7581 to find out why Phillips is your affordable mailing list solution!
Phillips mailing lists are the affordable solution!
phiii1,,s77 Phillips Business List Sales Your Direct Response Solution!
206
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
THE "SUB-ALERT"
mergency lert System Challenge
CAN ANY OTHER SYSTEM STAND-UP TO OUR CHALLENGE?
/ o
AV-EAS
EJ
V SUB-ALERT
Outeput
Power On
·
SAGE ENDEC
AprIl 10 8,20 AM The
NOS in Las Vegas has
issued o Flood Notch for Clock County for
Enter O,ptiIon
_V_I
r. --9
) Incoming Alert ) Outgoing Alert ) Attention Tone ) Automatic
·NO computers or controllers! ·No external audio or video DA's! ·Fewer active components!
t-
2-'434+0045 :J.1620-1VIVSLAS 'prit 10 820 AM Tie National stitather Set, ice in tOe eclus 'ras
issued a Flood Watch for Clark County, Nevada for the next 45 minutes
·Selective channel switching by event!!
·Highest technical specifications in the industry!
·Fewer "IF" or baseband cables!
·Fewer connections!
·Will display: tests in green, watches in yellow, and warnings in red!
·"Only" professional rackmounted switching!
·The only "IF" system that can be completely balanced
SCTE Booth #949
w/o disconnecting any EAS cables!!
Now With Multiple or All Channel Crawl!!
·The only [AS system with the extraordinarily powerful SAGE "ENDEC"!! ·Longest warranty available!
MEGA HERTZ Established 1975 http://www.megahz.com
"Unique" Products For the 21st Century!
DENVER ,CO 800-525-8386
FAX 303-779-1749
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TRAINING By the NCTI
Troubleshooting Tap Problems, Part 1
his month's installment begins aseries on troubleshooting tap problems. The material
`lh is adapted from alesson in NCTI's Installer Technician (ourse. ©NCTI.
RF taps are passive devices used throughout the feeder portion of the distribution system. They "tap off' aspecific amount of RF signal from the feeder line and direct it into one or more customer drops. Some of the service-related problems found at customer taps are: 1) incorrect tap port levels, 2) abackward spliced tap, 3) loose seizure screws, 4) feeder cable contraction, 5) water/corrosion and 6) broken or cracked tap ports. Any of these conditions can cause snowy pictures, ingress, signal leakage and other picture distortions to one or more customers. The accompanying table lists typical problems at the tap.
Improper RF signal levels
Low RF signal levels and snowy pictures at the customer's TV set can be caused by low or no RF signal levels at the tap port. To verify that the tap port is delivering a proper signal level, connect ashort coaxial jumper between the tap port and the RF input connector of asignal level meter (SLM). Measure and record the levels of the highest and lowest available frequencies. Perform the same measurement for the other tap ports. Finding higher RF signal levels at another tap port on the same tap indicates adefective tap faceplate that requires replacement. If there is no measurable RF signal level or if an RF signal level is below the system's recommended specs at any of the tap ports, check the RF signal levels at the tap's input.
To measure the tap's input level, thread a port test adapter into the tap's input seizure screw port opening as shown in the accompanying figure. Connect acoaxial jumper from the SLM to the adapter's -20 dB test point and measure the RF input level. Add 20 dB to the SLM measurement to compensate for the adapter's test point loss. Measuring abnormally low or no signal level at the tap ports and anormal signal level at
the input to the tap indicates either that du tap's faceplate is defective and needs replacement or that the tap was spliced in backward and should be respliced.
Caution: Inserting the SLM cable's F-con nector directly into atap input port may produce a3dB error in your RF signal levc I reading. Also, feeder cables carrying AC power could be accidently shorted to sheath by the F-connector and blow afuse in the feeder system, resulting in aloss of broadband cable signal to many customers. It is more accurate and safer to use apon test adapter for measuring the input and output port levels at the tap.
Hands-on performance training
Proficiency objective: Successfully troubleshoot improper RF signal levels at atap.
Ensure that you have enough SLMs, test port adapters and workstations for the students to practice troubleshooting on. Each workstation should have alive broadband signal feeding atap. If possible, install different value taps with known defective faceplates in selected/all workstations and have students rotate among workstations.
Give each student manufacturer specs
Pott test adapter connected to tap's input seizure screw port opening
for the taps used and system specs for tap input and tap pon signal levels at the highest and lowest available frequencies.
Demonstrate how to perform measurements at customer tap ports and using a port test adapter at tap input port. Explain how to compare measurements to manufacturer and system specs to troubleshoot tap problems.
Have students practice troubleshooting RF signal levels at customer tap ports and tap input ports.
Verify that each student can troubleshoot improper RF signal levels at atap. CT
Typical problems at the tap
Signal level problems Low RF levels High RF levels No RF signal Low RF in high-/super-bands Low RF in low-/mid-bands Ingress
Egress
Picture problems Snowy pictures No pictures Beats Hum bars Ghosts Scrambled pictures s on scrambled system flashing pictures Ingress
Hardware problems Broken ports Unused parts not terminated Improperly installed tap cracked housing Physical damage Corroded and/or loose connectors
Loose or missing port cops feeder cable cracked, broken or chewed Wrong value tap faceplate installed
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Learning by Doing
PRESIDENT'S
By Bill Riker
ynow you probably are aware that Ihave resigned my position as president of the So-
ciety of (able Telecommunications Engineers. Though this move closes achapter on nearly 14 years of my professional life, Ido not see this choice as an ending, but rather as another beginning. (able TV once again has offered me the opportunity to serve the industry by supporting professional organizations that are key to the future growth and development of our business.
On June 15, following the Cable-Tec Expo, I will join the ranks of the Denver-based National Cable Television Center and Museum as vice president of operations and engineering. Ilook forward to participating in the construction of the Cable Center because, when it is completed, it will bring international recognition to our industry's contributions--something Ihave always strived for through my work with the Society.
In my new role with the Cable Center, I will oversee the development of a$20 million construction project, as well as the operation of the 45,000-square-foot facility. I also plan to help create educational programs for the industry, much as Idid as SC TE's president.
Looking back on my career, Imade my first big change more than 13 years ago when Ileft my position as director of engineering lor the National Cable Television Association. My goals were to help SCTE out of financial hardship and to develop it into an organization that would provide much-needed technical training programs to its members for the benefit of the entire industry. With the support of thousands of individuals throughout that time, Ifeel that I have accomplished those goals.
As you can imagine, the decision to leave muy post here has been very difficult. Ispent alot of time thinking not only about what I have contributed to the Society but also, and more importantly, what SCTE has done for
my own professional growth. Since joining the Society in 1977, Ihave
experienced firsthand the value of SCTE as a
career-enhancement tool. Throughout my own career, Ihave held many technical positions in the cable TV industry. In addition to my time with NCTA, Iserved as director of engineering for Showtime Networks, headend engineer for McLean Hunter LTD, and chief engineer for AmVideo Corp.
Even as Iworked my way up through the industry ranks, Ilearned early on that utilizing the Society's many programs and services made me even more valuable to both
"If knowledge is the doorway to the
future of cable telecommunications, then SCTE is the key
that unlocks it."
current and prospective employers. Through SUE'S multitude of educational resources, I was able to build upon my existing knowledge base by staying current on new technologies and industry trends.
The entities that make up the Society's mission, "Training, Certification, Standards," are ingredients for professional success for all levels of broadband personnel. l've said it many times, but it's worth repeating: If knowledge is the doorway to the future of
cable telecommunications, then SCTE is the key that unlocks it. The Society has opened many doors for me.
Iencourage all of you to take advantage of the information available through the SCTE. Join your local chapter, enroll in one of the technical certification programs, or read through the latest issue of DigiPoints. The Society's value lies in its unique way of meeting everyone's learning needs.
SCTE also has prepared me to forge ahead in less-obvious ways. For example, the interface between operators and manufacturers at Cable-Tee Expo has enlightened me on this multi-faceted industry for years. The sheer networking potential of the Society's 72 local groups demonstrates that peer support is one of the most powerful tools you can have in the competitive environment of telecommunications. As president of this memberdriven otganization, I've learned that 13,500 minds clearly are better than one.
So, even as Istep down from my post and move on with my career, Isec that the Society has prepared me for the challenges ahead. Igive thanks to all of those individuals who have led, guided and shaped SCTE throughout its nearly 30 years, especially those who have served on the national board and its committees.
Aspecial "thank you" goes out to members of the current national board. Iappreciate the support you have shown me throughout this transition. Ialso would like to thank SCTE's professional staff, both as a member and as aformer president. Over the years, they have worked hard to ensure that this association remains member-driven.
As Istart out on this new beginning, I'll leave you with abit of advice. Join SCIE--it will be the best connection you'll ever make.
Iwish all of you continued success. (T
Bill Riker is president of the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers.
210
JUNE 1998 · COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
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