More info is available on the company's newly launched DOCSIS 3.0 Web site that features bandwidth calculators to help understand and manage bandwidth requirements for both high-speed data service and video on demand: .

Get Your Testing ACTS Together With New Trilithic Server

Trilithic announced the Advanced Communication Test System (ACTS). This new server performs a variety of tests related to cable system advanced communication services, including VoIP and high-speed data. It enables a VoIP RTP test from any field test point with or without Unsolicited Grant Service (UGS), as well as high-speed throughput (UDP up to 40 Mbps max).

The VoIP test enables efficient service pre-installation verification with a simple, yet comprehensive set of measurement data including upstream and downstream latency, jitter, packet loss and MOS. The throughput test adds an increased level of security, by enabling customizable communication ports, and it doesn't write files to the hard drive.

Fujitsu Hails 2D-ROADM, More Updates for FLASHWAVE 7500

Fujitsu Network Communications announced several enhancements for its FLASHWAVE 7500 ROADM. This new release, available immediately, introduces 19- and 23-inch shelves, a two-degree (2D) ROADM configuration, an in-service upgradeable in-line amplifier (ILA) and a 10 Gbps Flexponder SONET ADM-on-a-card unit. This new release is available immediately.

Several enhancements have been made to the existing 19-inch FLASHWAVE 7500 small configuration to allow it to support 40-channel access via Wavelength Selective Switching (WSS) technology. The new 2D ROADM configuration reportedly provides an economical solution for locations that require full add/drop and pass-through capabilities for up to 40 DWDM channels, but only have two degrees of network connectivity. The 2D ROADM system can be deployed in protected or unprotected point-to-point, linear, and ring applications across distances up to 1,000 km with no regeneration required.

The extension configuration allows a remote tributary shelf to be placed away from a 23-inch standard configuration or 19-inch small configuration while supporting access to all 40 wavelengths. With the addition of a new bidirectional single channel amplifier unit, the extension configuration can be located further from hub nodes (now up to 65 km away). The new 10 Gbps Flexponder unit provides flexible interface and multiplexing/demultiplexing for up to eight client signals in the 23-inch standard configuration, 19-inch small configuration, 2D ROADM configuration, and Extension configuration. The unit supports advanced traffic management features, including non-blocking time-slot assignment (STS-1/STS-3c/STS-12c/STS-48c), ADM on a wavelength, VCAT, and hairpinning.

Harmonic Promises More Bandwidth to the Home

Harmonic expanded its PWRLink transmitter family with the introduction of 1,310 nm dense wave division multiplexing (DWDM) forward path transmitters that the company says make it possible to deliver significantly more bandwidth to the home using the existing HFC network -- without adding new fiber. Using the PWRLink transmitters, multiple wavelengths can be combined onto a single fiber for forward transmission up to 30 km.

"The ability to increase downstream and upstream bandwidth in a cost-effective and reliable way is critical to cable operators' success in competing with telco and satellite service providers," Sunil Frida, director of HFC solutions and strategy for the company, says. "Harmonic addresses this need with a variety of solutions including network segmentation, expansion to 1-GHz, ultra-efficient compression and switched digital video. The new PWRLink transmitters are part of our portfolio of powerful HFC solutions that are targeted at lowering cable operators' capital expenditures while offering a highly scalable architecture."

VGI Solutions Scores Cable Leakage/Ingress Monitoring Patent

VGI Solutions announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office approved the issuance of a patent that covers core technology including georeferenced fault detection, storage and management system and method, based on an application server architecture, for monitoring cable leakage and ingress events on broadband cable networks.

The patented technologies are part of VGI Solutions' CPAT leakage monitoring system, which identifies leakage/ingress events while cable technicians perform their normal daily routine, without any intervention on their part. CPAT reportedly provides definite, measurable improvements over traditional audit patrol methods that use dedicated technical resources and vehicles.

Accedian Networks Intros Ethernet Service Creation

Accedian Networks added Ethernet service creation functionality to its EtherNID packet assurance demarcation units. Service mapping capabilities allow ops to establish transparent Ethernet LAN services end-to-end, across multi-vendor, multi-technology and multi-carrier networks - without having to replace or reconfigure existing network elements. Widely installed at customer premises and cell sites for service demarcation, EtherNID units are said to be uniquely located to create Ethernet virtual circuits (EVCs) and assure their end-to-end performance. The EtherNID unit's pure-hardware data-path and in-line packet processing capabilities provide service mapping without affecting delay and jitter-sensitive real-time applications, such as VoIP, IPTV, video conferencing and transactional services.

Per-flow bandwidth profiling, service classification, traffic regulation and filtering provide end-to-end performance and traffic management independent of existing switching equipment. This allows ops to offer premium-level Ethernet services backed by SLAs that are otherwise difficult to establish over networks commonly built with equipment from multiple vendors, employing a variety of different protocols and technologies.

Promax Bulks Up Handheld Analyzer Features

Promax Electronics introduced new features to its US TV Explorer product range. Additions to the US TV Explorer II, which enables techs to test cable, broadcast and satellite signals with a single unit, include:

Tellabs Boost Bandwidth With Transponder Module

The new 40 Gigabyte transponder module for the Tellabs 7100 optical transport system (OTS) is reportedly a fully integrated and easy-to-install upgrade that allows four times more traffic to travel through an op's network. It also is said to give the ability to increase the bandwidth available on ops' existing networks without extensive network redesign or reconfiguration.

Tellabs reports that other 40 GB solutions require the installation of additional stand-alone hardware, but the company's new 40 GB transponder simply plugs into the network's existing Tellabs 7100 OTS switches, resulting in a 300% increase in capacity. Through this upgrade, the Tellabs 7100 OTS delivers an increase in bandwidth from 440 GB to 1.76 Terabyte (TB).

Safety First: SCTE Calls for Noms

SCTE put out a call for nominations for the 2008 SCTE Safety Awards, which recognize MSOs, contractors and individual divisions/systems of MSOs that have achieved an outstanding level of safety. This year, the subcommittee overseeing the Safety Awards has revised the eligibility criteria. The applications for the awards must be by facility and reflect the information on the system's OSHA 300A Summary that is posted in every facility. Also, only individual technical operations centers are eligible for awards (no regional offices, call centers, or executive offices).

The deadline for nominations is March 21. The recipients will be recognized at the Annual Awards Luncheon at Cable-Tec Expo 2008 in Philadelphia in June. More details and the nomination form are available at http://www.scte.org/content/index.cfm?pID=356.

• Ciena's CN 5060 multiservice Carrier Ethernet platform secured Carrier Ethernet certification from the Metro Ethernet Forum. A cornerstone of Ciena's FlexSelect Architecture, the CN 5060 is an element of the Company's strategy to transition metro and edge aggregation networks to converged and optimized IP/Ethernet service delivery infrastructures.
• JDSU announced that its pocket-sized family of fiber-optic testers is now available through an authorized network of distributors. This line includes power meters and laser sources designed for specific applications in cable, telecommunications and enterprise environments. For info about JDSU authorized distributors, visit www.jdsu.com/know.
• Motorola acquired the assets related to digital cable set-top products of Zhejiang Dahua Digital Technology Co. and Hangzhou Image Silicon (collectively, Dahua Digital). Dahua Digital is a privately held, developer, manufacturer and marketer of cable set-tops and related low-cost integrated circuits for the emerging Chinese cable business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.