Motorola Boosts CherryPicker Capabilities

Motorola announced the latest software enhancement for the CherryPicker Application Platform (CAP-1000). In addition to MPEG-4 rate shaping, the CAP-1000 now offers MPEG-2 rate shaping, ad insertion and statistical multiplexing.

As ops look to maximize bandwidth usage, deploy additional digital services and drive new revenue streams with advanced advertising, the CAP-1000 delivers ad insertion alongside MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 rate shaping capabilities for both SD and HD video, in a single rack unit device. The CAP-1000 v2.0 supports hundreds of simultaneous video streams with near instantaneous failover redundancy capability, according to the company.

Trilithic Locks New Security Features Into 860 Firmware Release

Trilithic announced another firmware upgrade for its 860 DSPi field analyzer, incorporating new features including an "Instrument Fingerprint" and a "Secure860Link" to enhance communications security within the TDM system and enable secure access to operations management reports using an Internet Explorer browser. The Instrument Fingerprint, in addition to encoding the 860 DSPi serial number internally, enables the owner to internally "imprint" an "asset id" that shows ownership of the 860 in the event that it is lost or stolen. The Secure860Link (S8L) feature in the 860 DSP and 860 DSPi provides enhanced privacy for all data communications between the meter and the Trilithic Data Manager (TDM) server. This is accomplished using a 1,024 bit RSA certificate on every 860 in the cable system and utilizing Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption.

Most of Trilithic's 860 DSPi firmware upgrades are free to current 860 DSPi owners, and those that are optional can be activated with a purchased key code. Firmware updates can be accessed on Trilithic's Web site or downloaded through the accompanying WorkBench Software. The new features and options also are available on all currently shipping units.

Aurora Adds Lots of Fiber to CableNET Smorgasbord

Aurora Networks will demo its GEPON and LcWDM solutions at CableNET '08 exhibit, which will take place during the 2008 Cable Show in New Orleans, May 18-20. The GEPON solution enables cable ops to selectively migrate their installed HFC systems to standards-based FTTP networks. At the heart of the GEPON solution is the GE4132M Node PON module. The module supports delivery of 1,000 Mbps Ethernet over fiber and interfaces with up to 64 standard GEPON optical network units. Housed in Aurora's NC4000 scalable node platform, the module enables ops to upgrade all or part of their network to FTTP to support the future evolution to IP-based services.

Aurora also will highlight the efficiency gains achieved by its LcWDM solution, which is reported to provide up to eight downstream and 24 upstream segments on just one fiber. Aurora's LcWDM technology is an "O"-band wavelength division multiplexing system, which the company introduced in 2006. It has evolved to an eight-wavelength system that provides a method for segmenting an existing node service area up to eight times over distances up to 30 km without using additional fibers. Cable ops can combine LcWDM transmitters with Aurora's NC4000 platform to increase network capacity to meet the bandwidth demands of HDTV, VoIP, VoD and HSD.

All's Fair in Love and IP Traffic: Camiant Unveils Fair Use Management App

Camiant unveiled Fair Use Management (FUM), a new application that enables cable ops to dynamically manage broadband utilization. The app, which works with Camiant's policy server, the Multimedia Policy Engine (MPE), applies sophisticated policy management techniques to establish and enforce bandwidth quotas. Camiant says that FUM uses an application-agnostic approach that helps address IP traffic congestion to ensure sub satisfaction in a manner consistent with the FCC guidelines on network management.

According to Cisco's Global IP Traffic Forecast, year-to-year increases in consumer Internet traffic will average 42% over the next three years. Without the implementation of bandwidth management that assures fair allocation of broadband resources among users, high-bandwidth applications, such as Internet-delivered video, are creating inconsistent user experiences that will continue to deteriorate with mounting levels of broadband usage. Camiant's Fair Use Management application reportedly provides an easily communicated network management solution that assures fair allocation of broadband resources among all users.

What Your Subs See: Symmetricom to Demo Perceptual Video Quality Monitoring

Symmetricom will participate in CableNET 2008 at the Cable Show '08, May 18-20 where it will demo its perceptual video quality monitoring solution for cable operators, the V-FACTOR quality of experience (QoE) platform. V-FACTOR enables the monitoring of key sources of potential video and audio impairments by providing a scalable solution that accurately assesses a sub's video quality experience.

Specifically, Symmetricom will demonstrate its Q-1000 video headend analyzer, which digs deep into the actual video content to examine, in real time, the quality and integrity of source video and detect any transcoding or other encoding impairments. V-FACTOR combines the Q-1000 video headend analyzer with network probes, software agents, and NOC software into an end-to-end solution. The Q-1000 performs specialized functionality at the headend, while the network probes and software agents monitor other network nodes to ensure accurate ID of video quality issues throughout the video delivery chain.

Blonder-Tongue Hails New Outdoor Fiber Node

Blonder-Tongue released its new FODA-860 Series of fiber optic outdoor nodes. They join the company's line of HFC products that include 1,310 and 1,550 nm transmitters, EDFAs, rack-/surface-mount receivers and rack-mount couplers.

Combining a high-quality optical receiver module with an 860 MHz power doubling hybrid amplifier, FODA-860 provides performance over a wide optical input range. Two-way models are available with various options for return laser type (FP/DFB), operating wavelength and transmit power. The compact cast aluminum housing has provisions for both strand and surface mounting. FODA-860s can be either be powered by the supplied indoor-rated 60 VAC power supply or by standard CATV 60/90 VAC network power supplies.

OSS BroadNet Broadens Reach to U.S. Cable Market

OSS BroadNet introduced its integrated monitoring service to the U.S. cable market. The company currently has multiple global deployments and its software suite commands 30% of the cable market in Japan. The company's OPEN ADMIN/STM series software suite is a Web application that uses existing DOCSIS devices and offers an integrated monitoring solution of an HFC network. Features include quick service fault detection and emergency measures display; automatic DOCSIS device registration and info collection; remote, rapid and automatic fault location ID; 24/7 monitoring; and flexibility to integrate with other systems.

The OPEN STM IM is an ingress monitoring software that monitors the upstream port of existing CMTS on a 24/7 basis. By utilizing the existing CMTS, and with the combination of an ATT type BGS (bridger gate switch) the operator can accurately, quickly and remotely identify the fault in the upstream transmission that troubles the service.

JDSU Checks the Channel for CWDM

JDSU released the OCC-55 Smart Optical Channel Checker for CWDM networks. The OCC-55 is a selective power meter for CWDM apps that is said to offer a low-cost alternative to optical spectrum analyzers (OSAs). The OCC-55, developed for CWDM network installation, maintenance and surveillance teams, is specifically designed for CWDM system installation, upgrades and troubleshooting. CWDM systems are mainly being deployed in metro areas where operator customer groups are densely concentrated and can be reached within a reasonable system link span without the need of optical amplifiers. Because of this, field techs can no longer afford to carry a sophisticated full-band OSA to every location in order to verify the presence and the power level of an individual CWDM channel. JDSU says the OCC-55 is compact and inexpensive and equips every tech with the ability to check for CWDM channels.

The OCC-55 operates in the 1,260 to 1,620 nm range and deploys a USB interface (both USB host and client available with the OCC-55) that, when used in combination with the free-of-charge OFS-355 software, provides customized reports that are downloaded from the OCC-55 to a PC. The OCC-55 can analyze all 18 CWDM wavelengths in terms of the individual power level and then display the measurement results either in a "bar graph" or "tabular" mode.

Interactive Cocktail: ICTV, Camiant Integrate

Camiant and ICTV completed integration testing of a joint offering. The integration between Camiant's Universal Edge Resource Manager (UERM) solution and the ICTV ActiveVideo Distribution Network has been designed to enable ops to more efficiently provide and manage interactive Web media and on-demand TV solutions.

The companies report that the integration ensures that ops using the UERM solution can deploy ActiveVideo leveraging their existing investment in edge QAMs, and with no impact on existing services.

URC Bulks Up Remote's Impulse Factor With RF Technology

Universal Remote Control will roll out its new cable-specific Impulse-5 RF remote control at The Cable Show '08, May 18-20 in New Orleans. The five-function Impulse-5 uses radio frequency (RF) technology to free the cable sub from the need to point the remote at a set-top or any other remote-controllable home entertainment device. With the Impulse-5's "barrier-free" RF control, subs can control A/V components, including set-tops, through cabinet doors, walls and floors from over 100 feet away, without the need to point at any specific component. The remote also features learning capability and full keypad backlighting that utilizes red illumination.

The Impulse-5 is Tru2way Technology-ready. It features a 64 K chip pre-loaded with what the company calls "the largest code library in the industry," factory and operator-programmable macro keys, and a "sure touch" cursor pad. It's reportedly simple to program and features multiple set-top interoperability, "which ensures that it will interchangeably operate all Motorola, Scientific-Atlanta/Cisco, Pioneer, Pace Micro and Samsung digital set-tops, regardless of factory-programmed default," according to URC.