ARRIS, Moto DOCSIS 3.0 Devices Enjoy PacketCable Nod

CableLabs awarded certified status to ARRIS and Motorola for devices that have integrated DOCSIS 3.0 with the ability to deliver cable digital voice. This milestone event is the industry-first certification for PacketCable EMTAs, which also incorporate the high-speed, channel bonding technology of DOCSIS 3.0. The announcement followed testing that concluded recently.

What this means is that cable ops now have available integrated approaches for customer premises gear to deploy in cable systems where they seek to deliver digital voice communications, as well as data at high downstream data rates. DOCSIS 3.0 specs enable downstream data rates of 160 Mbps or higher and upstream data rates of 120 Mbps or higher.

Web-Based Remote Monitoring New from Aurora

Aurora Networks added Web-based monitoring to its management tools with the introduction of the CX3002 network management module. The new capability enables cable engineers and techs to use an Internet Explorer or Firefox Web browser to configure and monitor modules in Aurora's CH3000 chassis from any location. The Web-based management support also extends to hand-held devices such as the Apple iPhone.

The new Web-based remote management capability complements Aurora's Opti-Trace desktop-based monitoring software, by enabling technical staff to check the integrity of their systems from any PC, any where. They are not tied to computers that have been previously pre-configured with special software. The CX3002 mounts directly in any power supply module, eliminating the need for a dedicated slot in the CH3000 chassis. It features two 10BaseT ports. The first interfaces with Aurora's Opti-Trace management software. Operators can use the second port to daisy-chain additional CX3002 modules to support monitoring of multiple chassis per site, reducing the need for external hubs.

Mixed Signals Sentry Gets Edgy

Mixed Signals announced Sentry Edge, which the company says is the cable industry's first comprehensive monitoring solution designed specifically for monitoring of complex SDV and VOD deployments. Ops are in various stages of deploying or testing SDV, which involves the installation and integration of substantial amounts of new equipment, including edge QAMs, switch/routers, servers and session resource managers -- in many cases from multiple vendors. Though operators perform extensive integration testing, real-world experience shows that the complex interaction between these devices and the content flowing through them often creates service-affecting issues. Operators have seen several operational issues to date such as over-subscribed QAMs, "channel not available" messages and switching errors that cause the wrong channel to be delivered to the sub.

Sentry Edge was designed specifically for the increasingly complex SDV environment. Even in a multi-vendor, heterogeneous environment, Sentry Edge reports on switching activities and statistics such as bandwidth utilization. It also alerts ops to SDV issues such as switching errors, bandwidth oversubscription and cross-content issues prior to distribution. Sentry Edge has unique design elements for SDV and VOD deployments, and ops can combine it with the company's Sentry digital content monitor and Medius remote monitoring and management system for a broader view of their entire network, from "the source to the edge."

Salira Digs Deep On DePON

Salira Systems announced a DOCSIS over EPON solution that the company says can enable cable operators to compete more effectively with the telcos' current FTTx offerings. Ops reportedly will be able to use the new DePON solution to begin the migration to fiber-based networks while continuing to leverage existing DOCSIS and OSS operating procedures. Compared to existing and emerging HFC-based solutions, Salira says its DePON systems increase bandwidth levels dramatically. The DePON solution reportedly provides symmetrical capacity of up to 4 Gbps per fiber feeder.

The DePON systems can coexist with existing DOCSIS-based systems such that cable ops can implement solutions that best fit the requirements of varying deployment types, according to the company. DePON is also said to provide an innovative approach for cable ops to attack the market for business customers compared to existing point-to-point CWDM solutions. Salira's DePON system allows one pre-existing OSS to control both residential and commercial deployments simultaneously. All current billing and maintenance systems are unchanged, and there is no need to retrain network operators familiar with DOCSIS. The company also points out that as the 10 Gbps EPON standards are ratified, ops will be able to increase bandwidth capacity and expand service offerings accordingly without any changes to the fiber plant or the management platform.

IPITEK Brings on the Bandwidth

IPITEK will demonstrate a number of new products designed to maximize bandwidth at SCTE's Cable-Tec Expo later this month in Philadelphia. Among the products featured will be the Advanced Services Transport (AST) HFC system, the SONET-compliant MSP-220 Pro Video multiplexer model lineup, and its proactive monitoring tools for the 10 Gigabit MSP-10GE Ethernet platform.

IPITEK says it will show how its new AST platform allows users to optimize the performance of existing networks and rapidly deploy the new architectures and services required to meet the continuing expansion of standard broadcast, narrowcast and data and voice services. The company also will feature its dual bi-directional SMPTE standard component video links to its MSP-220 Pro Video multiplexer model lineup, offering link efficiency, low-latency, low jitter, transparency and carrier class loopback testing and monitoring to the video signals traversing the synchronous network. Finally, IPITEK will demonstrate to attendees how its MSP-10GE Ethernet Platform's advanced proactive monitoring tools assist cable and data communications distributors in overseeing the health of their networks by helping them to anticipate and remedy problems before they affect network service.

The NEW PathTrak Video Monitoring System (PVM) allows operators to segment video problems in minutes instead of hours by proactively measuring and monitoring Video, VoIP and HSD carriers for QAM RF and MPEG impairments, all the way down to each individual program in your network. Click here for more information

Accedian Intros Real-Time Ethernet SLA Automation

Accedian Networks announced the EchoVault SLA EMS, a new class of management system that provides real-time QoS monitoring for carrier-grade Ethernet and IP services, and automates the creation, assurance and reporting of SLAs. The solution provides real-time, per-second, per-flow traffic reporting, QoS fault management, and SLA performance reporting while relieving the telemetry bandwidth requirements of today's existing solutions, according to the company. Integrated Web reporting publishes end-to-end SLA performance reports and service monitoring graphs in real-time to online customer portals.

The EchoVault SLA EMS automates the entire SLA lifecycle, combining large-scale provisioning with integrated service assurance and reporting. Open-standards enable interoperability with existing business, operational, fault management and customer support systems allowing providers to maintain SLAs and Ethernet/IP services from their existing management infrastructure. The system is the latest addition to Accedian Networks' Ethernet Service Assurance Platform (ESAP), a suite of Ethernet service creation and assurance functionality for the company's EtherNID and MetroNID packet assurance demarcation units.

BigBand Aims At Chinese Market With Updated BEQ6000

BigBand Networks announced an updated version of its universal edge QAM platform - the Broadband Edge QAM (BEQ) 6000 - for the Chinese cable market.

The BEQ6000 is designed to accommodate a wide range of services, including broadcast digital TV, VOD, SDV, network PVR, high-speed data and VoIP. The BEQ6000 is available now and has been deployed by ops on multiple continents. For technical specifications and other info, visit http://www.bigbandnet.com/index.php/beq6000.html?release=beqlaunch.

Infinera's New Line System Promises Big Capacity

Infinera introduced the ILS2, its next-generation optical line system that is based on a new passive photonic integrated circuit (PIC) platform. It packs up to 160 DWDM channels into the C-band, increases the optical reach of the system to 2,500 km and enables greater capacity, with future scalability up to 8 Terabits/second (Tb/s) on a single fiber, supporting bandwidth growth and 10 Gigabit/second (Gb/s), 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s service delivery.

The ILS2 system, which begins shipping this summer, employs a 25 GHz grid, twice the density of Infinera's previous line system. The company believes that the system is an ideal platform for network operators offering large volumes of 10G, 40G and future 100G services. With Infinera's DTN line cards, the ILS2 delivers up to 1.6 Tb/s of optical capacity. Once Infinera introduces its next-generation line cards, the ILS2 system will deliver 160 DWDM channels each operating at 40 Gb/s, for total capacity of 6.4 Tb/s, entirely in the C-band. In an 8 Tb/s configuration, Infinera line cards will deliver 80 channels at 100 Gb/s each, for a new industry standard in optical capacity on a fiber.

Fujitsu Looks to Simplify Biz Service Delivery

Fujitsu Network Communications released the FLASHWAVE CDS packet optical networking platform, which delivers high-density, connection-oriented Ethernet, SONET, and TDM circuit emulation services in a compact, modular platform. It is designed to address a wide range of aggregation and transport applications, including mobile backhaul services, DSLAM transport, and Ethernet business services. The system's breadth of interface units ensures support for private-line-quality Ethernet transport for business services as well as existing SONET-based services. It is said to be ideal for use as enterprise CPE and in multi-tenant/multi-floor office buildings and outside plant cabinets.

The system is a modular two-slot, 2 RU (3.5-inch high) unit that incorporates any number of low-cost, pluggable multi-service interfaces units, including: low-speed packet (100 Mbps and Gigabit Ethernet), high-speed packet (Gigabit and 10 Gigabit Ethernet), SONET/OTU1 (OC-3, OC-12, OC-48 and Gigabit Ethernet), and packet/TDM combinations (Gigabit Ethernet and DS1/DS3). This allows nodes to deliver packet services, SONET/EoS services, or any combination of packet and TDM services.

Triveni Digital Probe Provides Remote MPEG Video Monitoring

Triveni Digital extended its StreamScope test and measurement line with the release of the RM-40SE, a monitoring probe that provides remote MPEG video monitoring for real-time RF streams. In addition to working with established standards - ATSC, ATSC A/78, and ETR 101 290 - already supported by Triveni Digital's StreamScope line, the new RM-40SE represents the first implementation of the new SCTE-142 standard describing transport stream conformance criteria. Successful tuning and display of programs relies on adherence of the transport stream to SCTE standards, and the RM-40SE uses these guidelines to identify and categorize errors by type and severity, thus supporting efficient troubleshooting and simplifying the resolution of issues within the DTV stream, the company reports.

The RM-40SE can be monitored from any SNMP agent in the network, and alarms can be distributed via e-mail, SMS, or SNMP traps. Interfaces to Triveni Digital GuideBuilder metadata management systems validate that the streams are well formed from a standards perspective. The RM-40SE also includes innovations such as stream profiling and comparison and template learning, which together add further business-specific intelligence to the monitoring process. Additionally, the optional Remote Troubleshooting Module (RTM) provides remote analysis capabilities, including a unique postmortem analysis functionality allowing users to analyze issues up to two weeks in the past.

Symmetricom Resources Promise to Sooth Video Quality Nightmares

Symmetricom is highlighting possible causes of digital video quality problems of advanced digital TV in its new video at http://qoe.symmetricom.com/video-nightmares.asp and reinforcing why perceptual video quality monitoring is a must for operators in a white paper available at http://qoe.symmetricom.com/lp/Video_Over_IP/. Designed to showcase the "Ten Video Quality Nightmares" real viewers might experience, the video encapsulates the potential technical reasons for the top 10 common video quality issues. The white paper, "Delivering High-Quality Video over IP: Why Your Digital Video Service Must Be Monitored," outlines solutions for operators.

""With the wide range of complex video equipment, and aggressive compression goals to ensure lowest bandwidth and network impacts, operators face challenges to ensure video service quality meets the growing customer quality expectations or face high operations costs, high customer churn and slower service deployment. The video and white paper are designed to clarify the issues and offer solutions," Symmetricom's VP Marketing Joyce Kim says.

Ethernet-to-Coax Kit Taps Into Existing Home Coax

D-Link introduced a coax Ethernet adapter kit that taps into existing coaxial wiring throughout the home. The DXN-221 kit is said to be ideally suited for adding bandwidth-demanding applications such as HD media streaming, music sharing and online multi-player gaming to the home network. The kit comes with two adapters, each of which includes an Ethernet port as well as a coaxial F-type connector for bridging the two adapters together. The adapters also may be purchased individually (DXN-220).

Users can connect the D-Link coax Ethernet adapter to their existing router and then to an available coaxial outlet in the home, enabling network and Internet access to multiple rooms. A second adapter is added in another room to connect Ethernet-enabled devices like PCs and media players. The DXN-221 may be used in rooms with multiple devices by connecting a switch to the adapter to connect additional devices.