Hitachi Sails Into the RFoG
The Hitachi solution provides the flexibility to extend fiber to the sub's premises using the Node+Zero RFoG module alone, followed with a Hitachi GPON implementation as bandwidth and services needs warrant. The Node+Zero RFOG module supports standard GPON wavelengths, allowing a seamless connection to the Hitachi GPON ONT. An upstream RF return path, using a 1,590 nm wavelength, carries return data between any manufacturer's RF CPE and the headend. The 1,590 nm wavelength is multiplexed with the 1,310 nm GPON channel in the upstream direction when deployed with a GPON ONT. The 1,590 nm return path terminates at a return path receiver equipment at the video headend. The AMN1220 FTTP solution is a proven full-rate GPON system providing bandwidth of 2.4 Gbps downstream/1.2 Gbps upstream.
JDSU Unveils Wireless Backhaul Testing/Monitoring
JDSU launched a comprehensive assurance solution enabling ops to manage reliable performance wireless backhaul issues and ensuring the Ethernet technology closely associated with the success of next generation backhaul performs reliably. The NetComplete system helps ops migrate from today's TDM switched circuit environment to Ethernet/IP technology, and to meet the stringent service performance requirements to which backhaul providers must adhere.
Wireless backhaul, or the high-speed point-to-point connectivity between base-station controllers (BSC) and an aggregation point or hub, has become a priority issue from both a cost and service performance perspective for wireless carriers. Ensuring high-quality service standards are met during the transition from TDM to Ethernet, as well as decreasing backhaul costs, are among service providers' top concerns. The solution is made up of NetComplete, which includes OSS software, the QT-600 Ethernet probe, and CENTEST 650, as well as other JDSU Ethernet test portables such as the HST-3000 triple-play services handheld tester. It also provides end-to-end service turnup and performance monitoring that is standards-compliant and helps eliminate potential issues related to network element interoperability and upgrade.
Get Smart: Aurora Enhances Media Converter Modules
Aurora Networks announced its enhanced SMART Media Converter modules that enable cable ops to deliver GigE and Fast Ethernet services over fiber, using any of 15 CWDM wavelengths. This 50% increase in capacity helps ops satisfy the rapidly growing high-speed data appetites of their commercial customers. The solution also supports delivery of commercial T1/E1 and cellular backhaul services.
Enhancements to the SMART Media Converter modules include:
Trilithic Debuts New Spectrum Analyzer with Remote Network Connectivity
Trilithic announced its new 8821Q-R. Expanding on the 8821Q CATV spectrum analyzer platform, the 8821Q-R uses network connectivity to increase productivity. With Q-Lab, the companion software utility provided with each 8821Q-R, customize channel and test plans to fulfill specific testing needs and transfer them to the 8821Q-R. Save and download test results and screenshots for report generation or further analysis.
This is on top of an array of digital signal quality tests including QAM, MER, pre and post FEC BER, equalizer tap graph, group delay, in-channel frequency response and group delay. The color display is said to make measurement interpretation and analysis simple, decreasing the tech learning curve and improving accuracy and productivity. For test regiments that are repeated frequently or on a schedule (note, FCC proofs) an automated test capability enables the user to pre-program test sequences to be performed on-demand or according to schedule and the analyzer provides a detailed report of the results. The 8821Q adds to all of these analysis features field-friendly ergonomics including a smaller, lighter package than expected and a battery life that makes field use practical.
Infinera Looks to Push Optical Frontiers
At SCTE's Cable-Tec Expo, Infinera debuted its new Infinera ILS2 line system, with up to 160 DWDM channels in the C-band, and future scalability up to 8 Terabits/second (Tb/s). The company also demonstrated the ability to transmit 100 GigE traffic live in its booth, using a 100 GbE Infinera Tributary Adapter Module running in a production Infinera DTN system.
The ILS2, which will be released this summer, incorporates many new features and capabilities into the Infinera platform. The ILS2 employs a 25 GHz grid to pack 160 DWDM channels in the C-band, for total capacity of 1.6 Tb/s when used with today's Infinera DTN line cards, with capacity of 100 Gb/s per line card. Infinera believes that the future introduction of next-gen PICs will boost ILS2 system capacity to a future 8 Tb/s. Infinera has developed a new silicon-based PIC platform for passive PICs that supports the wavelength multiplexing on a 25 GHz grid.
CommScope Speeds Field Prep With New Cable Design
CommScope unveiled XpressPrep, a new design feature on CommScope HEC 2 headend cables and on the full range of indoor, underground, and messenger drop cable products for broadband networks. It's said to reduce field prep by more than 50% of the conventional time required to prepare drop and headend cables for connectorization
Reducing field preparation to three quick steps from the standard four, the innovative XpressPrep design bonds the outer tape shield of a "tri" or "quad" shield design to the cable jacket, enabling it to be removed along with the jacket. According to the company, it's as easy as one-two-three: 1) Strip 2) Comb back the braid 3) Install connectors.
Auspice Ups Its OpsLogic Suite
Auspice announced its OpsLogic FieldView remote management and diagnostics solution for field service techs. The company's OpsLogic suite currently manages more than 20 million DOCSIS and PacketCable devices worldwide, helping to automate operational support processes that monitor and correlate events across the entire network infrastructure in real time.
The OpsLogic FieldView offers remote field installation, diagnostics and support solution for field services and provides a real-time view of data and voice systems. It lets field techs manage CPE devices, view KPIs via handheld devices and create a permanent Subscriber Certificate of Record "SCORE Card". OpsLogic FieldView also allows techs to view information from the provisioning system as well as the CMS for a full 360 degree view of the subscriber's environment and associated systems.
Alloptic Gets Busy for Biz and Backhaul Apps
Alloptic announced a modular ONT for business and backhaul applications. The Xgen9000 unit offers four expansion ports to deliver up to 20 T1/E1 circuits and 24 voice lines along with 17 Ethernet ports and RF video control. All modules are hot-swappable, and redundant optical network ports are available for high-availability SLA requirements.
"Using our new Xgen9000 ONT, carriers have the ease and flexibility to deploy a common ONT and then choose the services their subscribers need, thanks to pluggable interface cards. Our customers also have found that the service demands at end-user locations often change. By providing exceptional flexibility in configuring the ONT, our customers are able to cost-effectively respond more quickly to capture a greater share of revenue," Shane Eleniak, VP of marketing and business development at Alloptic, says.
Lindsay Boosts VoIP Reliability, QoS With Fiber to MDU System
Lindsay Broadband rolled out its FTTM -- Fiber to the MDU -- a low cost compact 1GHz fiber node solution complete with a 10-hour battery backup UPS in a lockable polycarbonate enclosure for interior installations. "Cable operators frequently experience reliability issues in MDUs that do not have standby power," Dave Atman, resident of Lindsay reports. "Our new FTTM product includes a backup power system, increasing both reliability and QoS for all advanced digital services."
Unlike the bulky and expensive traditional outdoor equipment, the FTTM incorporates a high output and low power consumption GaAs technology and transfers power from AC to battery in 0 ms, the company reports. This small device includes surge protection for the RF I/O ports, LED indicator lights, an integrated Fiber Splice Tray and optional WDM technology for two-way services.
EGT Debuts Closed-Loop Transcoding Platform
EGT introduced its VIPr closed-loop transcoding technology. The VIPr transcoder will accept MPEG-4 HD or MPEG-2 HD content and output either MPEG-2 CBR for switched digital video apps or MPEG-2 closed-loop statistically multiplexed outputs for denser packaging of HD content into QAMs. EGT's VIPr will also downconvert HD content to SD to satisfy legacy SD-only set-tops.
"VIPr's flexible software architecture provides superior video quality in transcoding and statistical multiplexing applications through proprietary algorithms that tightly couple the encode and decode stages," John Hartung, CTO of EGT, says. "This coupling allows feed-forward and feedback optimization that enables HD 3:1 statistical multiplexing quality that is not possible in existing independent encode-decode and rate shaping architectures."
Concurrent Boosts MHBOSS Abilities
Concurrent upgraded its MediaHawk Back Office Software Suite (MHBOSS) to allow for enhanced scalability. The latest version of MHBOSS can now support up to 32 streaming servers, or in excess of one million subs. As more subs are added and on-demand utilization rises, the capacity of MHBOSS can be effortlessly increased by adding additional computing and storage modules. Any and all replications of data and load balancing are automatic and can occur when the system is operating at full capacity. Content libraries can be expanded and user generated content can be added without limit.
MHBOSS's open architecture supports interoperability with multiple VOD server vendors using RTSP and NGOD protocols, and numerous software apps through industry standard interfaces like XML and SOAP. It provides Web services for reporting, subscription management, billing and any other applications that require information from the back office. The highly modular architecture provides interfaces for a broad spectrum of the industry's most advanced set-top box applications. MHBOSS is also designed for easy integration of OCAP apps.
Tollgrade Intros New End-of-Line Monitoring Point and IP Test Element for Digital Call Quality
Tollgrade Communications unveiled two new solutions for cable operators - CMD-EL, a DOCSIS-based end-of-line RF monitor that provides real-time measurement data to aid in diagnosing network faults and intermittent performance issues, and CQM (or Call Quality Manager), a network-based IP test element that enables cable ops to pre-qualify, verify provisioning and remotely troubleshoot a variety of digital voice services. Both products have recently completed trials that have resulted in an initial domestic MSO order for CMD-EL, as well as international and domestic orders for the CQM.
The CMD-EL, expected to be generally available later this year, is a strand- or pedestal-mounted network health test point capable of delivering RF level measurements, digital measurements on the downstream DOCSIS channel, VoIP metrics and remote FCC 24-hour proof of performance testing. It can provide both real-time and scheduled measurements to help diagnose network performance issues and can be programmed to monitor and alarm based on specific RF characteristics and notify users when they are outside of defined parameters.
The CQM's hardware is configured as a group of real EMTAs, while the CQM software is said to emulate skilled VoIP experts and sophisticated test equipment to provide call signaling, media and call quality results in real time. When used with Tollgrade's DOCSIS-based Voice Service Assurance Probes, the CQM provides end-to-end testing of digital voice service availability and performance within various segments of the HFC network without the need for dispatching a truck or using handheld meters.
Scopus Targets the Feb. 2009 Digital Transition
Scopus Video Networks launched its IRP-3910 integrated receiver processor, a multichannel professional decoder/processor/downconverter unit. The IRP-3910 will enable cable ops to receive, process, multiplex, decode, and perform HD downconversion and aspect ratio adaptation of off-air ATSC broadcasts. With the phasing out of analog broadcasts, ops receiving local channels as content feeds can deploy the IRP-3910 as a solution for dealing with the transition to an all-digital ATSC environment.
The IRP-3910 comes in a 1RU chassis providing up to four channels of HD decoding along with dynamic aspect ratio conversion. In addition to professional decoding capabilities, the IRP-3910 incorporates a multiplexing core that enables grooming and PSIP aggregation of multiple HD and SD programs for digital content distribution. This all-in-one architecture eliminates the need for an external multiplexing device and, in turn, reduces overall system costs and complexity. A wide variety of inputs (8VSB, ASI, and IP) and outputs (baseband video, audio, ASI, and IP) are available with the IRP-3910.
ATX Rings Up New Digital Phone Connect Switches
ATX Networks expanded its line of indoor and outdoor DigiMAX Digital Phone Connect Switches. The DigiMAX Digital Phone Connect Solutions line consists of several switch-based devices that address a number of issues MSOs face in deploying digital phone services including porting, MDU intercom support and sub retention. The new Dual Line switch is designed to help cable MSOs prevent the incumbent telco from immediately re-subscribing new digital voice customers upon notification of the number to be ported. ATX also introduced a new Single Pair switch solution to accommodate number porting facilitation without requiring the use of a secondary premise pair, a home run cable or a cross connection at the demarcation point.
The switches are available in a wall-plate style for mounting in an existing receptacle, as well as in a baseboard-mount design for clean installation into the subscriber premises. The NID-mountable outdoor hardened version features IDC connectors for fast tool-less connection of phone circuits in the NID. An outdoor version with 10 additional IDC connectors for connection of up to 10 home run phone circuits is also available. Both versions are available with or without an outdoor enclosure with convenient snap-in tabs for the switch as well as for up to two bridged IDC connector blocks. The Intercom switch versions are said to be ideal for apartments/MDUs provisioned with No Subscriber Line (NSL) Intercom systems. They provide a one-time switchover from incumbent telco to MTA-based service, as well as conditions-based switch-back functionality to Intercom service from MTA service in the event of an Intercom ring, MTA disconnection or power loss.
Hermes Media + Research