CT's LeAKAGe Guide TeCh INSIDE THIS ISSue CLT ... deTeCTiON Cable Leakage Testing Headed for a CRASH...
Transcript of CT's LeAKAGe Guide TeCh INSIDE THIS ISSue CLT ... deTeCTiON Cable Leakage Testing Headed for a CRASH...
Status Report: Leakage DetectionTighter Specs, Proactive ApproachLeakage detection has shifted from an onerous obligation to an essential part of delivering advanced services.
December 2008
INSIDETHIS ISSueCLT, Comsonics, ............ page 4Electroline, ................... page 5JDSU, Trilithic, .............. page 6VGI Solutions, .............. page 7
By Monta Monaco Hernon
Cable system RF signal leak-
age sounds like an old hat, ho-
hum subject, but it carries high
stakes. Back in the 1980s, there
was the possibility that the reg-
ulators could use it to break
instead of make cable.
Since then, operators learned
to deal with federal leakage detec-
tion rules. But as time has pro-
gressed, the story has changed
from grudging adherence to self-
motivation.
"Systems (today) are doing
fairly well in terms of leakage
control, not just because they
want to control leakage, but (also)
because they want to protect
digital services," said Jonathan
Kramer, principal attorney of
Kramer Telecom. (As for leakage
and all-digital, see page 3.)
Of course, leakage (egress),
is what Kramer calls the "ugly
cousin" to ingress.
"(There's) a correlation ...
between where signals leak
out of a system and where
offending signals can leak into a
system," said Jim Harris, vice
president of marketing for
Trilithic's instruments division.
"A system that doesn't leak
has far less ingress. Return
signals are fragile. They are all
associated with revenue-gen-
erating services. They are more
susceptible to interference, so
you want to keep ingress low."
FCC regulations mandate a
leakage limit of 20 microvolts
per meter (µV/m) (see sidebar);
Midcontinent Communications'
limit is 5 µV/m.
"With cable modems if you
lost a few packets, it didn't
matter, but with EMTAs
(embedded multimedia terminal
adapters), it's crucial that you
keep telephony up and running,"
said David Haigh, Midcontinent's
lead engineer. "Any ingress will
cause dropped packets and bro-
ken voice quality."
Gone, therefore, is the "outra-
geous" leakage of the past, said
Ron Hranac, technical leader,
broadband network engineering,
for Cisco Systems and CT senior
technology editor. "If you or I were
to drive around with a leakage
detector in a rental car today, the
odds are we would find very little
signal leakage," said Hranac.
As per Midcontinent, how-
ever, what little that does leak
bears watching.
EquipmEnt EvoLutions
Much as the motivation for
leakage detection has evolved,
so too has the technology.
The first leakage detection
solutions were time-consuming
and manpower intensive.
"We had to have one techni-
cian or many technicians use a
portable receiver," said Daniel
Babeux, vice president business
development broadband net-
works, VGI Solutions. "They had
to make sure they drove out all
the streets, and when they did
encounter a leak, they made
sure they peaked the leak by
driving slowly and estimat(ing)
the distance at which the leak
(was) located."
The biggest technological
change in the ensuing years
has been the addition of glob-
al positioning system (GPS)
technology to the equation. It
can correlate signal leakage
data to a street map.
"With the satellite views that
we have nowadays, you can look
at not just a graphic depiction of a
map with lines or streets, but you
can (also) see the houses and the
backyard easements," said
Ken Eckenroth, vice president
of technology for Cable Leakage
Technologies.
Moving map technology is a
related advancement.
"As (the driver) rides the
neighborhood, the streets are
highlighted as they are ridden,"
continued on page 3
"Even though you direct all employees to gauge leakage, you can't guarantee they are always doing it."
—Michael McDonald, Time Warner Cable
CT's
TeCh GuideLeAKAGe
deTeCTiON
Cable Leakage Testing Headed for a
CRASHby Ken Couch,Director of Marketing, ComSonics
As a leading provider of cable leakage solutions for MSOs, ComSonics often gets asked the question “How will you test for cable leakage once all analog channels move to digital?” There is an answer to this question; however, it is not in the technical domain.
The cost and scalability of a new technology that can measure cable leakage in the digital domain is not feasible with current technologies. The best answer is to rally the industry to support one or two very narrow frequencies (about 100kHz wide) for analog carriers that will be dedicated for cable leakage detection. Digital channels will no longer need to meet FCC compliance in the aeronautical band, however there still will be a need to maintain a high level of cable integrity and performance. With the advent of new cable technologies such as switched digital video, edge QAMs, edge resource management, and smaller node sizes, the pressure to squeeze out every bit of bandwidth for cable channels has weakened. A base tier of analog channels with room for a plethora of SD/SD channels in an 860 MHz plant is very achievable. Carving out a very small amount of bandwidth for analog test channels eliminates the need to replace existing leakage test equipment and provides a reasonable path to ensure cable plant performance is maximized going forward. The key to success is to garner the support of the major MSOs and to establish a standard operations practice.
There is another very important piece of the puzzle to maintaining a high performance cable network. Finding cable leaks and ingress points to minimize noise interference is fundamental to success, but it stops short of solving a more complex problem. What’s the bigger problem? As new technologies emerge, many MSOs are faced with the prospect of deploying 2 or 3 redundant GPS, cellular, and measurement devices in the field. Each device has its own cost and an independent management system which adds unnecessary expense and operational inefficiency on a very large scale.
ComSonics is taking a new approach to help solve this problem. ComSonics is widening our solution focus to go beyond leakage management by designing a platform that can unify and reduce the number of devices in the field. The ComSonics GENACIS™
platform is designed to be a central conduit for all devices in the field as well as link into workforce management and billing systems. This solves two of the major problems: 1. It eliminates the need for multiple GPS and cellular services by providing a single primary device that feeds data to other applications and 2. Data from multiple devices types can be channeled to billing and workforce applications using a common feed thereby eliminating independent management silos.
ComSonics believes this approach will best serve the future of MSOs by helping them solve challenging
issues that exist today. ComSonics is committed to provide innovative technology solutions
that go beyond our traditional heritage of leakage devices and meters. Our vision has expanded to help MSOs
unify their field devices and operations to give them a competitive advantage through a high performance network.
If you support the use of analog test channels to prevent the crash of cable leakage testing, email me at [email protected].
The Future of Cable
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editorialeditor Jonathan Tombes (301) 354-1795, [email protected] editor Ron Hendrickson (303) 422-3373, [email protected] editor Monta Monaco Hernon
design/productiongraphic designer Tzaddi Andoquesenior production manager John Blaylock-Cooke
Access Intelligence4 Choke Cherry Road, 2nd Floor, Rockville, Maryland 20850
LEAkAgE DETEcTion continued from page 1
Eckenroth said. "Also, he has
at his disposal what areas
of town have already been
ridden out that quarter. This previ-
ously was done with a highlighter
manually drawn on a paper map."
The data collected by the GPS
unit can be uploaded via Wi-Fi
hotspots when the trucks return
to the yard and deciphered to
determine the location and
strength of leaks.
"This is a good development,"
said Michael McDonald, vice
president of technical operations
for the North Texas Division of
Time Warner Cable. "Even though
you direct all employees to gauge
leakage, you can't guarantee they
are always doing it."
Some vendors have begun
offering cellular systems, said
Andy Parrott, corporate vice pres-
ident of technical operations for
Suddenlink Communications.
"(There are) truck-mounted GPS
units that use cellular service to
immediately dial up and call
back to the main terminal and
dispatch out or print work
orders on a real time basis."
CovEring aLL basEs
Leakage detection comes in
two more flavors: shotgun and
rifle. In the shotgun approach,
equipment is placed in all trucks,
and detection occurs during the
normal course of business. In
the rifle approach, dedicated
leakage detection personnel
drive out the system quarterly.
While shotgun is perhaps more
timely, rifle is more methodical.
"The two methods comple-
ment each other. The best
solution would be to have a hybrid
of both," Eckenroth said.
To meet the annual cumula-
tive leakage index (CLI) require-
ment (see sidebar), the choice
is between a flyover or ground-
based approach. Operators have
personal preferences. Some
feel sticking to the ground is
more accurate.
"You are riding out the actual
plant and comparing leaks
found only on the plant," said
Jerry Knights, vice president
of engineering, network
and infrastructure, for Insight
Communications.
For Suddenlink, it's also a
matter of cost. "As (technicians)
do their daily routes, they can
drive most of the system out
vs. the cost of hiring an aerial
crew to go out and do a flyover,"
Parrott said.
Midcontinent uses flyovers
for the CLI, but eschews GPS
in its overall leakage detection
program. The company uses
the shotgun approach, but the
leakage detection meters are
not GPS-based. The company
wants technicians to be alerted
to the leak immediately and
to stop and fix it if possible,
Haigh said.
"(You have to) trust the
technicians to do their job right,"
he said.
Monta Monaco Hernon is a contributor
to Communications Technology. Reach
her at [email protected].
From Aeronautical Band to network Performance
Leakage once occupied
the top minds of the
cable industry, the FCC
and the Federal Aviation
Administration, given that
cable occupied some of the
same frequencies (108-137
MHz and 225-400 MHz) as
over-the-air users, including
air traffic controllers.
The regulators were
concerned about a connec-
tion between cable system
leakage and interference
with aircraft navigation
and communications. There
was even talk of forcing the
cable industry to abandon
the shared spectrum.
"That would have frozen
cable forever in place with
something around 18 chan-
nels," said industry veteran
Ted Hartson, principal,
Scottsdale Television Labs.
"That would have been a
death sentence for cable."
In the March 2007 issue
of CT, Ken Eckenroth sum-
marized the FCC leakage
detection rules that emerged
from those days.
"Since 1985, cable opera-
tors must completely drive
out their plant four times
a year, logging all leaks
20 µV/m and above,"
he wrote. "Since 1990,
we must conduct
a drive-out of at least 75
percent of the plant and
file a CLI report to the FCC
showing all leaks 50 µV/m
and above, indicating which
leaks are repaired and their
locations. As an alternative to
the annual rideout, a flyover
of the plant is permitted."
The meat of these
rules hasn't changed, but
operators can now file Form
320 electronically.
What happens, however,
in an all-digital world, or in
a scenario where channels
within the aeronautical band
go digital?
"When signals are
digitized, they use more
of a spread spectrum type
of signaling modulation,"
said ComSonics Director
of Marketing Ken Couch.
"What happens is the sig-
naling level falls below the
general FCC requirements."
So will that be the end to
leakage detection?
Not so fast, said Couch. First,
the FCC may stay involved,
perhaps with network health
requirements that incor-
porate leakage. Second,
as noted in this report, a
cleaner pipe means more
and better services.
That's an even bigger
hurdle than quarterly filings.
"The technology is easy;
it's the process that's hard,"
said Couch. "Sometimes
we're successful in helping
the MSO, and sometimes
it's a real slow, grinding
process because they're ...
often not able to quickly
migrate resources and
change over."
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Cable Leakage technologies (www.wavetracker.com)product Key Features
Wavetracker 4i
Has a touch screen "moving map in the vehicle"; uses auto direction finder technology; designed to enable users to "flag" plant conditions other than leakage during the leakage patrol; multiple upload options to the company's Internet-based APLAS 4i software; leakage receivers incorporating a "tagged" signal in the headend to automatically differentiate multiple signal sources; uses terrestrial broadcast Differential GPS for increased positional location.
Wavetracker pnpThe "Plug n Play" is an under-the-seat unit designed to interface with the customer's existing laptop in the vehicle; allows the full feature capabilities Wavetracker customers have come to expect, while also leveraging customers current assets.
apLas 4i
Automated Positional Leakage Analysis Software, version 4, online (i); leverages the flexibility of the internet for data uploads, as well as distribution of paperless work orders including aerial photos along with mapped leakage events; archives and produces all reporting relative to FCC compliance. Features include:• Ease and precision access when managing online from anywhere with any browser• High-volume GPS tracking• Internet-based signal leakage management• Accuracy and security• Wireless download
Wavetracker aDF
Auto Direction Finding antenna; Doppler-based technology points to the leak in the vehicle and records direction info on the workorder; designed to be mounted on a fully loaded ladder rack on top of the service vehicle; horizontal elements act as an extended ground plane for the vertical antenna array; rugged design can handle tree limbs striking it; displays 16 points of direction for use in real time or can be viewed later in APLAS 3i; leakage data can be identified as to which side of the street it is coming from.
Comsonics (www.comsonics.com)product Key Features
shadow
Shadow is a lightweight, ultra-compact handheld leakage detector for the installer who needs portability.• Light weight under 7oz.• Performance on a budget• Easy to use with single-button operation• Patented leakage validation• Flip cover design with built-in antenna
sentinel
Sentinel is a ruggedized full-featured handheld leakage detector.• Blend of size and performance• Ruggedized casing with single-button operation• Patented leakage validation• Use as handheld or in vehicle docking station• Frequency agile set by user• Can use with external antenna
sleuth ii
Handheld cable leakage detector optimized to locate and track down hard to find leaks.• Retractable dipole antenna for accurate and directional readings• Adjustable distance, frequency, sensitivity, audio, and squelch settings• Use as handheld, vehicle mounted, or combined with the company's Nexus GPS System
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Comsonics (www.comsonics.com) continuedproduct Key Features
geo nexus
Nexus is a mobile leakage detection system that detects, locates, and tracks leaks automatically as workforce vehicles travel the cable plant.• GPS-Based mobile leakage detection system with Wi-Fi connection• Black Box with integrated leak detector or use with external Sleuth II• Maps leaks and automates workorders with full reporting capability
gEnaCis
GPS-enabled, automatic leakage location and management technology.• Black Box with fully automated leakage detection and tracking• Real-time leakage and GPS information• Totally hands-off operation for error free results• Maps leaks, vehicles, and automates workorders with full reporting capability
qualifier X-ray
Qualifier X-Ray tests for cable ingress and leakage points using a proactive test system.• Non-intrusive—no home entry needed• Powerful troubleshooting tool that finds intermittent problems• Designed to reduce return service calls• Handheld unit is very small and lightweight• Single push button operation with pass/fail indicator
Electroline (www.electroline.com)product Key Features
Clearpath Locator software
Web-based application for ingress management; identifies and locates the source of ingress; allows multiple access to remotely monitor ingress; scans fiber nodes and reports out-of-range events by displaying a top-level alarm condition for return path noise; provides a table of alarms and indicates the severity of the ingress; notification of alarm conditions occurs via an optional pager; each node has its own set of alarm parameters based on the normal operating conditions of the node; customization of the node scanning function offers highly flexible control over which nodes are checked for noise, for how long, and how often; versions also available for Trilithic Guardian and JDSU PathTrack.
Control unit iv
Headend microcomputer designed to work with Electroline's CLEARPath ingress management solution; remotely switches addressable CLEARPath modules (CPMs) and Test Point Selectors (TPSs) according to the status it receives from the control software; works with the following components to locate and manage ingress: Locator software, CPM, CLEARPath Integrated Module (CPIM), CLEARPath Rack-mounted Module (CPRM), and TPS.
test point selectormodels tps-ms-100 and tps-sL-100
Provides remote monitoring of any test point in a headend or hub; 16:1 intelligent switcher routes RF signals from selected test points to a signal monitoring device; master TPS (Model TPS-MS-100) can be daisy-chained to up to three slave TPS units (Model TPS-SL-100) to form a 64-input TPS station; outputs of 64 TPS stations can be connected to the inputs of another TPS station; can switch to a particular test point or sequence of test points through Locator software; a particular test point can be selected manually via the front panel; can be located in anywhere in the network.
Clearpath rack-mounted module
Designed to locate ingress sources; 1 RU high; can be installed at a headend or remote site; contains four or eight return path switches that connect to the coaxial cables feeding off of a fiber node; has all of the functionality of Electroline's original field switching return path module, the CPM-3; contains multiple switches; can manage ingress in up to eight different distribution areas; compatible with most other major ingress monitoring systems.
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Electroline (www.electroline.com) continuedproduct Key Features
Clearpath Cpm-4 module
Return path field switch designed to help pinpoint the source of ingress. By remotely controlling the CPM-4 to selectively attenuate segments of the return path in a subscriber node, the operator can quickly locate and control return path ingress in a specific area without leaving the headend; fits in line with other network actives and passives; can be installed anywhere in the coaxial plant; designed as outside plant devices; best applied in situations where faster MTTR and less down time on the upstream are desired.
Clearpath integrated module (Cpim)
Return path switch that can be installed in major brands of optical nodes, distribution amplifiers and line extenders to help manage ingress in the return path; designed as a retrofit for existing nodes and amplifiers; has all the functionality of the CPM, but one CPIM contains up to four return path switches; will not disrupt high-speed data services; the effect of the return path switching is displayed on a standalone spectrum analyzer or a return path monitoring system; compatible with other major ingress monitoring systems.
JDsu (www.jdsu.com)product Key Features
CLi series (CLi-950, CLi-1450, CLi-1750)
Combination leakage and signal level meters (CLI-950 is for signal leakage detection only); Leakage and advanced signal level measurements; frequency agile "Find and Fix" leakage detection; leakage tagging differentiates competing signals in overbuilt network areas; digital test solution for DTV and forward cable modem signals with digiCheck measurement; user interface available in multiple languages; NiMH battery system; patrol for RF leakage from the service vehicle with optional docking station and magnetic mount antenna; track down return path ingress sources with the Ingress Scan feature; leakage mode features large numeric readout, audible alarm, and fast response time; Ingress Scan measurement offers a pass/fail indicator as well as adjustable dwell times and peak holds to find transient return path ingress signals; meter configurations can be cloned from meter-to-meter or downloaded from StealthWare Data Analysis Software; when paired with the optional LST-1700 Transmitter, the CLI-1750 is capable of 5-862 MHz mini-sweep and FDR fault locator for qualifying in-home wiring.
trilithic (www.trilithic.com)product Key Features
seeker Lite²
This is a frequency agile leakage detector (120-147.25 MHz) with 10 user selectable presets. The instrument’s features include Searcher Plus GT technology that is compatible with CT-2 or CT-3 channel tagging techniques, measurement range from 10-2000 μV/m, numeric readout, and tone proportional to signal strength.
Includes the Following:• Leakage Detector with Internal Antenna (does not require external monopole or dipole antenna)• Seeker Lite² Charger• Carrying case with holster (CC-22)• Operation manual on CDRequires seeker setup software for advanced configuration.
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trilithic (www.trilithic.com) continuedproduct Key Features
seeker
This is a frequency agile leakage detector (118.5-147.25 MHz) with 10 user selectable presets. The instrument’s features include Searcher Plus GT technology that is compatible with CT-2 or CT-3 channel tagging techniques, measurement range from 2-2000 μV/m, numeric readout, and tone proportional to signal strength.
Includes the Following:• Leakage detector Seeker Rubber Duck Antenna (does not require external monopole or dipole antenna)• Charger• Mini USB charge/data cable (I/O-20)• Mobile mount (SMB-2)• Mobile mount power cable• Software drivers and operation manual on CDRequires seeker setup software for advanced configuration.
seeker bb-2Trilithic’s new Seeker BB-2 automatic leakage detection system is a fully automated, GPS-based leakage detection system that operates in the background while techs drive their routes, without any operator interaction. You can just install it and forget it.
searcher plus
Single-channel leakage measurement instrument. Specify single frequency from 108 to 157 MHz.
Includes:• Mobile mount (SMB-1)• Flexible rubber antenna• Battery
searcher plus gt
Leakage receiver specifically designed to differentiate between cable leakage and broadband noise without using tagged signals that may interfere with set-top terminals. Specify single frequency from 108 to 157 MHz.
Includes:• Mobile mount (SMB-1)• Near field probe (NFP-1)• Flexible rubber antenna• Battery
super plus
Discriminating receiver with calibrated measurement of leakage signal from 2-2000 μV/m. The unit alarms at 0.5 μV/m when used with the CT-2.
Includes:• Mobile mount (SMB-1)• Near field probe (NFP-1)• Flexible rubber antenna• BatterySpecify tag frequency from 10-23 Hz (20 Hz Standard).
vgi solutions (www.vgisolutions.com)product Key Features
Cpat Leakage monitoring system
Vehicle mounted, fully automated continuous leakage monitoring service; designed to accurately identify leakage points as technicians perform their normal daily routine, without any intervention on their part
evolution
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