COMMUNICATIONS TEST AND MEASUREMENT SOLUTIONS
DSAM-6300
Digital Service Analysis Meter
Applications
•Non-invasive forward and reverse sweeping
•Comprehensive digital and analog video testing
•Full DOCSIS 3.0 performance testing: up to 8 downstream by 4 upstream bonded carriers
•Legacy testing—DOCSIS 1.X and 2.0
•QAM-carrier signal quality analysis and troubleshooting
•Return-path ingress troubleshooting
•Service-quality verification
Key Benefits • Improve workforce efficiency by letting technicians perform complete maintenance and quality-verification tests on the
spot—one person with one instrument—including sweep, digital video, analog video, DOCSIS®, VoIP tests, and more
•Streamline operations by managing and displaying sweep files via the web and by immediately synchronizing data over DOCSIS RF
•Minimize capital expenses—sweep is compatible with existing JDSU Stealth Sweep™ systems, assuring non-interfering forwardand reverse-sweep operations
•Improve technician competency with the Digital Quality Index™ (DQI), an easy-to-understand, real-time indicator that shows up to 90 seconds of digital quality history
•Stand up to rain, cold, heat, bumps, drops, and other accidental mishaps with a rugged, lightweight design
To achieve service-differentiating quality and reliability, network maintenance requires careful and consistent attention. While the broadband frequency response test in both the forward path (downstream) and the return path (upstream) is a core requirement of any cable network maintenance plan, maintaining cable networks requires more than sweep. The DSAM-6300 (Digital Services Analysis Meter) combines best-in-class video, audio, and data test functions with the extremely popular SDA sweep system’s downstream forward path and upstream return path sweep functions in a rugged, multi-technology handheld that performs in the harshest environments.
Because it uses powerful Stealth Sweep technology, the DSAM-6300 works with existing Stealth Digital Analyzer (SDA) rack-mounted sweep gear (SDA-5500 and SDA-5510) located at headend and hub sites. Additionally, DSAM-6300 meters can sweep side-by-side with SDA-5000 meters. Therefore, major test infrastructure modifications are not required when DSAM-6300s are added to a department’s meter pool.
website: www.jdsu.com/test
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Features
The level mode on a digital channel measures the signal level and MER and tracks the BER and errored seconds.
Miniscan measures signal strength of up to 12 channels simultaneously.
Tilt mode checks forward lowand high-frequency channel level tilt.
Signal Level Meter
The DSAM-6300 features extremely accurate JDSU digiCheck™ digital power level measurements in addition to traditional signal level measurement (SLM) test functions for analog video and audio levels. In addition to the standard analog carrier-to-noise (C/N) measurement, a quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) ingress option enables viewing noise and ingress within the QAM signal spectrum. The DSAM-6300 can measure downstream carriers to a full 1 GHz and analyze 64, 128, and 256 QAM including deep interleave (i=128, j=4) modulation. Also included are modulation error ratio (MER) and preand post-FEC bit error rate (BER), margin, and quality specifications.
Miniscan and Full Scan Modes
When measuring analog and digital signals, technicians can see highand lowfrequency channels and verify how much level headroom remains when limits are activated. In miniscan mode, the DSAM monitors up to 12 channels at a time and in full scan mode it monitors the entire channel plan—up to 999 channels. The results of both scans are displayed in either an easy-to-see bar graph or an informative table.
Tilt Mode
Part of the sweep procedure, tilt mode checks forward lowand high-frequency channel level tilt. Level variances display at the bottom of the DSAM-6300 screen, and a sampling of carrier levels throughout the spectrum provides a rough indication of frequency-response variation. Based on these results, technicians can choose an equalizer pad that will provide optimum flatness at the end of the line.
MER, BER, and Errored Seconds
When the DSAM 6300 is tuned to a QAM signal in the level mode, it simultaneously measures MER, BER, and errored and severely errored seconds.
MER is an indicator of transmission quality degradation resulting from noise, ingress, and composite distortions. An expression of signal-to-noise ratio plus all other non-transient distortion signals, MER also shows phase and amplitude distortions that may have been passed from the headend. MER is an overall quality measurement that can be performed on a digital QAM carrier. JDSU has perfected this valuable measurement by optimizing both custom hardware and proprietary software algorithms. The result is accurate readings that far exceed those reported from customer-premises equipment such as digital set tops.
BER quickly detects impulse noise in the system by revealing when information is lost or corrupted at the bit layer. The DSAM-6300 measures BER by tracking the number of errored bits (pre-FEC) and the number of bits that cannot be fixed by forward error correction (FEC) (post-BER).
The errored seconds measurement is for troubleshooting connections with intermittent bit errors occurring over a period of time. If an error has occurred during any second of elapsed time, the errored second field increments by one. One error or multiple errors in the same second is counted as one errored second. If there is more than 1 in 1 million bit errors occurring in the same second, the severely errored second register increments by one. The errored seconds fields are conveniently included in the digital level display.
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A constellation graph shows impairments on the network with patterns in the display. By identifying the pattern, technicians can figure out the probable cause of the impairment.
DQI displays intermittent, short-duration impairments that MER and BER miss as well as steady-state issues that MER and BER typically capture.
Constellation Mode
Various elements in a network can compromise video quality. The DSAM-6300 constellation mode displays patterns of data points on a graph for easy interpretation, letting technicians detect and quickly diagnose sources of digital video problems.
Digital Quality Index (DQI) Mode
DQI is an indicator of the overall health of a QAM stream. This JDSU exclusive measurement is extremely effective in tracking intermittent problems. QAM signal health is represented by an easy to understand index rating from “0” to “10” with 10 being the highest quality. DQI also catches errors sometimes missed by BER and errored seconds measurements. To help troubleshoot intermittent issues, the index is plotted on a 180-second graphical history display.
QAM Ingress Mode
Traditionally, detecting the presence of ingress within downstream digital signal spectrum is nearly impossible without turning off the service. The tightly spaced QAM carriers hide any visual presence of ingress or intermodulation distortions. An MER test will indicate that an issue exists, but with the DSAM-6300 and the patented QAM Ingress mode, technicians can inspect what is actually going on beneath the digital “haystack” without interrupting service.
FieldView™ Option
Field View provides the communication between JDSU PathTrak™ return-path monitoring systems and field meters such as the DSAM-6300. A JDSU HSM-1000 sends spectrum measurements from PathTrak to the field meter, where the results are displayed on the DSAM screen. By comparing local spectrum measurements to those from PathTrak, field technicians can quickly resolve return-path ingress problems.
The QAM Ingress test lets technicians see spectrum underneath a live digital carrier which is usually not viewable due to the presence of the“haystack.”
The optional Field View capability greatly improves the success rate and efficiency in locating return-path ingress. Field technicians can view the return spectrum that the JDSU PathTrak Return Path Monitoring System receives. Both the remote spectrum and the local spectrum view can be compared on the meter.
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The Field View QAM dashboard shows a variety of measurements for the represented carrier, and
results that are outside of user-designated limits are indicated by color. From the dashboard, technicians can select a measurement parameter to view more closely and switch directly to a full-screen display of that measurement.
FieldView QAM™ Option
The unique Field View QAM option lets technicians see upstream impairments that are invisible to spectrum analyzers and sweep tools. Observing a clean spectrum with traditional spectrum-analysis tools may indicate a pristine return path; however, the overall node health reported by the cable modem termination system (CMTS) and other reporting tools can show a low health score, even after teams of technicians have been working on the node cleaning up noise issues for several weeks. With Field View QAM, technicians can quickly identify micro-reflections, in-band frequency response, and group-delay issues. Armed with the DSAM in conjunction with MACTrak™ technology in PathTrak, technicians can easily verify the overall health of return-path carriers.
WiFi Option
The WiFi option enables a USB WiFi adapter to verify WiFi network strength and connectivity, or to communicate test data to JDSU TechComplete™ Test Productivity Pack (TPP).
Optical Power Meter Option
The optical power meter option enables connecting a USB power meter (JDSU MP-60 or MP-80) for verifying or troubleshooting node light levels.
SmartID™
Innovative advanced JDSU coax probes enable extremely quick, comprehensive home network qualification, eliminating repeat truck rolls and making troubleshooting less costly and more effective.
The optical power measurement option enables connecting a USB power meter (JDSU MP60A or MP80A) for verifying or troubleshooting node light levels.
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