Atec SDA-4040D User Manual
W
hether deploying cable modems,
rolling out digital TV, or maintain-
ing the analog spectrum, the SDA4040D delivers precision "find and fix"
measurement tools that will reduce critical
test time when analyzing and qualifying
broadband network performance. Priced for
virtually any system budget, the SDA4040D brings unmatched measurement
performance to the network technician in a
rugged "One Box" solution. And with a versatile upgrade program, the SDA-4040D
can be updated as technician skill levels
and system requirements expand.
Digital services testing is the centerpiece
of the SDA-4040D platform. Detecting and
eliminating return path noise is confronted
with a fast spectrum analyzer (detects signals down to a 5µs duration), and the
industry unique PathTrak Field View
option. A Zero Span spectrum provides
accurate, in-service power and carrier-tonoise measurements of cable modems.
And the new QAM View digital analysis
option adds forward path digital signal
testing including constellation, pre/post
FEC BER, MER, and exclusive QAM Ingress
feature that reveals noise under an active
carrier. Of course, analog signal measurements are addressed with standard features like RF level, fast-scan, tilt, in-service
C/N and HUM, and FCC and CENELEC
compliant auto testing.
WWG also offers comprehensive technical
training programs to make sure that network field technicians become experts on
the SDA-4040D. WWG training provides
detailed instruction on the time saving and
practical SDA-4040D applications related
to the latest broadband technology.
Preparing the Network
for Digital Services
QAM View Option Ensures Quality
Forward Path Digital Services. For mea-
surement and analysis of digital TV and
forward modem signals, the new QAM View
option provides a full complement of digital quality measurements. Included is a
64/256 QAM constellation display with
zoom, average digital power level, Bit Error
Rate (BER), 21 to 35 dB Modulation Error
Ratio (MER) and noise margin "cliff effect"
parameter. An equalizer display shows
equalizer stress and distance to fault.
! Constellation display with MER and pre/post
FEC BER.
In addition, an exclusive QAM ingress
noise mode allows technicians to see
ingress/noise under an active digital carrier. This tool is invaluable for detecting forward path ingress otherwise hidden by
conventional spectrum views!
! QAM ingress feature shows noise/ingress
under an active carrier.
SDA-4040D
HFC Signal Analysis Meter
• Fast, Sensitive
Spectrum Analyzer
• Full In-Service
Proof-of-Performance
Analyzer with Level,
Carrier-to-Noise,
HUM and Modulation
Measurements
• Cable Modem
Analysis Using Zero
Span Mode Provides
Accurate, In-service,
Power and C/N
Measurements
• QAM View Option
Provides Complete
Analysis of Digital TV
and Forward Cable
Modem Signals
> Pre/Post FEC BER
> MER
> Constellation
> Exclusive "Ingress
Under the Carrier"
• PathTrak Field View
Option Quickly
Pinpoints Return Path
Noise/Ingress
• Automated 24 Hour
Proof-of-Performance
According to FCC and
CENELEC Standards
• Technical Training
Programs
• International
Language
• Rugged, Weather
Resistant and
Lightweight
Measuring the Behavior of
DOCSIS/DAVIC Compatible Cable
Modem Signals in the Cable Plant. For
"bursty" digital signals, such as TDMA
technologies used on cable modems for
reverse services, the SDA-4040D uses the
advanced Zero Span capabilities to make
the measurement. Time domain displays of
TDMA signals allow power measurement,
D/U (desired/undesired measurements),
and detection of packet collisions, all while
the modem is in service. Technicians can
measure the level of interference in the
actual channel being used.
!Time domain view of ingress in the Zero Span
mode captures elusive ingress.
! Cable modem analysis using Zero Span mode
provides accurate, in-service, power and C/N
measurements.
Fast-Update Spectrum Display for
Detecting Ingress in the Field. The spec-
trum mode has the speed and versatility
to effectively troubleshoot difficult system
problems. A programmable dwell time
allows the meter to stay on each frequency longer to catch more ingress. Peak hold
mode captures and saves transient bursts
(like evasive return path electrical noise).
The SAM4040D detects signals as fast as
5µs, in both Zero Span and continuous
modes. The pre-amp and low-pass filter
on the SDA-4040D assures that ingress
can be measured on devices with bi-directional testpoints or testpoint values of
30dB or more.
! Reverse digital modem signal.
PathTrak Field View Option.
When your network is equipped
with the PathTrak Performance
Monitoring System, system technicians can
benefit from the ultimate ingress fighting
tool—the PathTrak Field View option for
the SDA-4040D. With Field View, the SDA4040D receives a return path headend
spectrum broadcast from the PathTrak unit,
and then compares it with a return path
spectrum at any field testpoint. The sideby-side spectrum comparison instantly
reveals to the technician whether the
ingress source is originating at his current
testpoint or at a different location. The
comparative spectrum technique slashes
noise/ingress troubleshooting time, since
the technician can immediately verify
whether corrective action performed in the
field (local trace) results in improvement in
the headend spectrum (remote trace).
! PathTrak Field View option compares headend
node spectrum with field test-point spectrum.
Sweepless Sweep® Provides NonIntrusive Frequency Response.
The trademarked Sweepless Sweep® passively provides frequency response information
about a network by measuring active carriers. The SAM404D stores the levels of all
active carriers at one reference point in the
network, and then compares the relative
levels to another point within the network;
just like referenced sweep, but without the
need for a transmitter!
! Sweepless Sweep® Display.
Powerful Graphic
Displays and Common
User Interface Allows
Technicians to Learn Fast.
The results of all measurements
are presented to the user in
clear, highly informative, summary displays. The graphics present the
information the way the technician wants
to see the results – no further interpretation required. For example, testpoint compensation values are entered at the start of
testing. Displays then calculate actual levels automatically, minimizing field errors.
! Graphical reverse testpoint compensation.
With SDA series products, all levels of
instruments are familiar to the technician,
regardless of which is learned first,
because the same user interface conventions are used across all product families.
The learning curve for a progressing technician is considerably shorter than alternative test equipment. This means urgent
upgrade projects make the most efficient
use of limited resources when SDA series
products are used.
! The Navigator user interface, common on all
WWG meters.
Comprehensive Testing
The SDA-4040D provides an extensive set of
signal analysis features designed for proving, and improving, network quality. All
tests utilize a practical user interface, normally requiring only a one-button keystroke.
Level Measurement. The SDA
instruments provide a comprehen-
sive single-channel display with
tuned channel, video frequency and level,
audio frequency and level, and the difference
between video and audio carrier levels.
! The single-channel level display shows
both video and audio levels (either single
or dual sound/NICAM) and the difference
between the two.
! Digital channel average power measurements
can be made using the digiCheck™ feature.
Making accurate digital average power
measurements are addressed with the
digiCheck™ measurement function. The
digiCheck™ feature is compatible with
most "non-bursty" digital modulations in
use today (i.e., 16, 32, 64, and 256 QAM,
QPR, QPSK, VSB, CAP16, etc.).
Analog and Digital Signal
Limits.
Analog signal threshold
limits have always been a technician’s favorite feature of WWG instruments.
Automatic limit checks provide a quick
go/no-go status for audio and video levels.
The SDA series extends this capability with
a dedicated digital limit set that can be
applied exclusively to the forward digital
carriers defined in a channel plan. By
assigning separate analog and digital limits,
test time is reduced since no calculation is
necessary to determine if analog and digital
level relationships are within system specifications. Analog and digital limit capability
is available in both the scan and autotest
modes (available July 2000).
WWG "One Box"
Solutions
The SDA-4040D signal
analysis meter delivers a
“One-Box" solution to
help deploy and maintain
quality video and data services in the HFC network.
With the same durability
and measurement accuracy as its venerable SAM
predecessor, the SDA4040D is designed with
the speed, spectrum and
advanced QAM analysis to
test both traditional analog video and the latest
digital formats. The versatile combination of standard features and available options allow the
meter to be customized,
or upgraded to the SDA5000, to meet virtually any
system requirements.
Analog Testing
• Non-Intrusive
Sweepless Sweep®
• RF Level, Fast Scan, Tilt
• In-service Carrier to
Noise, HUM, Depth
of Mod.
• Fast Spectrum Display
with CTB/CSO
• Auto Testing/24 Hour
Testing (FCC & CENELC
Compliant)
Return Path Testing
• PathTrak Field
View Option Pinpoints
Return Path Noise
• Zero Span
Spectrum Mode
• DOCSIS/DAVIC
Compatible Cable
Modem Analysis
Advanced Digital Testing
• DigiCheck™
Average Power
• QAM View Digital
Analysis Option with
MER, Pre/Post FEC BER,
Constellation, and
Exclusive Noise/Ingress
Under the Carrier
Measurement
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