Atec SDA-5000, SDA-5500, SDA-5510 User Manual

The Stealth Digital Analyzer (SDA) product
family offers a true "One Box" solution for
HFC network testing and deployment of digi­tal video, data, and traditional analog services.
While preserving the rugged design and
industry standard RF sweep technique of its
Stealth Sweep System predecessor, the SDA
series now adds test features to qualify the
network for today’s high growth subscriber
services. "Find and Fix" tools are included
that reduce technician time for the most labor
intensive maintenance and troubleshooting
assignments, like tracking down reverse
ingress, optical node alignment, proof-of-per­formance testing, and return path alignment.
For these demands, the SDA provides
advanced QAM analysis (optional), a power­ful 5 to 1,000 MHz spectrum display with
cable modem analysis (Zero Span),
PathTrak™ Field View, and full forward and
reverse sweep capability. And with the versa­tile combination of standard and optional
features, the SDA can be customized for both
the cable operator’s network technology level
and budget.

Why Sweep is the
Right Solution

The majority of all transmission
errors (including digital) are found

by measuring the frequency
response of the network. Every physical error
in the network that influences the transmitted
signals will be revealed in the sweep trace.
This means the sweep results are independent
of transmission methods and formats.

The goal is to transmit all signals with the best
noise specifications and the lowest intermodula­tion distortion. Sweep is the most effective and
efficient tool to show the best compromise
between the two. In other words, sweep helps
technicians setup the right gain versus frequency.

Normalized Sweep

To ensure that network specifications are
maintained, starting from the headend to the
subscriber, each section of the network has its
own set of specifications. A normalized sweep
divides the network into easily managed sec­tions. Each of these network sections, with its
own set of specifications and quality require­ments, can be designated to an individual
team or contractor.

SDA-5000

Stealth Digital Analyzer

• Digital ready, non-interfering,
continuously referenced sweep

• Forward and reverse sweep in
one hand-held instrument

• Optional QAM view provides com­plete analysis of digital TV and
forward cable modem signals
> Pre/Post FEC BER
> MER
> Constellation
> Exclusive "Ingress Under the

Carrier"

• Fast, sensitive spectrum analyzer

• Cable modem analysis using
Zero Span mode provides
accurate, in-service, power, and
C/N measurements

• PathTrak Field View option
quickly pinpoints Return Path
Noise / Ingress

• Automated, 24-hour Proof-of­Performance according to FCC
and CENELEC standards

• International language

• Rugged, weather-resistant, and
lightweight

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The SDA series uses a variation of the original Stealth Sweep
technology. Existing video carriers (analog, digital, or scram­bled) are referenced when possible, eliminating any possibility
of interference to the subscriber services. Where carriers are
absent, the SDA-5500 Transceiver at the headend transmits a
sweep to fill vacant spectrum areas. To remove effects of
headend level drift, the SDA-5500 Transceiver monitors the
levels and transmits new reference information with every
sweep. This means that if the signal levels are changing in the
headend, they won't effect the sweep response measurement.
The SDA-5500 Transceiver has all of the measurement capa­bility of the SDA-5000 Receiver, therefore the Headend
Technician can keep an eye on headend levels.

The SDA series also offers significantly faster forward sweep
speed, especially in systems that include many digital sig­nals. The SDA is capable of referencing 64/256 QAM signal
types, so there is no need to worry about subscriber inter­ference or injecting sweep carriers in the guard bands.

Stealth Sweep and SDA Series
Sweep Compatibility

The SDA series is completely sweep compatible with Stealth
3SR, 3ST, 3HRV, and StealthTrak SSA-1000 series meters.
The only requirement is that firmware version 9.3 is
installed in Stealth meters, and firmware version 2.0
installed in StealthTrak SSA-1000 meters. To take full
advantage of the faster forward sweep capability, all head­end and field instruments must be SDA series.

Preparing the Network for
Interactive Services

Reverse Sweep

The SDA-5000 (with OPT 1 installed) allows simple and
practical testing of the reverse path frequency response,
regardless of the frequency (5 to 1000 MHz). And the SDA
has a built-in reverse sweep transmitter, which means exter­nally generated carriers are not required. Furthermore, the
SDA-5500 transmitter and field receivers have frequency
agile telemetry. They can be configured to communicate on
both the forward and reverse paths.

Forward (downstream) and reverse (upstream) path align­ment can be performed simultaneously by one person. The
operator simply indicates which screen should be dis­played—the response from the headend to the test point, or
the response from the test point to the headend. A reverse
sweep can uncover mismatch problems, which reveal them­selves as standing waves, or duplex filter roll-offs that can
severely hamper the quality of services in the reverse band.

Multiple User Reverse Testing

For intense reverse testing requirements, the rack mounted
Model SDA-5510 Headend Reverse Sweep Manager handles
the reverse sweep job for up to ten different technicians on
the same cluster of nodes. Using the SDA-5510 in conjunc­tion with the model SDA-5500 Transceiver provides a full
forward and reverse sweep alignment solution. The SDA­5510 can also stand alone in remote hub sites for dedicated
reverse alignment applications.

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Portable Reverse Sweep Manager

The portable version of the SDA-5510 allows technicians to
install a multiple user Reverse Sweep Manager in locations
where it is not practical to install a rack mount unit. The
SDA-5000 with OPT 6 provides all the functionality of the
SDA-5510, but in the rugged SDA-5000 field unit package.
Applications include installation in systems where reverse
traffic is received by an ATM/SONET/SDH network rather
than returning to the headend, or any condition that pre­vents rack mount installation or access to a headend/hub
site (Note: Forward sweep capability not included with
SDA-5000 with OPT 6).

Seeing Headend/Hub Site Accumulated
Ingress in the Field

The reverse noise feature of the SDA-5000 enables easy
reverse path noise testing. The operator simply presses the
"Noise" soft key while reverse sweeping, and the display
changes to a noise/ingress response indicating the noise
level over the entire reverse path spectrum measured at the
headend or hub site. All SDA Transmitters provide feedback
to the field regarding the current condition of noise and
ingress in the headend, even when noise or ingress is
"swamping" the telemetry (broadcast mode). A "picture" of
the headend noise/ingress is sent out to the SDA Receiver
via a special forward telemetry carrier.

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QAM View Ensures Quality Forward Path
Digital Services

For measurement and analysis of digital TV and forward
modem signals, the new digital 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 a noise margin
"cliff effect" parameter. An equalizer display shows equalizer
stress and distance to fault.

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In addition, an exclusive 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!

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In-Service Cable Modem Analyzer

For "bursty" digital signals such as TDMA technologies
used on cable modems for reverse services, the SDA-5000
offers two measurement choices. The first, a one-button
cable modem analyzer test, quickly shows carrier-to-noise
measurements. The second, an advanced Zero Span feature,
utilizes a time domain display to allow power measure­ments while the modem is in service. Both methods are
compatible with global cable modem standards.

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Detecting Ingress in the Field

The operator looks at the ingress present at the field test point
using the spectrum display on any of the receivers, then
switches to reverse ingress/noise to see the ingress at the head­end for comparison. This time-saving procedure helps in
locating sources of ingress. An adjustable dwell time ensures
that even intermittent ingress is detected. The preamp and
low-pass filter also assures that even low-level ingress is seen.
The preamp and low-pass filter on the SDA-5000 assures that
ingress can be measured on devices with bi-directional test­points or testpoint values of 30 dB or more.

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PathTrak Field View

When a system 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-5000. With Field View, the SDA-5000
receives a return path headend spectrum broadcast from the
PathTrak unit and compares it with a return path spectrum
at any field testpoint. The side-by-side spectrum compari-

son instantly reveals to the technician whether the ingress
source is originating at the 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).

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Powerful Graphic Displays and
Common User Interface Allow
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.

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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 (several examples of the icons
are included in this literature). The learning curve for a
progressing technician is considerably shorter than with
alternative test equipment. This means urgent upgrade pro­jects make the most efficient use of limited resources when
SDA series products are used.