111 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Presentation_ID
2 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Session Number
Presentation_ID
Downstream RF
Troubleshooting
Ron Hranac
Technical Leader, Broadband Network Engineering
333 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
CMTS Configuration
Check this firstincorrect CMTS
configuration is a very common problem!
444 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Digitally Modulated Carrier Amplitude
When measuring the
amplitude of a digitally
modulated carrier, make
certain you are
measuring its average
power level
Use test equipment that
performs automated
measurements, rather
than trying to make error-
prone manual
measurements that
require bandwidth, IF
filter, log amplifier and
detection corrections
555 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Upconverter Setup
CMTS
RF upconverter
88-860 MHz downstream
RF output to CATV network
(+50 dBmV to +61 dBmV)
Attenuator
44 MHz downstream
IF output
(e.g., +42 dBmV +/-2 dB)
44 MHz IF input to
upconverter
(typ. +25 dBmV to +35
dBmV)
666 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
CMTS Downstream IF Output
Measure the CMTSs downstream
intermediate frequency (IF) output level
Verify that the level meets the CMTS
manufacturers spec (e.g., +42 dBmV, +/-2
dB)
777 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Upconverter IF Input
Measure the IF input level to the external
upconverter
Refer to the upconverter manufacturers
specifications for the correct IF input level
Typically in the range of +25 dBmV to +35
dBmV
In most cases an in-line attenuator ( pad ) will
be required between the CMTS IF output and
upconverter IF input
888 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Upconverter Operating Parameters
Refer to the upconverter manufacturers
specifications for correct setup guidelines
IF and RF operating levels
IF AGC
Digital modulation versus analog modulation
Output frequency
999 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Upconverter Output Frequency
Digitally modulated carrier frequency is
usually defined by the channels center
frequency
For example, EIA channel 71 (504-510
MHz) has a center frequency of 507.0 MHz
Most upconverters display the desired
channels center frequency
An exception is the GI/Motorola C6Uits
frequency readout displays the equivalent
analog TV channel visual carrier frequency.
For example, Ch. 71 would be displayed as
505.25 MHz rather than 507.0 MHz.
10 10 10 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Upconverter RF Output
Measure the upconverters radio
frequency (RF) output level
DOCSIS specifies +50 dBmV to +61 dBmV
capability
Typical operation is in the +55 dBmV to
+58 dBmV range, just like a processor or
modulator
11 11 11 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Digitally Modulated Carrier Amplitude
Verify that the digitally modulated carriers
average power level is 6 dB to 10 dB below
the amplitude of what an analog TV
channel on the same frequency would be
12 12 12 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
QAM Analyzer
A QAM analyzer is a
good troubleshooting
tool
Most provide pre- and
post-FEC BER
measurements
MER also is available
13 13 13 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
QAM Analyzer
The constellation display
is perhaps a QAM
analyzers most useful
function
This is an example of a
good 256-QAM
constellation. The dot
clusters are tight and
well-defined, and are
located away from
decision boundaries. The
overall shape of the 256
dot clusters forms a
square.
14 14 14 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
QAM Analyzer
Use the QAM analyzer to check the CMTS
IF output, upconverter IF input, and
upconverter RF output: MER, pre- and
post-FEC BER and constellation
CMTS
RF upconverter
Attenuator
15 15 15 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Modulation Error Ratio
Modulation error ratio (MER) is analogous
to baseband signal-to-noise ratio
The recommended minimum MER for
64-QAM is 27 dB
The recommended minimum MER for
256-QAM is 31 dB
16 16 16 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Modulation Error Ratio
MER in the headendCMTS output,
upconverter input and output, and
downstream laser inputshould be in the
34 dB to 36 dB or greater range.
17 17 17 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Bit Error Rate
Ideally there should be no bit errors in the
downstream digitally modulated carrier
DOCSIS specifies the cable modem post-
FEC BER to be 1x10
-8
or less
18 18 18 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Sweep Transmitter Operation
Many cable operators use
broadband sweep equipment
for network maintenance.
Sweep transmitter interference to
downstream digitally modulated carriers is
a common problem. When it happens,
degraded BER performance occurs.
To avoid sweep interference problems,
make sure the sweep transmitter has
appropriate guard bands programmed
around each downstream digitally
modulated carrier.
19 19 19 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
One More Thing to Check
Measure RF levels, MER and BER at the
downstream laser input, to make sure
other headend equipment such as
combining amplifiers havent impaired the
digitally modulated carrier
Verify that downstream laser transmitter
RF input levels are within spec
Excessive levels can cause downstream laser
clipping, which may not be visible in the
analog TV pictures. However, clipping will
degrade the downstream digitally modulated
carriers BER performance.
20 20 20 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Still Having Problems?
If everything appears to check out OK in
the headend but cable modem operational
problems still exist in the field, it may be a
cable network problem
This can be verified by connecting the
CMTS to a six-foot plant
21 21 21 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Six-Foot Plant
Upconverter
10 dB to
15 dB
atten.
30 dB
atten.
30 dB
atten.
D
i
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l
e
x

f
i
l
t
e
r
8
-
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a
y

s
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r
Common
Low
High
U
p
s
t
r
e
a
m
D
o
w
n
s
t
r
e
a
m
+25 to +35 dBmV
I.F. input
+55 to +58 dBmV
RF output
CMTS
Cable modems
10 dB
atten.
22 22 22 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Still Having Problems?
If CMTS configuration
is correct and headend
problems have been
ruled out, its time to
move to the outside
plant.
23 23 23 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Out in the Field
Go to the fiber node that
serves the affected area
and measure RF levels,
MER and BER, and look
for constellation
impairments. Problems
herebut not in the
headendsuggest
something may be amiss
in the downstream fiber
link.
24 24 24 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Out in the Field
If everything checks out OK at the node,
go to an affected subscribers premises.
Measure RF levels, MER and BER, and
evaluate the constellation for impairments.
25 25 25 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Out in the Field
Verify that the amplitude (average power
level!) of the downstream digitally
modulated carrier at the cable modem
input is in the 15 dBmV to +15 dBmV
range.
The total RF powerthat is, the
contribution of the entire downstream RF
spectrumat the cable modem input must
be less than +30 dBmV .
26 26 26 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
A Few Potential Problems
Improper RF levels
Poor carrier-to-noise ratio (the DOCSIS minimum
spec is 35 dB for both 64- and 256-QAM)
Loose or intermittent connections
Hum modulation (the DOCSIS maximum spec is
5%, or 26 dBc)
Ingress, impulse noise, spurious interference,
distortions
Microreflections (analogous to multipath or
ghosting in analog TV pictures)
27 27 27 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
Something Else to Check
Poor in-channel
frequency response may
cause excessive group
delay, which will degrade
BER performance.
Set the spectrum
analyzer to 3 dB/division
and place the top of the
carrier in an upper
graticule. Set RBW to 30
kHz, VBW to 1 kHz, and
turn on video averaging.
The analyzer will display
approximate in-channel
frequency response.
The DOCSIS 1.1 spec for in-channel
frequency response (amplitude ripple)
is 3 dB. This is an example of good
frequency response.
28 28 28 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
DOCSIS 1.0 Downstream RF Channel
Transmission Characteristics
Parameter Value
Frequency range Cable system normal downstream operating
range is from 50 MHz to as high as 860 MHz.
However, the values in this table apply only at
frequencies >=88 MHz.
RF channel spacing (design bandwidth) 6 MHz
Transit delay from headend to most distant
customer
<=0.800 msec (typically much less)
Carrier-to-noise ratio in a 6 MHz band (analog
video level)
Not less than 35 dB (Note 4)
Carrier-to-interference ratio for total power
(discrete and broadband ingress signals)
Not less than 35 dB within the design
bandwidth
Composite triple beat distortion for analog
modulated carriers
Not greater than 50 dBc within the design
bandwidth
Composite second order distortion for analog
modulated carriers
Not greater than 50 dBc within the design
bandwidth
Cross-modulation level Not greater than 40 dBc within the design
bandwidth
Amplitude ripple 0.5 dB within the design bandwidth
Group delay ripple in the spectrum occupied by
the CMTS
75 ns within the design bandwidth
Micro-reflections bound for dominant echo -10 dBc@ <=0.5 sec
-15 dBc@ <=1.0 sec
-20 dBc@ <=1.5 sec
-30 dBc@ >1.5 sec
Carrier hum modulation Not greater than 26 dBc (5%)
Burst noise Not longer than 25 sec at a 10 Hz average
rate
Seasonal and diurnal signal level variation 8 dB
Maximum analog video carrier level at the CM
input, inclusive of above signal level variation
17 dBmV
Lowest analog video carrier level at the CM
input, inclusive of above signal level variation
-5 dBmV

29 29 29 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
DOCSIS 1.0 Electrical Input to Cable
Modem
Parameter Value
Center Frequency 91 to 857 MHz, 30 kHz
Level Range (one channel) -15 dBmV to +15 dBmV
Modulation Type 64-QAM and 256-QAM
Symbol Rate (nominal) 5.056941 Msym/sec (64-QAM) and
5.360537 Msym/sec (256-QAM)
Bandwidth 6 MHz (18% Square Root Raised Cosine
shaping for 64-QAM and 12% Square Root
Raised Cosine shaping for 256-QAM)
Total Input Power (40-900 MHz) < 30 dBmV
Input (load) Impedance 75 ohms
Input Return Loss > 6 dB (88-860 MHz)
Connector F connector per [IPS-SP-406] (common with
the output)
30 30 30 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
DOCSIS 1.1 Downstream RF Channel
Transmission Characteristics
Parameter Value
Frequency range Cable system normal downstream operating range is from 50 MHz to as high
as 860 MHz. However, the values in this table apply only at frequencies >=
88 MHz.
RF channel spacing (design bandwidth) 6 MHz
Transit delay from headend to most distant
customer
<=0.800 msec (typically much less)
Carrier-to-noise ratio in a 6 MHz band Not less than 35 dB
Carrier-to-Composite triple beat distortion ratio Not less than 41 dB
Carrier-to-Composite second order distortion
ratio
Not less than 41 dB
Carrier-to-Cross modulation ratio Not less than 41 dB
Carrier-to-any other discrete interference
(ingress)
Not less than 41 dB
Amplitude ripple 3 dB within the design bandwidth
Group delay ripple in the spectrum occupied
by the CMTS
75 ns within the design bandwidth
Micro-reflections bound for dominant echo -10 dBc@ <=0.5 sec
-15 dBc@ <=1.0 sec
-20 dBc@ <=1.5 sec
-30 dBc@ >1.5 sec
Carrier hum modulation Not greater than 26 dBc (5%)
Burst noise Not longer than 25 sec at a 10 Hz average rate
Maximum analog video carrier level at the CM
input
17 dBmV
Maximum number of analog carriers 121

31 31 31 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Presentation_ID
DOCSIS 1.1 Electrical Input to Cable
Modem
Parameter Value
Center Frequency 91 to 857 MHz, 30 kHz
Level Range (one channel) -15 dBmV to +15 dBmV
Modulation Type 64-QAM and 256-QAM
Symbol Rate (nominal) 5.056941 Msym/sec (64-QAM) and
5.360537 Msym/sec (256-QAM)
Bandwidth 6 MHz (18% Square Root Raised Cosine
shaping for 64-QAM and 12% Square Root
Raised Cosine shaping for 256-QAM)
Total Input Power (40-900 MHz) < 30 dBmV
Input (load) Impedance 75 ohms
Input Return Loss > 6 dB (88-860 MHz)
Connector F connector per [ISO-169-24] (common with
the output)

Presentation_ID 32 32 32 2001, Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.