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 kcouch@comsonics.com.

The Future of Cable

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3

editorialeditor Jonathan Tombes (301) 354-1795, jtombes@accessintel.commanaging editor Ron Hendrickson (303) 422-3373, rhendrickson@accessintel.comcontributing 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 mcmhern@yahoo.com.

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."

4

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

5

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.

6

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.

7

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

wavetracker’s next-generation APLAS 4i software

and hardware is here! Chances are you’re already familiar with the Cable Leakage Technologies’ Wavetracker, and know its tremendous capabilities in the field and as a detection and reporting device. Wavetracker has long been THE industry’s leading leakage detection system.

Well get ready — because Wavetracker’s next-generation APLAS 4i software is here! When you engage Wavetracker’s APLAS software — for the first time or the hundredth time — you’ll see all-new functionality, including a new Google-powered mapping engine with satellite imagery, dynamic work-orders, a network friendly client and an available lifetime access plan.

Currently a Wavetracker user with APLAS 3i? Then you’ve noticed your seamless upgrade in real time. Not an APLAS user? Contact us at www.wavetracker.com or call 1-800-783-8878 and get the details on the Wavetracker solution. And coming soon — our evolution continues with the debut of the ALL NEW Touch-screen Wavetracker 4i with moving map navigation system, complete with the APLAS 4i solution suite.

When it comes to the technology of identifying cable leakage...our name says it all...Cable Leakage Technologies.

Evolving technology for an evolving industry.

Visit us online at www.wavetracker.com or call 1-800-783-8878

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