Professional Documents
Culture Documents
www.scientificatlanta.com
G1534A
Abstract
The choice of a suitable architecture and appropriate transmission technologies for a Hybrid Fibre-Coax (HFC) network is based not only upon the geographic and demographic characteristics of the Service Area, but also upon the type and volume of traffic that the network is designed to carry. This is particularly true in regard to the location and functionality of the interface between the optical and RF transmission segments (the Optical Node). In recent years, reduced prices of optical transmitters and wavelength-dependent components (for example, DWDM multiplexers), as well as ready availability of integrated circuits (chip sets) for standard electrical and optical transmission rates, have greatly increased the range of options available to the network designer in determining the placement and capabilities of the Optical Nodes. Scientific-Atlanta manufactures several families of optical nodes that take full advantage of the available transmission technologies and cover a wide range of applications. This white paper provides examples of node deployment in different networks, to show how the selection of the right product is made.
G1534A
1204
Page 1
Optical Transmitter
Optical Node Optical Transmitter Optical Node Serving Area: 500 Potential Subscribers Serving Area: 500 Potential Subscribers
Splitter
In general, the downstream bandwidth requirements will be determined by considering all types of traffic (analogue and digital, video and data), whereas in the upstream direction the greatest consumer of bandwidth will be interactive data services (for example, Internet access) and broadband telephony.
Narrowcast services that originate in the hub might be television transmissions from local stations, premium digital signals from video file servers in the hub, or data traffic originating in CMTS equipment. These signals may be combined optically with the broadcast traffic from the headend, using either 1310nm or 1550nm (ITU) overlay transmitters. Alternatively, if the headend signals are received and then re-transmitted, they may be combined at the RF level. In the upstream signal path, signals from several nodes may be received at the hub (most commonly at a wavelength of 1310nm), combined at the RF level, and then forwarded to the headend using either 1310nm or 1550nm (ITU) transmitters. The degree to which downstream signals may be split and upstream signals may be combined will define the logical node size, as described above. If, however, the Nodes are equipped with ITU transmitters, then the upstream signals may be combined at the optical level.
Overall Architecture
A node may be in direct contact with the headend, or it may transmit and receive via an intermediate (hub) site. The choice of architecture will be decided by the overall size of the network, the distribution of subscribers, and the availability of suitable locations for the hubs. In general, however, each node will receive a mixture of broadcast and narrowcast traffic, and will be required to transmit signals back to the headend or Hub. Figure 2 shows a simple node in direct communication with the headend and Figure 3 shows a node connected to a Hub site.
Transmission Technologies
G1534A
1204
Page 2
Receivers
Hub Site
Optical Nodes
Other Nodes
Receivers
Simple Nodes
A simple and inexpensive node without segmentation capabilities can often be used when the physical node size is structured at the outset to accommodate all expected increases in bandwidth demand. Alternatively, the node may be deployed to serve a large number of subscribers whose demand for additional bandwidth is expected to be slight. Such a node can be equipped with one receiver and one Fabry-Perot transmitter. In some circumstances, however, it may be necessary to select a node that can accommodate an additional receiver and transmitter in order to provide redundancy and automatic protection switching (A.P.S.). Figures 4(a) and 4(b) are simplified schematic diagrams of these configurations. Figure 4(a) shows an unprotected device; 4(b) shows a fully protected version. Duplication of the receivers and transmitters, as shown in 4(b), may be necessary if premium video-on-demand services or broadband telephony are offered. Note that the simplest node, shown in 4(a), is also suited to fibredeep applications, in which the physical node size may be less than 100 potential subscribers. In general, these simple nodes will be equipped with low-cost FabryPerot upstream transmitters.
Transmission Technologies
G1534A
1204
Page 3
Receivers
Receiver
Transmitter
Reverse Amplifier
4(b)
Segmentable Nodes
If the growth in bandwidth demand is expected to be high, then an upgradeable, segmentable node may be installed to initially serve a large physical node size. As demand increases, the node then may be re-configured to effectively increase the bandwidth available to each subscriber. In an alternative scenario, a fully segmented node may replace an existing node that currently serves a large area. In both cases, it must be possible to split the serving area into smaller pockets, which means that there must be at least two coaxial cables radiating from the node. An ideal scenario would make full use of a fourway segmentable node so that the existing serving area could be split into four roughly equal pockets, as shown in Figure 5.
A B
D C
Transmission Technologies
G1534A
Diplex Filter
Forward Amplifier
1204
Page 4
A four-way, fully segmented node, as illustrated in Figure 6, could serve this area. It is assumed that each segment is served by two fibres (one downstream and one upstream), which, of course, must be already available for the upgrade to succeed. If a two-way, rather than four-way segmentation is sufficient, then the node in Figure 6 could be configured for both downstream and upstream redundancy, as shown in Figure 7. If the number of fibres is restricted so that it is not possible to assign one to each receiver and transmitter, several alternative strategies are available: a) Use upstream transmitters at ITU-grid wavelengths and combine on a single fibre b) Frequency-shift the four upstream bands so that they can be combined in a single transmitter (frequency stacking, or block conversion)
Receivers Forward Amplifiers Diplex Filters
A B C D
Reverse Transmitters Amplifier
Transmission Technologies
G1534A
1204
Diplex Filter
Diplex Filter
Page 5
Cd1
Downstream Traffic
Cd2
Cd3
Cu1
Upstream Traffic
Cu2
Cu3
Node 1
Node 2
Node 3
The downstream signals are received at each node via simple optical couplers, whose coupling ratio decreases as distance from the source (Headend or Hub) increases. In the upstream path, signals are coupled into a single fibre using either simple couplers, or add/drop multiplexers. The choice of coupling device will be based on distance from the Headend or Hub. For example: if Node 1 in Figure 8 is assumed to be close to the Headend/Hub, so that the fibre attenuation is low, then a high-ratio coupler can be used at Cu1. This device will have a low insertion loss. At Node 2, the total upstream loss must be calculated, and a suitable coupler selected: Cu2 will clearly have a lower loss ratio, and therefore a higher insertion loss than Cu1. When Node 3 is considered, it may be found that the total upstream optical loss is larger than the available budget, in which case it would be necessary to reexamine Node 2 and replace Cu2 with an add/drop multiplexer, which has a much lower insertion loss than a simple coupler. In a scenario like this, it should be remembered that it may not be possible to optically amplify the upstream CWDM signals: the most common CWDM channels, 1 to 8, occupy a range of wavelengths from 1610 to 1470 nm, whereas the typical bandwidth of an EDFA is 1565 to 1530 nm.
Transmission Technologies
G1534A
1204
Page 6
Simple Nodes
Clearly, optical node configuration need not be an imposing task for operators who understand the demands expected to be placed on the network, both immediately and in the future. Issues such as the number of subscribers that must be served by each node, the physical condition of existing architecture components, and the location of existing architectures must be considered in advance. Needless to say, a single paper cannot address all of the issues that drive technology and architecture choices in sufficient depth to support an operators decisionmaking process. The right technology provider will bring a full understanding of all considerations to help operators calculate the bandwidth necessary for services both in terms of what the services themselves and any potential growth spurts will require. Moreover, operators who work with such a partner can be well positioned to make swift, sure decisions, rapidly implement and configure new architectures, launch new services, stave off competition and realise expanded profitability.
2004 Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved. Scientific-Atlanta, the Scientific-Atlanta logo and GainMaker are registered trademarks of Scientific-Atlanta, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
G1534A