ALFO

IP Microwave Radio for

Point-to-Point applications

COPYRIGHT:
SIAE MICROELETTRONICA S.P.A.
DATA SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

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 GENERAL INDEX

1 ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................. 4

2 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 5
2.1 Applications .................................................................................................................. 5
2.2 Product Range ............................................................................................................. 5
2.3 Main Features .............................................................................................................. 5
2.4 “Full software” approach .............................................................................................. 6
2.5 Common NMS Platform ............................................................................................... 6

3 SYSTEM OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................... 7

3.1 Adaptive Modulation ..................................................................................................... 8
3.2 Security ........................................................................................................................ 9
3.3 ATPC Feature .............................................................................................................. 9

4 ETHERNET INTERFACE ....................................................................................................... 10

5 MANAGEMENT SYSTEM ...................................................................................................... 11

6 LIGHTNING PROTECTION .................................................................................................... 13

6.1 ITU-T K.21 Resistibility ............................................................................................... 13

7 TECHNICAL DATA ................................................................................................................ 16

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1 ACRONYMS

ALFO Access Link Full Outdoor

ATPC Automatic Transmit Power Control
BER Bit Error Rate
DCN Data Communication Network
FEC Forward Error Corrector
IP Internet Protocol
ITU International Telecommunication Union
LAN Local Area Network
LAP Link Application Procedure
LCT Local Craft Terminal
MAC Media Access Control
NMS Network Management System
ODU Outdoor Unit
O&M Operation & Maintenance
QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
QoS Quality of Service
SCT Sub-Network Craft Terminal
SME Small and Medium-sized Enterprise
SNMP Simple Network Management Protocol
TMN Telecommunications Management Network
ToS Type of Service
VLAN Virtual LAN

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2 Introduction

The ALFO series is a full-outdoor digital radio system for point-to-point applications. Its
main targets are LAN-to-LAN interconnections where high data throughput and
reliability are of utmost importance.
The ALFO series bridges the gap between PDH and SDH capacities, and provides a
cost-effective solution for the transmission of low/medium capacity streams up to
100Mbit/s. The ALFO series offers three different modulation schemes.
Traffic is carried over Ethernet interfaces and is controlled by an integrated switch
capable of handling VLAN, QoS and ToS.
ALFO radio terminals are supervised through SNMP agents supporting IP connections.

2.1 Applications

The ALFO Series was conceived to cover a wide range of applications, particularly in
the access segment:
LAN-to-LAN connections
Last Mile access for SME and Corporate segments
Private networks
Backhaul technology for GSM/UMTS networks
Back-up routes for data networks
Emergency links

2.2 Product Range

The ALFO Series is available in frequency bands from 7 to 38 GHz, and with full-
duplex Ethernet throughput from 4 to 100 Mbit/s.
Modulation schemes and Ethernet throughput can be selected via software across the
complete range of values (please refer to Table 1).

2.3 Main Features

Powerful FEC circuit, high performance, high reliability, ease of installation, integration
into SIAE's common platform for network management, and cost effectiveness make
the ALFO series the right network solution.
The high degree of integration of all equipment components has yielded a dramatic
cost reduction and a significant decrease of failures.

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2.4 “Full software” approach

The ALFO series implements a 'full software' approach by which all configuration
activities, alarm/performance monitoring, fault analysis, loops activation, etc. can be
performed locally or remotely via an LCT or NMS platform.

2.5 Common NMS Platform

The ALFO series is integrated into SIAE's LM/SCT and NMS5-UX/LX Network
Management System platforms, which also supervise all other products included in
SIAE catalogue.
TMN connections are performed by means of the SNMP protocol. Moreover, the
implementation of standard communication protocol stacks and industry-standard
interfaces allows connection to any IP-based DCN.

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 3 SYSTEM OVERVIEW

The ALFO series was designed to provide Ethernet connections with high data
throughput.
Ethernet and TMN interfaces are provided through 25pin SUB-D style connector
mounted on the outdoor unit. A multi-pair or CAT6 cable transfers electrical signals
from the ALFO radio to customer's traffic equipment, and vice versa.
The ALFO series presents advanced technical solutions such as:
a powerful FEC circuit based on Reed Solomon (153,131 over GF8) error
correction technique
High system gain
Priority management
Built-in ITU-T 215-1 Pseudo-Random Pattern Generator and Error Detector
Automatic modulation switch based on signal quality
Data Cyphering (128 bit)
Automatic Hop Length Measurement

Two versions cover the whole capacity range :

LC ─ Low Capacity version from 4 to 16 Mbit/s (4x10/100BaseT + E1)
HC ─ High Capacity version from 16 to 100 Mbit/s (4x10/100BaseT + E1)

Each version supports two different channel spacings – 3.5 and 7 MHz, or 14 and 28
MHz. LC versions support three capacity ranges – 4, 8 and 16 Mbit/s – while HC
versions support four capacity ranges – 16, 34, 68 and 100 Mbit/s – as reported in
Table 1.

Table 1

Capacity 4Mb 8Mb 16Mb 34Mb 68Mb 100Mb

Modulation 4QAM 16QAM 4QAM 16QAM 4QAM 16QAM 4QAM 16QAM 32QAM
LC     ─ ─ ─ ─ ─
HC ─ ─ ─ ─     
Space Channel
3.5 3.5 7 7 14 14 28 28 28
[MHz]

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Layout
The ALFO series is a full-outdoor digital radio system made up of a single lightweight
outdoor unit that includes RF, Modem and Baseband sections.

3
2
1

Figure 1 - The inside of ALFO radios

Figure 1 highlights the following parts in red:

1. Line Interface Unit (IP67, 25pin, SUB-D style connector for three Ethernet traffic
ports)
2. TMN access (exploitable as an additional Ethernet traffic port)
3. Lightning protection
4. Power Supply, Controller, Synthesizers, Baseband module, Modulator and
Demodulator
5. Transceiver and RF Filter Units (RF amplifier and conversion)

3.1 Adaptive Modulation

A dedicated, additional circuit within the modem allows the automatic selection of the
modulation scheme according to current radio link propagation conditions. On the basis
of received signal quality estimations, ALFO series selects „full‟ or „decreased‟ capacity
in order to increase system gain when needed.
The modulation scheme switching is hitless and error free.

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3.2 Security

ALFO traffic might be carried over public networks and data might therefore be
exposed to possible attacks. The ALFO series provides data cyphering functionality
based on a 128bit word. In order for this functionality to be active, the encoding word
shall be stored in both radio terminals.

3.3 ATPC Feature

Output power control is a standard feature on all configuration. It provides two

operating modes:
Fixed output power attenuation Mode (ATPC Disabled); the output power can be
statically reduced by up to 40 dB in 1 dB steps.
ATPC mode: the ATPC algorithm automatically adjusts output power attenuation in
order to reach a predefined Rx level on the remote terminal.

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4 ETHERNET INTERFACE

Ethernet Frame mapping over Radio Link

ALFO radios transfer Ethernet packets over a proprietary, simplified LAPS (X.86-like),
that provides a point-to-point, unacknowledged, connectionless service over the Radio
Channel.

Ethernet Throughput
The ALFO series provides full-duplex Ethernet throughput ranging from 4 to 100 Mbit/s.
Radio capacity can be entirely assigned to Ethernet traffic or shared between Ethernet
traffic and one E1 port.

Ethernet Interface characteristics

ALFO series implements a multi-port, store-and-forward Layer 2 switch. This
embedded switch supports the following Layer 2 functionalities:
MAC switching
MAC Address learning
MAC Address aging
Auto negotiation
MDI/MDIX crossover
Automatic MDI/MDIX crossover is supported; it allows NIC-to-SWITCH and
SWITCH-to-SWITCH connections regardless of cable type (straight-through or
crossover).
Layer 2 Flow Control / Back Pressure
The ALFO series implements flow control based on IEEE 802.3x (full-duplex
operation) and back pressure (half-duplex operation) to prevent packet loss
during traffic peak.
IEEE 802.1q VLANs
Quality of Service

QoS management allows service providers to classify and prioritise customer traffic
dynamically. Service providers can thus define different service classes based on
customer or application requirements, and offer different service quality levels for time-
sensitive applications such as voice or video.
QoS can be activated in two ways:
Based on IEEE 802.1p QoS (Layer 2 - Quality of Service)
Based on IP-V4 ToS (Layer 3 - Type of Service)
Quality of service can be activated at level 2, at level 3 or at both levels, depending on
operator requirements.

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5 MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

TMN Connection
Each ALFO Ethernet port can be configured to provide in-band or out-band unit
management capability.
Management ports can be employed as:
connection to other radio terminals
direct connection to SIAE‟s network management systems
service channel (e.g. Voice Over IP)

TMN Protocols
The ALFO series allows local and remote management thanks to an embedded SNMP
agent. Supervisory information can be terminated by another equipment or, thanks to
standard mapping, by an external router.
Ethernet ports are logically connected through a full-IP protocol stack.
Implementation of standard communication protocol stacks in conjunction with industry-
standard interfaces (as depicted in Figure 2) enable connection to any IP-based DCN.

ALFO APPLICATION SOFTWARE

SNMP

UDP

IP

LLC ISO 8802.2

MAC ISO 8802.3

ISO 8802.3
(Ethernet LAN)

Ethernet tributary or dedicated port

Figure 2 - ALFO Full-IP Protocol Stack

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Management Functions
The management functionalities implemented at NE level are:
Fault management (alarms, events, date, time, severity, etc.)
Configuration and test Management (i.e. configuration of ALFO parameters, ATPC
set-up, control of local and remote loops, Injection of pseudo-random test patterns,
etc.)
Software management (i.e. software release management and software download)
Performance management and monitoring as per G.828 and M.2100 parameters
Security Management (i.e. setting of Network Element multi-level access according
to Operator‟s rights)

Software for Management

In order to satisfy the requirements of local and centralized management, SIAE has
developed the following supervision systems:
LCT (Local Craft Terminal) for maintenance and line-up activities (MS Windows®
OS)
SCT (Subnetwork Craft Terminal) for centralised management of up to 100 NEs
(MS Windows® OS)
NMS5-LX (Element Manager) for centralised management of medium networks
with up to 750 NEs per server (Linux OS)
NMS5-UX (Element Manager) for centralised management of large networks with
up to 2500 NEs per server (HP Unix OS and HP OpenView platform)
For a detailed description of SIAE supervision software, please refer to the specific
product literature.

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6 LIGHTNING PROTECTION

This chapter specifies the class of resistibility and the methods used to protect the
equipment against high energy interference phenomena including:
Surges due to lightning on or near the plant
Short-term induction of alternating voltages from adjacent power lines or railway
systems
Earth potential rise due to power faults
Direct contacts between telecommunication lines and power lines
Electrostatic discharges.
A dedicated solution has been developed to protect the ALFO radios as well as the
connected Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) that, normally, is not provided with
protection systems.

6.1 ITU-T K.21 Resistibility

ALFO resistibility parameters fall within recommendation K.21 of ITU-T Interference

Immunity Requirements: ”resistibility requirements and test procedures for
telecommunication equipment which is installed in or on a customer premises building”.

Line Interface Protections

In order to comply with K.21 the following circuital solution has been adopted:
ALFO’s Interface block-diagram

Transformer
Integrated
Circuits
Interface Primary Secondary Tertiary
(to CPE) Protection Protection Protection

Figure 3 – ALFO lightning protection system

In case the interface is struck by lightning most of the energy is absorbed by the
primary protection. Due to the relatively slow response time of the primary protection, a
secondary protection absorbs the lightning energy in the initial microseconds. The
tertiary protection, placed after the insulation transformer, cut down the residual
energy.
The primary protection is based on 'gas arresters'; the second and tertiary protections
are based on semiconductor components.

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Characteristics of gas arresters
Nominal DC spark-over voltage 230 Vdc
Impulse spark-over voltage @ 1 Kv/ms 650 Vdc
Nominal impulse discharge current 10 kA (shape 8/20 ms)
Nominal alternating discharge current 10 kA (at 50 Hz, 1s)
Insulation resistance > 1010 Ohm
Capacitance <1 pF

Protection for indoor devices

Compliance with ITU-T K.21 is assured by the above-mentioned circuits and protects
the ALFO radio system. To protect possible indoor system components additional
countermeasures must be taken.
Figure 4 shows critical equipment areas subject to overvoltage.

ALFO

Outdoor

Indoor
Interface

Termination box (passive)

Router

Figure 4- Typical overvoltage points

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An indoor Termination box with G.703 interface (E1) can be provided with embedded
protections against lighting, while Ethernet interfaces are normally unprotected.
This wall or rack-mounted panel is equipped with gas arresters of the same kind used
on ALFO radios at each transmission interface (Ethernet or E1).

Outdoo
r
Indoo
r Interface termination
Panel with protections

Protected
Termination box (passive)
Interface

Router

Figure 5 – Indoor Termination box protection

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7 Technical Data

Physical dimensions

ODU 1+0 [WxHxD] 256.5x256.5x114 (mm)

Weight

ODU 1+0 4.5 kg

Panning system 1+0 4.4 Kg

Power Supply

Standard range 25 ÷ 57.6 Vdc floating

Power Consumption

1+0 Radio Terminal < 30 Watts ( f 15GHz )

< 25 Watts ( f > 15GHz )

Environmental Conditions

Operational range ODU -33°C ÷ +55°C

Operational humidity for ODU IP65 class
Wind load < 260 Km/h

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