Remote Spectrum: Features

Some call it full-band capture, some refer to it as full-spectrum capture. We like to call it Remote Downstream Spectrum Analysis. Whatever you call it, it’s the future in how cable operators will analyze downstream spectrum on your cable plant.

With Remote Spectrum you don’t need to roll a truck to the customer’s home to view the full spectrum. You can see all video and data channels without being at the customer site, and without connecting a meter, regardless of what channel the device is tuned to.

With Remote Spectrum you’re not tied to proprietary, expensive spectrum analyzers. Remote Spectrum gathers the spectrum data from any compatible CPE and displays it on a PC, tablet or smartphone wherever you happen to be. Your field techs will be able to use devices they probably already have, and are already familiar with. You can determine who in your company can have access to a powerful, spectrum analysis tool, not your capital budget.

Quite often you need to check spectrum in more than one location to track down what’s going on. This usually means driving from place to place, getting out of the truck, connecting up your equipment, reading spectrum, and then moving on to repeat the process somewhere else. Remote Spectrum not only lets you read spectrum from any compatible device wherever you are, you can overlay the RF signal from a second device. This lets you make a quick comparison of the spectrum at two different points on your cable plant.

In Remote Spectrum you’ll see the same familiar features you would on a meter, like horizontal and vertical adjustments, max and min hold, and reference markers. And, you’ll see the same spectrum signature that would appear on a meter, helping you identify downstream problems in your cable plant without having to hop in a truck. You’ll see issues like:

• Excessive tilt
• Overdriven channels
• Spectrum suck outs
• RF notches
• Standing waves
• Resonant peaking
• Ingress and other interference

With Remote Spectrum you’ll be able to lower capital expenses by eliminating the need for expensive test equipment. Your repair staff will be able to avoid unnecessary truck rolls and improve their troubleshooting accuracy.  Of course, all this means faster repairs and fewer service calls, and that translates into increased customer satisfaction.

— Cable Modem and Set-Top-Box Compatibility —

Remote Spectrum is compatible with DOCSIS cable modems and set-top-boxes that have the ability to capture the full spectrum passing through the device. This feature is supported on the hardware side by CPE that have the Intel Puma 5 and 6 chipsets with MaxLinear receivers and CPE that have these Broadcom chipsets: 3128, 3383, 33843, 3384, 3385. Compatible CPE includes cable modems and set-top-boxes from Arris, Cisco, Hitron, Motorola, Netgear, Ubee and others. Note: While the CPE hardware may already support spectrum capture, the firmware on the CPE must also be updated to a version that also supports that ability. ** Please check with your OEM to confirm hardware and firmware compatibility. For the latest list of CPE hardware that should support spectrum capture go here: https://www.zcorum.com/solutions/broadband-diagnostics/remote-spectrum/modem-compatibility/

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