VIAVI - Broadband Lounge

In this episode, learn about the three main options that MSO's have relied on to increase upstream capacity, and how each has evolved to remain viable as networks. This will lay the groundwork for follow-on episodes where each method will be discussed in detail.

Splitting nodes has been the go-to method of increasing broadband capacity available per-subscriber, but overflowing hubs create challenges to their use. Listen in to VIAVI experts discuss DAA types, how they overcome many MSO challenges, and real-life experiences of field rollouts.

Adding more carriers is an obvious way to increase upstream capacity, but what to do when your spectrum is full? In this episode, we'll discuss the mid and high-split options and what it takes to successfully deploy them.

By now OFDM is old hat to most of us, but OFDMA is finally being tapped to help get more capacity form every precious Hz of upstream spectrum. In this episode, VIAVI experts will share what we've learned from supporting MSO OFDMA deployments around the globe.

We've covered the three main levers MSO's have at their disposal to increase upstream capacity, but how will these play out over time? In this last episode of season 1, we'll take out our crystal ball and discuss where we see the future of broadband going and what should be considered to stay ahead of ever-growing broadband demand.

In this episode, John Bush with VIAVI interviews industry veteran Terry Bush regarding the challenges he faced in starting up cable systems in the 80's, and how it drove development of innovative solutions. This interactive discussion covers the history of how we got from using step attenuators and AM radios to the launch of analog leakage tools.

This episode concludes the discussion on how cable pioneers developed innovative but simple tools to find shielding weaknesses in their networks including inside of subscriber homes. The interactive discussion gives an inciteful view of how the problems system builders faced like upstream ingress drove the evolution these solutions into the advanced connected systems that we take for granted today.

In this first of a two-episode segment, Trilithic/VIAVI leakage veteran Mark Darragh is joined by Ben Stelle, lead Engineer for VIAVI Leakage systems, to demystify how antennas work and take the discussion down to a level understandable by technicians and managers alike. This fundamental knowledge is helpful to make sense of how leakage tools are used and how to be most effective with them.

In this conclusion of the two-episode antenna segment, Ben and Mark will focus on recent antenna developments and how they have evolved to support wideband frequency capabilities of next-generation leakage meters. Numerous real-life examples are provided to aide in understanding and applicability to the everyday life of a typical technician.

TDR's have long been part of the core toolset that Maintenance Techs rely on to do their jobs, but they haven't really changed much in decades until recently. In this episode, Karl Oberlin from VIAVI will explain how the different types of TDR's work, and reflects back on the decades that he spent as a Maintenance Tech earlier in his career to explain how the differences apply to technicians in the real world today.

We discuss addressing home network performance issues with automation that helps to make installation/service testing as simple and consistent as possible and provides a record of passing tests performed. In addition to instrument automation, tools including a mobile app, a job management system and data collection and analysis are discussed.

We converse about intermittent issues within the home network and dealing with noise and ingress. We cover test methodology, why pressure testing is needed, what equipment a tech needs to have for the test; and testing from outside vs inside the home due to COVID-19 limitations.

Discussing the various types of speed tests, and the differences, where each is most applicable, pros/cons, etc. Discussing why we have so many kinds of speed tests. Relating details of each test type.

We unpack the stages of PON service activation, discussing each stage, starting with fiber (inspection, level check, etc), then Ethernet, and then WiFI.

Contaminated or dirty fiber is the number-one cause of fiber optic network degradation, including permanent equipment damage. How clean is clean enough? While standards bodies have established acceptance criteria for the quality and cleanliness of fiber connector end faces, technicians still face challenges with implementing these practices. VIAVI experts will share some real world field stories on how technicans learned first hand on how to optimise the performance of these interconnects. Resource Links: https://www.viavisolutions.com/inspect

Fiber Optic mismatch when splicing cable spans during construction is very common problem for fiber splice qualificaiton and correct loss acceptance during OTDR testing. Viaivi experts will be comparing why this occurs and why true BI-DIRECTIONAL ANALYSIS AND LOOPBACK TESTING is required for accurate accptance records. Resource Links: #1 https://www.viavisolutions.com/en-us/bidirectional-otdr-testing #2 https://blog.viavisolutions.com/2018/03/07/fiber-testing-get-right-perspective/

Instruments now what..how effiecent are the instruments working for me...use cases need talk is there ways to be leaner in driving a test plan per tech. Fiber complete and shifting to the switch. Ease of use. Setup config, SLM..user experience on board the instrument. Tasks downstream to the test tech site. Upstream records automation..kpi and analyse. Resource Links: #1 https://www.viavisolutions.com/en-us/solutions/test-process-automation-tpa #2 https://www.viavisolutions.com/en-us/literature/transform-fiber-construction-certification-viavi-stratasync-test-process-automation-case-studies-en.pdf

By now most of you will have heard about FTTx and full fiber deployments. Passive Optical Networks (PON) are the enabler of high speed broadband services. This episode will explore what's going on under the hud in the optical spectrum for xPON networks. VIAVI experts will discuss the evolution in the services, used spectrum and test qualification of those installs. Resource Links: #1 https://www.viavisolutions.com/en-us/passive-optical-network-pon #2 https://comms.viavisolutions.com/Understanding-PON-Testing-vi53564

Premise techs are being asked to transition to fiber daily. In this episode, we talk about ways to make sure that your fiber to the home install is the best it can be and how to prepare for the next wave of GPON deployments.