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DirectQAM

Module Technical Specification 7 January 2009 Version 1.0

Eight DVB-C modulators with agile


output using the DirectQAM principle
Two independent groups of four
adjacent channels; Each group has
independent settings for base RF
frequency

Protected by worldwide patents

Str. Constantin Bosianu 16,


040506 Bucuresti 4, Romania
tel: +40 745 076 696
fax: +40 381 175 581
email: info@ingenium.ro

Gigabit-Ethernet interface for control


and contribution of up to eight
Transport Streams
RF-mute function for fail-over switching
NIT-replacement for localising a
network

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Technical Specifications

Key component in next-generation


HFC cable-TV IP networks.

development labs, repair shops,


production testing, etc.

Cable-network emulator for

A schematic representation of an HFC


cable network with DirectQAM modules
is shown below.
The Headend receives TV programs from
contribution links, assembles Multi-Program
Transport Streams (MPTS), and multicasts

A key advantage of the concept is that


the DirectQAM modules in each Node

these
on the HFC IP network. The
DirectQAM modules are located in the
Nodes that feed the final coax to the
homes.
Each
DirectQAM
module
receives 8 multi casted MPTS streams and
trans modulates them to QAM.

can be configured to select a different


mix of streams.

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Technical Specifications

In order
consistent
generates
(NITs) and

that the STBs perceive a


DVB network, the Headend
Network Information Tables
multicasts these in TS-over-IP

format to the Nodes. Each DirectQAM


module
reads
the
appropriate
Replacement NIT and inserts it into the
MPTS streams.

RJ-45 Gigabit ruggedized Ethernet port


F-Type RF Output
Power (connector type DB9)
4x LED
Power On (green)
Device Error (red flashing)
Ethernet link status
Ethernet activity

Min
GIGABIT ETHERNET PORT
Standard
Data Rate
Connector
PROTOCOL
TS Encapsulation
Modes
Transport Packets / IP Packet
Latency (excluding jitter
tolerance)
CONTROL
Multicast Support
Network Management
Time/Date Synchronisation
NIT REPLACEMENT
Size of NIT Buffer

Typ

Max

IEEE 802.3af
1000
RJ-45
Pro-MPEG CoP #3 release 2
UDP; no RTP, no FEC
1
7
10

IGMP v2
SNMP v2c
(S)NTP
10

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Unit

Mbps

ms

For log timestamps


kByte

Specifications may change without prior notice!

Technical Specifications

Min
DVB-C MODULATION
Standard
Constellations
Symbol Rate
MER
Spectrum Flatness
Shoulder Attenuation

64
5.0569
40

Typ

Max

EN 300 429
or

256
5.3605

43
0,2

55

RF OUTPUT
Impedance
Return Loss
Connector Type
Level (per QAM Channel)

-23
-14

-3
+6
0.5

Step Size
Accuracy
RF-Off Attenuation
Spectral Purity

1
70

-60

Wideband Noise

RF FREQUENCY
Range
Step Size
Stability
Accuracy
Phase Noise @ 10 kHz

47

QAM
Ms/s fixed
dB
dB
dB

dB

75
17
F female

15

Unit

dBmW in 75 8ch on
dBmW in 75 1 ch on
dB
dB
dB
dBc /-3dBm ref

-135

dBmW/Hz @3dBm/QAM channel


level

862*

MHz
kHz
ppm
ppm
dBc/Hz

12.5
5
5
-98

* 1000MHz is planned
RF level conversion table
dBmW//75
+6
-3
-14
-23

dBmV
54.7
45.7
34.7
25.7

dBV
114.7
105.7
94.7
85.7

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Technical Specifications

OTHER SPECIFICATIONS
Min

Typ

POWER
Power Supply
Power Consumption
ENVIRONMENTAL
Temperature Range

12
12

Unit

V +- 5%
W

+45

REGULATIONS
EMC
MECHANICAL
Dimensions W x H x D

Max

CE Industrial
100x160x18 (PCB Only)
107x163x32 (Boxed version)

The DirectQAM module features eight


complete DVB-C modulators, organised in
two groups of four. All eight modulators
are operated at the same symbol rate
and same input-to-output latency. Per
group of four an independent base
frequency and channel spacing can be
specified. Every channel can be switched
on or off individually.
The module gets Transport-Stream data by
real-time reception of up to eight UDP
streams. For each stream an independent
IP address and port address can be
specified. The joining of multicast groups is
supported.
The UDP packets are unpacked into
Transport Packets, which are stored
(conceptually) in a FIFO buffer.
The network will incur variable delay (jitter)
on the UDP packets. The DirectQAM
module measures the arrival time of the
UDP packets and applies a smoothing
algorithm to the timestamps by using a
linear regression algorithm. The result is an
estimate of what the arrival time would
have been without network jitter.

mm

A secondary result from this process is an


estimate of the Transport Rate.
An intentional delay is added to the dejittered timestamps before releasing the
Transport Packets from the FIFO. The delay
corresponds to the maximum amount of
jitter that can be tolerated in the arrival of
the UDP packets.
The so-recovered Transport Stream is re
multiplexed to a fixed rate that matches
the symbol rate and modulation settings.
Re multiplexing in this context requires null
packet insertion and PCR correction.
The resulting TS is modulated in
accordance with the DVB-C standard by
applying
PRBS,
Reed-Solomon
FEC,
Interleaving, QAM mapping and channel
filtering. Finally the signal is fed into a
direct digital I/Q modulator for generating
the modulated signal in the 47 .. 862* MHz
range.
The modulated signal is led through an RF
output amplifier with programmable gain
and regulation loop, resulting in a
cumulative output level between -23 and
-3 dBm at 75 .

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Technical Specifications

Each DirectQAM module has a unique


MAC address sequentially assigned from a
MAC address range provided to STN.
Note: next to the unique MAC address
each DirectQAM module has an
independent unique serial number.
The IP address will be fixed, DHCP is not
supported. The fixed IP address can be
configured using a configuration tool. No
factory reset of the IP address is available;
the configuration tool will always be able
to reconfigure the IP address regardless of
the programmed value.
The IP-address configuration process works
with a laptop and the DirectQAM
module connected directly to each other
in a mini-network. A proprietary protocol is
used as follows. The configuration tool
broadcasts
a
UDP
message.
The

A special function supported by the


DirectQAM
module
to
enhance
deployment options is NIT replacement.
The NIT in each Transport Stream can be
replaced by a NIT selected from an
independent NIT stream. The intention is to
allow localization of the NIT-actual. A
similar function for the NIT-other is not
supported.
An IP address and PID can be
programmed to identify a multicasted
Transport
Stream
containing
the

replacement NIT. The DirectQAM module


reads Transport Packets from the selected
PID and caches the NIT table internally.
Just a single NIT can be cached; The
same NIT will be used for all channels.
NIT replacement can be enabled
individually for each of the eight channels.
If NIT replacement is disabled, or if it is
enabled but no complete NIT has been
received yet, Transport Packets with PID
16 (NIT PID) are unaffected.

DirectQAM module reacts with an UDP


packet containing its current IP address
and MAC address. After that the
configuration tool sends a UDP packet to
the DirectQAM module to configure the
IP address, subnet mask and default
gateway. These settings are persisted in
flash memory.
Run-time network configuration includes
nine
programmable
multicast
IP
address/port filters, eight for the QAM
channels and one to receive a NIT for the
NIT-replacement function.
The DirectQAM module joins multicast
groups using IGMP v2. Source-specific
multicasting
(requiring
IGMP v3)
is
presently not supported but the MIB is
prepared for this as a future extension.

If NIT replacement is enabled and a


complete replacement NIT has been
received, then each packet with PID 16 is
replaced by a packet from the
replacement PID. The continuity counter
of
the
packets
is
automatically
incremented for each packet.
Please note that it is not required that PID
16 in the channels Transport Stream
contains a NIT. PID 16 may consist entirely
of null packets, too. Furthermore, if PID 16
does contain a NIT, the repetition rate of
the replacement NIT may be different
from that of the original NIT because of a
difference in number of packets.
While cycling the replacement NIT, the
DirectQAM module keeps monitoring the
NIT-replacement IP address to check
whether a NIT with a new version number
is available. If so, a new replacement NIT is
downloaded, but the old one is still being
scheduled.

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Technical Specifications

When the entire new replacement NIT has


been downloaded, the DirectQAM

module starts scheduling the new NIT.

The product can be managed and


controlled with a web interface and
through
SNMP
(for
a
network
management system). Both interfaces
give access to all control settings, status
information, alarm status and the log.

The main purpose of the web interface is


product
configuration
and
getting
diagnostics for troubleshooting. SNMP, the
industry-standard network-management
protocol, is intended for operational
control. The table below provides an
overview of the management and control
information available over the web and
SNMP interface. Further details can be
found in the detailed specifications.

IP Address / Port

IPV4 address and port number; may be unicast or multicast

Channel enable

Channel is used yes/no

Delay factor

Maximum delay factor (indicator for IP jitter) in the last 10


seconds

TS rate

TS rate as estimated by the DQAM module

Modulation
standard
Constellation
Base frequency
Channel spacing
Symbol rate
Jitter tolerance

DVB-C
Annex-B
64, 256

Number of QAM constellation points: 64, 256

47 .. 862MHz

Centre frequency of first channel in the group

5 .. 8MHz

Channel spacing between adjacent channels

5.05 or 5.36
0 .. 100ms

RF enable
RF level

Symbol rate depending on constellation


Amount of IP jitter that can be tolerated without corrupting the
outgoing TS (underflow/overflow of internal buffer). The jitter
tolerance (necessarily) will add up to the input-to-output delay
Enable output signal at RF output

-23 .. -3 dBm

NIT address / port


NIT PID

For the moment just DVB-C is supported. The MIB should be


prepared for supporting other modulation standards in later
models

Level at RF output with 0.5dB steps


IPV4 address and port number of replacement NIT

0 .. 8191

PID from which to get replacement NIT

NIT replace enable

Enable NIT replacement

(S)NTP server

Enable NIT replacement

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Technical Specifications

Time
Log

Current time recovered through (S)NTP


256 entries

Output level

-23 .. -3 dBm

Temperature

0 .. 50C

Logs all settings, alarms and reboots


Output level actually measured
Ambient temperature

MIB II

System, Interfaces, at, ip, icmp, tcp, udp, egp, snmp

RF level

Unable to regulate RF level to the desired level

Temperature

Device temperature exceeds a programmable threshold

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Technical Specifications

Whenever a setting is applied that may


cause unwanted noise on the output (e.g.
because of DAC reconfiguration), the RF
output will be muted to avoid pollution of
the entire band. Settings that cause such
service interruptions will be clearly marked
in the configuration manual.
Any control setting applied through the
web or SNMP interface is persisted in flash

A log is maintained in flash memory to


keep a persistent record of interesting
events. The main purpose of the log is to
facilitate post-mortem fault analysis.
Each log line will be time stamped with
the
current
date/time,
which
is
synchronised through NTP. When the
date/time has not been synchronised yet,

When the DirectQAM module boots


some elementary consistency checks will
be applied, but no sophisticated self-test.
The DirectQAM module will employ a
watchdog to automatically restart the
device upon a software crash.
The products firmware and software can
be uploaded via the web interface using
ftp. The first version of the DirectQAM

memory, so that when the device reboots


after a power cycle it starts with the lastused settings.
The RF level and temperature alarms are
throttled to a maximum of one alarm per
5 minutes. If the alarm condition persists,
the corresponding trap is generated once
every 5 minutes.

the number of seconds since last reboot is


used instead.
The log will keep track of the following
events:
o Device started
o NTP lock achieved
o Any control setting applied
o SNMP traps

module will not implement a sophisticated


mechanism to authenticate the uploader.
A dual-BIOS architecture is used to
avoid disasters when a bad image would
be uploaded.
The DirectQAM firmware shall be
protected by a simple IntellectualProperty copy protection mechanism.

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