85 MHz Return Bandwidth

Upgrade Project

Field Trial Canmore, AB

November 14, 2013

Project Outline

1

1. Background Why the need for speed?

2. Spectrum Allocation

3. STB and OOB Modulation

4. New Modems and Interference

5. Plant Setup

6. Deployment

7. Field Trial

2

Increased upstream data rates and data throughput.

Offsets node split costs (node splits will continue) - Average cost $33,690 per node split

- Average cost $22,400 per node upgrade

Node splits do not increase date rates.

Return bandwidth follows the forward bandwidth with 4.5:1 ratio

If data consumption ratios decrease due to market needs, return bandwidth upgrades will need to occur earlier

Return Upgrade Drivers

35% CAGR U/S

Increased upstream data channels.

Increased service tiers through higher

channel bonding

Quicker deployment than node split

Purchase newest technology

Additional tool to alleviate congestion

3

Compounded Annual Growth Rate

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

25.00

30.00

2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025

Dat

a10

Log(

Mb

ps)

Year

Return Bandwidth - Internet Usage CAGR

35% CAGR

Return Upgrade

820 Mbps

420 Mbps

100 Mbps

50 Mbps

Node Split 150 HP

Node Split 300 HP

Convergence

120 Mbps

595 HP

Normalized to average node with 595 HP

Black Maximum data rate Red Congestion limit Blue Current data rate

4

Proposed Spectrum

5

Proposed Cross-over

6

Set-Top-Box OOB Modulation

Set-top Category OOB Tuning Capability Model Family Percentage

Motorola Fixed DCT2000 P1-P6

5.80%

Core

Agile, Manual

DCT2000 P7-P9

Set-top DCT2500 5.60%

DCT700 45.90%

Motorola Advanced Set-top Agile, Manual

Non-PVR (DCT) 5.30%

PVR (DCT) 11.20%

Motorola Agile, Manual Thin Client (DCX) 17.10%

CableCARD Agile, Automatic ATX/Vecima 0.01%

Agile, Auto before Gateway/HD Guide 1.50%

Pace Agile, Automatic All Models 7.60%

Total 100%

7

Set-Top-Box Firmware Problems

Limited OOB frequencies available

Many STB models do not re-hunt having already established carrier lock

Unable to seamlessly trigger a mass re-hunt command to all STB that are locked on the existing OOB carrier

8

Motorola Firmware Changes

Customer Feature Request Motorola

Fixed Frequency No Options but to Discontinue & Replace

Feature Add by Firmware Update to Agile Models Shorten OOB Lock Loss Timeout to 10 minutes Hunt only higher OOB Frequency range every 10 minutes

This will include all carriers including and above 104.2 MHz 2-3 sec hold per carrier

Place 104.20 at top of re-hunt list Re-using original scan algorithm:

104.20, 116.25, 110.25, 107.40, 107.25, 75.25, 72.75, 92.25, 98.25, 103.75 MHz

Sit on LKC between hunts CableCARD Hosts (ATX/Vecima and DSG, excluding Thin Client)

If OOB needed, they will re-hunt via a powercycle (worst case)

9

Set-Top-Box Upgrade

DCX3510 Replaces

- DCT3416, DCT6416, DCX3400

DCX3200 P3 Replaces

- DCT700, DCT2000, DCT2500, DCT3400, DCT 6200, DCX3200

Media Player, Media Gateway to Remain (DSG enabled)

Pace STB to be Monitored (re-hunt after 3 hours)

- DC758D Summit, TDC776D Aspen, TDC770D Whistler

Return Bandwidth Upgrade

Modem Transmit Levels

10

Modem Maximum Tx Power (64 QAM)

DOCSIS 2.0 54 dBmV for Single Channel

DOCSIS 3.0 57 dBmV for Single Channel

DOCSIS 3.0 54 dBmV for Dual Bonded Channels

DOCSIS 3.0 51 dBmV for Three or Four Bonded Channels

Modem Return Signal Level @ UGP

10 dBmv/MHz

For 3.2 MHz Bandwidth the signal level will be 15 dBmV

For 6.4 MHz Bandwidth the signal level will be 18 dBmV

Cable Modems

11

Most devices have a downstream

bandwidth starting at 88 MHz

Only 4 devices with bandwidth

lower than 88 MHz

SBG6782 to be used with 85

MHz return

Vendors Models Operating Frequency range

Downstream Upstream

Cisco DPC3825 (Docsis 3.0) 88 to 1002MHz 5 to 42MHz

DPQ2160 (Docsis 2.0) 54 to 1002MHz 5 to 42MHz

Motorola

SB5102 (Docsis 2.0) 88 to 860 MHz 5 to 42MHz

SB5101 (Docsis 2.0) 88 to 860 MHz 5 to 42MHz

SB5100 (Docsis 2.0) 88 to 860 MHz 5 to 42MHz

SB5120 (Docsis 2.0) 88 to 860 MHz 5 to 42MHz

SB6120 (Docsis 3.0) 108 to 1002 MHz 5 to 42MHz

SBV5220 (DPT) 88 to 860 MHz 5 to 42MHz

SBG6782 (Docsis 3.0) 88 to 1002 MHz 5 to 42 MHz

DCX3510 (Set top) 54 to 1002 MHz

(video and audio)

DCX3200 P2(Set top)

DCX3200 P3(Set top)

54 to 1002 MHz

(video and audio)

SMC

SMCD3GN (Docsis 3.0) 88 to 1002MHz 5 to 42MHz

SMC8014WN (Docsis 2.0) 108 to 867MHz 5 to 42MHz

ARRIS

M5225G(Gateway) 88 to 1002MHz 5 to 42MHz

TM602G (DPT) 88 to 1002MHz 5 to 42MHz

TM402G (DPT) 88 to 860MHz 5 to 42MHz

TM502G (DPT) 88 to 860 MHz 5 to 42 MHz

TM504G (DPT) 88 to 860MHz 5 to 42MHz

Trilithic Meter 860DSPi (D2.0) 91 to 857MHz 5 to 42 MHz

860DSPi_4x4 (D3.0) 88 to 1000 MHz 5 to 42 MHz

860DSPi_8x4 (D3.0) 88 to 1000 MHz 5 to 42 MHz

Power plant monitor CM Alpha DPM(D2.0) 91 to 857MHz 5 to 42MHz

Alpha DSM3(D2.0) 91 to 857MHz 5 to 42MHz

Alpha IDH2(D2.0) 91 to 857MHz 5 to 42MHz

Alpha IDH3(D2.0) 91 to 857MHz 5 to 42MHz

12

Potential Interference

Tap Minimum acceptable subscriber tap levels are:

17 dBmV at 860 MHz 10 dBmV at 50 MHz

CPE Acceptable DOCSIS signal levels for Internet, Phone and Gateway are:

-10 dBmV to +10 dBmV U/S +35 dBmV to +50 dBmV D/S

Acceptable DOCSIS signal levels for DSG enabled Set-Top-Boxes are:

-10 dBmV to +10 dBmV U/S +35 dBmV to +53 dBmV D/S

13

Plant Design Minumum Levels

25

20

15

10

5

Minimum Ta

p Levels

50 150 250 350 450 550 650 750 860

Frequency (MHz)

Tap

Leve

l (d

Bm

V)

14

Interference Analysis

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0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 140.00 160.00

Splitter - Port-to-Port Isolation

SV4G 4-Port

SV3G 3-Port

SV2G 2-Port

SGHMQK-2 2-Port

SGHMQK-3 3-Port

SGH-4-T 4-Port

Forward Bandwidth

42 - 85 MHz Isolation > 38 dB

Commscope Splitters

SV4G 4 Port

SV3G 3 Port

SV3G 2 Port

BGI Splitters

SGH-4-T 4 Port

SGHMQK-3 3 Port

SGHMQK-2 2 Port

15

Interference Analysis Path 1

16

Interference Analysis

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Tap Return Loss

RMS 23 4-Port

RMS 20 4-Port

RMS 17 4-Port

RMS 14 4-Port

RMS 11 4-Port

RMS 8 4-Port

Motorola 23 4-Port

Motorola 20 4-Port

Motorola 17 4-Port

Motorola 14 4-Port

Motorola 10 4-Port

Motorola 7 4-Port

Forward

Bandwidth 40 - 85 MHz RL > 24 dB

RMS Taps

RMS 7423MKTS 4 Port

RMS 7420MKTS 4 Port

RMS 7417MKTS 4 Port

RMS 7414MKTS 4 Port

RMS 7411MKTS 4 Port

RMS 7408MKTS 4 Port

17

Interference Analysis Path 2

18

Interference Analysis

Motorola Taps

FFT 23P T-JP 4 Port

FFT 20P T-JP 4 Port

FFT 17P T-JP 4 Port

FFT 14P T-JP 4 Port

FFT 11P T-JP 4 Port

FFT 7P T-JP 4 Port

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0.00 20.00 40.00 60.00 80.00 100.00 120.00 140.00 160.00

Tap Port-Port Isolation

RMS 23 4-Port

RMS 20 4-Port

RMS 17 4-Port

RMS 14 4-Port

RMS 11 4-Port

RMS 8 4-Port

Motorola 23 4-Port

Motorola 20 4-Port

Motorola 17 4-Port

Motorola 14 4-Port

Motorola 10 4-Port

Motorola 7 4-Port

Forward Bandwidth

40 - 85 MHz Isolation > 24 dB

19

Interference Analysis Path 3

20

Plant Design

Tap levels must be a minimum of:

10 dBmV at 50 MHz D/S

Tap levels must be a maximum of:

44 dBmV at 50 MHz U/S

21

Cable Modem Testing

NIDC testing w/ 85 MHz DOCSIS 3.0 Modem

Legacy Modems

Tested with no signal degradation

DOCSIS Enabled STB (DCX3200 P3, DCX3510)

29.6 & 25.6 dBmV interference signal level going offline

SCTE standard is 20 dBmV

Burst mode interference

Bandstop Filter Application

22

Filter Design

Pass legacy DOCSIS upstream transmissions

Group Delay is minimal

Combined filtering with STB input filter

STB - High Pass Filter

Bandstop Filter

Bandstop Filter Specifications

23

Manufacturer: Eagle Comtronics

Part Number: EZNF-1F-6

Bandstop: 40.0 - 95 MHz

Return Loss: Minimum 10 dB

Rejection: Minimum 48 dB

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30.00 40.00 50.00 60.00 70.00 80.00 90.00 100.00

Att

en

ua

tio

n (

dB

)

Frequency (MHz)

Figure #1: EZNF-1F-6 Bandstop Filter Frequency Response

24

Amplifier Upgrades

Diplexer Port 1 & Port 2

Diplexer Port 3 & Port 4 & Output

Return Equalizer Diplexer

Diplexer

25

Canmore Node CN2

217 HP, 77 Phone Modems, 110 Data Modems

Upgrading all OOB Modulated STB, 170 units in 110 residences - After DNU upgrade

- DSG Enabled

- Customer Care (80% go/no-go)

Upgrade Hub - OOB Modulation 104.2 MHz

- Forward/Return Rewiring

- CMTS

- Return Sweep

Change Out Plant Actives - Harmonic node, 2 Trunk amps, 10 Line Extender amps

RBU Field Trial Phase 1 Plan

26

Deployment

The upgrade will be focused around a node by node deployment.

We will upgrade actives in three steps as shown in the diagram 1. Hub serving area

2. Node serving area

3. Trunk serving area

Teams will start the upgrade by replacing the node active and then systematically replacing all trunk serving areas until the entire node is complete. Plant sweep will be carried out at the same time. Removed actives will be brought back to a central location and sorted based on upgradability or usability in other locations

27

Select Modem Installation (1-3 Modems)

Test & Evaluate Signal (Channel bonding, bandwidth, levels)

Check Potential Interference

Modem Deployment (30 Modems)

Plant evaluation

- Interference

- Data Through-put

- Data Rates (115 Mbps)

RBU Field Trial Phase 2 Plan