ARCXtend System Planning and Installation Guide A License-Free Point-To-Multipoint Wireless Cable Plant Extension Solution October 2003 © 2001-2003 Arcwave, Inc. 910 Campisi Way, Suite 1F, Campbell, CA 95008 USA, Phone: 408-558-2300 www.arcwaveinc.com Customer Service: 408-748-7570 techsupport@arcwaveinc.
LIMITED WARRANTY. Arcwave warrants to Buyer at the time of delivery that the equipment will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service. Arcwave's sole obligation under these warranties is limited to replacing or repairing, at its option, at its factory, any equipment that is returned to Arcwave, transportation, duties, and taxes prepaid, within twelve (12) months after delivery.
FCC Requirements for Operation in the Unites States Radio Frequency Interference Warnings & Instructions This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
Table of Contents Table of Contents.......................................................................................................iii 1 2 3 4 System Description.......................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 System Overview...................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Frequency Band of Operation................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Range .................
4.5 5 DX Command Line Interface .................................................................. 4-13 Multiples Access Points ................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Frequency Planning.................................................................................. 5-1 5.2 Mounting & Site Planning ......................................................................... 5-1 6 Fault Localization.....................................................
1 System Description The new ARCXtend Wireless Plant Extension Solution is the first solution designed from the ground up to seamlessly integrate into a cable operator’s network and support infrastructure and cost effectively deliver transparent cable modem service over the air. It is a wireless point-to-multipoint cable plant extension solution operating in the 5GHz license-free band.
The AX1255 is a self-contained, weather-protected unit that connects directly to an existing cable plant. It can be pole, wall, or strand mounted, and line or locally powered. It provides up to 2-mile coverage over a 90-degree sector, supports over 30Mbs of downstream bandwidth and can support hundreds of cable modems. The AX3155 Subscriber Transceiver is a small footprint radome that can be easily mounted on a building or home.
• Lower band is 5.15-5.35 GHz o Transmitted power in the band 5.25 – 5.35 GHz cannot exceed 250 mW. o The band 5.15 – 5.25 GHz is for indoor use, and is not used by ARCXtend. • Upper band is 5.725-5.850 GHz o Transmitted power in the band 5.725-5.850 GHz cannot exceed 1 Watt2. Transmitter Power Figure 1-2 shows the maximum allowable power out of an amplifier to illustrate the above. Each band has complex rules covering other RF parameters. 1000 mW 50 mW Indoor only 5.
1.4 CPE Installation The ARCXtend License-Free, Point-to-Multipoint Wireless Broadband Solution subscriber installation consists of the AX3155 Integrated Subscriber Transceiver mounted on the exterior of the subscriber facility and the Wireless Cable Modem (CM) located inside the structure. A single power and signal cable is run between the Subscriber Transceiver and the modem location. See Figure 1-3.
Inside the Subscriber Location, the CM is connected to the PC by means of a standard Ethernet/LAN cable. Alternatively a LAN hub or switch may be employed between the CM and the PC(s), as the CM has a gateway function that will support up to 75 PCs sharing the modem. A small DC inserter device is connected between the CM and the lead to the outdoor unit. The inserter and most modems each have cord mounted power supplies. 1.
Figure 1-5: Strand-mounted Access Point.
2 Subscriber Installation Details Installation at the subscriber’s site is very simple – one small outdoor unit (the transceiver) and one cable modem indoors. Power for the outdoor unit is carried over the TV-type coaxial cable between the two units. Frequency of operation, RF power, etc. are all determined automatically. There are no settings to be made on site. The installation diagram is in Figure 2-1. Subscriber Transceiver TV cable (length up to 200 ft.
Figure 2-2: Subscriber Transceiver pointing towards Access Point. Mounting bracket (included) Elevation alignment bolt Side/side alignment bolt Pipe F-connector (before taping) Figure 2-3: Subscriber Transceiver mounted on pipe.
2.1.2 Subscriber Transceiver Alignment Methods There are three recommended methods for aligning the Subscriber Transceiver for maximum performance: 1. Arcwave Signal Strength Meter 2. Dedicated modem signal meter 3. Spectrum analyzer 4. Channel-selectable cable-TV meter. They are described below. All devices are used to measure the downstream signal level received from the base station. By optimizing the downstream, the upstream is optimized automatically.
Figure 2-4: AR100 Signal Strength Meter (SSM). Cable to modem Rx SSM LNB Temporary cable Figure 2-5: AR100 Signal Strength Meter (SSM) at transceiver. Connect the coax cable from the indoor power inserter to the SSM "Rx" port and a temporary short coax jumper from the SSM "LNB" port to the Transceiver. The SSM and the Transceiver will then be powered from the power inserter3. Align the Transceiver by peaking the signal on the SSM's meter, adjusting the sensitivity control on the SSM as needed.
thus can be spoofed by a stray signal near the Transceiver and SSM. The AR100 is a modified Triplett SatAlign SSM. 2.1.4 Sencore DSL757 The Sencore DSL757 Digital Director (www.sencore.com) is a dedicated test device to meter cable signal levels. One of its basic modes is to display on its LCD screen the received signal level. Connect a temporary 2-way splitter to the Subscriber Transceiver and then connect the Sencore meter to the splitter.. Align the Transceiver by peaking the signal on the display.
Spectrum Analyzer Ref Level : 40.0 dBmV 30 20 dB / Div : 10.0 GOOD 40 dB 10 dBmV 0 -10 -20 -30 -40 -50 435 440 445 CF: 459.0 MHz RBW: 1 MHz Date: 05/23/2002 Model: MS2711B 450 455 460 465 470 Frequency (434.0 - 484.0 MHz) 475 SPAN: 50.0 MHz VBW: 30 kHz Time: 11:55:01 Serial #: 00215050 Attenuation: 0 dB Detection: Average 480 485 Figure 2-7: Proper Downstream IF input to subscriber’s modem.
antenna to be oriented and that the cable runs directly downward from the connector to avoid water running down the cable and into the F connection. Route the coaxial cable to the building entry point utilizing UV-resistant tie-wraps and staples or cable clamps as required. UV-rated cable should be used outdoors, and Riser-rated cable can be used indoors. In some buildings, a Plenum-rated or riser-rated cable is required. Consult the local codes. Mount the grounding device in Figure 2-8 (e.g.
To AC power To modem (no DC) To AR3155 (with DC) to to modem antenna DC power being inserted Figure 2-9: Power Inserter and AC/DC converter. 2.4 Wireless Cable Modem Place the wireless cable modem where it will be used and attach the short cable on the power inserter (labeled “To Modem” in Figure 2-9) to the F connector on the rear of the modem. Connect the (separate) modem wall-mounted power supply (included with the wireless cable modem) to the power connector on the rear of the modem.
Modem rear panel Modem power Power inserter Ethernet (LAN) cable Power inserter power cord Cable to AR3155 Figure 2-10: Rear view of typical wireless cable modem. 2.5 Frequency Channel The cable modem will automatically search for the active channels, will go through a handshake with the CMTS, will be told all the parameters it will need to join the wireless network and will be authenticated/authorized to join. 2.
User: (leave this blank) Password: cable The typical modem screen looks like Figure 2-11. Figure 2-11: Screen for cable modem status. 2.7 Installations Close to Access Point Subscriber installations that are very close to the Access Point may have a situation where the input to the cable modem is overloaded. An overloaded input usually causes lack of synchronization and/or a high error count.
Subscriber Transceiver TV cable (length up to 200 ft.) Grounding Device Building Entrance TV cable DC Inserter P/Supply Indoor F-type connector LAN pad cable modem Ground per NEC Weatherproof F-type TV cable P/Supply UPS 120 or 220 Vac Figure 2-12: Adding pad to eliminate overload.
3 Access Point Installation The Access Point is installed at a point on the cable system plant where it can reach a number of customers. 3.1 Site Survey Paper records of what is at a specific site are notoriously poor, so it is always best to preview the installation by visiting the site. 3.1.1 Physical plant A decision has to be made about mounting the Access Point Transceiver. It can be mounted on a utility pole or on a wire strand.
3.3 Frequency Planning – Downstream This Section describes some of the issues involved in planning a wireless network deployment. The ARCell wireless system uses different frequencies for Downstream (Access Point to subscriber) and Upstream (subscriber to Access Point) communications, which is referred to as a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) system. The Downstream uses a channel within the unlicensed 5 GHz “high” band, 5.7255.850 GHz. Upstream uses a channel within the “low” band, 5.250-5.350 GHz.
e) Going in the Upstream, the modem output (transmit) upstream is whatever the CMTS configuration has instructed, which is in the range of 6.4 to 41.6 MHz. f) The Subscriber Transmitter (inside the CPE Transceiver) up-converts this IF channel to the 5.3 GHz band, which goes over the air to the Access Point Receiver. The RF transmission is scheduled by the DOCSIS protocol, so that it does not interfere with other modem transmission on this channel. g) The Access Point Receiver tuned to 5.
46 355.2625 357 82 571.25 573 125 799.25 801 47 361.2625 363 83 577.25 579 126 805.25 807 48 367.2625 369 84 583.25 585 127 811.25 813 49 373.2625 375 85 589.25 591 128 817.25 819 50 379.2625 381 86 595.25 597 129 823.25 825 51 385.2625 387 87 601.25 603 130 829.25 831 52 391.2625 393 88 607.25 609 131 835.25 837 53 397.2625 399 89 613.25 615 132 841.25 843 54 403.25 405 90 619.25 621 133 847.25 849 55 409.25 411 91 625.
5813 5819* 5825* 5831* 5837* 5843* NOTE: 5753 and 5801 MHz are not used. At the CPE, the downstream 5.8 GHz frequency is translated into an intermediate frequency (IF) that the cable modem hunts to and locks on, as in Table 3-2. Table 3-2: Downstream Frequency Plan at CPE Downstream Modem IF Input (from CPE Receive (from transceiver) Modem Channel the air) Center freq. Center freq.
3.3.2 Downstream Adjacent 90-degree Sectors The 90-degree-Sector Transceiver has a half-power horizontal beam width of 90 degrees, i.e., 45 degrees each side of center, call the “bore sight” of the antenna. But, the energy of the antenna does not simply cut off at 45 degrees in horizontal pattern from the centerline of the antenna. Rather, the energy falls off as the angle from the centerline increases. A typical antenna pattern is shown in Section on Basic RF.
3.3.3 Downstream Logical Channels It is important to note the distinction between “downstream frequencies” and “downstream logical channels”. The “downstream frequencies” (A & B) discussed above refer to the actual RF carrier frequencies transmitted over the air. “Downstream logical channel” refers to the downstream data stream at the output of a base station CMTS downstream module. In the examples here, the frequencies employed may be driven from one to two downstream logical channels.
is always associated with one and only one downstream. The association of one or more upstream logical channel with a downstream logical channel is made in the CMTS configuration. Upstream logical channels from one or more Access Point Transceivers may not be combined into a single upstream input to the CMTS. 3.4.2 Upstream Frequencies The cable modem at the customer site obeys the various protocols within the cable plant.
Table 3-2: Upstream Frequency Plan5 Upper Carrier Lower Carrier Modem US & CPE air Tx & CPE air Tx & Cable System Access Point Access Point US Channel Rx Rx center (MHz) center (MHz) center (MHz) fch 5300+ fch 5300- fch 6.4 5306.4 5293.6 9.6 5309.6 5290.4 12.8 5312.8 5287.2 16.0 5316.0 5284.0 19.2 5319.2 5280.8 22.4 5322.4 5277.6 25.6 5325.6 5274.4 28.8 5328.8 5271.2 32.0 5332.0 5268.0 35.2 5335.2 5264.8 38.4 5338.4 5261.6 41.6 5341.6 5258.
The ARCXtend CPE Transceiver converts the 5777 MHz to 477 MHz. The cable modem locks onto the 477 MHz DS signal, handshakes with DOCSIS, and it instructed to use an upstream of 12.8 MHz. The CPE Transceiver converts the 477 MHz to 5287.2 & 5312.8 MHz and transmits these over the air to the Access Point. The Access Point is configured to receive only the 5287.2 MHz and is configured to convert it to 12.8 MHz Upstream, which goes into the tap. ARCXtend Access Point Transceiver 6.4 <> 41.6 U/S IF 12.
3.6.2 Local Utility Powered Other powering is possible, using external converters from whatever the local utility provides, into DC, 8-24 Vdc. This is connected to the Access Point power connector. In this application, the cable system tap passes only RF. 3.7 Pipe Mount Installation The Access Point Mast Mount Kit is designed to mount the AP on a pipe. The pipe size should be between 1.5 and 2.25 inches, outside diameter (OD). The cable goes out the bottom of the Access Point.
Figure 3-6: Pipe mounting kit (1 of 2) Figure 3-7 shows the detail of the cable coming out of the bottom of a pipe-mounted Access Point.
Cable entry Figure 3-7: Access Point Cable Installation detail. 3.8 Pole Mount The decision of pole mount vs. strand mount is totally governed by local practices. Some administrations prefer one over the other based on cost, tariffs, access, etc. Figure 3-8 and 3-9 show the pole details of the Pole Mount Kit.
Figure 4-8: Pole-mount kit detail.
Figure 3-9: Pole Mount Kit and pipe mounted AP detail.
