DOCSIS 4.0 frequency split and extended spectrum

DOCSIS 4.0 is the next DOCSIS standard important topics, such as the optimal frequency split and extended spectrum.  This is episode 62 of Get Your Tech On, our show on All Things DOCSIS.  I’m Brady Volpe, Founder of The Volpe Firm and Nimble This. We have two guests with us today, John Downey, CMTS Technical Leader at Cisco Systems, welcome John. Next is special guest Jan Ariesen, CTO of Technetix.

Listen or watch Brady, Jan and John Downey discuss and debate the latest technologies in DOCSIS 4.0. How we can improve the network.  What will extended spectrum do for the industry? What should cable operators consider for optimal frequency split? What equipment will be used and how will diplex filters support high frequency splits or will we even need diplex filters moving forward… So many questions and we have the answers.

DOCSIS 4.0 splits and extended spectrum:

Overview of difference between DOCSIS 4.0 and DOCSIS 3.1

• FDX, FDD and ESD
• Drive more data thru the coax
• Use coax smarter
• DOCSIS 4.0 FDD / FDX
• Upstream expansion
• Stay ahead of fiber to the home
• FDD vs FDX both are in the DOCSIS 4.0 spec
• 1.8 increase the upstream to go past 204 in the upstream
• FDD use the frequency once in-between each other
• FDX you use the frequency on top of each other
• FDD is common and putting specification on it in DOCSIS 4.0

Outside plant concerns discussed 

• DOCSIS 4.0 architecture discussed – no actives and no diplex filter
• Fiber node and passives in the field – RPD’s and taps
• Transparent pipe
• Technetix discusses their technology benefits – no filters
• Be transparent between home and RPD
• Challenges and potentials debated
• Too good to be true? – No diplex filters?
• Issues – gain loss, shielding, grounding, isolation, etc
• How much gain and spacing?
• Upstream levels
• Aerial black jacketed cable concerns
• 20 db down gain amplifier – amp discussion
• Hybrids are better
• The modems don’t need to transmit at such a high level
• Amplifiers without diplex filters but higher gain
• Special couplers in use
• Echo cancellation/ 23 precent no mans land
• Diplex filter and echo cancellation and gain
• Mimics technology
• AGC
• Power consumption low in comparison to traditional amps
• The LED of amplifiers – Green Power
• Hybrid vs Mimic amplifier explained
• You don’t have to go that high on the signal
• Don’t go into the noise – distributed gain architecture – DGA
• Doesn’t matter FDX or FDD
• Gain distributed not a big block
• What about existing amps?
• Splitter loss – how to overcome this?
• Lossless passives / Buster amp
• DOCSIS 4.0 modem predictions
• DOCSIS 3.1 has runway still
• 10 G
• What can hybrids do?
• What can silicon do?
• What should silicon do?  FDX or FDD?
• Best quality into the home
• DOCSIS 4.0 is the future
• RHY already working on second generation

End Podcast

John and Jan thank you for your time today. This was a great episode.  Our next Episode 63 in July with Harmonic.   

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