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BigBand BEQ6000 - Overview

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The BigBand BEQ6000 (Broadband Edge QAM) is designed to provide cable operators with superior RF performance and the lowest cost of ownership. It is the ideal UEQ (Universal Edge QAM) platform for applications such as switched digital video, broadcast video, VOD and DOCSIS® 3.0 / M-CMTS.

With an unweighted MER (modulation error ratio) of 39 dB, the BigBand BEQ offers the industry’s highest signal quality. This 4 dB MER advantage over other QAM devices increases the probability of subscribers experiencing television free of macro-blocking. It also improves modem service in remote households or ones with poor indoor wiring, thereby helping to reduce customer trouble calls and field service visits.

The BigBand BEQ is also characterized by low power consumption and excellent thermal performance. Up to 61 dBmV output per carrier simplifies RF combining and reduces the number of amplifiers required in the headend: higher output power and lower equipment count leads to improved network availability.

The BigBand BEQ delivers industry-leading QAM density. The superior thermal design and lower weight of the BEQ enables installation in fully-loaded racks without spacers, providing higher true QAM density than most edge QAM devices. This also leads to better access to modules and cabling.


BigBand BEQ supports switched digital video, broadcast video, VOD and IP services

A variety of features such as dual load-sharing power supplies and service-level redundancy ensure the highest standards of reliability. The BigBand BEQ6000 supports service-level fault detection and protection switching, with 2+2 redundant GigE ports accomplishing rapid switchover when a network event occurs, enabling full support of redundant transport, normal maintenance schedules and self-healing during a network failure. Maximum resiliency is accomplished by striping service groups across the platform. In addition the BEQ6000 provides hot-swappable QAM modules, power supplies and fan trays and operates over a 0°-50°C operating temperature range with automatic shutoff at 85°C.

The BigBand BEQ has been deployed in more advanced application than all other edge QAM devices combined. Designed for all switched digital video and VOD environments, it supports multiple industry standards. In the case of on-demand applications, the BEQ can support major implicit and explicit encryption modes and work with major bulk encryptors.

The synergies achieved by a combination of BigBand BEQ and market-leading CMTS (cable modem termination system) result in dramatic improvement in the costs of delivering DOCSIS services. The BEQ meets all CableLabs® Modular-CMTS specifications, including DTI (DOCSIS timing interface) and supports the E1/T1 standards-based BITs timing interface.

Delivering universal support for both video and data services provides operators substantial cost, performance and revenue benefits. A single BigBand BEQ6000 chassis is designed to universally support switched digital video, video on demand, broadcast video and IP services. Use of an advanced ERM (Edge Resource Manager) allows independent configuration of each narrowcast service group, eliminating the need to factor in overhead for each service’s “worst case” service group utilization planning bandwidth assignments.

The innovative design of the BigBand BEQ6000 allows a compact 1.5 RU chassis to terminate up to 48 QAM channels, the equivalent of two full Gigabit Ethernet payloads. Capacity can easily be added incrementally by inserting up to six hot-swappable QAM modules.


 

Testimonial

“BigBand's universal edge QAM deployments for SDV and M-CMTS are breakthroughs. Versatile QAM platforms, with the ability to support video, data or voice services, are key to keeping costs down and efficiency up as operators ramp up to deliver more bandwidth and new services.” 

-- Gerry Kaufhold, principal analyst for In-Stat

 

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