CableLabs certified Cisco Systems' next-generation Explorer 8700 as a DOCSIS Set-Top Gateway in the R&D consortium's latest certification wave, along with four DOCSIS 3.0 devices.
The Cisco Explorer 8700 was "verified for interoperability" with DSG in Certification Wave 79, according to CableLabs' product certification spreadsheet, which was updated Dec. 15. The DOCSIS Set-top Gateway spec allows for "out-of-band messaging" between a set-top controller and the customer-premises equipment, for delivering data such as program guides and channel lineups.
However, the 8700 set-top has not been announced yet and no details are publicly available on Cisco's website. Company reps didn't respond to requests for more information by press time.
CableLabs also certified four devices for compliance with the DOCSIS 3.0 spec: Motorola's SurfBoard Voice Gateway 7540 embedded multimedia terminal adapter; Ubee Interactive's DVM 3220 eMTA, certified for PacketCable 1.5, and DVW 3213 embedded digital voice adapter, certified for PacketCable 2.0; and CastleNet's CBC382D1 cable modem.
Cert Wave 79 was conducted from late September through mid-December. CW80 is currently underway, with results expected in early February 2011.
