ZCorum, a supplier of managed diagnostics tools and software for broadband providers, said its return path analysis tool now supports Arris’s DOCSIS 3.0-based Arris C4 cable modem termination system (CMTS).
ZCorum said the extended support for Upstream Analyzer follows an initial release that was optimized for Cisco Systems CMTSs.
“Providers with an Arris C4 and our Upstream Analyzer software can now clearly see ingress in the return-path spectrum without special equipment, and without the need to be at the headend,” Scott Helms, ZCorum’s VP of technology, said in a statement. “This makes it easier and faster for technicians in the field who are tasked with tracking down noise in the plant.”
ZCorum said its Upstream Analyzer uses technology from Nimble This and CableLabs to collect and display upstream spectrum data directly from the CMTS, as opposed to requiring cable operators to use proprietary equipment to take those measurements.
"Using the CMTS as a return-path spectrum analyzer has several advantages,” added Brady Volpe, president and founder of Nimble This, a developer of DOCSIS Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM) tools. "There's no additional equipment or cabling needed, so it's simple to deploy, it’s cost effective, and the data is 100% accurate. Also, because the CMTS knows when cable modems are transmitting, you can easily isolate any noise that's under the DOCSIS carrier."
ZCorum said it’s showcasing Upstream Analyzer and other DOCSIS network management tools at The Independent Show, which kicked off Sunday in Boston.
