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Minacom and Electroline Now Offer VoIP, Video & Internet Service-Quality and Reliability Testing to Cable Operators

Posted on: Monday, 1 May 2006, 06:00 CDT

Cable MSOs Can Remotely Test and Assure Triple-Play Services Using Transponders in the HFC Network, for Troubleshooting, Monitoring and Fault Management

Minacom, the leading VoIP test solution provider for Cable MSOs, announced today that its DirectQuality(R) R7 Service Level Test Automation platform now supports remote testing to Electroline cable transponders, providing advanced VoIP, IPTV, Internet and Fax-over-IP service quality and reliability assurance throughout the hybrid fiber-coax (HFC) network. Electroline status-monitoring transponders support non-intrusive IP-loopback, in addition to packet, RF and power supply performance and reliability monitoring. Electroline is a leading supplier of integrated CATV products solutions, supplying cable operators worldwide.

With this announced interoperability, operators can now use Minacom's PowerProbe(R) service level test probes running the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) Streamer test agent to perform loopback tests to Electroline transponders supporting the SMRP protocol. Loopback testing provides a complete, concise service and network performance assessment by measuring bi-directional VoIP speech quality (MOS, R-factor), packet jitter, delay, loss and other IP impairments, without interrupting transponder service transmission functions. Supporting Minacom's award-winning E-Model implementation, the RTP Streamer test agent allows operators to simulate triple-play traffic patterns with configurable codec, IP precedence, VLAN, jitter buffer and other key parameters to accurately replicate services and provide user-perceived quality of service (QoS) metrics.

Electroline status-monitoring transponders also measure and store network and element metrics in the transponder's management information base (MIB), which can be queried by Minacom's DirectReach(R) test agent for cable transponders. This allows operators to monitor service, data, network, and operation performance simultaneously for advanced multi-layer troubleshooting and performance monitoring. Electroline transponders monitor and store a comprehensive array of performance measurements, including bandwidth, upstream packet loss rate, upstream/downstream RF frequencies and power levels, modulation, pre/post FEC error rates, and downstream signal-to-noise and modulation error ratios (SNR/MER), in addition to providing downstream QAM constellation information that can be graphed in the DirectQuality R7 web-based OSS. Power-supply inverter and battery-string performance statistics can also be retrieved, including thermal and voltage/current measurements, battery condition information and recorded alarms.

"Maintaining service quality that exceeds customers' expectations is critical for Cable MSOs, who are rapidly deploying VoIP over networks that also support advanced packet-based video and Internet services. By remotely testing to Electroline transponders, operators can test services throughout the HFC to quickly isolate and characterize problems, leading to rapid service restoration while reducing costly technician dispatches." Commented Michel Nadeau, Minacom's President & CEO, adding "DirectQuality R7 automation simplifies service monitoring to proactively ensure service quality and reliability; providers can threshold any performance measurement to detect service, network or device degradation before it's perceived by subscribers."

"Having successfully deployed tens of thousands of HMS status monitoring transponders with an integrated DOCSIS(R) cable modem, Electroline is providing even more value to its customers by adding functionality such as that realized through its partnership with Minacom". Jay Staiger, VP of Marketing for Electroline, continues by stating, "Cable operators who have already deployed Electroline's transponders, or who plan to deploy them, can add this functionality to existing or new hardware."

The integrated Electroline-Minacom solution will be demonstrated live at the SCTE CableTec EXPO, held in Denver, CO, from the 20-23 June, 2006 at Electroline's island # 431 and Minacom's booth #1931.

About Electroline

Electroline is a leading manufacturer of HFC Network solutions since 1953. The Company offers products which include DOCSIS(R) and Euro-DOCSIS(R) based status monitoring transponders, return path VoIP readiness solutions and ingress management tools, broadband addressable tap systems, drop amplifiers, RF signal management tools for Headends and hub sites, passive devices, and the NEW Micro Node - a fiber optic receive, transmitter and RF distribution amplifier in a small integrated package.

For more detailed information visit Electroline's web site: www.electroline.com or call (800) 461-3344.

About Minacom

Minacom builds Service Level Test Systems designed for Telephone Companies, Cable MSOs, Internet Telephony Service Providers, Large Private Network Operators and their managers. Minacom's automated test systems help maintain the integrity and quality of large-scale multi-service deployments, including Voice, VoIP, IPTV, Caller ID, Voicemail, Conferencing, Fax, Dial-Up Modem, Video Conferencing, and IP Services from Ping and DNS to Audio & Video RTP Streaming.

Minacom systems are web-controlled by a centralized server platform that integrates years of operational experience into test setups, test strategies and result analysis rules of which over 60 operators worldwide are taking advantage of everyday. Experience Minacom's QoS test automation live at www.minacom.com/try.

Minacom, Simplifying Service Assurance, DirectQuality, DirectCare, DirectReach and PowerProbe are registered trademarks of Minacom. DOCSIS and Euro-DOCSIS are registered trademarks of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. All other trademarks used in this document are the property of their respective owners.

Source: Business Wire

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