VIAVI Trilithic 180 DSP Base DOCSIS 3.1 Installation and Service Signal Level Meter

Compact DOCSIS 3.1 signal level meter for cable installation, with QAM and OFDM analysis and 4 to 205 MHz return spectrum.

Description: Installation and Service Meter
Part Number: TRI-DSP-180-BASE

Datasheet

Overview

The VIAVI Trilithic 180 DSP Base is the basic signal level meter of the DSP Series, intended for cable installation work by service providers and contractors. It has a compact, rugged design, a color touchscreen user interface and a range of digital and analog channel measurements, including DOCSIS 3.1 OFDM signal analysis.

The meter measures analog and QAM carrier power levels in analog, digital or mixed transmission systems. For QAM carriers, including deep interleave, it provides Hum, Constellation, Equalizer Tap, MER and BER displays, so 64 and 256 QAM downstream channels can be analyzed for quality verification or to locate impairments. For DOCSIS 3.1 deployments it measures OFDM average level, peak-to-valley and in-channel tilt, and displays PLC constellation, level, pre/post BER, MER, decoder stress over time and a summary for the default profile.

The channel plan scan displays the frequency response of the entire channel lineup, or of favorite channels in the active channel plan, as a color-coded bar graph, with adjustable on-screen markers for tilt measurement. The return spectrum from 4 to 205 MHz is displayed with peak measurements, color-coded markers, delta measurements and adjustable detector modes for capturing bursty transient noise; forward spectrum measurements from 5 MHz to 1,250 MHz are also available.

The 180 DSP is tailored for fast installation testing and troubleshooting, with simple pass/fail indicators, autotest apps, a quick charge time, a built-in LED flashlight and a glow-in-the-dark keypad. Test results from DSP Series meters can be managed with VIAVI StrataSync, a cloud-based solution for asset, configuration and test data management.

Key Features

Analog and QAM carrier level measurements
QAM measurements including deep interleave: Hum, Constellation, Equalizer Tap, MER and BER
Analysis of 64 and 256 QAM downstream channels
DOCSIS 3.1 OFDM measurements: average level, peak-to-valley and in-channel tilt
OFDM PLC constellation, level, pre/post BER, MER, decoder stress over time and default profile summary
Channel plan scan with color-coded bar graph and adjustable tilt markers
Auto-discovery of channel plans
Return spectrum display from 4 to 205 MHz with peak, marker and delta measurements
Adjustable detector modes for capturing bursty transient noise
Forward spectrum measurements from 5 MHz to 1,250 MHz
Color touchscreen interface with pass/fail indicators and autotest apps
Built-in LED flashlight and glow in the dark keypad
Network test suite with Ping, VoIP, Throughput and Traceroute tests
Multi-user support and job management on the meter
Firmware updates via web or USB
StrataSync compatibility for asset and test data management

Specifications

Ordering

Description	Installation and Service Meter
Part Number	TRI-DSP-180-BASE

Level Measurement

Channel Bandwidth	6 MHz and 8 MHz
Amplitude Range	-40 dBmV to +50 dBmV
Modulation Types (Analog)	NTSC, PAL B/D/G/H/I/K/N and SECAM B/D/G/H/I/K
Modulation Types (Digital)	16/32/64/128/256 QAM Annex A, 64/256 QAM Annex B/C, OFDM 4K/8K OFDM: DOCSIS 3.1 option equipped meters only
Analog Measurement Accuracy	±0.75 dB @ 77° F (25° C); ±2.0 dB from 0° to +50° C (32° to 122° F)
Digital Measurement Accuracy	±0.75 dB @ 77° F (25° C); ±2.5 dB from 0° to +50° C (32° to 122° F)
Display Resolution	0.1 dB

Spectrum Measurement

Frequency Range (Return Path)	4 to 205 MHz
Frequency Range (Forward Path)	5 to 1250 MHz
Dual Return Path Diplexers	42 MHz: 4 to 42 MHz; 85 MHz: 4 to 85 MHz
Manually Adjustable Resolution Bandwidth	Return Path: 300 kHz; Forward Path: 10, 30, 100, and 300 kHz; 1 and 3 MHz
Auto Ranging Resolution Bandwidth	10 kHz: Span ≤ 3.5 MHz; 30 kHz: Span ≤ 12.0 MHz; 100 kHz: Span ≤ 35.9 MHz; 300 kHz: Span ≤ 300 MHz; 1 MHz: Span ≤ 359.2 MHz; 3 MHz: Span ≥ 359.3 MHz
Display Spans	Return Path: 4 to 42 MHz, 4 to 65 MHz, 4 to 85 MHz or 4 to 205 MHz; Forward Path: User-selectable in 1 kHz steps
Display Scale	1, 2, 5, 7.5 or 10 dB/division
Display Range	8 vertical divisions when marker bar is hidden
Spurious Free Dynamic Range	60 dB @ 25° C (77° F) (+50 dBmV)
Sensitivity (terminated)	Return Path: -40 dBmV (4 to 205 MHz); Forward Path: -40 dBmV (5 to 1250 MHz)

Digital Channel Measurement

Deep Interleave Compatibility	Yes
Downstream MER	40 ±2 dB @ +6 dBmV RF Input Level; 34 ±2 dB @ -6 dBmV RF Input Level
Downstream BER Method	True BER, derived from code words not from MER
Downstream BER Standard	ITU J.83 annex A, B, C
Downstream BER Range	1 E-7 to 1 E-9 @ -6 dBmV RF Input Level
Symbol Rates	≥ 2 MSPS; ≤ 6.952 MSPS

Carrier-to-Noise Measurement

Minimum Input Level for Full Range	+10 dBmV In-service, non-scrambled standard channels only
Dynamic Range	50 dB
Resolution	< 0.5 dB

Tilt Measurement

Max Number of Carriers	14 dependent on favorite channel setup
High/Low Delta Resolution	0.1 dB
Scan	Video, audio, pilot, and digital carriers

Analog and Digital Hum

Minimum Input Level	0 dBmV In-service, non-scrambled standard channels only
Range	0 to 5%
Resolution	0.10%
Accuracy	±0.5%

Physical

Construction	Rubber overmolded plastic housing
Control	Glow in the dark keypad and LCD touchscreen and/or via a wireless connection to a mobile device such as a laptop, tablet, iPad® or iPhone®, or Android® handset
Display	Color LCD touchscreen, 480 x 272 pixels (approx 4” x 2.25”) 180/360 models
Annunciators	Audible annunciator for key strokes
Flashlight	High-intensity LED (0.25W)
Dimensions w/o Case (H x W x D)	8.6 x 6.1 x 2.00 in (21.84 x 15.94 x 5.08 cm)
Dimensions w/ Case (H x W x D)	9.6 x 7.1 x 3.00 in (24.38 x 18.03 x 7.62 cm)

Interfaces

Tx/Rx Test Port	75 Ohm Replaceable F-Type Connector Upstream and Downstream RF Measurements
Ethernet	RJ45 Management Port (10/100 Mbps)
USB	USB 2.0 Type-A Standard Port

Battery and Power

Charge Time	4 hours
Battery	Two 2600 mAh @ 7.4V Li-Ion internal batteries, factory replaceable
Power Adapter	Input: 100 to 240 VAC ~ 50 to 60 Hz, 1.2A Max; Output: 15 VDC, 3.34A

Environmental

Storage	-18° to +50° C (0° to 122° F)
Operating Temperature	0° to +50° C (32° to 122° F)

Specifications are taken from the manufacturer's documentation. See the datasheet for complete and current values.

Applications

Cable subscriber installation testing
Return spectrum analysis
Level, C/N, QAM and OFDM measurement
Channel plan scan with tilt measurement
DOCSIS 3.1 deployment testing
Home leakage testing

Options & Accessories

Option	Description
TRI-DSP-SW-HL-LKG-OPT	DSP Meter Leakage Software Option
TRI-LKG-HL-METER-KIT	Seeker Home Leakage Companion Kit — Seeker HL Source Transmitter, Dual-Band Antenna, Near-Field Probe and Case
TRI-ACCY-RF-TEST-CBL	I/O-15 Precision test cable
TRI-ISTOP-1000MHZ	I-Stop 1 GHz Test Probe — Ingress troubleshooting probe
TRI-ISTOP-1250MHZ	I-Stop Test Probe — Ingress troubleshooting probe
TRI-TLB-46-LPF	TLB-46 Return measurement low-pass filter
MP-80A	MP-80A USB Optical Power Meter
FBP-P5000i	P5000i USB Fiber Scope
TRI-DSP-180-CASE-REPL	Replacement fitted case
TRI-DSP-STRAP-REPL	Replacement shoulder strap
TRI-DSP-PWR-ADPT-NEW	Replacement charger (no power cord)