Exfo CableSHARK P3 VF/DSL Cable Qualifier POTS / DSL Tester

Description

CableSHARK
P3
NETWOR
K
TESTING—ACCESS
VF/DSL Cable Qualifier
EXFO CableSHARK P3 - POTS / DSL Tester (Monochrome display version!)
The CableSHARK P3 includes the necessary VF and broadband measurements for qualifying and troubleshooting a local loop such as loop holding/dialling, frequency response, time domain reflectometry (TDR), longitudinal balance, load coil detection, bridge tap detection, power spectral density, resistive fault location (RFL), noise and impulse noise measurements.
The CableSHARK P3 is the next-generation CO based VF/DSL cable qualification device for measuring and evaluating the local loop for DSL deployment. The CableSHARK P3 is easy to use and features precision single end line testing (SELT) capabilities. These SELT capabilities include ADSL data rate prediction (patent pending), SHDSL data rate prediction, VF band qualification, and an powerful time domain reflectometer (TDR). The CableSHARK P3 can qualify circuit characteristics up to 6 MHz CO. CPE modem emulation, including CPE-based IP testing, verify network connectivity beyond the local loop.
Features:
- Loop current measurement
- Stress/leakage testing with programmable soak time
- Single-ended insertion loss measurement/frequency response to 6 MHz
- Single-ended DMT rate prediction for full-rate ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+ and G.Lite
- ADSL auto-testing with pass/fail indication and user modifiable thresholds
- Single-ended SHDSL rate prediction for G.SHDSL
- G.SHDSL auto-testing with pass/fail indication and user modifiable thresholds
- Power spectral density (PSD) noise with spectrum analysis to 6 MHz
Qualify  the  Local Loop for  DSL
Full  Testing: Single-Ended with  No  Responder
The CableSHARK P3 can fully test a loop without a responder or second test set at the other end. All that is required is an open circuit at the far end. In just a few seconds, the CableSHARK P3 sends out hundreds of test tones to “probe” the loop. It then measures the noise and the crosstalk caused by disturbers in the bundle using its built-in FFT analyzer. The results of these tests and others are combined to determine the insertion loss of the loop and the upstream and downstream DSL rates that the loop can support.  EXFO has a patent  on double-ended discrete multitone modulation (DMT) rate prediction and a patent pending for single-ended DMT rate prediction.
ADSL2+/ADSL2/ADSL Data  Rate  Prediction
Service  providers  that are  rolling out ADSL2+ services  will really  enjoy  the
CableSHARK P3’s DMT test for ADSL2+ data rate prediction. This “modemless” test uses the exact frequencies of DMT carriers to measure the insertion loss, noise and the number of bits that can be carried per bin in order to determine the maximum achievable bit rates a local loop can support. The DMT test is modem independent and is offered in end-to-end (patented) and single-ended (patent pending) test configurations. The CableSHARK P3’s DMT test can ensure that the cable plant is ready for ADSL2+ or just ADSL.
ADSL2
+
Auto-Tes
t
wit
h
Pass/Fai
l
Indication
This convenient single-ended test quickly evaluates a cable
to determine whether or not it is acceptable for ADSL2+ services based on
predefine
d
pass/fai
l
criteria
.
Th
e
ADS
L
auto-tes
t
perform
s a
DM
M
test
,
longitudina
l
balance
,
loa
d
coi
l
test
,
capacitiv
e
imbalan
ce,
DM
T test and a TDR test.
Automati
c
DSLAm/mode
m
Detectio
n
an
d
Test
If the CableSHARK
P3 detects a DSLAM or modem at the other end of the line, it informs the technician that they are present and uses the signals of these devices to make an end-to-end test. If there is no equipment at the other end, the CableSHARK P3 performs its automatic single ended test. The CableSHARK P3 gives an accurate prediction of the exact rates of the upstream and downstream channels, not just a rough “range” of rates.
SHDS
L
Dat
a
Rat
e
Prediction
SHDS
L
i
s
symmetrical—offerin
g
2.
3
Mbit/
s
ove
r
tw
o
wire
s
i
n
bot
h
directions.
Th
e  CableSHARK  P3 offers  an  automatic  single-ended  test that predicts  the SHDSL rate that can be supported on the loop being tested.
SHDS
L
Auto-Tes
t
wit
h
Pass/Fai
l
Indication
The SHDSL  auto-test
will perform  a digital  multimeter (DMM)  test, longitudinal
balance
,
loa
d
coi
l
test
,
capacitiv
e
imbalance
,
SHDS
L
bi
t
rat
e
tes
t
an
d a
TD
R
test. I
n moments, the CableSHARK’s  SHDSL auto test evaluates a cable to determine if it is acceptable for SHDSL based on pre-defined pass/fail criteria.
Eliminat
e
o
r
Replac
e
Loa
d
Coils
Loa
d
coil
s
wer
e
applie
d
t
o
lon
g
loop
s
i
n
orde
r
t
o
flatte
n
th
e
frequenc
y
respons
e
o
f
cabl
e
i
n
th
e
voic
e
band
.
Unfortunately
,
legac
y
loa
d
coil
s
kill
th
e
hig
h
frequencie
s
o
f
DS
L
signals
.
Fro
m
on
e
en
d
o
f
th
e
loop
,
th
e
CableSHAR
K
P3’
s
loa
d
coi
l
detectio
n
tes
t
no
t
onl
y
identifie
s
th
e
presence o
f
loa
d
coils
,
bu
t
als
o
automaticall
y
indicate
s
ho
w
man
y
ar
e
i
n
th
e
loca
l
loop
.
Fiel
d
test
s
hav
e
prove
n
tha
t
th
e
CableSHAR
K
P
3
ca
n
locate
loa
d
coil
s
tha
t
othe
r
tes
t
set
s
miss
.
Shoul
d
th
e
loa
d
coi
l
detectio
n
tes
t
indicat
e
th
e
presenc
e
o
f
loa
d
coils
,
th
e
powerfu
l
TD
R
tes
t
ca
n
b
e
used t
o
locat
e
coil
s
wit
h
astoundin
g
accuracy
.
Onc
e
loa
d
coil
s
ar
e
locate
d
the
y
ca
n
b
e
remove
d
o
r
replace
d
wit
h
moder
n
coil
s
tha
t
pas
s
DSL
frequencies
.
Th
e
CableSHAR
K
P
3
ha
s a
full-featured
,
automatic
,
high-resolutio
n
graphica
l
TD
R
built-i
n
tha
t
easil
y
locate
s
opens
,
shorts
,
bridge
taps
,
splices
,
bridg
e
tap
s
an
d
loo
p
faults
.
Th
e
CableSHAR
K
P
3
ha
s
on
e
o
f
th
e
leadin
g
TDR
s
o
n
th
e
market
.
I
t
automaticall
y
determine
s
the
lengt
h
o
f
th
e
loo
p
bein
g
tested
,
automaticall
y
place
s a
moveabl
e
curse
r
a
t
tha
t
point
,
an
d
indicate
s
th
e
numbe
r
of
,
an
d
distanc
e
t
o
eac
h
fault.
Locate Load
Coils,  Bridge Taps  and  Faults with  Best-in-Class TDR
Locat
e
an
d
Determin
e
th
e
Location
,
an
d
Length
o
f
Bridg
e
Taps
Bridg
e
taps
,
lateral
s
an
d
en
d
section
s
degrad
e
DS
L
performanc
e
du
e
t
o
interference
cause
d
b
y
reflection
s
fro
m
th
e
en
d
o
f
th
e
tap
.
Th
e
reflecte
d
signal
s
ar
e
bot
h
attenuated
an
d
delaye
d
i
n
time
.
I
n
addition
,
bridg
e
tap
s
ad
d
capacitanc
e
t
o
th
e
loop
.
Th
e
shorter
th
e
bridg
e
ta
p
an
d
th
e
close
r
i
t
i
s
t
o
eithe
r
DS
L
mode
m
o
f
DSLA
M
(C
O
o
r
CPE),
th
e
mor
e
detrimenta
l
i
t
i
s
t
o
th
e
service
.
A
s
th
e
outsid
e
plan
t
ha
s
evolved
,
cabl
e
splices
an
d
cable-pai
r
swaps
,
combine
d
wit
h
poo
r
documentation
,
hav
e
mad
e
locatin
g
and removin
g
bridg
e
tap
s
time-consumin
g
an
d
costly—unti
l
now
.
Th
e
CableSHAR
K
P3 i
s
a
n
invaluabl
e
too
l
fo
r
determinin
g
th
e
existence
,
location
,
an
d
lengt
h
o
f
bridge
taps
.
You
r
technician
s
wil
l
appreciat
e
th
e
flexibilit
y
o
f
th
e
Manual-TD
R
tes
t
an
d
the convenienc
e
o
f
th
e
Auto-TD
R
tes
t
t
o
locat
e
bridg
e
tap
s
quickly.
Fin
d
Open
s
an
d
Shorts
Th
e
CableSHAR
K
P
3
ha
s
a
n
“opens
”
an
d
“shorts
”
mete
r
t
o
locat
e
thes
e
problematic
faults
.
I
n
addition
,
th
e
CableSHAR
K
P3’
s
powerfu
l
TD
R
i
s
eve
n
mor
e
accurate
fo
r
pinpointin
g
faults
. A
shor
t
arise
s
whe
n
th
e
sheat
h
insolatin
g
tw
o
conductor
s
is damaged
,
allowin
g
th
e
tw
o
wire
s
t
o
com
e
int
o
contac
t
wit
h
eac
h
other
.
Sheat
h
damage
ma
y
occu
r
fro
m
wear
,
imprope
r
splicing
,
o
r
imprope
r
digging
.
Whe
n  a
TD
R
tes
t
is performed
,
th
e
almos
t
zero-impedanc
e
presente
d
b
y
th
e
shor
t
doe
s
no
t
dissipate
th
e
energ
y
o
r
th
e
TD
R
pulse
.
Th
e
origina
l
puls
e
wil
l
b
e
reflecte
d
bac
k
wit
h
th
e
same
amplitude
,
bu
t
wit
h
opposit
e
polarity.
Opens,
or breaks in the cable pair, are often caused by careless or unauthorized digging.  The TDR pulse is not dissipated by a terminating  impedance,  as an open presents an almost infinite impedance. Therefore, the pulse is reflected back to the source. A reflected pulse having the same amplitude and polarity as the original pulse is indicative of an open.
uncove
r
Elusiv
e
Pair-to-Pai
r
Faults
wit
h
th
e
CableSHAR
K
P3’
s
Four-Wir
e
TDR
Whe
n
cabl
e
bundle
s
ar
e
damaged
,
ofte
n
th
e
proble
m
i
s
no
t a
tru
e
brea
k
i
n
the cabl
e
bu
t
i
s a
shor
t
o
r
partia
l
shor
t
betwee
n
pairs
.
Locatin
g
an
d
repairin
g
pair-to- pai
r
fault
s
i
s
simplifie
d
wit
h
th
e
ne
w
four-wir
e
TD
R
functionalit
y
o
f
th
e
CableSHARK
P3
. A
puls
e
i
s
sen
t
ou
t
o
n
on
e
pai
r
whil
e
th
e
reflectio
n
i
s
sough
t
o
n
another
.
Lik
e
all
TD
R
measurements
,
th
e
distanc
e
t
o
th
e
fault
s
i
s
clearl
y
indicate
d
bot
h
graphically an
d
numerically.
Auto-TD
R
Testin
g
make
s
i
t
Easy
The CableSHARK P3’s convenient Auto-TDR test makes
it easy to detect the cable end or bridge taps. CableSHARK P3 will automatically calculate the best pulse width and pulse shape to use, based on the line conditions. Once the Auto-TDR test finds any valid reflection, (up to four reflections), the CableSHARK P3 places the cursor at the reflection corresponding to the end of the cable. CableSHARK P3’s TDR is the easiest, most powerful TDR available.
Manage Unbundled and  Shared Local Loops
Spectrum management
You can rely on the CableSHARK P3’s Spectral Detective feature to manage the spectrum in your cable bundle. In a non-intrusive way, it bridges onto live access loop circuits with high impedance so that the measured service is not interrupted.
On the CableSHARK P3’s graphic  display, you can determine what service is deployed on the loop and at what power levels. This is an ideal way to find signals that are running too “hot” for the bundle. The Spectral Detective test may be run in continuous, snapshot (freezes the display upon command) or peak mode that is ideal for long term analysis of a circuit  to help identify transients or intermittent crosstalk/noise.
Automatic Disturber Identification
A single B8ZS coded (T1) signal in a cable bundle halt service service to an entire neighborhood due to crosstalk effects. Some telcos are moving away from 2B1Q coded HDSL and HDSL2 for the same reason. The CableSHARK  P3 displays the noise power spectral density (PSD) on unused loops showing the sum of all disturbers and automatically identifies the type of disturber by name. This arms telco technicians, cable repair crews and CLECs with the information they need to take action at the loop plant engineering level. Converting traditional T1 signals to more spectrally compatible signals such as G.SHDSL should be a priority. Much like the spectral detective feature, the noise PSD test may be run in continuous, snapshot (freezes the display upon command) or peak mode that is ideal for long-term analysis of a circuit to help identify transients or intermittent crosstalk/noise.
Split  Pairs  Identification
Technicians create split pairs by robbing the single conductor from two defective pairs to create a single working circuit. While a split pair circuit will certainly pass current and will most likely support a POTS (plain old telephone service) line, it will probably degrade or may even kill a DSL service. Telephone cable pairs are twisted to limit pair to pair crosstalk. Because a split pair no longer maintains the proper twisting, it is very prone to crosstalk. Split pairs are easy to find with a quick visual inspection provided the tech is at the proper pedestal. Determining if a loop has an unseen “section” of split pair requires the CableSHARK P3. A split pair will have abnormally high crosstalk, but relatively normal longitudinal balance.
Measuring and observing unusually high crosstalk on cable pairs (a telltale sign that the pair is split) has always been possible on the CableSHARK P3 so long as the bundle and the specific binder group was already loaded with DSL. The four-wire crosstalk measurement offered by the CableSHARK P3 (with swept tone insertion) comes into play either when DSL is being added to a bundle for the first time, or
to prevent a split pair from becoming  a transmitting  source of crosstalk. The
CableSHARK P3 generates a swept signal into one pair while measuring
Intermittent Problems Identification
The CableSHARK  P3 will help you isolate those elusive intermittent faults. As an example, the CableSHARK can perform long-term monitoring for wideband impulse noise. Results are displayed graphically in a histogram format
.