The VIAVI Seeker X leakage detector provides the agility to monitor leakage anywhere in a channel lineup, with the sensitivity and speed to accurately detect leaks that other systems miss.

With support for up to 4 concurrent monitoring frequencies from 130-1220 MHz including OFDM support, Seeker X affords operators complete flexibility in defining downstream channel lineups, while providing true full-spectrum leakage detection.

Seeker X will detect tagged leaks and ignore untagged leaks, saving time from false alarms from signals not originating in your system, including overbuild situations. In addition to legacy Seeker D tag signals, Seeker X detects the revolutionary new digitally tagged carrier to provide unmatched leakage sensitivity and positive leak detection. This allows more thorough and accurate coverage of your plant in driveout testing and much more efficient find and fix processes for techs in the field.

Transition to distributed access architectures is simplified by virtualized tagging capabilities supported by most major R-PHY, R-MACPHY, and R-CCAP vendors. With this approach, no specialized hardware is required in the hub, and technicians use the same Seeker leakage detectors and work processes regardless of node type.

Seamless Transition from Seeker-D

Seeker X detectors and mobile mounts can be dropped into systems currently using Seeker D’s with no change to existing monitoring and find/fix processes.    These new Seeker X units can benefit from the increased speed, sensitivity, and OFDM detection on their own, and can monitor two extra tagged frequencies if CT-4 taggers are swapped out for Seeker-D compatible CT-X units.

Regardless of the system architecture or channel lineup, Seeker X provides all the capabilities to find and fix leaks quickly, accurately, and effectively.

Highlights:

• Full-spectrum agility from 130-1220 MHz
• Up to 4 concurrent detection frequencies, including DOCSIS3.1/OFDM carrier support
• Virtualized tagger support for R-PHY/DAA nodes
• Supports new Seeker X digital chirp tag for increased leakage sensitivity and improved positive leak detection
• Mobile Tech app connected, StrataSync enabled, XPERTrak integrated
• Cost-effective solution backward compatible with existing VIAVI systems

Applications:

• Quickly pinpoint shielding weaknesses in the field for ingress remediation
• Centralized leak localization and management with GPS-enabled drive test
• Contractors can audit construction without need for tagger using OFDM detection

When home network quality is unreliable, customers become dissatisfied and are more likely to churn. At the same time technical complexity is increasing, but technician skill and experience at the installation service tier is typically minimal. It’s never been more important to have quick, effective troubleshooting tools that enable techs to quickly and efficiently verify performance as advertised.

The ONX 220 is fast, complete, and follows up testing with simple cloud data storage to enable real-time close-out and reporting.

Highlights

• Fastest and most comprehensive tool for verifying high speed DOCSIS service activation and performance
• Rugged build quality, workmanship, and reliability expected from VIAVI and our years of measurement experience
• Technicians now have access to a rugged, precise measurement instrument at a budget minded price
• Best balance of features, performance, and cost – designed to meet the budgets of installers and contractors

Connected 

• Complete connectivity with the VIAVI MobileTech App via the technician’s mobile device 
• Real-time data connection updates supervisors and back office systems 
• Provides complete information tracking that couples work orders to jobs and enables geotagging for validation of customer visits 

Flexible and Affordable 

• Minimize expense by matching test capabilities to current needs, then changing as needed as part of software/service/support plans 
• Expand meter functionality as the technician advances, adding new capabilities as needed 
• Built-in support for fiber optic inspection and power measurements, along with home network integrity testing 

Efficient 

• Simple icon-based UI with capacitive touch screen control is easy for new technicians to learn 
• Powerful measurement dashboards with simple Pass/Fail results for novice technicians while advanced techs can drill down for more detailed measurement results 
• Technicians can quickly identify and resolve issues without needing years of field experience 
• Powerful processing for faster measurements and complete autotest results in less than two minutes 
• Works right out-of-the-box with each unit being factory synced to the customer’s StrataSync account, so any configurations and limits are automatically configured upon arrival 

Applications

• Troubleshoot service issues between the TAP, Ground Block and CPE
• Identify and fix intermittent issues related to QAM and OFDM carriers and the home network
• Verify WiFi signal strength, availability and performance of 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks

Key Features

• Most powerful meter in this price range
• Fast, complete, and precise analog and digital signal measurements, including DOCSIS 3.1 OFDM, with a fast boot time, location-based auto tests, and auto-channel plans
• Powerful processing for faster measurements and complete autotest results in less than two minutes
• Complete measurement dashboards with simple Pass/Fail results for novice technicians and ability to drill down for more detailed measurement results 
• Works right out-of-the-box with each unit being factory synced to the customer’s StrataSync account, so any configurations and limits are automatically configured upon arrival
• Includes StrataSync Core for meter asset management, and a Workflow option couples work orders to jobs for complete information tracking
• Gigabit Ethernet, DOCSIS, and WiFi throughput testing
• Wireless (802.11 ac 2.4/5 GHz with 3×3 MIMO) survey with signal strength, SSID, channels, security, MAC, and protocols.
• Expandable to perform optical power measurements, fiber optic end face inspection to ensure clean connections

The UK government has recently permitted the use of Huawei technology in the nation’s mobile networks (albeit, the radio access network or “non-core”). Without getting caught up in a debate about security, we should focus on what this signifies to the industry; that the UK is serious about 5G, and does not want to limit its options of technology suppliers in the race for 5G commercialisation.

The UK has maintained its focus on 5G development for a number of years. In 2015, the 5G Innovation Centre (5GIC), which has received considerable government funding, was opened at the University of Surrey. Since then it has supported pioneering research into the benefits of, and the obstacles preventing, the adoption of 5G technology. Supported by consultants, such as our very own Dr Li-Ke Huang and major telcos such as EE, Vodafone and Samsung, 5GIC epitomises the UK’s commitment to 5G.

However, the government’s investment in 5G doesn’t stop there. In March 2018, it announced the winners of a 5G test bed and trials competition, which saw a number of other enterprises, universities and authorities receive grants of between £2 million and £5 million to test 5G applications. In November, almost £7 billion was earmarked by the government to make 5G and fibre roll-out a reality over the next 10 to 15 years. It’s also worth noting that the UK was quick off the mark to auction 5G spectrum, a process which started in March last year.

The UK has clearly demonstrated its continued dedication to becoming a 5G leader. However, last week’s news regarding Huawei was a big wake-up call to technology firms, highlighting the importance of demonstrating their security credentials in order to play a role in the nation’s new next generation networks. Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, Samsung and ZTE are among the major network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) that will be considered for 5G networks. However, it is very common for the NEMs to white label technology from other technology vendors. The objective for these vendors is to prove to both the NEMs and the mobile operators that their technology can make a difference; and do so quickly, in line with the UK government’s ambitious plans.

Telcos warm to multi-vendor technology

Mobile operators are increasingly open to using network hardware and software from multiple technology providers within their networks – giving them a selection of best in-class solutions. Open initiatives such as openRAN (oRAN) and Telecom Infra Project (TIP) are providing operators with blueprints for the implementation of multi-vendor technology across the network. This approach can lead to improved flexibility, scalability and cost saving for operators, and new opportunities for vendors, big and small.

With the first wave of 5G networks focussed on non-standalone technology – i.e. networks that connect to new 5G radios and the LTE core – there is an opportunity for RAN vendors to showcase their credentials in this first wave of 5G deployments. To do this successfully they must test and validate their technology against a range of real-world 5G applications.

A testing time for 5G vendors

5G technology presents a range of new innovations, from the use of active antennas, to MIMO and 3D beamforming, software defined components, and large carrier bandwidths. However, these innovations also bring new challenges when it comes to verifying the performance of the technology.

Massive MIMO, for example, requires the use of large number of antenna elements which will add a huge amount of complexity for performance testing and validating the radio frequency environment. The purpose of Massive MIMO is to help deliver high data throughput to large number of users. To achieve this requires performance testing under realistic conditions, with large number of end user devices attached to the network. New technology, such as Massive MIMO, must not only be tested in silos, but also run against a set of core network test cases within a loaded network environment.

It is now vital that 5G manufacturers test their technology in a lab before bringing it to market to account for any environmental factors that may affect the performance in a live network. If they can prove that the technology has undergone scrutinous validation at scale with a high number of both 4G and 5G carriers, under real-word conditions without QoE degradation, they will be considered favourably by operators, or the NEMs, in their network plans.

With telcos now moving from testing to field trials, technology vendors of all sizes must quickly look to offer future-proof high performance and differentiated propositions. Validating technology against live 5G applications is an important means of proving that it is primed for today’s networks. As a pioneer in test and measurement equipment and dedicated to the development and monetisation of network services, VIAVI is the ideal partner for technology vendors as they look to enter the 5G network market. VIAVI can help these businesses address challenges now – and do so simply, quickly, and cost-effectively – allowing them to demonstrate that they can make a difference in operator networks as they race towards commercialisation. VIAVI has experience in working with operators and with all the major NEMS around the world, it is best placed to validate an operator’s network from end-to-end ensuring the best performance irrespective of the RAN supplier, and core network components vendors. VIAVI can also ensure that legacy 4G services and KPIs are not compromised, especially with new low complexity devices and enhancements such as the wave of Rel-14+ Cat-M and NB-IOT. This becomes vital as 4/4.5 to 5G interactions grow and network complexity increases.

Learn more about VIAVI End-to-end wireless network test.