Abstract: The present invention provides a test device and a method enabling automatic detection of an imbalance in a power level of a channel. The test device includes a tuner, a power-level measurement system, and an evaluation unit. According to the method, a test channel is selected from a plurality of channels, by means of the tuner. A power level of the test channel and a total power level of the plurality of channels are measured, by means of the power-level measurement system. A ratio of the total power level of the plurality of channels to the power level of the test channel is then evaluated, by means of the evaluation unit, to detect an imbalance in a power level of the test channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for testing susceptibility of a receiver to intermodulation distortion of a digital channel, the method including selecting a first digital channel from channels in a composite signal, determining a first power measurement from the first digital channel, determining a total power measurement from other channels in the composite signal, and determining susceptibility of the first digital channel to intermodulation distortion by comparing the first power measurement and the total power measurement with intermodulation distortion characteristics of the receiver.

Abstract: The present invention provides a test device and a method enabling automatic detection of an imbalance in a power level of a digital channel. The test device includes an attenuator, a tuner, a demodulator, and an evaluation unit. According to the method, a plurality of channels are attenuated at a plurality of attenuation levels, by means of the attenuator. A digital channel is selected from the plurality of channels, by means of the tuner. A modulation error ratio (MER) of the digital channel is measured at the plurality of attenuation levels, by means of the demodulator. A variation of the MER of the digital channel with attenuation level is then evaluated, by means of the evaluation unit, to detect an imbalance in a power level of the digital channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring Hum on a digital QAM carrier using a testing device for testing digital TV signals including a QAM demodulator therein, and to a testing device implementing the method. A micro-controller is used to sample a register associated with an AGC circuit in the QAM demodulator, and to process the collected register values to obtain one or more Hum characteristics.

Abstract: The testing equipment of the present invention calculates a single “AGC stress” value, which provides an indication of the stability of the level of a digital carrier based on the change in gain required to stabilize the power of an incoming cable signal over time. Ideally the AGC stress value is rated on a scale, e.g. 1 to 10 or 0 to 5, and is fed into the DQI measurement system as a new data model.

Abstract: The present invention provides a test device and a method enabling automatic detection of an imbalance in a power level of a digital channel. The test device includes an attenuator, a tuner, a demodulator, and an evaluation unit. According to the method, a plurality of channels are attenuated at a plurality of attenuation levels, by means of the attenuator. A digital channel is selected from the plurality of channels, by means of the tuner. A modulation error ratio (MER) of the digital channel is measured at the plurality of attenuation levels, by means of the demodulator. A variation of the MER of the digital channel with attenuation level is then evaluated, by means of the evaluation unit, to detect an imbalance in a power level of the digital channel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a test device and a method enabling automatic detection of an imbalance in a power level of a channel. The test device includes a tuner, a power-level measurement system, and an evaluation unit. According to the method, a test channel is selected from a plurality of channels, by means of the tuner. A power level of the test channel and a total power level of the plurality of channels are measured, by means of the power-level measurement system. A ratio of the total power level of the plurality of channels to the power level of the test channel is then evaluated, by means of the evaluation unit, to detect an imbalance in a power level of the test channel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for measuring Hum on a digital QAM carrier using a testing device for testing digital TV signals including a QAM demodulator therein, and to a testing device implementing the method. A micro-controller is used to sample a register associated with an AGC circuit in the QAM demodulator, and to process the collected register values to obtain one or more Hum characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for testing susceptibility of a receiver to intermodulation distortion of a digital channel, the method including selecting a first digital channel from channels in a composite signal, determining a first power measurement from the first digital channel, determining a total power measurement from other channels in the composite signal, and determining susceptibility of the first digital channel to intermodulation distortion by comparing the first power measurement and the total power measurement with intermodulation distortion characteristics of the receiver.

Abstract: The testing equipment of the present invention calculates a single “AGC stress” value, which provides an indication of the stability of the level of a digital carrier based on the change in gain required to stabilize the power of an incoming cable signal over time. Ideally the AGC stress value is rated on a scale, e.g. 1 to 10 or 0 to 5, and is fed into the DQI measurement system as a new data model.

Abstract: A method of performing work on a communication system in accordance with a work assignment includes a step of identifying a data file associated with the work assignment, the data file including subscription information and network location information. The method also includes a step of preparing at least a first set of test parameters for performing a network test, the first set of parameters based on, at least in part, the subscription information and the network location information. The test parameters are then communicated to a test device. Thereafter, the test device performs a first test using the first set of test parameters.

Abstract: A method of determining noise in a CATV channel, wherein the CATV channel comprises a predetermined frequency band, that employs digital signal processing to isolate the noise signal from an in-service television signal. The method includes an initial step of obtaining a television signal corresponding to a predetermined CATV channel, the television channel comprising a carrier signal modulated by an information signal. Thereafter, the method includes the step of sampling at least a part of the television signal to produce a digital signal segment, said digital signal segment comprising a carrier component, a noise signals component, and an information signal component, wherein said information signal component has a substantially predetermined signal pattern. The method then employs digital signal processing to separate the carrier component from the digital signal segment to produce a baseband signal substantially comprising the information signal and the noise signal.

Abstract: A method of performing work on a communication system in accordance with a work assignment includes a step of identifying a data file associated with the work assignment, the data file including subscription information and network location information. The method also includes a step of preparing at least a first set of test parameters for performing a network test, the first set of parameters based on, at least in part, the subscription information and the network location information. The test parameters are then communicated to a test device. Thereafter, the test device performs a first test using the first set of test parameters.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a leakage tagging signal includes inserting a tagging signal into a CATV television signal only during portions of the television signal in which control information is present. A method according to the present invention is a method of transmitting a tagging signal in a communication system, the communication system transmitting television signals comprising control information and program information. One step of the method includes generating a tagging signal that is detectable by corresponding leakage detecting equipment. The method also includes the step of identifying a portion of a television signal in which control information is present. Finally, the method of the present invention encompasses inserting the tagging signal into the television signal only during the portion of the television signal in which control information is present.

Abstract: A test meter for digital CATV systems is operative to analyze digital CATV signals or channels utilizing selectable signal conditioning circuits, depending on the format of the CATV signal under test. The test meter is thus operative to analyze digital CATV signals transmitted according to various international digital standards. In one form, the signal conditioning circuits include SAW filters for particular bandwidths according to the digital signal standard of the particular CATV system. The SAW filters correspond to the bandwidths associated with a particular digital signal standard. Once the signal conditioning circuit has been selected, an output of a corresponding filter is input to a digital decoder circuit such as a QAM decoder. The QAM decoder is operative to decode all three (3) international QAM standards in accordance with ITU-T J.83 for digital signals.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus which measure signal level of an RF signal. The measured RF signal includes a baseband signal modulated onto a first carrier signal having a first frequency and the baseband signal includes program information and control information. The method and apparatus digitize the RF signal which includes the baseband control information and determine a signal level measurement from the baseband control information in the digitized RF signal. Furthermore, method and apparatus are disclosed which determine from the digitized RF signal whether a tagging signal is present in the RF signal.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a leakage tagging signal includes inserting a tagging signal into a CATV television signal only during portions of the television signal in which control information is present. A method according to the present invention is a method of transmitting a tagging signal in a communication system, the communication system transmitting television signals comprising control information and program information. One step of the method includes generating a tagging signal that is detectable by corresponding leakage detecting equipment. The method also includes the step of identifying a portion of a television signal in which control information is present. Finally, the method of the present invention encompasses inserting the tagging signal into the television signal only during the portion of the television signal in which control information is present.

Abstract: A method of determining noise in a CATV channel, wherein the CATV channel comprises a predetermined frequency band, that employs digital signal processing to isolate the noise signal from an in-service television signal. The method includes an initial step of obtaining a television signal corresponding to a predetermined CATV channel, the television channel comprising a carrier signal modulated by an information signal. Thereafter, the method includes the step of sampling at least a part of the television signal to produce a digital signal segment, said digital signal segment comprising a carrier component, a noise signals component, and an information signal component, wherein said information signal component has a substantially predetermined signal pattern. The method then employs digital signal processing to separate the carrier component from the digital signal segment to produce a baseband signal substantially comprising the information signal and the noise signal.

Abstract: Disclosed are method and apparatus which measure signal level of an RF signal. The measured RF signal includes a baseband signal modulated onto a first carrier signal having a first frequency and the baseband signal includes program information and control information. The method and apparatus digitize the RF signal which includes the baseband control information and determine a signal level measurement from the baseband control information in the digitized RF signal. Furthermore, method and apparatus are disclosed which determine from the digitized RF signal whether a tagging signal is present in the RF signal.

Abstract: A method of transmitting a leakage tagging signal includes inserting a tagging signal into a CATV television signal only during portions of the television signal in which control information is present. A method according to the present invention is a method of transmitting a tagging signal in a communication system, the communication system transmitting television signals comprising control information and program information. One step of the method includes generating a tagging signal that is detectable by corresponding leakage detecting equipment. The method also includes the step of identifying a portion of a television signal in which control information is present. Finally, the method of the present invention encompasses inserting the tagging signal into the television signal only during the portion of the television signal in which control information is present.