AMS2010

The basic components of each leakage detection system are detectors and meters. The detector/meter for CATV networks is AMS2010 HFC. The device has been developed by people who have been, by themselves, detecting leakage sources in CATV networks for many years. A compromise has been reached among the meter dimensions, weight and measurement/detection accuracy. The meter has very good sensitivity. The unit is compatible with the EN 50083-8 standard as well as with the FCC standards related to the leakage control. It has been designed to be time and labor effective, with an economic price (versions can be tailored to customer´s needs and requirements) and as a technologically sophisticated device for a quick detection of common and problematic leakage problems. The meter is portable and easy for handling.

The detector has two basic versions:

• AMS2010 HFC – the basic version with a standard battery
• AMS2010 HFC GPS GoogleEarth – with GPS functionality, high measurement accuracy and a high capacitance battery

The detector cooperates with the DS docking station and can be mounted in a vehicle. The DS station is backward compatible with the CLI950/1450/1750 meters manufactured by JDSU (former Acterna, WWG, Wavetek).

The basic differences among AMS meters/detectors are as folows:

• AMS2010 detector does not have professional SAW filters
• AMS2010 GPS+GoogleEarth meter – saves the pedestrian/mobile patrol measurement results in a file compatible with GoogleEarth.

The AMS meters detect the tagged signals and work together with AM taggers (e.g. JDSU Acterna LT-1000 or KABELKOM AM2(TM)). The AM2(tm) technology (patent pending in USA and Europe) uses additional RF carriers modulated in amplitude (AM) for additional protection against erroneous detection of interferences which can act as a leak source. The main advantage of AM2(tm) is its compatibility with DVB, DOCSIS and EuroDOCSIS carriers. The carrier of the AM2(tm) tagger works in the DVB or EuroDOCSIS channel bandwidth, however, it does not interfere with digital transmission and allows for leakage detection.

The AMS tagger can work in the mode which can identify the part of the network (subnetwork) responsible for a detected leak source. In such a case AMS2010 HFC GPS measures various tagging frequencies and saves the results. It is possible to differentiate the subnetworks from which a leak origins, for example:

• trunk vs.building network
• building vs. customer (home) network
• detection of the leakage on a particular floor of a building (requires proper network architecture).

The greater number of tagging signals gives better detection accuracy and reduces the likelihood of detecting external interfering signals as leakage sources.

Below you can find some movies, describing the methodology of leakage measurements