User's Manual

ARCXTEND USER MANUAL – R1.4, ISSUE 4

ARCXtend Multiple Hub Configurations

Downstream

If multiple ARCXtend Hubs are to be installed such that more than one Hub is visible (line of sight)

from any ARCXtend subscriber transceiver (CPE), additional measures must be taken. A receiver

will not operate properly if it “sees” signal on the same frequency from more than one transmitter

such that the two or more signals arrive at the receiver at levels within approximately 25 dB of each

other. (If the desired signal is greater than approximately 25 dB stronger than the undesired, the

receiver will function).

Since the ARCXtend downstream configuration can map the CATV plant downstream channel to

any of the specified air frequencies, the solution is to choose different downstream air frequencies

for each visible ARCXtend Hub.

Upstream

Similarly, if multiple ARCXtend Hubs are to be installed to cover a larger geographic area than can

be accommodated by the antenna pattern of one Hub, but in close enough proximity that more than

one Hub can “see” the upstream signal from a particular CPE operating at the same upstream air

frequency at levels within approximately 25 dB of each other, the combined signal on the upstream

will be unusable.

The solution is to utilize different upstream CM transmit frequencies, and therefore different

upstream air frequencies, in the different Hubs. This means that each CM transmit frequency will

be passed upstream into the CATV plant. Note that this will require the CATV plant and CMTS to

accommodate these separate upstream channels. Recall that DOCSIS supports multiple upstream

channels working with a single downstream. All CMs served by any given Hub must be provisioned

for the same upstream frequency.

IP Network Preparation

Hub’s Default IP Address

The ARCXtend Network Hub (Hub) utilizes an IP address in the cable network for remote

management and automatic of configuration of Hub parameters.

If an IP address is not provided for the Hub, it can be only accessed via the local Ethernet interface

and using the default IP address:

• IP address of 192.168.100.1

• Subnet mask 255.255.255.0

Cable Network IP Address

If remote management or plug-n-play installation is desired, the Hub must be assigned an IP

address by the cable network. This is accomplished by provisioning the MAC ID of the Hub’s

embedded cable modem (ECM) MAC ID into the networks OSS/NMS.