Cisco Headend System Release 2.7
Chapter 1 Distributed BFS Plant Configurations
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4017541 Rev B
Overview
Cisco developed this guide to identify the recommended configurations to support
distributed BFS.
distributed BFS.
Frequency Configuration
Some service providers might configure their plant with more than one BFS QAM.
For these sites, the QAMs can be configured with overlapping frequencies or non-
overlapping frequencies (known as a split plant). The term overlapping frequencies
means the distributed BFS QAMs use the same frequency as the primary BFS QAM.
The term non-overlapping frequencies means the distributed BFS QAMs and
primary BFS QAM use different frequencies.
For these sites, the QAMs can be configured with overlapping frequencies or non-
overlapping frequencies (known as a split plant). The term overlapping frequencies
means the distributed BFS QAMs use the same frequency as the primary BFS QAM.
The term non-overlapping frequencies means the distributed BFS QAMs and
primary BFS QAM use different frequencies.
Using Multiplexing Devices
For either of these frequency architectures, a multiplexing device can be added to
provide secondary video through the BFS QAMs. Examples of multiplexing devices
include Cherry Pickers, Grooming Broadband Integrated Gateways (BIGs), or
BitMizer™ devices. You can also use a media converter, such as a SWIF-to-ASI
converter, for distributing BFS without adding content to your BFS QAM.
provide secondary video through the BFS QAMs. Examples of multiplexing devices
include Cherry Pickers, Grooming Broadband Integrated Gateways (BIGs), or
BitMizer™ devices. You can also use a media converter, such as a SWIF-to-ASI
converter, for distributing BFS without adding content to your BFS QAM.
No matter which multiplexing device you use, Cisco strongly recommends that you
configure the multiplexing devices to output program numbers that match the
program numbers going to the primary BFS QAM. This configuration ensures that
the program numbers going into the distributed BFS QAMs match the program
numbers going into the primary BFS QAM.
configure the multiplexing devices to output program numbers that match the
program numbers going to the primary BFS QAM. This configuration ensures that
the program numbers going into the distributed BFS QAMs match the program
numbers going into the primary BFS QAM.
The program numbers in the Broadband Integrated Gateway Program Allocation
Table (BIG PAT) table are very important when configuring the multiplexing devices
to support the distributed BFS configuration. By configuring your multiplexing
devices to use the same program numbers defined in the BIG PAT table, you can
ensure that the program numbers match among the primary BFS QAM and all the
distributed BFS QAMs.
Table (BIG PAT) table are very important when configuring the multiplexing devices
to support the distributed BFS configuration. By configuring your multiplexing
devices to use the same program numbers defined in the BIG PAT table, you can
ensure that the program numbers match among the primary BFS QAM and all the
distributed BFS QAMs.
OSM Automux
If you match program numbers and use overlapping frequencies, it is not necessary
to use OSM Automux. Otherwise, you have to use OSM Automux to identify QAMs
that need to carry a unique Code Version Table (CVT).
to use OSM Automux. Otherwise, you have to use OSM Automux to identify QAMs
that need to carry a unique Code Version Table (CVT).
If you do not want the primary BFS QAM to provide any RF signal, you can
configure one or more secondary BFS QAMs to provide all BFS data.
configure one or more secondary BFS QAMs to provide all BFS data.