mdu- overview of dscr implementation of dscr technology...

Sky Homes MDU Doc10016 V 1.01

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MDU- Overview of dSCRImplementation of dSCR Technology

within current TV distribution systems.

Version 1.01

6th November 2018


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Version Control:

Version Date Change Author V 1.01 5th November 2018 First Draft Chris Woods

This document is Confidential and the copyright of Sky UK Ltd and solely for the intended recipient(s) and cannot be distributed or copied in any part or in its entirety, by any means (shown, printed or electronic) to anyone other than the recipient.


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Table of Contents:

1. Introduction 2. Survey 3. dCR specifications and parameters: dSCR54 4. dCR specifications and parameters: dSCR58 5. dCR specifications and parameters: dSCR516 6. Power Requirements 7. Existing Systems 8. System Design and Integration 9. Power Inserter User Guide 10. SCS 2.0


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Introduction:

This purpose of this material is to introduce the ‘digital Single Cable Router’ (dSCR) technology as developed by Sky and Unitron NV and its implementation and use in current and future Multi Dwelling Unit (MDU) systems and developments.

The deployment of this information is by no means definitive, but should be viewed as basic guidelines when planning system integration.

First and foremost is the safety to the public and engineer/installer and all equipment and works carried out must conform to all standards as laid down in the CAI Codes of Practice and to all European Standards (CENELEC) relating to Signal Distribution.


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Survey:

The survey is and will always be an integral and essential part of the installation of dSCR’s within existing systems.

The survey needs to capture as much data as possible of the MDU to aid the design and integration of the dSCR technology.

Guidelines for survey:

o Capture correct block details o Address. o No of properties.

o Type of system in situ o IRS (9,13,17, wire systems). o MATV. o Single/Dual Feed. o Shared Dish. o Does the system use 22kHz switching / Q2 technology which

uses a “Quad” LNB as opposed to a “Quattro”. o Earth Present. o Single Head End/Multiple Head Ends. o Schematic showing flats connected to head end. o Identify current Sky subscribers in the head end.

o Location o Details of head end location. o Availability of space within the head end for the additional

switchgear. o Access details (key holders etc). o Details of any specialist access equipment needed.

o Photographs o Clear pictures showing head ends and identified. o Overall picture of site/block showing site name.

o Data Logging o Good records of signal levels throughout system and at all

remote/sub head ends. o Residential signal level readings.

o Risk Assessment o A Dynamic Risk Assessment needs to be carried out showing all

potential hazards that could be encountered and what control measures need to be in place to minimise harm to public and employees.


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The necessity for capturing all the above data is to enable the design of installing the dSCR’s within/alongside the current system without compromising or degrading any services that residents are currently receiving through the system.

It is also important to note that dSCR’s are NOT to be ‘stacked’ on top of each other or on top of other equipment due to thermal limitations and also due to the need of visibility of LED status lights. The survey is also to determine and to highlight any serious flaws and/or potential issues that the Landlord may not be aware of currently and to protect themselves and Sky from any possible comebacks arising from a defective or sub-standard system.

Any dangerous situations encountered must be reported back to the Landlord and to Sky – these could be Structural defects, vandalism/damage, poor/missing equipotential bonding (earthing), electrical power issues (risk of electric shock) etc.


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dCR specifications and parameters: dSCR54


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The dSCR is available in 3 form factors:

4 Way, 8 Way, & 16 Way.

dSCR’s are designed to be installed in a distribution system and are fed via the four bands/polarities (H/L, H/H, V/L, V/H) from a †Quattro LNB or Quattro Fibre GTU, along with DTT, FM and DAB terrestrial signals.

The terrestrial leg of the port has a switchable gain of approx. 10dB. Each output port outputs 16 carriers on 16 pre-set user bands/frequencies - see below.

UB Number Centre Frequency 3 1680 9 1280 11 1380 14 1480 15 980 16 1030 17 1080 18 1130 19 1530 20 1580 21 1630 22 1730 23 1780 24 1830 25 1880 26 1930

†Some systems may have a 22kHz switching functionality or Q2 technology which allows a system to take the relevant

band/polarity signals from a ‘QUAD’ LNB feed. Tapping into these feeds will NOT work with the dSCR’s This needs to be covered in the survey stage and proposal of remedial work needs to be highlighted to the MA.


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Power Requirements:

All dSCR’s can be powered via Power Port, Trunk Lines or Subscriber Outputs

Power Port: Via F-Type DC Power Connector (STB Power to Trunk switch set to ‘OFF’)

Trunk Lines: SAT Only – From existing power on any of the trunk lines. (STB Power to Trunk switch set to ‘OFF’)

Output Ports: Supplied via the subscriber cable with a dedicated OEM Power Inserter connected within the residents’ property – this will only power the port it’s connected to and the LNB. (STB Power to Trunk switch set to ‘ON’)

There are two types of OEM Power Inserter for the dSCR, and should be installed as per below:

• SP160 – any dSCR connected to a Sky Q 1TB set top box. • SP161 - any dSCR connected to a Sky Q 2TB set top box.

Any cascading dSCR’s being powered via a Power Inserter must have the ‘STB Power to Trunk’ switch set to ‘ON’.

All SAT trunk lines allow DC power pass. Terrestrial trunk line does not allow DC power pass.

Care must be taken at this point in the design of the integration. dSCR’s have a much higher current draw than standard multiswitches and we need to ensure that any dSCR’s that are incorporated within the existing system do not draw current from the rest of the system, which may cause existing power supplies to fail, or injecting higher current into the existing system which can also cause an adverse effect and also cause the system to fail.

We need to look at powering the dSCR’s with separate power supply units to ensure that this does not happen. By doing this, attention needs to be paid also to the dSCR’s trying to back-power the existing system with the wrong voltage. At this point we need to look at incorporating DC blockers at each leg of the dSCR input location to eliminate this possibility.


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All dSCR’s perform a P.O.S.T (Power On Self-Test) on initial powering of the switch (except where powered via a power inserter). This will fully load all the ports and will take the maximum current drain to determine if there is adequate power for the switch to work under full load. (Please note that this will put strain on the rest of the system and it may fail.)

On ‘Power Up’ the individual Output Port LED’s will flash Red/Green alternately for 15 seconds whilst P.O.S.T. test is being carried out. Once complete the Power Diagnostic LED will remain Green if there is adequate power or turn Amber if there is insufficient power (...below 10V).

Output Port LED’s will then indicate status of connected resident to that port.

OFF – No STB connected Solid Green – STB connected in legacy mode Slow Flashing Green – STB in SCR mode connected

OEM Power Supply:

Input: 100-240V 1.5A Output: 20V 3000mA (60W)

dSCR Power Consumption:

Max per pair of ports in SCR mode = 6W

dSCR 54 = 12W (600mA) dSCR 58 = 24W (1200mA) dSCR 516 = 48W (2400mA)


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Existing systems:

The key and underlying directive is that we do not compromise the existing system.

This is one of the main reasons for the necessity of a thorough survey prior to any work being undertaken and carried out. The purpose of the installation of the dSCR’s is not to ‘upgrade’ or ‘fix’ problematic or failing existing systems, but to add current and future functionality to existing and future subscribers who are or will be connected to the dSCR’s. Obviously, this relies heavily on the signal levels and robustness of the system currently in situ.

There may be systems out there that on completion of a full survey will be deemed ‘unsuitable’ or of ‘poor quality’ to warrant or justify the installation of dSCR’s in their current state. At this juncture the landlord will need to be informed of these issues and potential consequences and separate discussions need to be had to decide on any remedial work needed to bring the system up to specification.


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System Design and Integration:

TV distribution systems are many and varied and there is not a ‘One Size Fits All’ solution. Each one needs to be assessed on an individual basis and it will fall to the installing company to ascertain the correct approach and solution for each.

The main systems types that will be encountered will be:

IRS (Dual and Single feed) Shared Dish (predominantly dual feed) MATV, Fibre

As well as the many types of systems and their varying degrees of complexity, we also have to contend with a myriad of manufacturers whose products are out there and whose specifications will also be varied from within their own range as well as from each other’s. On top of this we will also have systems that have been carefully and meticulously planned through to systems which have been thrown together or just added on to over time. This is where good system design skills will come into their own.

Working from the information and data gathered from the survey, the existing system will be ‘adapted’ to host the new dSCR technology.

When designing the integration, we need to bear in mind that dSCR’s have a higher thermal coefficient than current aSCR’s and or Multiswitches and ventilation and air-flow need to be considered and factored into the design. We need to stipulate that dSCR’s should not be ‘stacked’ on top of each other or on top of other switchgear. This in some situations may need additional cabinets and/or for the dSCR’s to be located in a different location to the existing system. In certain circumstances i.e. where there is no lateral space in the headend or cabinet, switches could be stacked utilising a ‘spacer’ system which will allow adequate airflow and ventilation along with access and visibility of the Status LED’s.

The design needs to have zero or minimal impact on the current system with any signal losses to the existing system addressed and compensated for so that any resident who is, and remains, connected to the current system is not compromised. The installation of any dSCR equipment within an MDU should be ‘transparent’ to anyone connected to the existing system.


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The ‘ideal’ methodology would be to install a completely independent dSCR system alongside the exiting, however this in most circumstances will not be possible, practical or cost effective so the alternate preferred method of integration would be to tap or split into the current system and to run the dSCR in parallel alongside the existing system and any resident that needs to be connected to the dSCR is simply transferred over whilst having confidence that the signal levels are sufficient for the resident to be able to receive all the added benefits of the dSCR and new technologies.

There will be sites where there is no power to the headend. These will predominantly be smaller blocks with a Shared Dish system and no terrestrial signal integrated, where the existing system is powered from the Set Top Box.

The dSCR’s require more power that can be supplied by a Sky STB via the subscriber cable. The preferred method would be to bring power to the headend if at all possible, and again this is something that needs to be identified at the survey stage i.e. is there power and can we bring a landlord supply to the headend?

If for any reason this was not possible, we would look at installing a Power Inserter within the customers property – in line with the satellite feed to ‘inject’ the power required to operate the ‘chip on the port’ the customer is connected to and also to drive the LNB if they are the only resident connected to the new switch – see below.


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Power Inserter User Guide:

Safety:

o The Sky PS160/SP161 is only for use in shared dish systems which contain a digital SCR. It must not be used with regular LNB or multiswitch installations.

o The Sky PSP160/SP161 power inserter is designed for indoor use only. o Do not use the device if the case is cracked or any parts are loose.

Contact Sky immediately for a replacement. o The mains outlet is provided for your Sky box - do not use it for non-Sky

devices. o The device may become slightly warm during normal use. Ensure that

there is good air flow around the device and that it is not covered by curtains or other insulating or flammable material.

o Make all connections to the device before plugging it into the wall socket.

o Avoid the use of trailing extension leads where possible.

Connections:

o The left-hand satellite connector must go to your Sky box (or “Splitter” if present). The inserter can be connected to either Dish Input 1 or Dish Input 2, only one connection is required and one Sky box socket must be left un-connected. If two satellite distribution cables are present, either one can be used. The other cable must not be connected to the Sky box.

o The right-hand satellite connector is for the cable to the building satellite distribution system.

o The screw-on cable connectors must be securely tightened. Do not use excessive force which may damage the inserter.

o The satellite signal cables must not be sharply bent or kinked. The minimum bending radius is 4cm - about the same diameter as a coffee cup.


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Use:

o Plug the unit into a convenient socket and switch the socket on. It may be necessary to switch the socket on before plugging the unit in if the unit obstructs the switch.

o The left hand green standby LED should light. o Turn on the Sky box and the centre green LED should light once the

box has completed its o Start-up sequence. The centre LED will only turn off when your box is

not using the satellite signal; it is normal for it to stay on when the Sky box is in standby.

o If the right-hand red LED lights, this indicates a fault with the satellite distribution cable or the building headend system. Contact Sky or your installer.

o If the box is already configured for single cable operation (LNB type = SCR Band), it should now be fully operational.

o If the box is configured for normal dish operation (LNB type = Standard), you will need to reconfigure for single cable operation.

Signal readings need to be taken from (A) (Off Air or Launch) in all circumstances to determine the levels entering the system and the levels that we need to aim to ‘restore’ to ensure the existing system continues to function as normal. We would recommend that levels are observed at subsequent switches (B) especially if these are located on other floors/sub-headends. We would also require several readings from the residential outputs (C).

These should be taken at the survey stage as this is where any additionals that may be required need to be designed and factored in, and also prior to any work commencing to ensure the original readings are correct. Any anomalies or concerns regarding the integrity and robustness of the existing system needs to be addressed at this point with the MA and Sky Homes.


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As well as taking readings from the existing system, we need to ensure what’s being fed into the dSCR’s is correct (D) and within the specifications. dSCR’s in SCR mode have Auto Gain Control (AGC) and input levels need to be within a specific range for the AGC to be active. Outputs should be checked to ensure AGC is active (E). This will not be possible with shared dish systems or systems with no Landlord power supply. In these circumstances, levels need to be measured and taken at the input to the dSCR’s (D). When a resident need to be connected to the dSCR where there is no Landlord supply, a dedicated power inserter will be issued and installed within the dwelling to power the port that resident is connected to as well as the supply voltage for the LNB.


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In certain scenarios, it may be possible to ‘cascade’ the dSCR’s from the existing system with or without amplification. Again, this is where the preliminary survey should indicate what will be required for both systems to operate correctly.


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On larger systems it may be possible to tap into the existing dish feeds (compensating for any split/tap losses) and cascade dSCR’s in parallel running separate trunk lines alongside existing. This may be a preferred option as opposed to tapping into the system at several points and jeopardising the existing system at various points.


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As well as Signal levels being measured throughout the system, Power (electrical) requirements need to be addressed and supplies factored into the design if required.


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SCS 2.0

Where dSCR’s are being installed in place of the aSCR’s in the SCS 2.0 model, the same criteria will apply as is currently required.

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