Amplifiers

Amplifiers process attenuated signal levels to restore the designed or original amplitude to the system signals.

Amplifiers Details

Amplifiers topic.

Manufacturer

The manufacturer of the component.

Model Number (required)

The component's model number. The model number is required to be unique across all resources of the same type.

Company ID

The ID your company assigns to the component. It is recommended that you use unique company IDs. You will see a warning if you type a company ID that is not unique, but you are allowed to continue with a non-unique ID.

Amplifier Type (required)

In this drop-down box you can assign the type of amplifier that you want in your design. Select either Line Extender or Mini-Bridger.

Description

A short description of the component.

GIS Symbology

GIS Symbology provides you with the ability to specify symbology text for various component specifications in Catalog. This text is published to GIS with DHFC features and can be used as a basis for symbology.

Catalog Id

The GUID assigned to the component.

Is Deprecated (default: not selected)

Toggle to mark the component as deprecated.

Amplifiers Properties

Amplifiers properties.

Point Size (required)

Assign a point value to a component based on physical size. With a consistent point value system you can determine how much equipment can fit inside an enclosure.

For example, if you have a pedestal rated to hold 30 points worth of components, then you can situate three 2-port taps rated at 10 points each into the box. A fourth 2-port tap would total 40 points, exceeding the rated 30 points of the pedestal.

The following values are used by the auto-optimization engine for optimizing your network design in Designer HFC.

Operational Forward Gain in dB (required)
Operational Return Gain in dB (required)
Default Forward Pad in dB (required)
Default Forward Equalizer in dB (required)
Default Return Pad in dB (required)
Default Return Equalizer in dB (required)

Maximum Amperage

The maximum allowable current draw.

Number of Outputs (required)

The number of ports available. This value cannot be edited directly since it is derived from the number of forward outputs that you create.

Gain Control Mode (required)

The mode for balancing signal between the input and output ports. Select Manual, Temperature, or Automatic from the drop-down list.

Remove: Click the Remove button to the right of the value that you want to delete.
Add: Type the appropriate value(s) and click the Add button to the right of the value(s) you are adding.
Edit an existing value: Double-click the existing value and type a new value, then click Update to save all changes.

Compensator

Specifies the compensator used.

Forward/Return Internals

For the Internals sections, select the part on the left side of the list that you want to target. Select pads, equalizers, or couplers to choose the parts to include.

Pads, EQs, and Couplers

In the parts list, select the checkbox for each part to include in the component.

When you select an internal part, you can click the Make Default button to set the part you currently have selected as the default.
After selecting parts to include, if you click the "Show checked" checkbox, the parts list displays only those parts that you checked.
Click the Toggle All button to cycle between the selection of all parts and the deselection of all.

Levels

Amplifier Forward Output Levels defaults to one output, and more outputs can be added by clicking the Add Profile button. You can have a maximum of three profiles, and these profiles combined can have a maximum of 5 outputs.

Some types of amplifiers support internal couplers on ports. Use the toggle to denote that the amplifier supports an internal coupler. This adds one output to the total number of outputs. You can have a maximum of two profiles that support internal couplers.

IMPORTANT: If you enable internal couplers for at least one profile, you must have Splitters or Directional Couplers in the Forward Internals. If you do not have these, you cannot save the amplifier.

The following options are available from the Strength Profile drop-down:

Strength Profile
- Add level: Type values for the megahertz (MHz) and decibels related to one millivolt (dBmV) fields in the bottom row and click the Add button.
- Remove level: Click the Remove button to the right of the row you want to delete.
- Edit level: Type a new value in the appropriate field. Designer HFC Catalog saves all changes once you click Update in the Asset Details Menu.
Pass-Through
- Select Pass-Through to designate the port as a pass through port. No level port values are needed for ports in this category.
Not in Use
- Select Not in Use to designate the port as unused. No level port values are needed for ports in this category.
Remove Port Profile
- Click Remove Port Profile to remove the profile from forward output levels.
Copy Port Profile
- The Copy Port Profile option is enabled once the first profile is created.

Supported Amplifier Profile Configurations

Specific profile configurations are supported by the application. In cases where Amplifiers have invalid profile configurations, the Swap button is disabled for internal plugins in the DHFC application.

The maximum number of outputs allowed is 5. The application prevents you from adding more than 5.

Supported configurations include:

Having 1, 2, or 3 forward profiles with no internal coupler enabled on any of the profile configurations.
Having 1 profile configuration with internal coupler enabled (net result of this is 2 outputs in DHFC).
IMPORTANT: If you enable internal couplers for at least one profile, you must have Splitters or Directional Couplers in the Forward Internals. If you do not have these, you cannot save the amplifier.
Having 2 profile configurations with internal couplers enabled. Valid combinations include:
1. Having 1 profile configuration with internal coupler disabled and 1 port configuration with internal coupler enabled (net result of this is 3 outputs in DHFC).
2. Having 2 profile configurations with both having the internal coupler enabled (net result of this is 4 outputs in DHFC)
Having 3 profile configurations with internal couplers enabled. Valid combinations include:
1. Having 2 profile configurations with internal coupler disabled and 1 port configuration with internal coupler enabled (net result of this is 4 outputs in DHFC).
2. Having 1 profile configuration with internal coupler disabled and 2 port configurations with internal coupler enabled (net result of this is 5 outputs in DHFC).