Simulink Implementation

of a Cable Modem
Gina Colangelo
Nathan Egan
EE194-SDR
05/02/2006
 Topics Covered
Cable Data Network Overview
Cable Modem Architecture
Downstream/Upstream Specifications
Simulink Implementation
Implementation Results
Cable Modem Network Overview
Headend: DOCSIS-certified CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System)
 One Headend supports ~ 2000 Cable Modem Users on a single TV Channel
 CMTS interfaces the CATV network to the Internet
CMTS output channel combined with TV video signals
CATV Network to Subscriber via coaxial cable
One-to-Two splitter: One signal to Set Top Box (STB), other to Cable Modem
Cable Modem
 One Modem can support up to 16 users in a local-area network
PC/Ethernet Card
 Cable Modem connected to PC via Ethernet, USB, PCI Bus, etc
 Cable Modem Architecture
Transmit/Upstream
 QPSK/QAM Modulator performs:
QPSK/QAM-16 modulation
Reed-Solomon Encoding
D/A Conversion
Up-conversion to the selected
frequency/channel
Receive/Downstream
 RF Tuner
Converts TV Channel to a fixed
lower frequency (6-40MHz)
 QAM Demodulator performs:
A/D conversion
QAM-64/256 demodulation
MPEG frame synchronization
Error Correction (Reed-
Solomon)
MAC - Media Access Control
 Implemented partially in
hardware and software
Data and Control Logic
 Receive Path
Diplex Filter – splits/combines bands for 2-way capability on CATV systems
Tuner – isolates TV channel and mixes it down to Analog IF (6-40MHz)
Analog to Digital Conversion
Decimation Filters to down-sample to the symbol rate (e.g. CIC)
QAM Demodulator
 MPEG Frame synchronization
 Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
 Equalizer – removes distortions, and cancels echoes or multi-path conditions
 Carrier Removal
 Automatic Frequency Control (AFC)

QAM Demodulator
TUNER
Diplex Analog RF Analog IF Decimate Dig BB
Tunable ADC QAM
Filter LNA VGA LPF to Symbol
Demodulation
BPF Rate
(Internal or
Fixed
External to Variable Freq
Modem) Freq

Digital Ctrl Logic/Signals Digital Ctrl Logic/Signals

Generic Receive Path of a Cable Modem

 Downstream Specifications
Frequency Range: 65-850MHz
Bandwidth: 6MHz (USA) or 8MHz (EU)
Modulation: 64-QAM (6 bits/symbol) or 256-QAM (8 bits/symbol)
Data rate: 27-56 Mbps (depends on modulation and bandwidth)

64-QAM 256-QAM
6 MHz 31.2 41.6 Mbps
Mbps
8 MHz 41.4 55.2 Mbps
Mbps
Continuous stream of data
Framing: MPEG-2 (based on DOCSIS spec)
Encryption: DES (Data Encryption Standard)
Reed-Solomon Forward Error Correction

* Symbol rate listed under Modulation does not compensate for error correction and other overhead
** Data rates listed in the table use a symbol rate of 6.9 Msym/s for 8MHz BW and 5.2Msym/s for 6MHz BW
 Transmit Path
QAM (Burst) Modulator
 Reed-Solomon Encoder (Forward Error Correction)
 Randomizer/Scrambler – whitens the data
Helps to avoid discrete spurs in output spectrum
Improves synchronization at the receiver since data is more equiprobable
 Preamble Insertion
Inserts a training sequence into the system
Transmitted without R-S Encoding or Scrambling
 Modulation Encoder (QPSK/16-QAM)
 Pulse Shaping (e.g. Raised Root Cosine)
 Programmable Interpolation Filters (e.g. CIC)
 Programmable NCO, digitally modulates carrier anywhere in the Nyquist Bandwidth
 Digital to Analog Conversion
Variable Gain CATV Line Driver
QAM Modulator
To Diplexer
Preamble
Programmable Insertion
Interpolation Pulse-Shaping Digital
Program- Filter FIR Filter Modulation Reed- Data In
DAC mable Encoder MUX Randomizer Solomon
NCO Programmable Pulse-Shaping (QPSK/16-QAM)) Encoder
Interpolation FIR Filter
Variable Gain Filter
CATV Line Fixed
Driver Freq

Digital Control Logic/Signals

 Upstream Specifications
Frequency Range: 5-65 MHz
Variable Bandwidth: 200 kHz to 3.2 MHz (2 MHz
typically)
Modulation: QPSK (2 bits/symbol) or 16-QAM (4
bits/symbol)
Data rate: Variable 320 Kbps to 10 Mbps
Transmit bursts of data in timeslots (TDM)
Encryption: DES
Reed Solomon Forward Error Correction
 TX Implementation
I I Xmit FIR
32x
Input Bit Raised Root
Stream QAM
Cosine Xmit GAIN
Modulator RF
Filter Q Xmit FIR Output
Signal
Q 32x

SIN COS

NCO
16-QAM Modulation – 320ksps
Raised Root Cosine Filter:
 Upsamples by 8, data rate at output = 2.56Msps
 Roll-off factor = 0.7
FIR Interpolation Filter
 Polyphase Implementation
 Interpolates by 32, data rate at output = 81.92Msps
 Order FIR filter = 60, Cutoff Frequency = 320kHz
NCO - Mixes signal up to 30MHz
Gain factor of 30 to compensate for losses throughout path
 TX Spectrum
Output from the RRC Filter: Power

-1.28 0 1.28 MHz

Sampled signal after interpolation* Power
FIR Interpolation Filter Response

-40.96 0 40.96 MHz

Output signal from up-conversion Power

-40.96 -30 0 30 40.96 MHz

*Interpolation Images will occur every 2.56MHz

 RX Implementation
I I Rx FIR
32x
RF Input Raised Root QAM
Cosine Rx
Filter Demodulator Baseband
Q Rx FIR
Signal

Q 32x

SIN COS

NCO

NCO - Mixes signal down to Baseband

FIR Decimation Filter
 Polyphase Implementation
 Decimates by 32, data rate at output = 2.56Msps
 Order FIR filter = 10, Cutoff Frequency = 1.28MHz
Raised Root Cosine Filter:
 Downsamples by 8, data rate at output = 320ksps
 Roll-off factor = 1
16-QAM Demodulation
 RX Spectrum
Power
Input signal to demodulator

-40.96 -30 0 30 40.96 MHz

Signal after the down-conversion Power Input

Signal

-60 0 60 MHz
Sampled signal after decimation Power FIR Decimation Filter Response

-1.28 0 1.28 MHz

Input to the QAM demodulator Power

RRC Filter Response

-0.32 0 0.32 MHz

Simulink Block Diagram
Simulink Results – TX Path

TX Signal After Pulse Shaping TX Signal After 32X Interpolation

TX Signal after Up-Conversion

 Simulink Results – RX Path

Rx Signal After Down-Conversion Rx Signal After 32X Decimation

System Results – Time Domain

Delay Through Data Path

 System Results 2

TX Constellation RX Constellation
 Simulink Results - BER
BER with current implementation = 0.9741
What effected BER?
 Design of the FIR
 SNR of datapath (AWGN Channel)
 Design of Raised Root Cosine Filter
Main Tradeoff
 Dynamic Range/Spurious Content vs EVM/BER
Better Implementation
 Compensation Filter after Interpolator and Decimator
 Websites for More Info:
http://www.ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=31289&seqNum=2&rl=1
http://www.iec.org/online/tutorials/acrobat/cable_mod.pdf
http://www.cable-modems.org/tutorial/index.htm#TOC
http://www.broadcom.com/collateral/pb/3349-PB01-R.pdf
http://www.analog.com/UploadedFiles/Data_Sheets/13374136AD9853_c.pd
f
http://www.wideband.com/products/Modems/QAM20Mod/QAMmod.html
http://focus.ti.com/lit/an/slwa023/slwa023.pdf
http://www.broadcom.com/collateral/pb/3419-PB02-R.pdf
http://www.cableaml.com/website3/wireless_catv/descriptions.htm
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/cablemqa.html
http://www.cablemodem.com/
http://www.nextgendc.com/index.htm
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cable-modem.htm
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/dslvscablemodem/a/dslcablecompare.
htm