Traditionally speaking, cable TV installers and field technicians who work with several different systems and channel lineups need to employ a variety of disparate testing tools to troubleshoot effectively. Fortunately, this predicament has been remedied by the introduction of communication test equipment capable of providing a full complement of measurement functions in a single device.

Leading this charge is Trilithic Broadband Instruments, a longtime leader in the communication test equipment market which recently introduced the M3 Plus, a signal level meter that performs a complete test of a selected user channel plans with a single press of the button.

The hallmark features of the M3 Plus are flexibility and ease of use. Contractors who need to work with several different channel lineups can customize their meter with as many as five user-defined channel plans, which can be learned at a cable drop or downloaded from PC files using the optional ToolBox software.

Automated Level, Spectrum (News - Alert), Tilt (Favorite), Hum and Limit tests can be stored in the meter and recalled and executed with ease. Available digital signal measurements include Power, MER, Pre- and Post-FEC BER (Including Deep Interleave).

The M3 Plus can also perform wide channel scans – with up to 126 channels in a single view or a total of 170 channels in overlapping views – as well as measure the channel power of QPSK, QAM and COFDM channels when testing or troubleshooting digital transmission systems.

"Operators can now quickly analyze 64 and 256 QAM downstream channels to verify quality or locate impairments with the meter, all right out of the box," says Trilific. "MER and pre- and post-BER of QAM channels (including deep interleave) can also be measured through this function."

Other functions include:

• Level Measurement: While performing this function, technicians can display the two adjacent channels to the channel being measured as well as turn on auto diagnosis to allow the Limit display to give pass/fail results.
• Spectrum Measurement: Displays full spectrum and frequency spans from 2.5 MHz to 62.5 MHz. Captures transient events and offers average display functionality.
• HUM: Troubleshoots interference that may result from a defective power supply or faulty or overloaded power inserters.
• Limit Tests: Performed on analog levels, limit tests enable test uniformity and flexible field storage. Results of tests can be compared to specified limits and compiled in reports.
• Automated Proof of Performance Tests: One-button testing of Visual Carrier, Max Visual Carrier and Adjacent Visual Carrier levels to conform with FCC (News - Alert) guidelines.
  

In addition to its unique functionality, the M3 Plus provides an intuitive color user interface for easy navigation, customization and troubleshooting.

"Any combination of up to 30 Level, Tilt, Spectrum, Hum, or scans, or up to 22 Limit test measurement files may be saved on the M3 Plus," says Trilific. "These data records may be uploaded to a PC through the optional ToolBox software for reports, analysis, and printing."

As with all Trilific models, the M3 Plus boasts industry-leading battery life and a rugged, durable design. Click here for more information.