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CastleNet Tunes In to IPTVCastleNet Tunes In to IPTV
CastleNet's modem with on-board IPTV capabilities is one of six Docsis 3.0 products to get stamps from CableLabs in Cert Wave 71
Jeff Baumgartner
December 14, 2009
8 Min Read
Taiwan's CastleNet Technology Inc. has joined the Docsis 3.0 modem club with a product that can turn traditional QAM video streams to IP.
CastleNet's CBC381 model for Docsis 3.0 is just one of the products approved by CableLabs during Certification Wave 71, according to data from the Louisville, Colo.-based cable R&D house.
According to a CastleNet specification sheet, the model supports up to eight downstream channels (double the base level requirements of the spec) and four upstream channels. In a full configuration, the model supports downstream bursts up to 320 Mbit/s using 6MHz-wide channels, or up to 400 Mbit/s in EuroDocsis mode, which uses 8MHz-wide channels.
CastleNet was not immediately available for comment, but an industry source believes the device uses Broadcom Corp. (Nasdaq: BRCM) silicon.
Broadcom and Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) have both developed Docsis 3.0 silicon that enables cable modems to flexibly set aside tuners for managed video services, a technique some MSOs, including some in the U.S., are eager to use for IPTV. That same technique is expected to grace an upcoming line of next-gen transport gateways that can handle both QAM- and IP-based video services. (See Harmonic Goes Lite for Cable IPTV, Cable Curious About IPTV Possibilities , Iowa Cabler Gets Wired for IPTV, QAM-IP Boxes: Cable's Gateway to Video Heaven?, and TI Flexes Docsis 3.0 Muscle .)
With the CableLabs stamp, CastleNet becomes the 13th vendor to win Docsis 3.0 certification. However, it wasn't the only one to gain CableLabs's wideband blessing following certification wave 71. Here's a roundup of the other five products to get passing grades:
Motorola Inc. (NYSE: MOT) snared certification for the SBG6580, a wireless cable modem gateway powered by eight bonded downstreams and four bonded upstreams, and an 802.11n access point.
Netgear Inc. (Nasdaq: NTGR) came away with stamps for two more wideband products: the CG3200D and the CMD31B. The first in that group is a wireless cable modem gateway with 802.11n that boasts a 4-down/4-up channel bonding configuration. Jupiter Telecommunications Co. Ltd. (J:COM) of Japan was the first cable MSO to announce its deployment of the CG3200D, using it to support its 160 Mbit/s NET Ultra broadband service. (See Netgear's Big in Japan.)
Netgear's CMD31B, meanwhile, is a standalone Docsis 3.0 with an 8x4 channel bonding configuration. The modem comes equipped with a mode to support EuroDocsis 3.0 network environments.Ubee Interactive came away with certification for the DVW3200, a wireless embedded multimedia terminal adapter (E-MTA, or voice modem) with 802.11n, four GigE ports, USB support, and a battery backup. The DVW3200, based on Broadcom silicon, marks the second E-MTA from Ubee to obtain Docsis 3.0 certification. Its first, the DVM3200, was approved during Certification Wave 65.
SMC Networks Inc. also scored Docsis 3.0 certification for a voice modem called the SMCD3USG. Specs and additional details on that model were not immediately available.
The final Certification Wave of 2009 got underway last month. Results from that process, number 72, are expected to be released on or around Feb. 2, 2010. Products for Certification Wave 73, the first for 2010, are due to CableLabs by January 14.
Here's a rundown of modem and cable modem termination system (CMTS) gear to obtain Docsis 3.0 certification or qualification from CableLabs thus far:
Table 1: Docsis 3.0-Certified Modems, E-MTAs, and GatewaysVendor
Product
Silicon partner
Cert wave approved
Arris
Touchstone 702G (E-MTA)
TI
58, 59*, 63**, 67****
Arris
WBM750A
TI
59, 63**, 67****
CastleNet
CBC381
Broadcom
71
Cisco
DPC3000
TI
58, 63**, 65***
Cisco
DPQ3202
TI
60, 63**
Cisco
DPC3010
Broadcom
65
Cisco
DPQ3212
N/A
70
D-Link
DCM-301
N/A
70
Hitron
BRG-35503
TI
61, 63**
Juniper
ECM3100-JU
N/A
70
Motorola
SB6120
TI
58, 63**, 67****
Motorola
SBV6220
TI
58, 59*, 63**
Motorola
SBV6120
TI
68
Motorola
SB6180
Broadcom
70
Motorola
SBG6580
N/A
71
Netgear
CMD31T
TI
60, 63**, 65***
Netgear
CVD31XT
TI
64
Netgear
CG3000
Broadcom
70
Netgear
CG3200D
N/A
71
Netgear
CMD31B
N/A
71
Orient Telecom
ORT3100
TI
64
SerComm
FM301T
TI
63
SMC
SMCD3CM
TI
58, 63**, 65***
SMC
SMCD3G-BIZ
TI
64, 67****
SMC
SMCD3USG (E-MTA)
N/A
71
Thomson
DCM475
Broadcom
65
Thomson
DHG575
Broadcom
65
Thomson
DCW775
Broadcom
70
Ubee Interactive
U10C035
TI
58, 63**, 65***
Ubee Interactive
DDW3600
TI
67
Ubee Interactive
DDM3500
Broadcom
65
Ubee Interactive
DVM3200 (E-MTA)
Broadcom
65
Ubee Interactive
DDW3610
Broadcom
70
Ubee Interactive
DVW3200 (E-MTA)
Broadcom
71
*Device re-certified for Docsis 3.0 and obtained initial PacketCable 1.5 certification in Wave 59.
**Device re-certified for Docsis 3.0 in Wave 63.
***Device re-certified for Docsis 3.0 in Wave 65.
****Device re-certified for Docsis 3.0 in Wave 67.
Source: CableLabs, the companies, and Cable Digital News research.
Table 2: Docsis 3.0-Qualified Cable Modem Termination Systems (CMTSs)Vendor
Product
Wave qualified
Highest level of 3.0 qualification achieved*
Arris
C4 CMTS
56
Bronze
Casa Systems
C2200 CMTS**
58
Full
Casa Systems
C3200 CMTS
58
Full
Casa Systems
C10200
64
Full
Cisco
uBR10012
56
Bronze
Motorola
BSR64000
58
Bronze
* CableLabs currently uses a tiered CMTS qualification system, awarding "Bronze," "Silver," and "Full" designations based on the product's supported features.
** Casa's C2200 CMTS won Silver qualification in Wave 56.
Source: The companies, CableLabs, and Cable Digital News research.
— Jeff Baumgartner, Site Editor, Cable Digital News
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