Bentley Coax

Network Layout

Bentley Coax uses a graphical routing process based on existing landbase and strand map information such as poles, pedestals, manholes and duct to build an intelligent network model of the coax and related outside plant facilities. Bentley Coax lets you place equipment, layout, and edit. You can design the coax network and calculate signal levels while ensuring the network connectivity is correctly maintained. The user interface is designed to increase engineering productivity and reducing the engineering effort required.

Intelligent Editing

Bentley Coax offers different functions to  edit, modify or delete existing coaxial network. These functions maintain connectivity throughout the entire network. Editing a device causes the network to be recalculated automatically and devices that don’t meet the design specification used in the project are identified for further correction.

Recalculation

You have two ways to verify your network design. The first one calculates signal level and distortion automatically while you are laying out the coaxial network. The second allows you to recalculate the signal level and distortion from any coaxial device on the network until an amplifier or terminator is reached. You can verify levels on an amplifier’s leg, between two active or verify all devices fed by a node. Devices that don’t respect design specification used for the current project will be identified on the map with a particular color for later correction.

Annotating the Network Records

A complete set of tools is available to place different kinds of annotation on the map, driven by information from the database. You can place data blocks (amplifier, power supply, end of line) that were previously customized in the setup. You can also add distance information to the map just by selecting devices or cables on the map. This includes distance from last active, distance between devices, or cable type and cable length.

Powering

After design has been completed, Bentley Coax allows designers to power the plant. Powering is based on user defined boundaries or power blocks that define the area to be powered. Designers have the option of changing the power count percentage when using power-passing taps.

When powering equipment is added to the design, Bentley Coax will trace the network, calculating the current draw and voltage requirements. Detailed powering information is reported graphically with circles being displayed on equipment to depict success or failure of the powering operation. Optimization can be achieved through repositioning the power equipment as required.

Locates

You can easily locate an amplifier or a power supply anywhere on the network maps simply by entering its name. Other types of devices can be located by entering their unique ID. If the device is found, the application will zoom to that particular device, highlight it and open the device’s information dialog box.

Reviews

Bentley Coax allows you to review any type of coaxial device on the map just by clicking on it. For example, selecting an amplifier on the map will open a review dialog box displaying input and outputs signal levels at different frequency, distortion numbers, plug-ins, powering information, and more. Selecting a tap will open a review dialog box displaying input and output signal levels at different frequency, addresses connected to the tap, and other important information.

Engineering Reports

Bills of materials reports can be generated by Build State for all RF equipment and cable and can include an address list for a selected area. A batch BOM report can generate files of every node in a project. The reports consist of the cable bearing strand information for the linked strand type footages, the equipment and equipment costs.

Node Splitting

Bentley Coax has the functionality to split a coaxial design into two distinct files. This is used primarily to modify optical node segmentation by decreasing the homes passed, thereby increasing the network availability.