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Assess your handheld strategy

Start Rethinking Today 

The in-home network is changing, shouldn’t your handheld?

The in-home network is a powerful service delivery solution. Its rapid advancements are opening new revenue strategies for MSOs. However, it’s also prompting MSOs to rethink operational strategies—including selecting the proper handheld tester. We’ve put together 5 tests to help you assess your handheld strategy.

It's time to rethink

  • The Big Picture
  • Workflow
  • Expertise
  • Your Toolbox
  • Lifecycle

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    START RETHINKING TODAY FIVE TESTS TO CONSIDER BEFORE SELECTING YOUR NEXT HANDHELD BEFORE SELECTING YOUR NEXT HANDHELD—TEST YOUR STRATEGY TEST ONE Your next handheld field tester should be able to test and qualify the multitudes of in-home technology in use today and tomorrow. Start with these. MoCA: Today, technicians revert to replacing routers, Onulls, set-top boxes and even run new coaxial cable in the hope of solving nullnull-related the problems. nullndhelds should enable technicians to rapidly validate service performance and pin-point the source of all service- affecting issues all via a nullnull connection. Wi-Fi: nullSOs will be using nullnullnulln to transport high-definition multimedia content between devices connected to the home networnull Your handheld strategy should select the best nulli-null channel to use to avoid interference and increase throughput using a spectrum analynuller. DOCSIS 3.0: Your next handheld should allow field technicians to run automated testing routines that combine both cable modem diagnostics and null quality measurements for comprehensive nullnullSnull certification testing with a single button push. IP Senullnullinullenull Tenullnullnullnull null multimedia devices become null capable, content delivery is changing to an all null world. nulles your handheld strategy ensure you can pre qualify and troubleshoot servicesnulls well as high speed data, nullonull and storage solutionsnull Snullnullnullnullnull nullonull nullnullnullenullnull nullnullenullnull nullnullnull e nulloonull null-home networnulls are becoming the responsibility of the nullSO. nullnullstments to handheld strategy must include the entire in-home experience nullthinnull nullg nullcture. THE BIG PICTURE A subscriber calls to complain of poor video quality. Once in the home, the technician discovers that the “video problem” is not a CaTV issue, but a YouTube/nullinulli problem. The innullome enullerience is channullnnullrapidly. RETHINK nullpirentnulls Technullnull nulllenull is channullinnull the handheld nullame. nulltnulls not nullust a cable tester ... itnulls a service testernull MoCA nullDOCSIS 3.0 nullIP Vinullo nullWi-Fi BEFORE SELECTING YOUR NEXT HANDHELD—TEST YOUR STRATEGY Wnullnull nullnull nullenull nulle nullnullnullenullnull nulle nullnulle onull inull TEST TWO Your next handheld tester should give you the ability to leverage the latest access technologies to eliminate the added equipment and redundancies Fnullnullnull Dinullnullnull nullCnullenull: nullndhelds should integrate with the dispatch server to sendnulleceive nullob datanulllosing nullornull Orders, scheduled breanulls etc. nullverything from the dispatch to tanulling the customer signature should be pushed to the handheld. Renullnull Tinull Renullnullnull Tnullnullnullenull nullndhelds should seamlessly transfer results in real time to a nulleld nullanagement system. This process can save up to an hour of time per day for the field technician. Tenullnull Hinullnullonullnull nullan your current solution access a customernull test history, problem descriptions etc. nullven before setting foot into the house to troubleshoot the problemnullnulles your strategy include wireless access functionalitynullnullnull driving new wornullow efficiencies. Onullenullnulle AinullUnullnull nullnull nullethinnull handheld maintenance with Over-The-nullr firmware updates using processes linulle rsync and nulli-null access integration. nullornulllow strategies require a multistep process to transfer or retrieve data in the field. nullptops, docnulling stations, technicians transferring data over the nullnullSnull networnull have been the wornull around strategy. nullnull time to let the handheld play a larger role in your wornulllow. WORnullLOW Technullnull nulllenull has nullinullinullenabled bacnull office communication. nullpdate test reports, revienull history, overnullthenullair upnullradesnullall done wirelessly. nulled the test results from the last dispatchnull nulled to update bacnull ofnulle systemsnull RETHINK BEFORE SELECTING YOUR NEXT HANDHELD—TEST YOUR STRATEGY Mnullnullnull nullonull null nullnull nullnullnulle nullonullnull nullnullenullnull EXPERTISE TEST THREE Seenull onull nullnullnullnull nullnullnullenullnullnull nullasy-to-use test units that leverage the latest user interface technologies, embedded expertise and standardinulle in home testing. Anullnullenullnullinullinullnull: null-home service validation can sometimes tanulle nullnullnulleystronulles on a nulleypad. nullile it might be an effective methodnullt is neither efficient nor intuitive. nullanulle sure your next tester features a full-color touchscreen with intuitive input options. nullcolor touchscreen manulles it remarnullably simple to launchnullodify tests as well as interpret graphical results. AnullonullnullenullTenullnull Snullnullnullnull Your strategy should include automated test scripts with pre-set thresholds. These can be set up either by the technician or by the field admin remotely. This allows even the newest of technicians to run nullnullSnullnullnull tests during install or troubleshoot without worrying having establish thresholds or interpret the results. Wonull-Fonullnulle Sinullnullinullnull Your next handheld should be a true wornull-force aid. null should present to the technician a history of all the previous tests as well as problem descriptions and resolutions. This gives the field technician an nullxpert Sidenullicnull on every dispatchnullroviding expert level step by step processes and procedures to follow. nullnull true. There are simply not enough experts to go around. nullspatching an expert is always a great solution but not always doable. nullbetter solution is to dispatch an expert handheld it can turn a good technician into an expert. RETHINK Technullnull nulllenull is linulle havinnull an enullpert on every dispatch. One nullnullnullnull null One nullenullnullinullinull. One ... Ouchnull nullspatchinnullfor the second or third time to resolve a ticnulletnull nully nullasnnull it resolved on the nullst dispatchnull BEFORE SELECTING YOUR NEXT HANDHELD—TEST YOUR STRATEGY Honullnull nullonull nullnullnullnull nullnullnull onull nullinull YOUR TOOLBOX TEST FOUR null you really need a multiple vendor, multiple handheld solutionnullThinnull nulldular. nullsingle unit solution can positively impact. Anullnullnull Mnullnullenullnull: nullsingle modular platform solution enables easy system-wide upgrades and quicnull feature enhancements. Your strategy should tanulle into account upgrade and maintenance cost of a single vs. multi handheld solution Tenullnullinullinull LenullnullnullnullCnull e: The nullxt nullneration handheld should have a easy to use uniform interface for all the testing requirements of a nullSO. nullether the field technician wants to test nullnullnull nullthernet or nulli-null or nullnullSnullnullonull he should be able to run the tests using a single unit which allows him to troubleshoot the problem effectively without worrying about the learning curve on multiple unit nullnulls Fnullenullinullinullnull: nullopt a strategy of nullxibility. nullspatch a single handheld and quicnullly change light weight modules to perform nullnullSnullnullonullnulli-nullnullable nullocationnullnull tests. One unit should store all test results and correlate them into a single ticnullet update. The days of hauling around multiple testers is rapidly disappearing. null may tanulle some deep breathing to come to grips with test number fournullut a single unit strategy can deliver game-changing efficiency. RETHINK You donnullt dispatch multiple techniciansnullnullhy dispatch multiple handheldsnull A nullCnullnull tester, laptop, cable locator, smart phone nullinulli device ... All require technician traininnull upnullades and maintenance, not to mention ... BEFORE SELECTING YOUR NEXT HANDHELD—TEST YOUR STRATEGY Honullnullenull seven years nullnullnullnull LIFECYCLE TEST FIVE Your handheld strategy should push the lifecycle limits. nullnnull settle for current life spans. Test your strategy against a modular platform. Monullnullnull Inullenullnullnulle Tenullnullonullnullnull nulldular interfaces are easily upgradeable nulleeping the base unit intact and in service. nulles your current strategy enable in-service upgrades for new technologies while not adding another handheld assetnull EnullenullenullLinullenullnullnulle: Your next handheld should be quicnull and efficient to upgrade. null should have free software upgrades as well as bug fixes for life or life care for the lifecycle. Inullonullonullnulle Fnullnullnull Menullnullnull nullndhelds can utilinulle nullsh memory to install new applications and increase storage on the device. This seemingly simple feature should be part of your requirements. USB Enullnull ionull nullnullnullslot for expansion allows various functions from a headset, to a memory sticnull to a cellular services modem to be installed based on the business requirements. nullasy system-wide upgrades and quicnull feature enhancements are now a standard requirement. null-home networnulls will continue to increase in functionality at a rate not unlinulle nullorenull nullw. nullndheld testers will require upgrades at a similar rate shortening current lifecycles. nullodular platformnullbuilt for today, ready for tomorronull. RETHINK nullnulllonnullcan a test unit remain productive in servicenull Tnullo, three yearsnull www.spirent.com