Automating Signal Troubleshooting: Ecuador’s TV Cable
TV Cable, Ecuador’s largest cable television provider, has implemented the Volicon Observer® RPM to scan and monitor its complete channel lineup. The Observer RPM system allows TV Cable to troubleshoot transmission problems proactively and ensure compliance with Ecuadoran broadcasting regulations.
Serving 12 cities throughout Ecuador, TV Cable delivers more than 120 channels over digital, analog, and wireless platforms. The Observer RPM replaces a manual system that relied on operators to scan the channel lineup daily to check for signal issues such as black screen, audio problems, or missing closed captions. “Since the operators had other tasks to perform, we weren’t able to be as thorough in our scanning as we would have liked. When our lineup grew to more than 120 channels, we knew we needed to look for an automated solution,” said Derek Caney, vice president of technology for TV Cable.
TV Cable has installed an eight-channel Observer RPM system in both of its network operations centers (NOCs) in Quito and Guayaquil for continuous recording, monitoring, alarming, and logging of transmission issues. When the system detects a signal problem, it sends an alarm to the NOC, as well as the headend operator, to enable staff to respond in a timely manner. In addition, the Observer’s automatic trouble logging provides the documentation TV Cable is required to produce for the Ecuadoran Superintendent of Telecommunications in the event of transmission problems with mandatory broadcasts.
“Of the monitoring systems we evaluated, most tended to be large and costly. The Observer, however, provides the full functionality we require at a fraction of the cost of its competitors,” added Caney. “Since we are able to identify, troubleshoot, and document problems much faster, Observer is helping ensure that we provide the top levels of service to our subscribers and avoid noncompliance penalties.”
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