Blonder tongue CMTS Edge Series User manual

CMTS Edge Series
Universal Quick Start Guide
May 2022
Version: Draft

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Overview
This guide will help you configure a Blonder Tongue CMTS Edge 16/32/32P or the CMTS Edge MAX to
enable cable modems (CMs) to work with these CMTS’s on a “6-foot cable plant”in a lab setting. Before
moving your CMTS to a production setting you should review the RF power and attenuation
requirements for your environment to ensure that the correct signal power is sent to and from your RF
network. For more information, detailed explanations, and alternate setup options, please refer to the
CMTS Command Reference Guide.
Section 1 –Accessing the CMTS
The control port is a special management interface used for
configuration purposes. The default IP address of the Control Port
of the CMTS is 192.168.0.10.
1. Set your computer to 192.168.0.5 as shown in
Figure 1b.
2. Connect a computer to the Control Port of the
CMTS as shown in Figure 1a.
** For Reference: The default emergency recovery address of the
SFP+/10Gbe port of the CMTS is 192.168.168.100/24. To access the CMTS through this port, set your
computer to an IP address in that subnet, such as 192.168.168.105/24. Note: this IP address is not
changeable, so you must avoid using this IP address range for the user-configurable Uplink port IP
address in a production setting to prevent IP networking conflicts that result in networking failures.
3. Open a web browser on the PC and enter 192.168.0.10 in the address bar. The CMTS GUI appears
with a login screen, as shown in Figure 2.
5. Enter the username and password “admin / admin” and hit the LOGIN button to access the CMTS.
Figure 1b –Network Configuration on PC
PC
IP = 192.168.0.5
CMTS
Control Port
IP = 192.168.0.10
Figure 1a –Diagram of Control Port Connection
Ethernet Cable
Figure 2 –Login Screen
Username = admin (case sensitive)
Password = admin (case sensitive)

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The Basic Menu, a simplified GUI, will appear (Figure 3).
6. Click on the Advanced Menu button at the bottom of the screen, below the menu options. The
Advanced Menu, with Device Snapshot will appear (Figure 4), with a vertical menu on the left side of the
screen.
Section 2 –Setting up CMTS Internet Connections
1. Select Network Config from the left menu tree (Figure 5),
under the Network Management Folder
2. Set the Outband IP Address for administrative access (Control Port IP
Address), if changing from the default IP address (Figure 6).
NOTE: You will have to login again with the new IP address if you change
the Outband IP Address, and are connected to the Control Port of the CMTS.
Ensure your computer is in the same IP range as the new IP address.
Figure 3 –Basic Menu Screen
Figure 4 –Advanced Menu Screen
Figure 5

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3. Set the Network IP Address for the SFP+/10Gbe port on the CMTS (Figure 6). If this is a lab
environment with no uplink connection for Internet access yet, this address is still necessary for
the Local Provisioning setup in the next section. When CMTS is being setup for a live
environment, this will be the address of the CMTS on the data network, and the Gateway
Address should be the address of the router connected to the CMTS uplink port.
Note: If you put a Gateway address in that is unreachable, once the Submit button is
pressed the CMTS will display an error message. Accept the error message and continue
setting up the CMTS.
Section 3 –Setup DHCP and TFTP Services for CMs
The CMTS can provide DHCP and TFTP server services internally, to provide DHCP IP Addresses and CM
config files to the CMs.
Global DHCP enables the CMTS to send DHCP addresses to CMs. The CPE Switch option enables the
CMTS to send DHCP addresses to CPEs from the same IP pool as the cable modems. For lab testing with
CMs and no CPEs, only Global DHCP needs to be ON. If you are testing with CPEs, both Global DHCP and
CPE Switch needs to be ON.
Note: It is not recommended to enable DHCP support for CPE in a production setting because
end users could gain access to the cable modem management network, which introduces a
significant security risk! Use an external DHCP server for CPE devices.
Figure 6 –Network Config
Clicking the Submit button will apply changes to the Running Configuration.
The Save Config button on the top right must be clicked to save changes to
non-volatile memory for the Startup Configuration.
If the Save Config button is not clicked, and the CMTS is power cycled or loses
power, the unit will revert to previous settings when it is powered back on.

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1. On the left menu, under the Network Management folder, click Local-Provision Management.
This opens a new tab for setting up the DHCP address pool and uploading a CM config file to be
sent to the CMs. (Figure 7)
2. Set Global DHCP to ON for cable modems.
3. Click SUBMIT button (to save to Running Configuration) –Accept confirmation screen
4. Click Save Config button (to save to Startup Configuration) –Accept confirmation screen
5. Click the Load CM Config button to open a dialog box for uploading pre-configured DOCSIS CM
configuration files to the CMTS. CM Profile allows selection of cm.cfg (for 2.0 CMs) or cm30.cfg
(for DOCSIS 3.0 CMs).
NOTE: CMTS does not ship with a default CM configuration file installed.
Figure 7 –Local-Provision Management
3
4
5
6
Figure 8 –Load CM Config Dialog Box

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6. If running 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1 modems, load a config file in each relative area. In most applications,
the same config file can be loaded into both sections. The CMTS will change the name of the
config file internally from your file name to “cm.cfg”and “cm30.cfg” respectively when
uploaded to the CMTS. DOCSIS 3.1 modems will also use the cm3.0.cfg file.
7. Select File / Browse button is used to select the pre-configured CM configuration file from your
computer to upload to the CMTS.
8. Load button is used once the CM config file is selected, to upload the file to the CMTS. You will
need to load each config file (cm.cfg and cm30.cfg) separately.
9. Go to the Local-Provision IPV4 Address Pool Config sub-tab in the Local-Provision Management
tab. (Figure 9)
10. Enable 3.0CM Profiles should be on if using 3.0 CMs as well as 2.0 CMs. If your CMTS has a
DOCSIS 3.1 option, do NOT enable that checkbox, as DOCSIS 3.1 modems will use the same file
as the DOCSIS 3.0 modems.
11. DHCP Lease Time is user configurable. You may choose to set the time to 1 hour for testing, as
the default is 10 days.
12. DNS Server IP Addresses are necessary when connected to the Internet to resolve domain
names but only for CPE devices when they are being provisioned during testing. 8.8.8.8 and
8.8.4.4 are Google public DNS servers that may be used.
13. DHCP Address Pool is the address range the CMTS will supply to the CMs (and CPEs, if setup for
that). This range must include the Uplink IP Address (SFP+/10Gbe –set in Section 2) for the CM
to be accessible for network management .
14. Default Route Is the IP Address of the Uplink Gateway (entered on Network Config tab in
Section 2)
Device Configuration should have the Network IP Address (From Network Config tab, Section 2) on both
the Server Host IP and TFTP Server Address.
15. Click the SUBMIT button to save the Running Configuration –accept confirmation screen
16. Click the Save Config button to save to the Startup Configuration –accept confirmation screen
Figure 9 –Local-Provision IPV4 Address Pool Config

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Section 4 –RF Setup –Setting US and DS channels in the CMTS
2
1. Select US Channels Configuration from the RF Configuration menu option on the left menu (see
Figure 10). The US channels available is shown in the right-side window. Double-clicking on any
value in a column/row intersection allows editing the value for that channel (row).
2. Select suitable center frequencies (Central Freq) for your US channels, bandwidth (Freq Width)
of your channels, Modulation mode (Modulate Template), Channel Mode, and Rx Level.
**NOTE: Freq Width, Modulate Template, Channel Mode and Rx Level will be the same for all
channels. Only one line needs to be changed, and when another line is clicked, the entire
column will populate with the same value.
3. The Center Frequency and Frequency Width must be set so the channels do not overlap. A
center frequency of 15.4 MHz, and Frequency Width of 3.2 MHz, means the channel will occupy
the spectrum from 13.8 –17.0 MHz.
4. The Frequency Width and Modulate Template determine the total bandwidth (bitrate) capacity
of that upstream channel. For US channels, a QPSK channel at 2.56 Mbaud will provide ~5.12
Mbps throughput.
5. In most cases, for best performance the Rx Level of the US channels should be 0 dBmV.
NOTE: Some cable systems may require a higher setting when the RF environment is “noisy” and
modems must be told to transmit at a higher power level.
6. When making changes, a red triangle will appear on all values that have not been saved. Once
SUBMIT button has been pressed, these will disappear. Click SUBMIT button and accept the
confirmation screen.
Figure 10 –US Channel Configuration

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7. Click Save Config button and accept confirmation screen.
8. To turn on US channels, click the boxes on the left side of the US Channels frame, then click
“Open Channel” on the top menu bar (green check mark). In the above example, there are 4 US
channels open. Accept the Confirmation Screen.
For DS Channels, click the DS Channels Configuration menu item on the left menu. (Figure 11)
As with the US Channels, several columns will modify the whole column, once the first row is changed.
1. Set Mode first, ensuring “annex B” for United States channel plans.
2. Set Center Frequency of first DS Channel. Once set, click to another line; all other lines will follow
accordingly. Be sure to use the North American Cable Plan when selecting the center frequency. The
number of DS channels you can configure and activate is based on the number of channels your
CMTS is licensed to support.
3. Set Modulation to QAM256 for highest throughput.
4. Set Interleaver to (64,2) for a typical environment, or use 128/1 for a very clean, noise-free cable
plant.
5. Set Power to 40-45 dBmV.
6. Click SUBMIT button and accept the confirmation screen.
7. Click Save Config button and accept confirmation screen.
8. Open (activate) the DS channels you have configured by clicking the left box next to each channel
you want to enable. Ensure these channels are not overlapping with any other service on the RF
network.
Figure 11 –DS Channel Configuration

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Section 5 –Physical setup of RF Network for Lab Testing
1. CMTS US Port 4 to Low Freq. side of Diplexer
2. CMTS DS Port to High Freq. Side of Diplexer
3. Common Port of Diplexer to Distribution
4. 40 dB total Attenuation between CMTS and
CMs for testing (including attenuators, splitters
and taps)
5. If DMM-5500 Series CM is used, must be in
conjunction with LG 5500 STB.
BT CMTS Series Lab / Test Network
Diplexer
Attenuators
Splitter/Tap
Figure 12 –RF Test Network Setup

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1. Setup the RF Network as shown in Figure 12.
2. Ensure you are using a Diplexer appropriate for the frequencies set up in your CMTS.
a. Sub-split diplexer (shown above) uses 5-42 MHz low freq. / 54-1000 MHz high freq.
b. Mid-split diplexer uses 5-85 MHz / 108-1218 MHz
c. High-split diplexer uses 5-204 MHz / 258-1218 MHz
3. US Ports 3 and 4 of CMTS on the CMTS Edge 16 and CMTS Edge 32 models correspond to US
channels 1-12. Use port 3 or 4 to connect to the Low Frequency port of the Diplexer.
a. For the CMTS Edge MAX DOCSIS 3.1 CMTS additional US channels #15-#26 are available
and correspond to US Ports 1 and 2 in the event there is a need for a second upstream
service group.
4. The DS Port of CMTS goes to High Frequency side of the Diplexer.
5. There must be 40 dB of attenuation between the CMTS and CM for proper operation. This
includes attenuation created by splitters, taps, and any inline attenuators you install.
6. If testing to a single CM, you can use a single cable from the Diplexer Common port to the CM,
with 40 dB of total attenuation inline on the common port.
7. For multiple CMs under test, use splitters and/or taps as necessary and ensure to maintain 40
dB attenuation between CMTS and all CMs.
Section 6 –Verify CMs are Online in CMTS
In the left menu click CM List under the Terminal Device Management section. This will bring up a page
that shows all CMs and their provisioning status. Once a CM has completed its DOCSIS provisioning
steps with the CMTS, it will appear on this list and the Status will be w-online (wideband online). This
page does not auto refresh; there is a refresh button on the top menu bar to renew the data on the
Figure 13 –CM List