Enter Drop Specifications:

When entering in the specifications for the Drop attributes, the first drop model defined will be the 'default' drop used for Coaxial design. The drop levels for the first model should be the standard or normal levels, and longer drop models, or specialty drops such as MDU drops, should be an optional drop that would be manually selected during design.

The tap window value is simply the amount of 'crossover' of reverse tilt that is required, before an inline equalizer is placed on the tap.

For the Reverse Minimum window, enter the minimum port levels for the taps. (If reverse levels were not being monitored, it would be '0'). If the reverse tap levels are being used, the values entered are maximum reverse port levels. The reverse minimum window defines the lowest acceptable range for the reverse tap port value. Therefore, the 'Reverse Port Levels' minus the 'reverse min tap window' equals the acceptable range of reverse level.

Another way to look at this:

Rev Min Window value + min reverse input of the amp + the reverse gain of the amp = maximum reverse level allowed (before the tap will fail.)

For example, if it was required for the tap to fail with any reverse level over 45.0 dB…and the minimum reverse input of the amp is 18.0dB and the reverse gain of the amp is 20.0, then the reverse minimum window would be 7.0dB.

For Inline equalizers, there are two methods available. If the 'Calc' box is checked on the Drop Attributes dialog, the program will calculate the equalizers, and place the first one that meets all the criteria called for from the spec file. With this box checked, only the Inline EQ series is available on the dropdown-the models will be calculated by the program:

If the Calc box is unchecked, the user must select the Series and model of Inline EQ to use, and the program will always select that model when an Inline Equalizer is required at a tap location:

If the 'Use Max Levels' box is checked, the user must enter a Minimum and a Maximum level, to enable a precise range where the levels must reside, to be within specification.