For almost four years, Cable operators in North America have utilized Alpha’s centralized, web-enabled Continuity status monitoring software to reduce power outages and minimize unnecessary maintenance calls in their outside plant broadband networks. Alpha’s software underwent two major advancements for 2008.

The integration of a new visual mapping feature makes it faster and easier to monitor an entire network by providing a holistic view of the location and status of the system’s power supplies. Each power supply is represented onscreen by icons on a map with light signals indicating the supply’s current status: a green light indicates normal operation, a yellow light indicates a power supply operating in standby mode and a red light indicates a major risk of failure necessitating immediate repair or replace.

During a thunderstorm, power supplies in different areas may be simultaneously affected.

In these cases, multiple system operators will use Alpha’s pre-configurable automatic notification program from the comfort of their office to decide what area they need to tackle first, without having to physically visit every single site and evaluate the damage.

To further enhance Alpha’s Continuity software for 2008, Alpha has added a new Spanish language version, making it possible for Latin American systems operators to more easily integrate status monitoring into their existing systems.

These two software updates are a continuation of Alpha’s efforts to provide the most efficient status monitoring solution for the broadband power market. Based on HMS and DOCSIS standards, Continuity software is very accessible and easy to use. It comes preloaded on a server to be installed in a Headend location and connected to the network. While other monitoring systems require expert help and advice, Continuity can be used and installed by anyone who is familiar with a PC and basic status monitoring.