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PDH Frequently Asked Questions

Q : What PDH stands for? A : PDH stands for Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy. Plesiochronous means almost synchronous (same bit rate but not synchronized to a common master clock). As you can see in the graphic, the multiplexer inputs have signals (tributaries) with different clock sources. Then, it uses its internal timing to generate a higher rate signal which contains the different tributaries.

MUX MUX

Q : What is the primary rate on a PDH system? A : Primary rate refers to the basic rate on which the multiplexing system is based on. For ITU transmission networks, the primary rate is 64 Kbps. This rate will be multiplexed to the first level of the PDH hierarchy and transmitted at a higher rate. Then, it an be multiplexed to the fourth level of the hierarchy. Q : What are the hierarchy levels on a PDH system? A : Depends on the country. Level 1 2 3 4 North Ameria 1.544 Mbps (T1/DS1) 6.312 Mbps (DS2) 44.736 Mbps (DS3) 139.264 Mbps (DS4) Japan 1.544 Mbps(J1) 6.312 Mbps (J2) 32.064 Mbps (J3) 97.728 Mbps (J4) International 2.048 Mbps (E1) 8.448 Mbps (E2) 34.368 Mbps (E3) 139.264 Mbps (E4)

The multiplexing struture for the ITU-PDH system is shown in the next page

PDH Frequently Asked Questions


x32 x4 x4
E3 E3 E2 E2 E1 E1
Ch 00 Ch 01 Ch 02 Ch 03

x4
140 Mbps

E3

MUX MUX

E2

MUX MUX

E3

E1

MUX MUX

E2

MUX MUX
Ch 28 Ch 29 Ch 30 Ch 31

E1

64 Kbps

CEPT1 CEPT2 CEPT3 2.048 Mbps 8.448 Mbps 34.368 Mbps 139.264 Mbps

Q : What is the line coding for higher rates? A : ITU-T G.703 specifies HDB3 as a line coding for 8M and 34M. CMI (Coded Mark Inversion) is the line coding for 139.264 Mbps as well as for 155 Mbps (STM-1 eletrical, SDH). HDB3 stands for High Density Bipolar-3 which basically means that you see a signal with high density of pulses. No more than three onsecutive zeroes will be found when this type of line coding is used. See 2.048 Mbps application note for more details regarding HDB3. ITU-T G.703 defines CMI as follows: CMI is a 2-level non-return-to-zero code in which binary 0 is coded so that both amplitude levels, A1 and A2, are attained consecutively, each for half a unit time interval (T/2). Binary 1 is coded by either of the amplitude levels A1 or A2, for one full unit time interval (T), in such a way that the level alternates for successive binary 1s. An example is given in the figure 3 Note 1 For binary 0, there is always a positive transition at the midpoint of the binary unit time interval. Note 2 For binary 1, a) there is a positive transition at the start of the binary unit time interval if in the preceeding time interval the level was A1 b) there is a negative transition at the start of the binary unit time interval if the last binary 1 was encoded by level A2.

Doc. No. A112

PDH Frequently Asked Questions


Q : How is the frame structure at higher rates: A : The signal is divided in frames. There are three different modes for higher rates : Frame, Unframe and Structured. Unframe mode only carries the payload which an be live date (in-service) or a test pattern (out of service). In Frame mode, each frame carries a Frame Alignment Signal (FAS) word and the payload. In structured mode, framing is required. Besides the FAS word and the payload, the structured mode frame carries additional bits which are called justification and justification control bits, which are basically used for the multiplexing/demultiplexing of the tributaries inside a high rate signal. The frame structure for higher rates containing tributaries is as follows:

8M

TRIBUTARY BIT RATE NUMBER OF TRIBUTARIES FRAME LENGTH

: 2048 Kbps :4 : 1056 BITS

SET I
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 Z Y

1
FAS BITS 1 - 8

9
Z : RAI Y : National Use BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

264

SET II
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

1
C11,C21,C31, C41 Just. Bits (1)

9
BITS FOR SERVICE FUNCTIONS

264 BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

SET III
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

1
C12,C22,C32, C42 Just. Bits (2)

5
SPARE BITS

9 BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

264

SET IV
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

13
BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

264

C13,C23,C33,C Available bits Available bits 43 for Negative for Positive Justification Justification Just. Bits (3)

PDH Frequently Asked Questions


34M
TRIBUTARY BIT RATE NUMBER OF TRIBUTARIES FRAME LENGTH : 8448 Kbps :4 : 1536 BITS 13 384

SET I
1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0

Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi tBi tBi t Bi tBi tBi t Bi t Bi t Bi tBi tBi t Bi tBi tBi t

1
FAS BITS 1 - 10 BIT 11: ALARM BIT 12 : RESERVED BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

SET II
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

5 C11,C21,C31, C41 Just. Bits (1) BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

384

SET III
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

5 C12,C22,C32, C42 Just. Bits (2) BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

384

SET IV
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

1
C13,C23,C33,C 43 Just. Bits (3)

9
Available bits for Justification BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

384

PDH Frequently Asked Questions


139M
TRIBUTARY BIT RATE NUMBER OF TRIBUTARIES FRAME LENGTH : 34368 Kbps : 4 : 2928 BITS 17
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0

SET I
1 1 1 1

488

Bi tBi t Bi tBi tBi tBi t Bi tBi tBi tBi tBi t Bi tBi tBi tBi t Bi tBi tBi tBi t Bi tBi tBi tBi tBi t

1
FAS BITS 1 - 12 BIT 13: ALARM BITS FROM BITs 14-16 : RESERVED TRIBUTARIES

SET II
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

5 C11,C21,C31, C41 Just. Bits (1) BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

488

SET III
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

5 C12,C22,C32, C42 Just. Bits (2) BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

488

SET IV
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

5 C13,C23,C33, C43 Just. Bits (3) BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

488

SET V
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

5 C14,C24,C34, C44 Just. Bits (4) BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

488

SET VI
Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t Bi t

1
C15,C25,C35, C45 Just. Bits (5)

9
Available bits for Justification BITS FROM TRIBUTARIES

488

PDH Frequently Asked Questions


Q : What types of equipment are involved in PDH transmission? A : There are several types of equipment involved in PDH transmission. The Primary Multiplexer which accepts different 64Kbit/s channels, and transmit them at 2.048 Mbps. The 2 Mbps tributaries will be grouped and multiplexed to higher rate signals by the high order multiplexers. Then, you will see the transmission terminal with a digital output that can be transmitted through different medias : coaxial cable, fiber optic. satellite links or mirowave digital radios. PDH test equipment can be used to test the multiplexing process, the transmission terminal equipment and the media by generating a digital test pattern that can be multiplexed and sent through the different media.

SATELLITE

MODEM

DATA SERVICE UNIT

MODEM

DATA SERVICE UNIT

PRIMARY MULTIPLEX SECTION PBX or SWITCH

HIGHER ORDER MULTIPLEX

TRANSMISSION TERMINAL MEDIA MEASUREMENTS FIBER OPTIC COAXIAL CABLE

TRANSMISSION TERMINAL

HIGHER ORDER MULTIPLEX

PRIMARY MULTIPLEX SECTION PBX or SWITCH

DIGITAL RADIO

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