View source for Video-ready access device

[[Image:Vrad on turkey creek.png|thumb|[[Serving area interface|Cross-connect box]] (left) and VRAD (right) on a suburban street in Houston, Texas.]]A '''video-ready access device''' ('''VRAD''') provides [[digital subscriber line]] access and [[high-definition television]] programming to customers subscribed to [[IPTV]] services such as [[AT&T]]'s [[U-verse]], [[Bell Canada]]'s [[Bell Fibe TV]], [[Claro Puerto Rico]]'s [[Claro TV]], and [[Telus]]'s [[Optik TV]]. VRAD equipment manufactured by [[Alcatel-Lucent]] can be configured to support between 48 and 864 lines per box.<ref name=alcatel/> The VRAD boxes are composed of circuit boards providing service, fed by [[fiber-optic communications|fiber-optic]] cable.
==AT&T VRADs==
There are 2 types of VRAD systems currently used by AT&T: [[Fiber to the x|FTTN]] (fiber to the node), and [[FTTP]] (fiber to the premises).
FTTN, widely used where copper facilities exist in established neighborhoods, uses an [[Alcatel-Lucent]] 7330 Intelligent Services Access Manager (ISAM) shelf,<ref name=bbp>[https://archive.today/20130122071408/http://broadbandpropertiesmagazine.epubxpress.com/wps/portal/bbp/c0/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP0os3iLkCAPEzcPIwP3MF9TAyMnT0_PYDdvY3dLc_1I_ShznPIBxvohIBMz9SPNTCwtQMxi_UgDEF2gH2lsoF-QnZhUlRqpCADUQLI_/ Post Alexander, Atlanta, Ga.], p. 24.</ref> which uses the existing copper wiring to customers' homes, leading to distance limitations from the VRAD cabinet to the customer's home. The 7330 ISAM is an [[IP-DSLAM|internet protocol DSL access multiplexer]] that supports [[VDSL]] and [[ADSL]] protocols.<ref name=alcatel>[http://www.alcatel-lucent.com/wps/portal/!ut/p/kcxml/04_Sj9SPykssy0xPLMnMz0vM0Y_QjzKLd4w3dnTRL8h2VAQADYR9IA!!?LMSG_CABINET=Solution_Product_Catalog&LMSG_CONTENT_FILE=Products/Product_Detail_000413.xml&LMSG_PARENT=Product_Families/Product_Family_000130.xml Alcatel-Lucent 7330 ISAM FTTN ANSI]</ref>
The FTTP system uses an Alcatel-Lucent 7340 ISAM shelf, which is mostly used in areas such as new neighborhoods or large-scale developments where fiber can be run to the household, removing the distance limitations of copper. The 7340 then connects to a [[Primary Flexibility Point]], which distributes service to homes in the neighborhood, via a dual strand fiber, which is then split into 32 customer fiber pairs. In FTTP systems, the fiber pairs are typically led into a customer's residence at the [[network interface device]]. In FTTD (fiber to the desk) systems, the fiber can continue to an equipment room or garage, then to a decoder box or [[residential gateway]], then to the customer's TV, computer, and phone lines.
The VRAD typically connects upstream to an Alcatel-Lucent 7450 Ethernet service switch in the [[Telephone exchange|central office]] hub, then to the [[cable television headend|headend]] [[video hub office]].<ref name=bbp/>
VRADs required for U-verse are around {{convert|150|cm|in}} wide, {{convert|122|cm|in}} tall, and {{convert|66|cm|in}} deep. Size and graffiti risk have drawn complaints from homeowners.<ref>[http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATTs-Latest-VRAD-Headache-Graffiti-96209 AT&T's Latest VRAD Headache: Graffiti - City of New Haven now annoyed with box tagging...]</ref> AT&T has sued competitor [[Comcast]] for Chicago ads against AT&T's "large and unsightly" VRADs.<ref>[http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6554809.html?desc=topstory AT&T, Comcast Trade Jabs In Chicago]</ref> Four VRADs have exploded due to faulty [[lithium-ion batteries]] manufactured by Avestor (now bankrupt), at least one explosion sending parts "fifty feet throughout the neighborhood." AT&T replaced all 17,000 Avestor batteries used in its VRADs with safer [[Alcatel-Lucent]]-designed [[Saft Groupe S.A.|SAFT]] [[NiCad]] batteries,<ref>[http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/91000 AT&T Replacing 17,000 U-Verse Batteries - Apparently the units aren't supposed to spontaneously combust]</ref> which have a 10-year life.
==Other VRADs==
[[Bell Canada]]'s [[Bell Fibe TV]] and [[Telus]]'s [[Optik TV]] also use VRADs in their networks. Bell Canada uses the Alcatel-Lucent 7330 and [[Ikanos Communications]] IKNS ISAMs, and provides Internet service via either [[FTTN]] to 50&nbsp;Mbit/s, or [[FTTH]] (fibre to the home) to 1.5&nbsp;Gbit/s.<ref>[http://www.bell.ca/Bell_Internet/Internet_access Bell Internet Packages]</ref>
[[Claro Puerto Rico]] is currently deploying VRADs to offer their [[IPTV]] and [[VDSL]] Internet service up to 50&nbsp;Mbit/s. There are 2 types of VRAD systems currently used by Claro: [[Fiber to the x|FTTN]] (fiber to the node), and [[FTTP]] (fiber to the premises). It is unknown the equipment they are using.
==See also==
* [[Multi-service access node]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Telephony]]