NOTE: Chrome and Firefox functionality with Java is slightly crippled as Google and Mozilla respectively have disabled the Java-APP auto-start functionality. Both browsers can still be used with the DOL Java application though. The application will not start automatically. You need to click an icon first.
If you desire more information about this or need more information on using or installing Java on your PC/Laptop, please refer to Appendix 1.
The Triax Design Online Tool does require a minimum of Technical knowledge from the User.
In other words: If you are a skilled technician and used to install a normal SMATV Multiswitch, a simple MATV antenna system or CATV system, you have an idea of how all the products are connected together and you should be perfectly capable of planning and designing your next installation in DOL.
We do claim DOL to be very easy to use, but we would be lying if we said that you do not have to learn anything to use it. That is why we have created this DOL Documentation site. It should allow you to easily find help on issues where you got stuck, without forcing you to read more than 30 pages of a document start to end.
However, We do recommend that you browse through the documentation of this Web site to familiarize yourself with all DOLs many features and functions. We are sure it will make your job doing future DOL Plans a lot easier, than if you just go ahead and try everything blindly.
The DOL Tool will follow your design as you go along and warn you if System Signal Levels are critical and/or outside of the specifications of the Products you select. But it is up to you to select the required products and put them together in the correct order. This is done in an easy drag-and-drop fashion.
The design steps are these (using your PC mouse):
First you select the product(s) you need from a list, and drag them onto a drawing canvas.
Alternatively you may make a copy of an old design you did previously so you can get up to speed quickly, OR start with a fixed template design. We recommend the make-copy approach, because that way every design uses the products you know and selected already.
DOL will automatically calculate the cable related and frequency dependent losses, and show final Signal Levels and Frequency responses at every intersection and Product where a Signal Output is present. You may also view a frequency responce graph to be able to see the slopes, if any, in your Signal Levels.
In case a Signal Level is too High or too Low a traffic Light warning system alerts you, to allow you to set for instance correct Amplifier Gain, Slope/Equalizer and Attenuation settings.
This way you can 'play' with the DOL settings of your installation until you get it to perform correctly. Once you master this you'll probably find that you will do a lot less real-life adjustments and trial settings during actual installation time, because what takes time after having put a real installation together, is most often doing all the measurements and figuring out how to set all settings correct.
DOL will not do that part of the real-life work for you of course, but using DOL you will know exactly what to do before you start installation and you will know where to change settings. Consequently, the installation job should be a lot easier and go smoother.