S.D.H.

Training document
 POH bytes - ITU-T standardization update
(G.707)

261
J1
B3
C2
G1
9 F2
H4
F3
K3
N1

VC-4 POH

9.3.1.5Path user channels: F2, F3

These bytes are allocated for user communication purposes

between path elements and are payload dependent.

9.3.1.7 Automatic Protection Switching (APS) channel:

K3 (b1-b4)

These bits are allocated for APS signalling for protection at

the VC-4/3 path levels.
9.3.1.8Network operator byte: N1

This byte is allocated to provide a Tandem Connection

Monitoring (TCM) function. The details concerning the
two possible implementations of the HO-TCM function are
given in Annexes C and D.

9.3.1.9Data link K3 (b7-b8)

Bits 7 and 8 of K3 are reserved for a higher order path data

link. The applications and protocols are outside the scope
of this Recommendation.

9.3.1.10 Spare: K3 (b5-b6)

These bits are allocated for future use. These bits have no
defined value. The receiver is required to ignore their
content.
 POH bytes - ITU-T standardization update
(G.707)

261
J1
B3
C2
G1
9 F2
H4
F3
K3
N1

VC-4 POH

9.3.1.5Path user channels: F2, F3

These bytes are allocated for user communication purposes

between path elements and are payload dependent.

9.3.1.7 Automatic Protection Switching (APS) channel:

K3 (b1-b4)

These bits are allocated for APS signalling for protection at

the VC-4/3 path levels.
9.3.1.8Network operator byte: N1

This byte is allocated to provide a Tandem Connection

Monitoring (TCM) function. The details concerning the
two possible implementations of the HO-TCM function are
given in Annexes C and D.

9.3.1.9Data link K3 (b7-b8)

Bits 7 and 8 of K3 are reserved for a higher order path data

link. The applications and protocols are outside the scope
of this Recommendation.

9.3.1.10 Spare: K3 (b5-b6)

These bits are allocated for future use. These bits have no
defined value. The receiver is required to ignore their
content.
POH bytes - ITU-T standardization update
(G.707)

V5
RRRRRRRR

32 bytes

RRRRRRRR
J2
C 1 C2 O O O O R R

32 bytes

RRRRRRRR
140
bytes N2
C 1 C2 O O O O R R

32 bytes

RRRRRRRR
K4
C 1 C 2 R R R R R S1
S2 D D D D D D D

31 bytes

RRRRRRRR

T1523020-96
(108449)

D Data bit
R Fixed stuff bit
O Overhead bit
S Justification opportunity bit
C Justification control bit

Figure 10-8/G.707 – Asynchronous mapping of 2048 kbit/s tributary

 V5
R
Time Slot 0
Time Slots 1 to 15
Time Slot 16
Time Slots 17 to 31
R
J2
R
Time Slot 0
Time Slots 1 to 15
Time Slot 16
140
bytes Time Slots 17 to 31
R
N2
R
Time Slot 0
Time Slots 1 to 15
Time Slot 16
Time Slots 17 to 31
R
K4
R
Time Slot 0
Time Slots 1 to 15
Time Slot 16
Time Slots 17 to 31
R
500 µs
T1523030-96
(108449)
R Fixed stuff byte

Figure 10-9/G.707 – Byte synchronous mapping for 2048 kbit/s tributary

(30 channels with Common Channel Signalling or Channel Associated Signalling)
9.3.2 VC-2/VC-1 POH
The bytes V5, J2, N2 and K4 are allocated to the VC-2/VC-1 POH. The V5
byte is the first byte of the multiframe and its position is indicated by the
TU-2/TU-1 pointer. The position of these bytes in the multiframe is given in
Figure 8-9.
NOTE – Payload dependent and payload independent information is communicated by different
codings in bits 5 to 7 of V5 and 5 to 7 of K4.

BIP-2 REI RFI Signal Label RDI

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Figure 9-9/G.707 – VC-2/VC-1 POH V5

9.3.2.1 V5 byte
The byte V5 provides the functions of error checking, signal label and path status of the VC-
2/VC-1 paths. The bit assignments of the V5 byte are illustrated in Figure 9-9.

Bits 1 and 2 are used for error performance monitoring. Note that the calculation of the BIP-2
includes the VC-2/VC-1 POH bytes but excludes bytes V1, V2, V3 (except when used for
negative justification) and V4.

Bit 3 is a VC-2/VC-1 path Remote Error indication (REI) (former FEBE) indication that is set to
one and sent back towards a VC-2/VC-1 path originator if one or more errors were detected by
the BIP-2, and is otherwise set to zero.

Bit 4 is a VC-11 byte synchronous path Remote Failure Indication (RFI).

This bit is set to one if a failure is declared, otherwise it is set to zero. The VC-11 path RFI is
sent back by the VC-11 termination. The use and content of this bit are undefined for VC-2 and
VC-12.
NOTE – A failure is a defect that persists beyond the maximum time allocated to the transmission system
protection mechanisms.

Bits 5 through 7 provide a VC-2/VC-1 signal label

Bit 8 is set to 1 to indicate a VC-2/VC-1 path Remote Defect Indication (RDI)(former FERF),
otherwise it is set to zero.

9.3.2.2 Path Trace: J2

Byte J2 is used to transmit repetitively a Low Order Path Access Point Identifier so that a path receiving
terminal can verify its continued connection to the intended transmitter.
9.3.2.3 Network operator byte: N2
This byte is allocated to provide a Tandem Connection Monitoring (TCM)
function.
The details concerning the implementation of the LO-TCM are given in Annex E.
9.3.2.4 Extended signal label: K4 (b1)
This bit is allocated to an extended signal label. If the signal label in V5 bits 5
through 7 is 101 the contents of the extended signal label is valid and is described
below. For all other values of V5 bits 5 through 7 the extended signal label bit is
undefined and should be ignored by the receiver.
The bit contains a 32 frame multiframe depicted in Figure 9-10. The multiframe
alignment signal, MFAS, consists of "0111 1111 110". The extended signal label is
contained in bits 12 to 19. Multiframe position 20 must contain "0". The remaining
12 bits are reserved for future standardization, should be set to all "0"s and should
be ignored by the receiver.
NOTE 1 – The virtual concatenation multiframe in K4 bit 2 uses the MFAS of this
bit. That means that the virtual concatenation function needs to consider this bit
without confirming that the V5 signal label is 101. There are no inconsistency
problems since all LO virtually concatenated payloads must have an extended
signal label.
NOTE 2 – If at a later stage the bits reserved for future use are activated, care must
be taken to ensure that a sequence of nine "1"s (imitating the MFAS) is avoided.

Bit number:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

MFAS Extended Signal Label 0 R R R R R R R R R R R R

MFAS Multiframe alignment bits

0 Zero
R Reserved bit

Figure 9-10/G.707 – K4 bit 1 multiframe

The coding of the extended signal label is given in Table 9-13. The signal labels in
Table 9-12 for the range "0" to "7" and the signal labels in Table 9-13 for the range
of "08" to "FF" together forms the complete VC-1/2 signal label range of "00" to
"FF".
 NOTE 3 – Signal label "5" is indicated by an equipment not supporting the
extended signal label receiving an extended signal label.
NOTE 4 – For interworking with equipment using the ATM mapping in 10.2.5 it
may be necessary to accept the V5 signal label "5" without K4 bit 1 multiframe as
an equipped condition.

Table 9-13/G.707 – VC-1/2 Extended Signal label byte coding

MSB LSB Hex code Interpretation
b12 b13 b14 b15 b16 b17 b18 b19 (Note 1)
0000 0000 00 Reserved (Note 2)
… … …
0000 0111 07
0000 1000 08 Mapping under development (Note 3)
0000 1001 09 ATM mapping, see 10.2.3 to 10.2.5
0000 1010 0A Mapping of HDLC/PPP [12], [13] framed signal
according to 10.3
0000 1011 0B Mapping of HDLC/LAPS [15] framed signals
according to 10.3
0000 1100 0C Virtually concatenated test signal, O.181 specific
mapping (Note 4)
0000 1101 0D Flexible Topology Data Link mapping (Note 5)
1111 1111 FF Reserved
NOTE 1 – There are 242 spare codes left for future use.
NOTE 2 – Vales "00" to "07" are reserved to give a unique name to non-extended in Table 9-12 and
extended signal labels.
NOTE 3 – Value "02" is only to be used in cases where a mapping code is not defined in the above table.
By using this code the development or experimental activities is isolated from the rest of the SDH network.
There is no forward compatibility if a specific signal label is assigned later. If that is done the equipment
that has used this code must either be reconfigured to use that new specific signal label or be recycled.
NOTE 4 – Any virtually concatenated mapping defined in Recommendation O.181 or its successors which
does not correspond to a mapping defined in Recommendation G.707 falls in this category.
NOTE 5 – This mapping is under study and the signal label provisionally allocated.
9.3.2.5 Low Order Virtual Concatenation: K4 (b2)
This bit is allocated for the lower order virtual concatenation string. The bit is
multiframed in 32 frames to form a 32-bit string. This is function is described in
subclause 11.4.
9.3.2.6 Automatic Protection Switching (APS) channel: K4 (b3-b4)
These bits are allocated for APS signalling for protection at the lower order path
level. This function is for further study.
9.3.2.7 Reserved: K4 (b5-b7)
Bit 5 to 7 of K4 are reserved for an optional use described in VII.2 of Appendix
VII. If this option is not used, these bits shall be set to "000" or "111". A receiver is
required to be able to ignore the contents of these bits. The use of the optional
function is at the discretion of the owner of the trail termination source generating
the K4 byte.
9.3.2.8 Data link: K4 (b8)
Bit 8 of K4 is reserved for a lower order path data link. The applications and
protocols are outside the scope of this Recommendation.
 TEST - Principles of PDH Multiplexing

1. Select all the CEPT bit rates among those listed below.

a) 1,5 Mbit/s
b) 2 Mbit/s
c) 9,6 Mbit/s
d) 8 Mbit/s
e) 34 Mbit/s
f) 6 Mbit/s
g) 45 Mbit/s
h) 140 Mbit/s

2. In a 2Mbit/s signal, it is possible to transmit 30 user channels.

How many channels can be transmitted in a 140Mbit/s signal ?

a. 1800
b. 1880
c. 1920
d. 2020
e. 2100

3. Which block of bits in a PDH signal is responsible for the synchronization

On the multiplex receive side ?

a. Justification opportunity bits (JB)

b. Tributary bits (TB)
c. Service bits (D+N)
d. Frame Alignment Signal (FAS)
e. Justification control bits (CB)

4. Which method is used for PDH multiplexing ?

a. Byte-by-byte multiplexing
b. Bit-by-bit multiplexing
c. Word-by-word multiplexing
d. Frame-by-frame multiplexing
5. A 2 Mbit/s signal shall be accessed in a 140 Mbit/s signal.
How many demultiplex operations have to be carried out ?

a. none
b. one
c. two
d. three
 TEST - Characteristic of SDH multiplexing

1. Which is the smallest transmission module in the SDH and what

capacity does it have

a) SDH-1 (155 Mbit/s)

b) STM-1 (140 Mbit/s)
c) PTM-1 (155 Mbit/s)
d) STM-1 (155 Mbit/s)
e) ISDN ( 64 kbit/s)

2. Which of the frames below corresponds to an STM ?

PTR SOH
SOH Payload PTR SOH
A D
SOH SOH

SOH SOH
PTR Payload PTR Payload
B E
PTR SOH

SOH SOH
SOH PTR SOH Payload
C F
SOH PTR

3. How many bytes does the payload block of the STM-1 frame contain ?

a) 2430 byte
b) 2349 byte
c) 2239 byte
d) 81 byte
e) 72 byte
4. Which multiplex technique is used in the SDH ?

a) Byte-by byte multiplexing

b) Bit-by bit multiplexing
c) 5 bit / 6 bit multiplexing
d) Any multiplex technique

5. How many telephone channels can theoretically be transmitted in an

STM-16 signal if there is one 140 Mbit/s signal per STM-1 frame ?

a) 1920
b) 7680
c) 10350
d) 25670
e) 30720
 TEST - Mapping

1. Which of the information bits listed below are n o t transmitted

in a container ?

a) D- and N- bits
b) Fixed Justification Bits
c) Service Bits
d) Overhead Bits
e) Justification Opportunity Bits

2. Which Containers are recommended for CEPT signals ?

a) C–4
b) C–3
c) C–2
d) C – 12
e) C – 11

3. Which is the difference between the Virtual Container “VC”

and the Container “C” ?

a) Container = Virtual container + Path Overhead

b) Virtual Container = Container + Section Overhead
c) Virtual Container = Container + Path Overhead
d) There is no difference
e) Virtual Container = STM-1 + Container

4. In which case is the Null Poiter Indication transmittedin the TUG-3 ?

a) When a 34 Mbit/s PDH signal is transmitted in the TUG3

b) When 21 x 2 Mbit/s PDH signals are transmitted in the TUG3
5. How many 34 Mbit/s signals can be transmitted in a VC-4 signal at
maximum ?

a) one
b) two
c) three
d) four
e) five

6. What is the difference between an AU-4 and an STM-1 ?

a) AU-4 = STM-1 + POH

b) AU-4 = STM-1 + SOH
c) STM-1 = POH + SOH
d) STM-1 = AU-4 + SOH
f) There is no difference

7. Which of the signals listed below can be found in a VC-4 ?

a) 1 x 140 Mbit/s
b) 3 x 34 Mbit/s
c) 63 x 2 Mbit/s
d) 2 x 34 Mbit/s + 21 x 2 Mbit/s

8. Describe the precise path of a two Mbit/s signal into tha STM-1.

a) C3 – VC3 – TU3 – TUG3 – VC4 – AU4 – STM1

b) C12 – VC12 – TU12 – TUG2 – TUG3 – VC4 – AU4 – STM1
c) C12 – VC12 – TU12 – TUG12 – VC4 – AU4 – STM1
d) C4 – VC4 – AU4 – STM1
e) C12 – VC12 – TU12 – TUG3 – VC4 – AU4 – STM1
 TEST - Pointer

1. Where can you find the AU-4 pointer in the STM-1 frame ?

a) In one of the two SOH blocks

b) In the AU-4 pointer block
c) In the Payload
d) There is no AU-4 poiter in the STM-1 frame

2. How many TU-3 pointer bytes can be found in a VC-4 ?

H1
a) only 6
H2 H2
H3 H3 H3

b) 3 H1 H2 H3

H1

c) 5 H1 H2 H3
H3

H1 H1 H1
d) 9 H2 H2 H2
H3 H3 H3

3. Which of the 9 AU pointer bytes are used for the AU-4 pointer ?

H1 Y Y H2 “1” “1” H3 H3 H3
4. What kind of information can be found in the H1 and H2 byte of the AU-4
pointer ?

a) New Data Flag (= beginning of a new pointer value)

b) D-Bit (= display for a major alarm)
c) 10 – Bit pointer value (= address of a VC-4)
d) N – Bit (= display for a minor alarm)
e) SS – Bits (= type of VC-4 contents)

5. What is the H3 byte of the TU-3 ponter used for ?

a) Service channel d) H3 Byte is meaningless

b) Pointer address e) Negative Justification
c) Signaling

6. Which of the numbers below are valid addresses for a VC-4

a) 27 b) 782 c) –25 d) 0
e) 33 f) 720 g) 5,3 h) 783

7) Which pointers are active during the transmission of a 2 Mbit/s signal ?

a) AU-4 pointer f) SOH pointer

b) TU-3 pointer g) VC-4 pointer
c) TUG-3 pointer h) VC-12 pointer
d) TUG-2 pointer i) TU-12 pointer
e) TU-2 pointer j) No pointer is used

8) How many TU-12 pointer bytes are used for the transmission of 21 x 2
Mbit/s ?

a) 4 b) 42 c) 84 d) 64
 TEST - Overhead

1. Which of the following functions are fulfilled by an averhead ?

a) Error monitoring
b) Positive justification
c) Frame alignment
d) Path trace

2. Can the “path trace” vary on the individual line sections ?

Section Section Section

MUX 1 REG 1 REG 2 MUX 2
140 Mbit/s 140 Mbit/s

3. What is the difference between RSOH and MSOH ?

a) Only regenerators can access the RSOH

b) In every STM-1 frame, the MSOH is transmitted twice, whereas the
RSOH is transmitted only once.
c) All SDH multiplexers and regenerators can access the RSOH; the MSOH
is accessed only by multiplexers.

4. The bytes B1, B2 and B3 serve to…. ?

a) report back errors

b) detect errors by means of the parity code
c) transmit order-wire channels
5. Which of the statements below relating to the POH of the VC-12 are
correct ?

a) Every multiframe VC-12 has a POH

b) Only the first VC-12 container in the VC-4 contains a POH
c) Every VC-12 transmits the entire POH

6. What is the C2 byte in the POH of the VC-4 ?

a) Frame alignment signal

b) STM-1 frame alignment
c) User/application channel
d) Signal identification (ID)
e) Path status / trace

7. Pick from the statement below the information contained in a VC-3

(as per C” byte)

a) 3 x 34 Mbit/s
b) 1 x 34 Mbit/s
c) TUG with ANSI signals
d) 1 x 140 Mbit/s

8. Which of the bytes listed below can be contained in a VC-12 POH ?

a) J1 b) C1 c) C2
d) B3 e) J2 f) F1
g) Z6/Z7 h) V1/V2 i) V5
j) K1/K2 k) D1-D12 l) S1

9. How many STM-1 frames are required to trnsmit the entire VC-12 POH
?

a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4 e) 5
 TEST - MONITORING

1. What is the maximum number of bit errors which can be counted in the B1
byte during one second

a) 128.000
b) 640
c) 512.000
d) 32.000
e) 64.000

2. Which byte is used for bit error monitoring on multiplex sections ?

a) B1
b) B2
c) B3

3. In which direction is “Section AIS” transmitted ?

a) In the forward direction

b) In the backward direction
c) In both directions

4. What purpose does FEBE serve ?

a) It indicates errors to the receiver.

b) It indicates to the transmitter that a BER grater than 10 exp –6 was
detected
c) FEBE has no function; it is merely used to verify the local LED
d) It prevents the AIS from being forwarded
5. Which tipe of FERF exist ?

a) Regenerator FERF
b) Section FERF
c) Path FERF
d) PDH – FERF
 TEST - RESULTS

TEST - Principles of PDH Multiplexing

1) Æ b; d; e; h
2) Æ c
3) Æ d
4) Æ b
5) Æ d

TEST - Characteristic of SDH multiplexing

1) Æ d
2) Æ E
3) Æ b
4) Æ a
5) Æ e

TEST - Mapping

1. Æ a; c
2. Æ a; b; d
3. Æ c
4. Æ b
5. Æ c
6. Æ d
7. Æ a; b; c; d
8. Æ b
TEST - Pointer

1) Æ b
2) Æ d
3) Æ H1; H2; H3,H3,H3
4) Æ a; c; e
5) Æ e
6) Æ a; b; d; e; f
7) Æ a; i
8) Æ c

TEST - Overhead

1) Æ a; c; d
2) Æ (no)
3) Æ c
4) Æ b
5) Æ a
6) Æ d
7) Æ b; c
8) Æ e; g; I
9) Æ d

TEST - Monitoring

1) Æ e
2) Æ b
3) Æ a
4) Æ b
5) Æ b; c