What Is This Tool?
This tool converts values from STS3c (signal), a SONET electrical transport signal, to STS3 (payload), which represents the available user-data portion within a SONET level 3 transport channel. It helps telecom professionals estimate payload bandwidth by accounting for SONET overhead bytes.
How to Use This Tool?
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Input the value in STS3c (signal) unit you want to convert
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Select STS3c (signal) as the source unit and STS3 (payload) as the target unit
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Click convert to get the equivalent payload bandwidth value
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Use the converted result for network design or analysis
Key Features
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Accurate conversion between STS3c (signal) and STS3 (payload) units
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Supports telecom network provisioning and capacity planning needs
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Includes considerations for SONET framing and overhead
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Browser-based and easy to use without additional installations
Examples
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Convert 1 STS3c (signal) to STS3 (payload): 1 × 1.0345 ≈ 1.0345 STS3 (payload)
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Convert 10 STS3c (signal) to STS3 (payload): 10 × 1.0345 ≈ 10.345 STS3 (payload)
Common Use Cases
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Provisioning 155.52 Mbps backbone or leased-line circuits in telecom networks
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Transporting Ethernet or Packet-over-SONET as a single high-bandwidth stream
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Interconnecting metro and backhaul SONET equipment for traffic aggregation
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Billing and SLA measurement based on payload channel allocation
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Capacity planning for carrier backbone and optical transport systems
Tips & Best Practices
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Ensure you understand the difference between gross signal rate and user payload capacity
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Use converted payload values for accurate traffic engineering and provisioning
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Be aware that SONET overhead and framing parameters may vary between implementations
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Apply this conversion only within SONET/SDH contexts for valid results
Limitations
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Payload capacity is less than the gross line rate due to SONET framing and overhead
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Variations in overhead can cause slight differences in exact payload values
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Conversion is only valid within SONET/SDH transport technologies, not outside them
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does STS3c (signal) represent?
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STS3c (signal) is a SONET electrical transport signal that represents a contiguous payload formed by concatenating three STS-1 channels, used for carrying high-bandwidth streams.
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What is the difference between STS3c (signal) and STS3 (payload)?
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STS3c (signal) refers to the gross SONET transport signal including overhead, while STS3 (payload) refers to the user-data portion after excluding SONET overhead bytes.
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Why convert STS3c (signal) to STS3 (payload)?
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Converting helps determine the actual bandwidth available for user data after accounting for SONET overhead, which is important for precise capacity planning and billing.
Key Terminology
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STS3c (signal)
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A SONET electrical transport signal representing a concatenated payload of three STS-1 channels with a gross data rate of 155.52 Mbit/s.
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STS3 (payload)
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The user-data section within an STS-3 SONET transport channel after excluding framing and overhead bytes.
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SONET
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Synchronous Optical Networking, a standardized protocol that transfers multiple digital bit streams over optical fiber.
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Payload
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The portion of a data transport frame that carries the actual user data, excluding overhead and framing information.