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Cable 101 - History and CATV Basics

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This training tutorial reviews the history of CATV, its technological advancements, and basic terminology. Sit back and relax for a CATV 101 and cable basics. Discover items such as: 0:00 Amphenol Broadband Solutions 0:07 Cable 101 Learning Objectives 0:29 Let's Start From The Beginning 2:15 Headend 5:11 Line or Trunk Amplifier 5:32 Line Extender Amplifier 5:52 Splitters and Couplers 6:34 Drop Cable 7:05 Cable Routing 7:36 Tree and Branch 10:45 Analog to Digital Signals 12:31 Channel Capacity Analog verses Digital 13:19 Signal Flow 14:09 Upstream or Return 14:44 Downstream Upstream 16:03 Fiber Optics 16:19 Hybrid Fiber-Coax (HFC) 17:49 First Internet 19:10 DOCSIS 20:31 Traditional Phone Service 22:24 Cable 101 Summary WATCH LIST ABS Cable Solutions https://youtu.be/GpKpLUUy_gA Cable 101 - Passive Troubleshooting: https://youtu.be/7K3Zysya5Ao Cable 101: Insertion Loss: https://youtu.be/0I79qz0nvbs Cable Math: Part 1: https://youtu.be/u9INt5EPTp4 Visit us at amphenolbroadband.com #amphenolbroadbandsolutions #cable101 #catv #broadband #cablehistory

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1. What does the original acronym CATV stand for, reflecting the initial purpose of cable television systems?
Cable Access Television Variety Community Antenna Television Coaxial Audio Transmission Vehicle Centralized Amplified Television Video
2. The first CATV systems, emerging in the late 1940s, were primarily created to address which problem?
Providing video on demand services Allowing for two-way communication (internet access) Bringing broadcast television signals to remote or geographically challenged areas Replacing telephone lines for voice communication
3. What major technological feature marked the transition of cable systems from a simple 'community antenna' to a true modern broadband network?
The adoption of fiber optic cable for the entire network The introduction of commercial advertising The implementation of the two-way return path The use of satellite dishes for signal acquisition
4. What is the standard characteristic impedance (measured in Ohms) for nearly all coaxial cable and equipment used in CATV systems?
50 ohms 100 ohms 75 ohms 600 ohms
5. Which component of a coaxial cable is primarily responsible for maintaining the 75 ohm impedance and preventing the shield and center conductor from touching?
The inner jacket The center conductor The shield (braid and foil) The dielectric
6. What is the term for the undesirable signal loss that occurs as an RF signal travels along a coaxial cable, increasing with frequency and cable length?
Reflection Ingress Attenuation Harmonic distortion
7. Which layer of the coaxial cable provides electromagnetic isolation and helps prevent external noise from entering the cable?
The center conductor The polyethylene jacket The aluminum foil and/or braided shield The dielectric material
8. In the CATV network architecture, the Headend serves as the location for which primary function?
The final connection point for customer equipment (modems and set-top boxes) Receiving, processing, and distributing all incoming video, voice, and data signals Amplifying the signal along the drop to the home Converting signals from coaxial to fiber optic cable
9. Which type of coaxial cable is generally preferred for the drop (the cable running to the subscriber's home) due to its superior shielding and lower attenuation at higher frequencies?
RG-8 RG-59 RG-6 RG-11
10. In a modern Hybrid Fiber-Coax (HFC) network, what component is responsible for converting the optical signal from the fiber line into an electrical (RF) signal for the coaxial cable distribution system?
Coaxial Splitter Line Extender Optical Node (or Fiber Node) Distribution Tap
11. Which of the following describes the Downstream Path in a CATV network?
Signals traveling from the customer premises equipment to the headend Signals traveling from the headend to the customer premises equipment Any signal that operates at a frequency below 50 MHz The electrical power supplied to the amplifiers in the network
12. What is the primary function of an RF amplifier (e.g., Line Extender or Trunk Amplifier) in a coaxial cable network?
To remove noise and clean up the signal before it reaches the customer To split the signal and route it to multiple subscribers To convert the analog signal to a digital signal To compensate for the signal loss (attenuation) that occurs over distance in the coaxial cable
13. A Splitter in a CATV network is a passive device used to perform what task?
Inject AC power into the coaxial cable to power amplifiers Combine two separate signal paths into one output path Divide the main RF signal equally into two or more output ports for a subscriber's devices Prevent unauthorized access to premium channels
14. What is the key difference in function between a Splitter and a Tap in the distribution network?
A splitter only works for digital signals, while a tap only works for analog signals. A tap terminates the cable run, while a splitter allows the signal to continue down the line A splitter divides the signal equally and terminates the run; a tap extracts a small portion of the signal for a drop, allowing the main signal to continue down the line. A tap boosts the signal, while a splitter reduces the signal.
15. The final connection of coaxial cable from the distribution point (pole or pedestal) into the customer's home is commonly referred to as the:
Trunk line Headend connection Drop cable (or Drop) Feeder cable
16. In the CATV spectrum, which frequency range is generally allocated for the Upstream Path (signals from the customer modem/set-top box back to the headend)?
High frequencies, typically 1GHz and above Frequencies used for traditional FM radio broadcasting (around 88-108MHz) Low frequencies, typically 5 to 42MHz (or similar low-end spectrum) The same high-frequency band as the downstream path
17. What is the primary technical reason for using lower frequencies for the Upstream Path in a coaxial cable system?
Higher frequencies are less prone to noise and ingress. Low-frequency signals travel faster than high-frequency signals. Low-frequency signals experience less attenuation over distance, making them easier to manage when combining signals from many customers. It allows the cable to be grounded more effectively.
18. What does a high level of Ingress refer to in a CATV system?
The deliberate injection of new channels at the headend External radio-frequency noise entering the cable system through faulty shielding or connectors The intentional signal leaking out of the cable into the atmosphere (Egress) The signal being reflected back to the source due to an impedance mismatch
19. What common unit of measure is used in CATV to express signal power (strength) relative to 1millivolt across a 75ohm impedance?
Watts (W) dBm (decibel-milliwatts) dBmV (decibel-millivolts) Volts (V)
20. What is the primary role of the Grounding Block installed at the point where the drop cable enters the customer's home?
To filter out unwanted high-frequency noise from the television signal To provide a low-resistance path for lightning and transient voltages to dissipate safely into the earth To divide the signal between the customer's modem and set-top box To amplify the signal just before it reaches the customer's TV
21. The international standard that defines the protocols for high-speed data transfer (internet) over existing CATV systems is known as:
DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System)
22. The development of Hybrid Fiber-Coax (HFC) networks was primarily a response to which limitation of the traditional all-coaxial system?
Inability to carry analog television channels High cost of coaxial cable compared to copper telephone wire The excessive number of amplifiers needed over long distances, which introduced noise and reliability issues Lack of a return path for two-way communication
23. In the context of the cable TV spectrum, what range of frequencies is typically reserved for video and high-speed data transmission to the customer?
The low-end VHF band below 54MHz The high-end spectrum 54MHz up to 1GHz and higher The 60Hz AC power frequency The entire 5-1000MHz band, shared equally for both directions
24. What is the primary characteristic of a passive device in a CATV network?
It requires an external power source to function properly It introduces signal gain (boosts the signal) It performs a function (like splitting or filtering) without requiring an external power source It is located exclusively at the customer's premises
25. The quality of digital signal transmission in the cable plant is often measured by Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) or Modulation Error Ratio (MER). What does a higher numerical value for these measurements generally indicate?
Lower data speeds for the subscriber A greater proportion of noise compared to the desired signal Better signal quality with fewer errors and a lower bit error rate (BER) An unneeded boost from an amplifier (over-amplification)