Broadband System - A

Satellites are spaced every

2nd degrees above earth
"C" Band
Toward satellite 6.0 GHz
Toward earth 4.0 GHz

"L" Band
Toward satellite 14.0 GHz
Toward earth 12.0 GHz

CATV - 101.

TV
TRANSMITTER

Headend

Cable area
1

Broadband System - A

To give you plenty of time to read the details of each presentation,

youll need to press the RIGHT ARROW KEY (


) on your PC, so
you can have access to the next slide. This will be the same for all
future presentations in this seminar.

Broadband System - A

Before we start the Seminar on Broadband system, let have a look

at the beginning of the CATV industry in North America.
This will help you better understand what are the requirements for
to-days Broadband System.
This presentation is only a general idea and every subject in this
presentation will be explained in more details in future
presentations.

Broadband System - A

Broadband System - A

CATV :

Community Antenna TV television

CATV systems started in around 1952 and were a one way

communication system, using coaxial cable and RF amplifiers.
These CATV systems distributed television signals, from a
distribution center (Head end) to all the homes in a the cabled
area.
These systems then, were capable of only distributing between
2 to 4 TV channels. From been able to distribute 2 to 4 TV
channel at their start, some of the systems finally carried as
much as 12 television channels and some FM music.

In both country, Canada and the USA, you required a license to

operate a CATV system.
In the United States, the cities give the permit to operate a CATV
system and the FCC controls the technical data.
Federal
Communications
Commission
In Canada, the license is warded by the CRTC
Canadian
Radio
Telecommunications
Commission
7

TV Stations, VHF or UHF.

FM Stations.

Satellites, 4 and 12 GHz (around 1975).

AML (microwave system).

TV Program from local studio.

6.0 MHz

-10

-20

-30

Video section
4.2 MHz
Analog
technology

Audio section
0.9 MHz
FM technology

dB -40

-50

Color section

-60

-70

3.59 MHz
4.5 MHz

VHF Television Signal Frequency.

CH
CH--2 : 55
55..25 MHz

CH
CH--7 : 175
175..25 MHz

CH
CH--3 : 61
61..25 MHz

CH
CH--8 : 181
181..25 MHz

CH
CH--4 : 67
67..25 MHz

CH
CH::-9 : 187
187..25 MHz

* 73
73..5 MHz Int
Int.. disaster freq and other.
other.

CH
CH--10 : 193
193..25 MHz

CH
CH--5 : 77
77..25 MHz

CH
CH--11 : 199
199..25 MHz

CH
CH--6 : 83
83..25 MHz

CH
CH--12 : 205
205..25 MHz

FM : 88 to 108 MHz

CH
CH--13
13:: 211
211..25 MHz

* Notice, the difference in frequency, between CH

CH--4 and CH
CH--5, which
is not a multiple of 6 MHz The reason being, that 73
73..5 MHz is
allocated as an international disaster frequency, that is used by the
Red Cross and some other international organization.
organization.

10

UHF Television signal.

CH-14 : 471.25 MHz to CH-69 : 805.25 MHz
All UHF signals, like the VHF signals, are located in a 6.00
MHz spacing, the UHF stations are located between 471 to
810 MHz
UHF channel, CH-37, 609.25 MHz, in generally not used as it
is employed for Radio Astronomy.

11

Each television channel leaving the head end are controlled by;
Channel processor, ( RF in, RF out)
Modulator, ( Baseband in, RF out)
Satellite Receiver, (4 or 12 GHz in, RF out)
All of the television channels are then combined together with a
channel combiner before they are transmitted to the coaxial
system.

12

Processor
Input
ch.

IF
freq.

Output
ch.

Modulator
IF
freq.

Output
ch.

RF Combiner

Baseband
signal

Satellite
Receiver
Modulator
Baseband
signal

IF
freq.

First Amplifier
of the CATV system

Output
ch.

Microwave
Receiver

Combining Signal at a CATV Head end

13

12 channel plan

FM stations

13

This number television twelve (12) channels was the maximum

possible before the delivery of Push Pull amplifier.

14

21 channel plan

FM stations

14

22 7

13

With Push Pull amplifier, it became possible to carry Mid Band

channels nine (9) between 121 to 170 MHz, for a total of 21 channels

15

Satellites

12
GHz

Satellite
reception
TV
transmitter

4
GHz

FM
transmitter

FM
transmitter
Head end
CATV
system

Up Link
Transmission
Microwave
System

TV
transmitter
16

Coaxial cable consist of :

75 ohms cable.
Center conductor.
Foam (hold the center conductor in place)
Aluminum tube.
Sometimes covert with PVC jacket.

Coaxial cable is the most common way to distribute television channel.

It frequency range is from 5 to 1000 MHz
It is also capable of handling 90 Volts AC requires to operate RF amplifiers.
17

5
TYPE
Main coaxial cable:
P-III-500
0.16
P-III-625
0.13
P-III-750
0.11

50

300

550

865

1,000

MHz

Loss
0.52
0.42
0.30

1.31
1.08
0.78

1.82
1.51
1.25

2.33
1.94
1.60

2.52
2.07
1.74

Main drop installation cable:

RG-59
0.86
1.95
RG-6
0.58
1.53

4.45
3.55

5.95
4.90

7.52
6.10

8.12
6.55

dB/100

Above loss are giving @ 68 degrees F. or 20 degrees C.

18

Behaviour of the coaxial cable versus temperature change

Input next amplifier after 30 dB spacing at 860 MHz

Output previous amplifier

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800 850

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

49

49

31

31

48

48

30

30

47

47

29

29

46

46

28

28

45

45

27

27

44

44

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26

43

43

25

25

42

42

24

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41

40

40

39

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38

37

37

36

36

24

-40 o

23

23
22

22

60 o

21

21
20

20

140 o

19

19

18

18

17

17

Signal after cable equalizer

16

16
4
9
9
.
2
5

15
14

15
14
13

13
50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

700

750

800

850

19

4 output amp.

2 output amp.

1 output amp.

RF amplifier amplifies the signal when it becomes weak

20

Ingress Sleeve

Connection to
Outside tube
Connection to
central conductor

Connectors are required to make the connection between the

amplifiers and the passives equipments on the coaxial cable.
21

Input
cable

Out
cable

Out
cable

RF splitter and coupler give the possibly to send signal

into two or more directions.

22

Standby power
supply are working
on 110 volts AC
or
36/48 Volts DC

Power supply delivers 60 or 90 volts AC thru the

coaxial cable, to permit RF amplifiers to work.
They can be Non-Standby and Stand-By
23

RG-59 or RG-6

Multitap make the connection between the CATV

system and the customer equipment.

24

A CATV system

5-40 MHz

From Headend

Power
Passing
Tap

50-750 MHz

BTD

BLE

RG-59 or RG-6

25

RF amplifier

Coaxial cable

Power Supply

26

27

Broadband CATV systems are now a very complex, Bi-directional

communications network, called; HFC (Hybrid Fiber Coaxial) using
Fiber Optic and Coaxial Cable technologies.
These systems are now delivering the following;
Analog Television programs.
Television on demand or pay per view television.
Digital Television.
HDTV (High Definition Television).
High speed Internet service, by Cablemodem.
Security system.
IP telephony (VoIP).

28

HFC Broadband systems are using fiber optic technology to

transport the signals for the longest distance, between the head end
to a NODE (optical receiver). The node transfers the light signal to RF
signal. The signals then continue thru the coaxial system to feed all
the customers. The coaxial system permits to deliver the signals at
less cost. Fiber optic delivers a better quality signal than coaxial
cable, this is why fiber optic is used to transport the signal for the
long distance.
A HFC system is a bi-directional system, and the working bandwidth
from the head end to the customer is: 50 to 870-1,000 MHz, and from
customer to the head end is: 5 to 40 or 42 MHz.

29

30

In a modern Broadband system, the frequencies below 550 MHz are generally
used for the transport analogical channels (NTSC).

F M s t a t iio
on s

50
MHz

225
MHz

380
MHz

23

51

14

225
MHz

22

40

43

50

77

380
MHz

550
MHz

31

In a modern Broadband system, the frequencies above 550 MHz are generally
used for the transport of the digital portion of the HFC system. QAM digital
channels and standard television channels can well exits side by side.

D D
550
MHz

D D D D D D

D D

78

D D
103

870
MHz

= Digital, Data, IP Telephony, Video On Demand

Standard Television channels can be replaced by digital television or other

digital services (Data, Cable modem, Security system, IP Telephony
system, etc.) on a modern HFC system.

32

Response of a 870 MHz HFC system

15 to 20
dBmV

50
MHz

108
MHz

121.25
MHz

225
MHz

300
MHz

80 NTSC, Analog channels.

450
MHz

550
MHz

750
MHz

870
MHz

220 MHz of 64 or 256 QAM signals.

33

34

coating
cladding
core

9 mc

The transmitted light is guided down the fiber by reflecting off the outside of the
core. The core's index of refraction is slightly higher than that of the surrounding
cladding to insure internal refraction. The core is surrounded by optical material
called the cladding. The cladding causes the light to remain inside the core. The
core and the cladding are usually made of ultra-pure glass called silica. The
materials need to be ultra-pure because impurities in the material can lead to a
reduction of power output. Impurities can add to absorption and scattering,
which would reduce the effectiveness of the fiber. The buffer coating covers the
core and the cladding. The buffer coating is generally made of plastic, which
protects the fiber from moisture and other damages.
35

kT

Mono-mode fiber optic operating frequencies in a HFC

system are 1310 or 1550 nanometers.

36

Performance Characteristics of single mode fibre optic.

SI NGLE-MODE STANDARD FIBER OPTIC

ALLWAVE SINGLE-MODE FIBER OPTIC

Spectral Attenuation ( typical fiber ):

Spectral Attenuation ( All Wave fiber ):

4.0
Loss at :
850 nm = 1.31 dB/km
1310 nm = 0.33 dB/km
1550 nm= 0.19 dB/km

3.5
3.0

2.0

3.5
3.0
2.5

2.0

1.5

1.5

1.0

1.0

b c

0.5

0.0
800

Loss at :
850 nm = 1.31 dB/km
1310 nm = 0.33 dB/km
1550 nm= 0.19 dB/km

dB

dB

2.5

4.0

0.5
0.0

1000

1200
nm

1400

800
1600

1000

1200

1400

1600

nm

The standard fiber optic is mostly used for every day signal transport.
The new AllWave fiber is used for the DWDM and long distance transport.
Notice that the humidity peak at 1400 nm, have been removed on AllWave fiber

37

Dual armored fiber optic cable.

Non-metallic covert fiber optic cable.

Fig-8 Self supporting fiber optic cable.

38

5-40 MHz
Coaxial Cable
5-40 / 5050-870 MHz
50--870 MHz
50

Optical Transmitter (5-1,000 MHz)

Return Optical Receiver
5-40 MHz

Optical Node

39

30 km of P-III-625 coaxial cable

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

The amplifiers are spaced at 22 dB @ 450 MHz, for this distance

80 RF amplifiers will be required

RF Amp.

RF Amp.

C/N will be: 40.97 dB

30 Kilometres of fibre optic, operating at 1310 nm

will means a 9.9 dB loss.

C/N will be: 52.00 dB

Above, shows advantage of fiber optic, over coaxial cable, which are:
Better Carrier to Noise, CTB, CSO specifications at the end of the system.
The 30 km fibre link will give more stable signal even with temperature change.
The fibre optic link will require less actives equipments than a coaxial link.
A 30 km coaxial section will require 80 amplifiers (with P-III-625 cable).
A 30 km fibre optic link will require a 10 dBm optical transmitter (operating @ 1310 nm) at
the head end and one optical receiver at the other end.

40

An OTDR uses microwave technology to verify the quality and the length of fiber optic.
41

Coaxial Section
NODE

Fiber optic Return 5 / 40 MHz

Fiber Optic Forward 50 / 870 MHz

Coaxial Return 5 / 40 MHz

Coaxial Forward 50 / 870 MHz

RSVP

Optical Interconnection
Monitoring System

Headend Equipment

T1 / OC 192
to Tel Co

Optical Equipment
RF Interconnection
5 to 42 MHz

Cablemodem
IP-Telephone

RF Interconnection
50 to 870 MHz

RF Sweep

Return Alignment and

Ingress Control System
50 to 52 or 73.5 MHz

42

Response of a Optical Receiver or a RF amplifier

for a 870 MHz HFC system.
48.5 dBmV
47.0 dBmV

4 dB

6 dB

10 dB 11.5 dB
37.0 dBmV

50
MHz

108
MHz

121.25
MHz

225
MHz

300
MHz

80 NTSC, Analog channels.

450
MHz

550
MHz

750
MHz

870
MHz

220 MHz of 64 or 256 QAM signals.

43

Each pocket (section

(section)) of a HFC system can have 50 to 1,500 subs.

Optical receiver

Coaxial cable

Fiber optic cable

Bi-directional RF amplifier

44

Head end of a HFC system.

Description of a HFC Head end.
Coaxial cable - Fibre optic.
Passive equipments for a HFC system.
Description of the outside plan.
RF Amplifiers.
Fibre optic.
Fibre optic management.
System distortion calculation.
Understanding bi-directionality.
Adjusting a HFC system.
Home installation.
Test equipments required for a HFC system.
CLI. (Ingress & Egress)
CMTS, DOCSIS, QAM signal. Cable modem.
Mode on DOCSIS.
45

We will come back in more details in all the

subjects seen so far in future seminar.

46

47