Installation & Service 101

Installation & Service 101

Overview
What to Learn
CATV History
How we receive the signals
Components of the HFC Network
Advantages of the HFC Network
FTTx & Fiber Deep networks
Where It All Started
A few years after World
War II, John Walson, a
Pennsylvania appliance
store owner, placed an
antenna on top of a local
mountain and ran a cable
down to his store and to a
few of his customers
homes. By doing this, he
created North Americas
first CATV Community
Antenna Television.
Where We Get the Signals
Over-the-Air
Broadcasts
Local Feed
Microwave
Satellite
The Hybrid Fiber Coax Network
This system replaces the trunk lines and
amplifiers of the Tree and Branch Network
with fiber optic cables and optical receivers
The HFC system makes two directional signal
flow possible which allows us to provide our
customers with digital video, high-speed
internet, and digital telephone services.
Fiber Components
Power Supply
Enclosure
Node
Snowshoe
HFC
Signals travel from the
Headend over fiber to
the node a type of
optical receiver.
Unlike electrical
signals over coax,
optical signal can
travel more than 40
miles over fiber
without amplification.
The Node
The node acts as a
translator it converts
optical energy into electrical
energy in the downstream
direction and electrical
energy into optical energy in
the upstream direction.
Redundancy
One way to increase
security and
reliability in the HFC
network is to create
a redundant ring,
sometimes called
ring-in-ring
architecture.
A redundant ring
can ensure
uninterrupted
service to all
customers if there is
a break in the fiber.
Fiber Deep
FTTH
Fiber To The Home Fiber optic
network extends all the way to the
side of the home. It still converts
from Fiber to Coax at the NIU
location.
Passive &
Active Devices
Basic Electrical Concepts in Cable
Active Device: Anything that requires
electricity in order to operate.
Node Line Extender House Amp
Passive Device: Anything that does not
require electricity in order to operate.
Tap Directional Coupler Splitter
Drop Amplifier Overview
Common Drop Amplifier configurations:
Single output, 15 dB gain
Two output, 11 dB effective gain
Four output, 7 dB effective gain
Eight output, 4 dB effective gain
Do Not use to compensate for a cable
fault.
Input range: 3 8 dBmV
Drop Amplifier
Single Output
+15 dB
Return Path Loss = Minimal Forward Gain = 15 dB
Drop Amplifier
Without Power Inserter
DC
Input
RF
Input
RF
OU
T
/
DC
IN
7.5
dB
7.5
dB
1
7.5
dB
2
7.5
dB
3
SUBSCRIBER
AMPLIFER
AC ADAPTER
+
Drop Power Inserter
Inserts power onto the drop to power the drop
amplifier . . .
Drop Amplifier
With Power Inserter
DC
Input
RF
Input
RF
OU
T
/
DC
IN
7.5
dB
7.5
dB
1
7.5
dB
2
7.5
dB
3
SUBSCRIBER
AMPLIFER
IN TV
POWER
IN
AC ADAPTER
+
DC Power
RF Signal
Passive Devices
Splitters Insertion Loss
Insertion Loss : Loss In-Out
Passive Devices
Splitters Isolation Loss
Isolation Loss :
Loss Out-Out
________ Loss Insertion
Backwards Splitter
Passive Devices
Directional Couplers Tap
Loss
Tap Loss : Loss In-Tap
Passive Devices
DC Isolation Loss
Isolation Loss :
Loss Tap-Out
Insertion Loss :
Loss In-Out
Passive Devices
Directional Tap Schematic
Passive Devices
Directional Tap Schematic
Passive Devices
DT Insertion Loss
Passive Devices
DT Insertion Loss
Passive Devices
DT Isolation Loss
Passive Devices
DT Isolation Loss
Isolation Loss :
Tap port-Tap port
& Tap port-Out
Passive Devices
DT Tap Loss
Passive Devices
DT Tap Loss
DT Plant Design
30
The Aerial
Drop
Connecting the House to the Plant
Designing the Drop
Drop Components
The Tap
The Drop
The Demarc
Where to Locate the
Drop
The Tap
The directional tap splits off a
portion of the signal to send to each
customers drop.
Taps typically have 2, 4, or 8 output
ports.
Hardware at the Tap
Directional Tap
Span Clamp
J-Hook
ID
Tags
Locking Terminators
Hardware for the Drop
RG6 Fitting
RG59 Fitting
Grommet Silicon Grease
Zip Tie
Hardware for the Demarc
Grounding Splitters Ground Blocks
Grounding Hardware P-Hook
Design Factors to
Consider
Trespass
Clearance
Other Utilities
Plants/Trees
Storage Buildings
Outlet Location
Grounding
Swimming Pools
Appearance
Clearance
Spacing at the Tap
Climbing Space
Maintain 30 climbing space
for all utility technicians.
Distance from Pole
Span clamps must be at
least 24 from pole center.

Maintain
30
Climbing
Space
at the Pole
Span Clamps
Must Be at Least
24From Pole
Center
Mid-Span
Uses:
to avoid obstructions
to maintain proper clearances
to avoid crossing other utility lines
to avoid property trespass
Always use two span clamps when
running a mid-span drop.
The mid-span requires four 3-3-5 wraps:
One at the tap
Two at mid span
One at the house
Start your mid-span at the tap.
Never start at the house!
Trespass
Always use
a mid-span
drop to
avoid
crossing
property
lines
A J-Hook can be used to gain extra height
or to clear an obstruction.
Hammer the J-Hook into the utility pole until 1
1/2 is exposed there should be no thread
showing.
Be careful not to obstruct the 30 climbing space.
Always attach loose cable to the utility pole using
clips or staples.
Never use a P-Hook in place of a J-Hook
J-Hook
Installing
the
Drop
Coax Messenger Cable
Center
Conductor
Dielectric
Outer
Conductor
(Shield)
Jacket
Messenger
Wire
Installing F-Connectors
Make sure dielectric is flush
with base of fitting before
compressing.
Make sure there is no
dielectric or braid clinging to
the center conductor.
Do not scrape center
conductor with any metal
objects.
Leave stinger 1/16 to 1/8
beyond the end of the fitting
do not cut flush.
Weatherproofing
Use a grommet and silicone grease on
every outdoor connection.
Make drip loops and service loops.
No grease should touch the
center conductor or the
dielectric.
Steps for Mid-Span
Attachment
1. Cut the messenger wire be
careful not to cut into the
jacket.
2. Peel back messenger wire in
both directions.
3. Starting with tap end, install
drop hanger and place on the
span clamp.
4. Roll up a service loop with a 4-
6 diameter.
5. Place zip ties on the service
loop at 10, 2, and 6 oclock.
6. Install another drop hanger on
the house end.
Connect to Tap
Connect Mid-Span
Connect to House
Avoiding the Bite
Cable TV Installer Killed After Falling 21
From a Ladder
The victim had not reset the ladder and was
not wearing fall protection as required by the
company. The co-worker started to tell him to
put on the safety belt when the victim cut the
cable leading away from the junction box. As
the tension from the cable was released, the
main cable and strand swung backwards,
whipping the ladder attached to it. Although
the ladder did not come off the strand, the
movement threw the victim off the ladder to
the asphalt road. The co-worker ran to the
house and called the police who responded
with the first aid squad. The victim was
transported to the local hospital where he
was pronounced dead.
Proper Slack
Two considerations for proper drop slack:
Six inches of slack for every 50 feet of drop even with a mid-span
Try to keep drop parallel with other utility drops
50
6
Attachment to the House
The P-Hook should attach
through the fascia board
into the supporting stud.
This supporting stud can be
located by finding the nails
that hold the fascia board in
place.
No threads should show.
The tail of the P-Hook
should point to the ground.
Never use a J-Hook in place
of a P-Hook.
Evaluating
an
Existing
Drop
Inspecting the Tap
Broken
Tap Port
Squirrel
Chew
Loose
Lashing
Wire
Loose, corroded, or improperly installed F-
connectors.
Customer drops with incorrect or missing tags.
Damaged drop cable, messenger, or
attachments.
Un-terminated tap ports.
Checking Signal Level
In order to save troubleshooting time and
to prevent unnecessary trips up the
ladder, always check signal level in three
places on every job:
The Tap
The Demarc
The Outlet
Low, middle, and high analog
Checking for Ingress
In order to check a drop for
ingress:
1. Disconnect both ends of the drop.
2. Place a 75-ohm terminator (locking or
non-locking will work) on one end of
the drop.
3. Place your signal level meter on the
other end of the drop.
4. Power the signal level meter on, go
into the Navigator menu, and select
the ingress detection icon. (This
process is covered more completely in
the Signal Level Control lesson.)
Upgrading the Demarc
Replace all painted or
corroded splitters, ground
blocks, fittings, and
grounding hardware.
Replace any
aftermarket splitters
with company-issued
splitters that
accommodate 5-
1000mHz.
Make sure that all
grounding hardware is
shiny replace any old or
corroded hardware.
Grounding
- Grounding -
The National Electric
Code
The NEC provides a set of standards for
the electrical and communications wiring
in homes.
The basic NEC requirement is for a common ground.
We accomplish this by bonding together our service
at the power ground location.
Purpose of a Ground
Protects people from electric shock.
Protects equipment from damage
caused by a surge of electricity.
Bonding and Grounding
Bonding connecting all electrical sources
together.
Grounding connecting all sources to the earth.


Bond to power
ground wire.
Grounding
Use #12 wire do not use messenger
wire!
Ground wire should not exceed 10 or the
distance to the nearest outlet
whichever is shorter.
The key to a good ground is co-bonding
with the existing power ground.
Replace any corroded connections.
Splitters/ground blocks must be
mounted horizontally (left and right).
Hazards of Improper
Grounding
Signal
Levels
Signal Levels
Identify the unit
measuring signal
strength.
List the factors that
effect signal strength.
Calculate cable loss.
The Decibel-Millivolt
dBmV is the standard unit to measure
signal strength.
It was derived from Alexander Graham
Bells experiments of sound intensity.
0dBmV = 1 mV across 75
4 mV +12 dBmV
2 mV +6 dBmV
1 mV 0 dBmV
.5 mV -6 dBmV
.25 mV -12 dBmV
Voltage Equivalent Signal Level
Reference
Signal Strength
Factors That affect RF Transmission
Attenuation loss of signal Signal Gain - amplification
Cable Loss
Passive Loss
Cable Loss
Size of Cable
Frequency
Length
Type of Cable
Temperature
All values are expressed in dB
Cable Loss
Size of Cable
Drop cables are identified by RG (radio grade)
Plant distribution cables are identified by their
diameter in decimal inches.
Frequency
Commonly measured in MHz
Skin Effect
Cable Loss (cont.)
Length
All cable loss charts are shown in dB / 100
ft.
Type of Cable
This corresponds to the manufacturer and
the application.
Temperature
The higher the temperature the more cable
attenuation.
For all practical purpose, we can ignore this
effect in the drop system.
Cable Loss Calculations
7.52 6.97 5.95 5.10 4.45 1.95 1.51 0.86 RG-59
6.10 5.65 4.90 4.15 3.55 1.53 1.19 0.58 RG-6
3.98 3.65 3.04 2.60 2.25 0.92 0.74 0.38 RG-11
865
MHz
750
MHz
550
MHz
400
MHz
300
MHz
50 MHz 32 MHz 5 MHz
Cable
Size
Values in dB / 100 ft
Example:
100 ft of RG-6 has 5.65 dB of attenuation at 750 MHz
The same cable will attenuate 0.58 dB at 5 MHz.
What is the loss of 250 ft of RG-6 at 865 MHz?
The formula for calculating cable loss:
footage
X
dB of Loss
100 ft
x
250 ft
1
6.10 dB
100 ft
= 15.25 dB
Signifies loss
Signal Transmission
Signal Transmission
Signal Transmission
Define tilt.
Identify coaxial cable
impedance.
List causes of
impedance mismatch.
Tilt
Tilt is defined as the difference in signal levels at different
cable channels.
Typically used to describe the difference between high an low
carriers.
Used to offset the effect that cable loss has on signal
levels.
Signal Distribution
As signals travel down the distribution lines, the higher
channels will eventually have lower signal levels than the
lower channels.
Think back to our discussion on skin effect.
This is why you will see different tap values in the CATV
plant.
The closer a tap is to an amplifier, the higher the tap value.
Cable Impedance
Cable Impedance
Impedance is the apparent RF resistance between
the center conductor and the outer conductor.
Changing the characteristic impedance can affect
the cables transmission quality.
The characteristic impedance is 75
Impedance Factors
Impedance Factors
3 Factors that determine cable impedance
Ratio of the center conductor to outer conductor
Distance from the center conductor to outer
conductor
Type of dielectric material used
Group Activity
Group Activity
List some things that can cause
the cable impedance to change.
List some things you can do to
prevent impedance mismatch.
(a loss of signal energy do to a
change in the cables
impedance)
Frequency
Frequency
Frequency
Identify commonly used
term for frequency.
Define modulation.
Identify forward and
return channel
allocations.
Radio Frequency (RF)
Frequency the number of cycles over time
(cycles per second)
In CATV you will commonly hear Megahertz (MHz).
(millions of cycles per second)
TV Channels
Modulation placing intelligent information onto a radio
frequency (RF) carrier wave
The information is allocated a 6 MHz space called a channel.
Channel Allocation
Typical System Channel Allocation
Off-Air Allocation
Signal
Level
Meter
Signal Level Meter
State the purpose of a
Signal Level Meter.
Maintain your SLM.
Measure signal levels
on the cable plant.
Signal Level Meter (SLM)
A SLM is basically a frequency tuned
voltmeter.
The main uses for a Tech are:
Measure cable signals
Locate non-CATV signals on the cable
line.
Preventative Maintenance
The key to accurate measurements
and long time usage of any meter is
proper care and maintenance.
Change jumpers regularly
Replace all F-81s frequently
Calibrate noise floor once a month or if dropped
Protect from the elements
Preventative Maintenance
Failure to maintain
these items may
result in improper
readings
Keep them in
check
Preventative Maintenance
Protect meter from
extreme moisture.
Do not expose LCD
to direct sunlight for
prolonged periods.
Keep LCD from
freezing, store
inside when not in
use.
Signal
Signal
Leakage
Leakage
Signal Leakage
Explain how signal
leakage can occur.
Define egress and
ingress.
State the FCC Rules for
signal leakage.
Identify common sources
of signal leakage.
Where signals
Where signals
escape (egress)
escape (egress)
signals can
signals can
come in
come in
(ingress).
(ingress).
e
e
i
i
egress
egress
ingress
ingress
The Federal Communications Commission
govern the maximum strength of signals
that can be leaked from the cable system.
The amount of leakage that is measured
and repaired within a CATV system is
known as Cumulative Leakage Index (CLI).
If signal leakage is left unchecked the leak
can interfere with other operating
frequencies, including the aeronautical
band.
The FCC
Common Causes
Animal chews
Poor quality cable/construction
Customer installs
Un-terminated tap ports
Poorly installed connectors
Signal Theft
90% of all signal leakage occurs in the cable drop 90% of all signal leakage occurs in the cable drop
and/or its related fittings. and/or its related fittings.
75% of all service calls are signal leakage related. 75% of all service calls are signal leakage related.
Troubleshooting
Video Problems
Divide and Conquer!
Steps for Troubleshooting
1. Analyze
2. Isolate
3. Fix
4. Verify
Remember the basics.
Always know what you expect your
signal levels should be before you
measure them.
Know how the system
works
Know how the system
works
Distinguish the symptoms
1. Interview the customer
How many TVs?
Is problem on all TVs?
How many outlets?
When did problem start?
What other symptoms have they noticed?
Any recent work on house or yard?
Is data/phone service having problems?
2. Verify symptoms
Verify picture, color and sound on all channels
Verify local ingress channels
Check that all digital services are available
Verify Everything
Check signal levels at:
Tap
Demarc
Outlet
Check for quality components
Jumpers
Fittings
5-1000 MHz Splitters
RG6 Cable
Verify Everything
Check for leakage
Verify proper splitter configuration
Verify proper grounding and demarc layout
Signal
Level
Issues
Possible Signal Level Issues
Signal level too low
Signal level too high
Improper frequency
response
Outages
Symptoms of Low Signal
Level
Analog Channels:
Snowy picture
Digital Channels:
Tiling
Freeze Frame
No Picture/Temporarily Off Air
Signal Level Too Low
Verify signals at tap
Verify appropriate attenuation through drops and
passive devices
Verify proper splitter configuration
Signal Level Too High
Check for unnecessary amp
Line issue
Improper Freq. Response
(Cont.)
When troubleshooting freq. response,
remember:
High frequencies cant swim.
(water or corrosion in drop or passive
device)
Low frequencies cant jump.
(sucked out or loose fittings, worn out
barrels)
Outages
If you suspect on outage, check signal levels at
the tap first and work back toward the outlet.
If outage exists at tap, consult supervisor for
maintenance workstart. (Remember to check
multiple tap ports.)
If outage exists only at demarc and outlet,
troubleshoot the drop and demarc.
If outage exists only at the outlet, troubleshoot
from the demarc to the outlet.
Ingress
Ingress Symptoms Ingress
Tools
Analog Channel:
Ghosting
Double Image
Lines
Audio Buzz / Radio
Signal
Digital Channel:
Tiling
Freeze Frame
No Pic
Temporarily off air
T
SLM
Sniffer
Hot Drop
75 ohm
terminator
Addressable Box
or VCR
Test set
Ingress Causes
Damaged cable
Bad fitting
Loose fitting
Push-on jumpers
Damaged CPE
Customer theft devices
Damaged tap
Damaged network
Leakage in vicinity
Ingress Troubleshooting
The key to ingress repair is isolating the
problem.
Quickly look the system over for obvious
problems push on jumpers, loose fittings,
animal chew. Check for Leakage!
If there is no obvious problem, use a hot drop or
an SLM to isolate the problem.
Tap to TV
Tap to demarc
Demarc to TV
Ingress Troubleshooting
If you suspect ingress from the television:
Place a non-locking 75 ohm terminator on the TVs
cable input if you have color, picture, or sound on any
local ingress channel, the TV has direct ingress.
Disconnect the television and place a test set in its
place if the ingress disappears, the customers TV has
direct ingress.
To detect ingress on Digital Channels:
Check the boxs diagnostic menu.
Common Digital Box Problems
Yes/No on hit (usually a return path issue)
High pass filter on line (upgrades or failed self-
installs)
Pulled out or loose fitting
Defective passive device
No Data/Guide Problems (usually signal
level issue)
Check signal levels.
Check diagnostic menu
(See DCT manual for specific errors)

Common Digital Box

Problems
Tiling/Freeze Frame/No Picture/Temporarily Off
Air
Low signal level
Low SNR
Ingress
Missing Channels/Premiums
Low signal level
Low SNR Ingress
Back Office issue (Call dispatch.)