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Introduction to HFC Networks

OVERVIEW

The Hybrid-Fibre-Coax (HFC) architecture has been adapted by the majority of cable operators for internet, telephony and multimedia services. Understanding the performance of the individual components in an HFC network is important to estimate their impact on the communication signals in the return path (from customer to headend).
The course gives an introduction to the architecture and the basic components of the return path of an HFC network. Beside this, the attendee will get insight in the different sources of interference, their influence on the communication signals, and some appropriate mitigation techniques.

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

Understand the architecture of an HFC network.
Knowledge of the performance of basic components in the return path of an HFC network.
Understanding of the sources of interference and of the techniques to reduce the interference.

CONTENT

PART 1: INTRODUCTION
What is an HFC network?

PART 2: SIGNALS
Down- and upstream, voltage, power, and frequencies.

PART 3: HFC NETWORK ARCHITECTURE
HFC and backbone, optical nodes, coaxial distribution plant.

PART 4: COMPONENTS
Passive: coaxial cable, splitter, tap, diplex filter, optical fibre.
Active: amplifier, NTU, laser, photo detector, optical node.

PART 5: NOISE
Internal interference: intermodulation, thermal noise, group delay, amplitude flatness, micro-reflections, HUM modulation, fibre-optic noise.
External interference: ingress, impulse noise and the entry points.

PART 6: RETURN PATH NOISE MITIGATION
Hardware techniques: optimal network installation, filtering of upstream components, equalization of attenuation, improved home network.
Software techniques: frequency hopping, robust modulation techniques, FEC, interleaving.

PREREQUISITES

Some experience with RF and IP, basic electronics knowledge.