Cable Television generally, any system that distributes television signals by means of coaxial or fibre-optic cables.

The term also includes systems that distribute signals solely via satellite. Cable-television systems originated in the United States in the late 1940s and were designed to improve reception of commercial network broadcasts in remote and hilly areas. During the 1960s they were introduced in many large metropolitan areas where local television reception is degraded by the reflection of signals from tall buildings. Commonly known as community antenna television (CATV), these cable systems use a community antenna to receive broadcast signals (often from communications satellites), which they then retransmit via cables to homes and establishments in the local area subscribing to the service. Subscribers pay a specified monthly service charge in addition to an initial installation fee.

Head end

Trunk amplifier

Trunk amplifier

Bridging amplifier

Line Extension Amplifier

Definition of terms Head end The starting point for cable signals. It is a multiple receiver equipment that picked up broadcast signals then combined and amplified for a proper level to be fed into the trunk lines. Trunk Amplifier An amplifier inserted at regular intervals along the trunks route to make up for cable losses. Amplifiers are place at regular intervals to keep the signal up to standard level of 1 to 3 mV. Bridging Amplifier Type of amplifier is for a branch for the main trunk to feed a particular neighborhood in the cable system. The typical gain is 20 to 40 dB. The output is for the branch lines to individual subscriber.

Line Extension Amplifier Long line runs from the bridging amplifier may require that line-extender amplifier be inserted in the branch line to make for cable losses in that branch. Directional Coupler A device used to tap off the signal. This is also used to maintain a very small signal power so that line is not loaded by all branches. Coaxial Cable A Transmission medium used to deliver signal power from the head end to cable TV subscriber. Power Supply The power supply may be placed at long intervals the cable itself used to carry the DC power. Input for the power supply is 220 V AC tapped from the power line on the same pole in an aerial system. Typical DC supply voltage for cable amplifiers is 24 V. Subscriber Drop or Line Tap The final tap on the system feeds the drop line for the subscriber. BALUN Unit The word Balun is actually an abbreviation of Balance-to-Unbalance connection. This is used in order to match the impedance of the TV receiver to the 75 coaxial cable. F Connector The coaxial connector for the 75 coaxial cable as a standard for cable work. CABLE TV Channels Midband Channels Letter Numb Designatio er n A 14 B 15 C 16 D 17 E 18 F 19 G 20 H 21 I 22 Superband Channels Letter Designatio n J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Numbe r 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 Video Carrier 217.25 223.25 229.25 235.25 241.25 247.25 253.25 259.25 265.25 271.25 277.25 283.25 289.25 295.25 301.25 307.25 313.25 Video Carrier 121.25 127.25 133.25 139.25 145.25 151.25 157.25 163.25 168.25

Superband Channels without letters Letter Designatio n Numb er 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 Video Carrier 319.25 325.25 331.25 337.25 343.25 349.25 355.25 361.25 367.25 373.25 379.25 385.25 391.25 397.25

Additional Midband Assignments Letter Designatio n Numbe r 54 55 56 57 58 59 Video Carrier 89.25 95.25 101.25 107.25 97.25 103.25

Nominal Channel numbers for used with digital readout converters Letter Numb Video Designatio er Carrier

n 00 01 109.25 115.25

Distortion in the Cable Signals A cable amplifiers should provide maximum signal to make up for the cable losses and still provide a good signal-tonoise ratio for no snow in the picture. However, the signal levels must be held within limits because the amplifiers produces serious distortion with excessive signal. Harmonic Distortion When amplifiers are over driven, harmonics distortion appears in the output. The harmonics are multiple signal frequencies being amplified. Harmonics distortion is actually a result of amplitude distortion. Cross Modulation Third order harmonics and effects of cross modulation are more serious results of overload distortion. The nonlinear amplifier characteristic causes an overloaded amplifier stage to operate as a mixer stage, the input signals are detected , and the modulation is extracted. A transfer to the modulation to another carrier frequency can then occur. Spurious Signals Another effect of amplifier overload is the production of spurious frequencies that are not harmonically related to desired signal frequencies are produced as well the sum and difference frequencies caused by the mixer action with nonlinear operation. Temperature Effects Another problem is that the signal level changes because of the effect of temperature on the cable losses. The attenuation increases for higher temperature at an approximate rate of 1 percent per 10 F rise. Scrambling Method The most common method of scrambling the signal is known as sync suppression Sync is compressed only in the RF modulation envelope of the video carrier in the cable channel. Then the receiver cannot lock in with the syncsuppressed signal. Descrambling Method The descrambling unit reverses the effect of the scrambler at the head end by restoring sync to the RF signal. Sync is restored by means of a keyed RF attenuator bypassed with a diode switch.

Long Distance Links for Cable TV Supertrunks In this method, larger cables are used and the cable channels are heterodyned down to lower frequencies. Both techniques reduces cable losses. Microwave Links Point to point trunk connections to bring Cable TV signals to remote subscribers. It uses a microwave frequencies ranging from 0.3 G HZ to 300 GHz. Fiber Optics Latest type of communications link uses a cable made with thin glass fibers that serve as a conduit for light over long distances with little losses.

Color Television Standards

Matrix

90

Q Modulator

3.58 MHz M

I Modulator

Adder or Color Mux

Transmitter

Definition of terms Q signal Color video signal transmitted as amplitude modulation of the 3.58 MHz C Signal with I signal. Hues are green and magenta. The bandwidth is 0 to 0.5 MHz. I Signal Color video signal transmitted as amplitude modulation of the 3.58 MHz C Signal. Hue axis is orange and cyan. This is only color video signal with a bandwidth of 0 to 1.3 MHz. C Signal-Chrominance Signal Is a 3.58 MHz color subcarrier with quadrature modulation by I and Q color video signals. Y Signal Luminance Signal Also refers to brightness for either color or monochrome information. Matrix Combines signals from the camera tube in specific proportion to produce the I signal, Q signal, and Y signal. R-Y signal--- Color mixture is close to red with a bandwidth of 0 to 0.5 MHz B-Y signal--- Color mixture is close to blue with a bandwidth of 0 to 0.5 MHz G-Y signal--- Color mixture is close to green with a bandwidth of 0 to 0.5 MHz Color Burst An 8 to 11 cycles of 3.58 MHz color subcarrier Compatibility The ability of a monochrome receiver to use Y signal for picture in black and white. Also allows color receiver to reproduced monochrome picture.

HUE It refers to the color itself. 3.58 MHZ Subcarrier In color television the 3.58 MHz modulates the RF picture carrier. Subcarrier is a carrier that modulates another carrier wave of higher frequency.