Always Learning

Digital Basics for Cable TV Systems
Jeffrey L. Thomas
Francis M. Edgington

ISBN-10: 0137439156
ISBN-13:  9780137439157

Publisher:  Prentice Hall
Copyright:  1999
Format:  Paper; 400 pp
Published:  11/16/1998
Status: Instock


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Table of Contents

(NOTE: Chapter begin with What You Will Learn and end with Summary, Questions for Review, and Selected Bibliography sections).



1. Digital Signal Measurement Guidelines.

Defining analog and digital for communications. Digital and analog, similarities and differences. Performance and measurements preview.



2. Modulation and Frequency Management.

Preparing information for distribution. The carrier concept. Modulation. Amplitude modulation. Frequency and phase modulation. Viewing the signal in the frequency domain. What is in a signal? AM, FM and PM in the frequency domain.



3. How an Analog Wave Becomes Digital Data.

Digital data. Sending digital data. Analog to digital signal processing. Signal sampling and quantizing. Transmission bandwidth. Bits to bandwidth. Bit rate. Restoring the analog signal from the digital signal.



4. Distributing, Layering, and Multiplexing.

Future distribution challenges. What is layering? Digital signal layering. The digital-analog allegory. Combining digital signals. Multiplexing in broadband cable and HFC systems.



5. Introduction to Digital Modulation Formats.

Modulation and multiplex formats. Digital modulation formats. QPSK and QAM. VSB and DVSB.



6. Viewing Digital Modulation.

Comparing analog and digital video signals. Viewing modulation with vector diagrams. I/Q modulation. Decision points. Jitter. Constellation and eye diagrams. Symbols, symbol rate, and bit rate. Filtering a digitally modulated signal.



7. Error Correction, Equalization, and Compression.

The keys to signal quality and efficiency. The causes of errors. Error correction. Bit, packet and frame error rates. Reed-Solomon error correction coding. What FEC statistics can tell. Adaptive equalization removes linear distortion. Limitations to adaptive equalization. How adaptive equalization works. View system response from the equalizer. Digital video depends on compression. Types of compression. Compression forms and formats. MPEG-2 compression uses. Trouble from compression. Compression measurements.



8. Digital Signal Quality.

Why measure signal quality? What degrades digital signal quality? Bit error rate. Measuring bit error rate. Viewing modulation with constellation and eye diagrams. Troubleshooting with constellation diagrams. Modulation quality measurements. Error vector magnitude. Measuring EVM. Modulation error ratio. MER diagnostics for troubleshooting and margin. Jitter is all in the timing. Instruments for signal quality measurements.



9. Average Power Measurements.

What is a power measurement? Power transfer. Digital signals are different. Types of power measurements. Average power. Power and bandwidth. Relative signal level measurements. Measuring digital signal average power. Total system power.



10. Peak, Peak-to-Average, and Burst Power Measurements.

The influence of peak and burst power on signal quality. The nature of non-continuous power. Peak power and peak-to-average power ratio. Measuring peak-to-average ratio. Measuring burst power. Peak and burst measurements.



11. Distortion, Noise, and Interference.

Effects on digital signals. Intermodulation distortion. Distortion levels. A new role for noise measurements. Troubleshooting and measuring noise performance. Interference. Test equipment for noise and distortion measurements.



Appendix A: Glossary.


Appendix B: Performance and Measurement Map.


Appendix C: Equipment for Testing Digital Signals in Cable TV Systems.


Appendix D: Answers to Chapter Questions.


Appendix E: Collected Bibliography.


Index.



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Author Bios

JEFFREY L. THOMAS has worked for Hewlett-Packard for over 25 years on measurement equipment definition and application for the cable television industry. He currently writes application and training materials for use in several RF communications areas, including cellular radio. He is author of Cable Television Proof-of-Performance: A Practical Guide to Cable TV Compliance Measurements Using a Spectrum Analyzer.

FRANCIS EDGINGTON specializes in designing instrumentation for making cable television proof-of-performance measurements; defining parameters for new CATV digital test; and helping Hewlett-Packard cable television professionals make more accurate, useful measurements.


Backcover Copy


74391-4

Make the transition to digital CATV: the complete, easy-to-read guide!

Cable TV is rapidly moving from the familiar world of analog signals to a new digital world where yesterday's rules for optimizing performance no longer apply. If you install, upgrade, or maintain digital or mixed digital/analog systems, Digital Basics for Cable Television Systems is your complete guide to this new world. Friendly and authoritative, it's all you need to know to deliver digital services with maximum quality and reliability.

  • Simple fundamentals of digital signals and transport.
  • How digital signals differ from analog signals.
  • Complete coverage of digital testing and proof-of-performance.
  • Key digital measurement techniques, including the use of a spectrum analyzer.
  • Digital signal composition features, such as adaptive equalization, error correction, and compression.

With this book's simple illustrations, definitions and examples, you'll find it easy to master key digital CATV concepts such as layering, modulation and multiplexing. You'll learn how to measure digital signal power and burst power, and the impact of distortion, noise and interference on digital signals.

Digital Basics for Cable Television Systems is also a great reference, with a convenient glossary of digital terminology, a performance measurement map, a test equipment survey, exercises with answers, and much more. Whether you're a technician or an engineer, this book will help you maximize your digital system's performance - and your own.

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