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 Trunk Trunk

end amplifier 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 Ω coaxial cable.

F Connector
The coaxial connector for the 75 Ω coaxial cable as a standard for cable work.
CABLE TV Channels

Midband Channels Superband Channels without letters

Letter Number Video Carrier Letter Number Video Carrier

Designation Designation
A 14 121.25 40 319.25
B 15 127.25 41 325.25
C 16 133.25 42 331.25
D 17 139.25 43 337.25
E 18 145.25 44 343.25
F 19 151.25 45 349.25
G 20 157.25 46 355.25
H 21 163.25 47 361.25
I 22 168.25 48 367.25
49 373.25
Superband Channels 50 379.25
51 385.25
Letter Number Video Carrier 52 391.25
Designation 53 397.25
J 23 217.25
K 24 223.25
L 25 229.25 Additional Midband Assignments
M 26 235.25
N 27 241.25 Letter Number Video Carrier
O 28 247.25 Designation
P 29 253.25 54 89.25
Q 30 259.25 55 95.25
R 31 265.25 56 101.25
S 32 271.25 57 107.25
T 33 277.25 58 97.25
U 34 283.25 59 103.25
V 35 289.25
W 36 295.25 Nominal Channel numbers for used with
X 37 301.25 digital readout converters
Y 38 307.25 Letter Number Video Carrier
Z 39 313.25 Designation
00 109.25
01 115.25
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-to-noise 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
10º 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 sync-suppressed 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

Q
Modulator
90º

3.58
MHz I
M Modulator

Adder or Transmitter
Color Mux
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.