Broadband Cable TV Access Networks: From Technologies to Applications [Paperback]

Shlomo Ovadia (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130864218 | ISBN-13: 978-0130864215 | Publication Date: March 26, 2001 | Edition: 1

Next-generation CATV systems: architecture, protocols, technologies, and applications. *Cable modems and digital set-top boxes: architecture and operation *HFC and its competitors: DSL, FTTL, DBS, and MMDS *Evolving from two-way HFC networks to next-generation DWDM access *Key applications: EPGs, IPPV, VOD, web browsing, e-mail, e-commerce, and more Broadband cable TV networks are undergoing a massive transformation, from simply broadcasting analog TV channels to providing sophisticated, two-way interactive services such as high-speed Internet access and video-on-demand. Now, one of the field's leading experts reviews the technologies, protocols, applications associated with the CATV revolution, and previews the migration path from today's two-way hybrid fiber/coax networks to the awesome capacities of tomorrow's DWDM fiber networks. Coverage includes: *HFC cable networks vs. the competition: DSL, FTTL, DBS, and MMDS *Key fiber-optics transmission technologies: directly and externally modulated laser transmitters, optical receivers, and Erbium-doped optical fiber amplifiers (EDFAs) *Architecture of DWDM access networks *Hardware architecture and operation of digital set-top boxes and cable modems *Software architecture and applications for digital set-top boxes Ovadia offers in-depth analyses of single and multiple-wavelength fiber-optics transmission impairments over HFC and DWDM networks, and presents the emerging two-way DWDM network architecture. Finally, he discusses the DOCSIS cable modem protocol, as well as key set-top box's applications such as electronic program guides (EPGs), video-on-demand (VOD), Internet-based applications such as e-mail, and e-commerce. Whether you're an engineer, scientist, cable professional, manager, or investor, if you want to understand where cable is headed, you need Cable TV Access Networks: From Technologies to Applications.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Cable television networks, since they have an enormous capacity to transmit analog and digital information and reach into almost every North American home, are being called upon to serve as the infrastructure for all sorts of consumer services. In Broadband Cable TV Access Networks: From Technologies to Applications, Intel Corporation expert Shlomo Ovadia explains the operation of cable television networks for the benefit of network designers, operations engineers, and people engaged in designing cable modems and other equipment. The approach in this book is detailed and specialized, but the clear writing style, attention to detail, and eagerness to explain how principles extrapolate out to customer services make it outstanding.

Ovadia approaches the subject through electrical engineering and electronics principles, illustrating explanations with circuit diagrams, oscilloscope traces, equations, and plots. Explanations of fundamentals are accompanied by discussions with block diagrams, and are dissected in ever greater detail.

While this book has done a great job of explaining, from a technical point of view, the increasing overlap of the cable television network with the switched telephone network and the Internet, be sure to read Telecommunications Convergence for a more (but not entirely) business-oriented look at the issue. --David Wall

Topics covered: Cable television networks and why they work, with emphasis on how they can be adapted for all sorts of last-mile broadband applications. Fundamentals are covered, such as lightwave transmitters and receivers, optical fiber amplifiers, RF digital quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) modems, and the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) protocol.

From the Back Cover

Next-generation CATV systems: architecture, protocols, technologies, and applications.

• Cable modems and digital set-top boxes: architecture and operation
• HFC and its competitors: DSL, FTTL, DBS, and MMDS
• Evolving from two-way HFC networks to next-generation DWDM access
• Key applications: EPGs, IPPV, VOD, web browsing, e-mail, e-commerce, and more

Broadband cable TV networks are undergoing a massive transformation, from simply broadcasting analog TV channels to providing sophisticated, two-way interactive services such as high-speed Internet access and video-on-demand. Now, one of the field's leading experts reviews the technologies, protocols, applications associated with the CATV revolution, and previews the migration path from today's two-way hybrid fiber/coax networks to the awesome capacities of tomorrow's DWDM fiber networks. Coverage includes:

• HFC cable networks vs. the competition: DSL, FTTL, DBS, and MMDS
• Key fiber-optics transmission technologies: directly and externally modulated laser transmitters, optical receivers, and Erbium-doped optical fiber amplifiers (EDFAs)
• Architecture of DWDM access networks
• Hardware architecture and operation of digital set-top boxes and cable modems
• Software architecture and applications for digital set-top boxes

Ovadia offers in-depth analyses of single and multiple-wavelength fiber-optics transmission impairments over HFC and DWDM networks, and presents the emerging two-way DWDM network architecture. Finally, he discusses the DOCSIS cable modem protocol, as well as key set-top box's applications such as electronic program guides (EPGs), video-on-demand (VOD), Internet-based applications such as e-mail, and e-commerce.

Whether you're an engineer, scientist, cable professional, manager, or investor, if you want to understand where cable is headed, you need Cable TV Access Networks: From Technologies to Applications.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (March 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130864218
• ISBN-13: 978-0130864215
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,022,246 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent book on CATV network, January 9, 2006

By 

anonymous (Allentown PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broadband Cable TV Access Networks: From Technologies to Applications (Paperback)

The book "Broadband Cable TV Access Networks" by Dr. Ovadia presents both a high level overview and low level details of CATV technology. It is a well organized system engineering handbook for cable TV network. It gives an excellent introduction to the overall CATV architecture. The introduction is very descriptive and easy to understand. And then extends to rigorous technical details in transmission technologies (over both fiber and coax cable), RF and digital transceiver design, cable modem protocols, software architecture and applications. The book can be a good tutorial for people interested in CATV technology and a good reference for engineers working in the area.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Broadband Cable TV Access Networks by Shlomo Ovadia, July 23, 2003

By 

Avi-Brillant (Los-Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Broadband Cable TV Access Networks: From Technologies to Applications (Paperback)

I am working in MRV Communications in the field of FFTx Receivers Transceivers design, focusing in the analog side of the system video transport.

I had purchased the book and enjoyed reading it. Indeed, it is a great system engineering book covering a broad spectrum of technical subjects which I have a lot of interest. It broadened my knowledge on the arena of CATV which was new to me.
(I came from Israel from the Satellite Communications field).

It is a recommended book to any communications engineer, component engineer and system engineer dealing with fiber optics data communications and video transport.
It covers all design aspects in all perspectives, system wise and component wise.
It provides a broad review, showing the affects of RF chains and , optical links imperfections on a QAM signal in most scientific analytic and professional way.

The book is structured as a zoom-in, taking the reader from a broad picture of definitions, system architectures and topologies such as HFC, PON, zooming into each building block requirements and constrains such as optics CWDM WDM optical none linearity, pre-distortions, CATV receivers topologies , specs and optimized solution. Additionally it covers the aspects of protocols such as DOCSIS and CATV standards showing how to approach to system design, understanding its requirements in order to reach the proper design.

The books provides block diagrams, schemes plots and conclusion to each chapter subject.

Indeed Dr. Shlomo Ovadia did here a huge effort and a great job.
This book is must have in any technical library.

Avi Brillant
Senior Design Engineer
Luninent-Inc
20550 Nordhoff Street
Chatsworth
CA-91311

Cell 818-266-7330

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern treatment of broadband access networks., July 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Broadband Cable TV Access Networks: From Technologies to Applications (Paperback)

It is very refreshing to read "Broadband Cable TV Access Networks" written by Dr. Ovadia. It might be more appropriately entitled as "Broadband HFC Access Networks". It covers the historic CATV industry, the lightwave transport of video signals (analog and digital Hybrid Fiber Coax, HFC system), the internet on cable mode, the two-way communication between subscribers and service providers and future broadband network using cable infrastructures. Although it is published in 2001, it contains very updated overview of technologies, in particular, related to product ideas for video, voice, data and internet applications. As a matter of fact some of the technologies are still being developed and improved in startup companies.

Shlomo brings all relevant technologies together in this book with the math rigor that brings credence to the CATV/HFC/Access Network industry. It is descriptive and well written that new entrants to the industry can quickly grasp the essence of the technologies and apply them without the math rigor. However, since the industry comprises of cross disciplinary knowledge and practices, a solid understanding through rigorous math treatments is absolutely necessary to create further modification, improvements, innovations and better services to end users.

Dr. Ovadia also includes an updated reference lists after every major subject for readers to further study and details for system and component (optical and electronic) designs. As such, this book serves as good reference book for cable operators, designers, engineering under graduate and graduate students.

Although DWDM application in the HFC network is thoroughly described, the industry is looking to CWDM to continue to bring the product cost down and bring more services to the end users. As well, video over Ethernet is a viable trend because of its inherent low cost and general technological trend. Combination of CWDM and video over Ethernet are the two subjects that need to be covered if a revision is in order.