Cable Connectorization by CableCon

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Presents…
Page 0100 0100 Text-TV Your favourite Channel Monday 18. October 1999
Connecting and
Return Path
in CATV Networks
You have probably

seen this before...
Your favourite TV Channel
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Your favourite TV Channel
News.............. 110
Sport ............. 200
Latest ............ 130
- and you know
Advertising .... 700 Right?
why too!
TV today ........ 320
Cabelcon …..... 600
Page 0605 0605 Text-TV Cabelcon Connectors Monday 18. October 1999
Lacking system
performance…!
Safe signs of poor system performance

with analogue TV signals:
Ghost
Ghostpictures
pictures
Like this...
Safe signs of poor system performance

with digital downstream signals...
Increased bit error rate.

Typical “visible” results of this will be...
• TV-Text unreadable.
• Noisy (or no) digital sound (NICAM).
- and at digital upstream signals?

(using the return path band)
Poor system performance in a CATV

network could originate from…
• Poor return loss values

• Poor carrier to noise level
• Insufficient screening followed by...
• Ingress of noise and unwanted signals
There can be many reasons for

decreased performance.
Here we will concentrate on...

• Poor or incorrect cable preparation and
connector installation.
• Unreliable connector quality.
Most return path problems originate at the

subscriber’s end of the network...
• It’s a well-known fact, that 75-80 percent of

service calls are related to drop installation.
• -and that around half of those are caused by
poor connections!
(Just one under-tightened connector can
course serious trouble in your network!).
Noise
Noisefrom
andjust
unwanted
one single Subscribers Intrusion of
signals
subscriber
will be
canadded
block from
the “Man-made” noise
return
all parts
path system completely!
of the network. originates from
• Computers
• Refrigerators
• Heaters
Node/
• Thermostats
head-end
• TV-sets
• Cellular phones
- and from lots of
Upstream
Upstreamblocked other sources!
“No chain is stronger than the weakest link”
- and the weakest

links in a CATV
network?
Connections...
- and there are thousands of them!

Let’s take a look at the most

frequent connection problems...
This is an example of a screw-on connector and a

cable which have been exposed to salty moisture
for just 300 hours:
Metal in the
cable is close to
Heavy corrosion disappearing!
This will lead to..

• Signal egress & ingress
• Intermodulation distortion
• Ghost pictures
• Loss of return path data
- and the results of
• Loss of forward signals
corrosion:
• Blocking at the node
• Poor screening
• System downtime
• Poor return loss
• Expensive repair costs
Let’s take a look at PIM - Passive Intermodulation

(CPID - Common Path Intermodulation Distortion)
• Moisture creates a layer of oxide between two

different layers of metal (like a sandwich: Metal-
Oxide-Metal).
• Oxidation creates a semiconductor effect (like
rectifier diodes).
• Diodes act naturally as frequency mixers and
multipliers.
- and furthermore on PIM...
• Carriers present in the network will be mixed

and multiplied by the sum and difference.
• All these “new” created and unwanted carriers
(intermodulation) will appear at more or less
unpredictable frequencies.
• PIM will be more “visible” below the FM-radio
band (return path range) due to lower cable
attenuation!
PIM - Passive Intermodulation - schematic

Two connector parts (or cable/connector parts)
Mixing of carriers and

frequency multiplication
create many “new”
carriers (PIM).
Occurrence of diode effect

through oxidation
PIM, return loss and ingress problems grow at low

frequencies (in return path band)...
• Cable attenuation is low (negligible). Almost no attenuation

of reflected carriers caused by poor return loss.
• Frequency difference products (PIM) - caused by corrosion,
are typically generated at low frequencies. Disturbance
occurs in the return band.
• Considerable decrease in cable screening attenuation
below
30 MHz. Extensive risk for ingress of unwanted signals and
noise. Radiation will increase with poor return loss.
Poor return Loss... Reflections and

loss of wanted
Increased radiation signals
Forward signal
Amplifier Amplifier
w/return path Coaxial Cable
Reflected signals + upstream (return path)
Corroded or
Increased bit error rate
badly installed
and loss
What of data or
happens? connection
transmission speed!
How can we prevent or minimise

problems in the return path band?
First of all through...

• Use of quality connectors
• Use of the right type of connector for your application.
• Use of quality cables with a high degree of screening.
• Proper installation practices.
Let’s see some more examples...

The result after inspection...

Darkened - while the cable
This a copper
Poorisreturn lossfoil
standard &
- You
- and this is a
can with
installed see our
the
and
PIM braid. A pre or
willconnector
crimp sooner stage
later
for moisture proof type
tooccur
corrosion moisture proof !type
difference
after-ause
indoor through
certain for outdoor use!
ingress of Two different
moisture.
time with corrosion
types of crimp
remains unaffected!
connectors - both manu-
factured by Cabelcon - are
mounted on a piece of cable.
Both have been exposed to
salty moisture for 300 hours
in a chamber.
- and the same result can

be seen on an UltraSeal™
compression connector
- this applies to connections at all levels...
- from the smallest

drop connectors...
- to the bigger trunk

connectors.
Precise installation is
important!
An example...
Two cables - one prepared with a special

tool, while the other one was stripped in
the old fashion way, using a tube cutter.
Special preparation tool Ordinary tube cutter
Visible difference: The outer conductor was

2 mm too short on the “hand stripped” cable
The result after installation and test...

Measured return loss was two dB worse on the
“tube cutter” stripped cable/connector.
“Just two dB? ”
It could easily be more than

two dB in each connector all
the way from head-end to
subscriber!
Preparation tools
• Preparation tools - especially
designed for the combination of
your cables and connectors - will
ensure a precise installation and...
• Prevent or minimise return path

problems in your network.
Finally some advise...

• Do not use screw-on connectors for professional applications.
• Choose the right type of connectors for your applications.
• Use moisture proof types (or heathshrink tube) for outdoor
installations.
• Read and follow the manufacturers instructions for proper
cable preparation and installation of your connectors.
• Use appropriate preparation tools - when available - for
your connectors/cables to ease installation and to ensure
optimal performance of your network.
If you have any questions or

require more information...
- please visit our stand no. 438
This presentation can be downloaded from
www.cabelcon.dk/ecc99.htm
A Cabelcon production
Presented by Jeremy Stubbs
Copyright 1999 by Cabel-Con A/S
All Rights Reserved

Cable Connectorization by CableCon

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Cable Connectorization by CableCon

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Press “space” to start!

You have probably

Your favourite TV Channel

Y((r favoüüt Tü Ch!!%nel

#%ur fxxorit ¤%%nne/

Your favourite TV Channel

Safe signs of poor system performance

Safe signs of poor system performance

Increased bit error rate.

- and at digital upstream signals?

Poor system performance in a CATV

• Poor return loss values

There can be many reasons for

Here we will concentrate on...

Most return path problems originate at the

• It’s a well-known fact, that 75-80 percent of

“No chain is stronger than the weakest link”

- and the weakest

- and there are thousands of them!

Let’s take a look at the most

This is an example of a screw-on connector and a

This will lead to..

Let’s take a look at PIM - Passive Intermodulation

• Moisture creates a layer of oxide between two

- and furthermore on PIM...

• Carriers present in the network will be mixed

PIM - Passive Intermodulation - schematic

Mixing of carriers and

Occurrence of diode effect

PIM, return loss and ingress problems grow at low

• Cable attenuation is low (negligible). Almost no attenuation

Poor return Loss... Reflections and

Reflected signals + upstream (return path)

How can we prevent or minimise

First of all through...

Let’s see some more examples...

The result after inspection...

- and the same result can

- this applies to connections at all levels...

- from the smallest

- to the bigger trunk

Two cables - one prepared with a special

Visible difference: The outer conductor was

The result after installation and test...

“Just two dB? ”

It could easily be more than

• Prevent or minimise return path

Finally some advise...

If you have any questions or

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