Foreword
The first edition of Modern Cable Television Technology was so well received by engineers and technicians that additional printings were needed to meet the demand. Since the publication of the first edition, advances in the application of modern information technologies have transformed the Cable Television industry at an astonishing rate. This second edition has been substantially revised to enable the reader to catch up with recent advances that have become commonplace in modern cable networks, and to prepare for new developments to come.
Virtually every household in the United States, and many businesses, already have access to multi-channel television service distributed over Cable networks. Comparable facilities are also in place throughout the world, although not generally as universally accessible as in the U.S. Multi-channel television still retains its traditional role as the “cash cow” supporting the ubiquitous coaxial cable and optical fiber networks. Yet, in the public view, high speed broadband Internet communication seems on course to surpass entertainment as the dominant function of modern cable networks. Moreover, the cable industry is becoming a significant participant in the traditional switched telephone business, adding voice to video and data communication services. Even the trade associations now describe the expanding scope of the industry as “Cable Telecommunications.”
The first edition provided the most comprehensive and authoritative presentation yet available regarding the physics and practical engineering aspects of coaxial cable and optical fiber networks. This work is still valid, representing the essential foundation for an engineer or practitioner in the field today. With the second edition of Modern Cable Television Technology, the authors expand on the authentically expert treatment of these networks with in-depth coverage of the technologies that are currently transforming the medium from its original function of distributing television signals into a major telecommunication medium serving the broader requirements of data transportation.
An excellent introduction to advanced technologies was included in the first edition. In the second edition, the authors have substantially revised and expanded their coverage of developments that have migrated out of the laboratory into everyday operations only within the past few years. For example, high speed cable modems are now being connected to the Internet at an accelerating pace. Digital technology is rapidly overtaking analog for television distribution as well as voice and data communications, and digital compression has revolutionized bandwidth efficiency for non-video as well as television. Optical fiber lines, formerly used mainly for hub interconnections, now comprise the primary transport medium for analog video as well as digitally modulated signals, while coaxial cable serves the “last mile” into subscriber premises. Wavelength division multiplexing, no longer a laboratory experiment, is now deployed as a practical operational component of optical network architecture. Internet protocol (IP) telephony is on the verge of operational deployment, and home networks have become essential features in new construction. Finally, technical standards are being generated and revised with amazing frequency to ensure that the remarkable functions of the modern cable network are able to operate together without conflict.
For the second edition, Michael Adams joins Walter Ciciora, James Farmer and David Large as co-author, with important contributions. New sections on the physics and practical engineering aspects of digitally compressed television and home networking reflect his special expertise in telecommunications development, stemming from nearly a quarter century’s work with Time Warner, Nortel, and Digital Equipment (DEC). The entire outstanding team of authors brings to the preparation of this second edition a wealth of experience based on productive professional careers working with the development, deployment and operation of recent developments in cable communications.
The authors are to be commended for so effectively updating this important engineering reference work. The second edition of Modern Cable Television Technology represents a very substantial revision of the first edition, including virtually all of the material from the original edition. For engineers and technicians engaged in the modern cable telecommunication environment, the second edition is the essential guide to the latest developments and preparation for what is to come.