• What about Coaxial Cable Amplifiers?
• What is the LFA?
• Why has my area been upgraded from 64QAM to 256QAM?

Signal boosters (amplifiers) usually cause more noise on the line which can result in disconnects. Also, it can kill the upstream signal (to the point where it is 'out of spec').

See also: »Cable Modems and Wiring Issues

*This FAQ is based on user knowledge from a volunteer core of BroadbandReports' members. This FAQ in no way constitutes official information from Comcast or any of its affiliates.

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by drake edited by Johkal
last modified: 2008-11-01 14:57:29

In short, a Local Franchise Authority is the primary arm of the local community government that oversees the cable franchise. The cable franchise is the contract between the local community and the local cable operator. A cable contract is not hard to read and it is becoming more and more common to find them online.

The power of an LFA is derived from several FCC regs. LFAs are specifically allowed to regulate certain areas (basic cable rates, video quality, etc) and specifically not allowed to regulate other areas (channel choices, internet performance, etc).

LFAs have a significant amount of power in some areas and virtually none in other areas. LFAs can audit the cable operator's books, fine cable operators, or in extreme cases revoke their franchise. At the same time, LFAs have a vested interested in protecting the cable operator because the community receives franchise fees and other benefits (funds for community activities, cable channels for the public, schools, and government, etc) from the cable operator.

The degree to which LFAs do such enforcement depends on the terms of the franchise, satisfication of the citizens, and the local politicians. An LFA has a great deal of discretion in how it carries out its oversight duties and LFA quality varies greatly from one jurisdiction to another.

Some communities also have citizen committees or commissions that complement the activities of the LFA. Like the LFA, activities and quality of local citizen boards vary greatly.

Thanks to DonLibes

*This FAQ is based on user knowledge from a volunteer core of BroadbandReports' members. This FAQ in no way constitutes official information from Comcast or any of its affiliates.

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by draven edited by Johkal
last modified: 2008-11-01 14:57:44

256QAM simply allows for more throughput per downstream channel than 64QAM does. This doesn't mean that the customer will see faster speeds, it just means that there can be more people on one downstream channel, or the same number of people, but with higher downstream speed caps.

The downside is that 256QAM is more susceptible to noise, and hence requires better SNR and signal strength.

For a 256QAM modulated downstream channel, shoot for SNR above 33dB. Anything below may cause connectivity problems.

Thanks to oldTDNickell5

*This FAQ is based on user knowledge from a volunteer core of BroadbandReports' members. This FAQ in no way constitutes official information from Comcast or any of its affiliates.

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by Nerdtalker edited by Johkal
last modified: 2008-11-01 14:57:59