node pics? in Photos of Broadband gear http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r21896434 en Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:02:16 EDT Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:02:16 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21917911 RoadRunner79 : That is cool cypherstream! and the piece i always look at is most likely going to be a tap going by the link they posted but the ones around here have each line that runs to each house pointing down but I am sure it does the same thing. The answers and pics have helped me get a better understanding of how everything works in a bigger picture, and it leaves me wondering how things will turn out for areas like mine that haven't had much upgrading since paragon cable used to be here in San Antonio. It seems everywhere there is new development they might get newer technology but I always wonder what companies do in older areas to keep things up to date. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21917911 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:20:23 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21914964 Splitpair : This is what a Comcast HFC node (post Wilma pre-scrap metal looting) looks like. ;-)

Wayne
--
If you cannot fix it with a buttset and some beanies you ain't a technician.
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]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21914964 Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:45:26 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21914301 cypherstream : Here's the inside of a Motorola SG-25 860 MHz node:

The gray plastic on the bottom is the fiber slack tray. Fiber goes in there and is coiled up. Then it connects to one of the optical receivers and transmitters to the right. Many nodes are segmentable and can have multiple receivers and transmitters to give each output it's own independent set of narrowcast frequencies (used for VOD and Cable Modems), or they can have duplicate fiber paths for redundancy.

Next up after the node, the coaxial trunk signals must be maintained with trunk amplifiers...

Heres a picture of a C-Cor Flexnet 900 Trunk Amplifier


Here's what it looks like inside:


Remember the node takes the fiber and converts it to radio frequency over copper coaxial cable. Then every so often that radio frequency signal has to be amplified. Its done on those large amplifiers like I show above on what you call RF Trunks. From there they are sometimes 'bridged' to smaller coaxial cables called feeder. Every so often you may see what's called a Line Extender on this feeder. It's basically an amplifier but without as many inputs and outputs or as high amplification as the large trunk amps.

Here's an open line extender made by C-Cor.


Here's a general architecture diagram:

On systems like mine, imagine the green line on the left system as fiber. The circles on the green line would be nodes. Then the red lines are trunks, and along there would be the larger trunk amplifiers. The blue would be regular feeder cable with the occasional line extender.

Newer systems do more fiber and less copper. They place the nodes further out in the path like on the right side of the diagram. Sometimes they rarely need line extenders, unless its a really long run.

Here's the difference. My system doesn't push the fiber as close, but over the years they have segmented nodes and created new ones. It's Node > Trunk Amplifier > Bridger Amplifier > Line Extender > Customer Tap. My system has 750 MHz of bandwidth available. This nets DOCSIS 1.1 cable modem data, 36 HD channels, 77 Analog channels, and a wealth of additional digital channels.

Theres another system near me who pushes fiber much further. Their system is more like Node > Amplifier > Customer. That's it... one amplifier past the node. They run 870 MHz of bandwidth. They have about 77 Analog channels as well, but they have 48 HD channels instead of my measly 36. They also will be doing DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem data, which bonds channels for much faster speeds. They have plenty of headroom for more services.

Whatever system you get, you cannot control. I have been bugging my cable system Comcast (which sucks), to upgrade for years now. They don't listen to their customers (the people who pay their bills). If I had line of sight I'd use DirecTV, but as of where I live right now, Comcast is my only option. ]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21914301 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 22:44:48 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21911080 Rombus : @RoadRunner79:

Sounds like your describing a Tap:
»www.cable-vision.com.tw/images/CATV_tap.jpg]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21911080 Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:36:06 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21907118 cooldude9919 :
said by RoadRunner79 See Profile :

just for a learning experience what do nodes look like? for example roadrunner nodes I always read about noses this nodes that but what do they look like thanks.
I see you are from San Antonio, TX. You should see plenty of nodes around town. Also the amount if fiber time warner has down there is nuts. I was just down there a few weeks ago turning up a new fiber install near the airport. There by the walmart/firestation there is probably ~6 fiber cables going down the road. You can notice them because they have an orange wrapper around them when they pass every pole.

There is a node up on a line for sure right across the road from the applebees there by jones maltsberger. I saw it on my way back to the airport.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21907118 Thu, 12 Feb 2009 17:07:54 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21903316 defiant : Hard to say... Sounds like a tap, if you're following the coax from homes to the pole.

Nodes, amplifiers and the like are encased in rather large metal housings inline with the "hardline" coax. You can usually see the "fins" on them that are used to dissipate heat generated by the active components of the device.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21903316 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:30:28 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21903315 TomS_ :
said by RoadRunner79 See Profile :

So then on my street at the telephone pole their is a box about the size of a large match box that can service about 5 or 6 homes what is that called?
Its probably just a junction/splice box.

A "larger" cable will come in, probably from the CO, to which will be connected or spliced many smaller cables to homes and businesses.

Or it may have two similarly sized cables comming in, both of which are connected together to extend the cable from the CO, and the box is simply a housing to protect the joints.

edit: or as below a tap. Forgot we were talking about cable here, not regular copper phone lines. :-)]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21903315 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:30:18 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21902965 defiant : »Charter Node?]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21902965 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:07:36 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21902940 defiant : Try "HFC node".]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21902940 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:01:40 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21899757 battleop : I did a search for "cable node" as you have suggested. It turned up nothing. It turned up a recent post about a node that was actually a tap.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21899757 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:06:02 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21896560 RoadRunner79 : that was a great pic thanks]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21896560 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:46:37 EDT Re: node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21896489 MJimLay : A box.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21896489 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:35:19 EDT node pics? http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21896434 RoadRunner79 : just for a learning experience what do nodes look like? for example roadrunner nodes I always read about noses this nodes that but what do they look like thanks.]]> http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,21896434 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:25:41 EDT