dervari
join:2000-01-17
Atlanta, GA
clubs:
 ·Comcast
| Multiple nodes on my street?
We have what appear to be multiple nodes on our street, about every 4-5 lots. They look like what's shown here...
»i.dslr.net/pics/faqs/image1251.jpg
I thought one node was supposed to service upwards of 100 people. Would they be installing nodes this often that would only appear to service 8-12 households? |
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alfnoid
Premium,MVM
join:2002-02-18
| Well first off...there is a lot of different equip that goes into enclosures like that.
and no they would not put nodes out for every 8-11 houses.
They are not cheap.
I am sure that it varies by market, but nodes usually serve much more than 100 subs.
peace |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to dervari
Our street has some fiber running down. It appears that theres 3 nodes on our street, but the outputs from these nodes go down streets and branch off. Were in a valley and were a higher elevation, and everthing seems to run down the hills so to speak. These look like big white Scientific Atlanta nodes. Fiber input and all. Don't be confused by the fiber splice enclosures either (second pic - black box). We have them as well as the 'horseshoes' that hold fiber slack. |
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gar187er
Premium Alcoholic
join:2006-06-24
Dover, DE
| reply to dervari
yea those arent nodes....minibridgers, Line exteneders, etc are housed in them as alfnoid said....nodes are much bigger utility boxes...your probably in a high density area, and they are splitting the feeder cable to a few different branches through your area.... |
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MadMANN
Premium
join:2005-08-19
·Comcast
| reply to dervari
Usually, there will be a power supply (great big box on the pole itself) feeding the node (what you have pictured), then feeding a distribution amp. The distribution amps look like a node enclosure, but they don't have fiber running through them. You are probably seeing a few amps which are branching off to feed multiple sections of an area. |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to dervari
Our Tap in front of house | 
Comcast line equipment in front of neighbors |
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MadMANN
Premium
join:2005-08-19 | An LE (line extender) is typically used to just boost a signal on a single trunk to make up for loss with length. The amp in your picture is a distribution amp for multiple runs. |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to dervari
Ok. I'm within walking distance of two power supplies. Some friends live 1 block, and family live 2 blocks. Actually its QUICKER to walk to their houses (parking / a one-way street makes us take the long way home). You think the chances of all 3 of us being on the same node are very high? Anything I can look at in the Cable modem or Cable Box diagnostics that identifies the node group id? It doesn't appear as if there is black fiber strand within the silver hardline past these other two homes. Our street however has a load of stuff. About a mile down the road there is a node. There's a fiber splice enclosure, horse shoe fiber slack tray and its easy to spot the thin fiber line going into the node. Down another 1/2 mile there is the same thing but a block down. I think they are in close proximity because the fiber runs through that area, but the output of one could be running north and east, while another running west and south. |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to dervari
I do think my friends and my family are on the same node now and here's why. A few months ago in the heat of the summer my buds and family experienced a brown out condition that lasted 5+ hours. Our street did not experience this brown out condition. BUT after the 4th hour of our friends brown out, OUR cable went out. This leads me to believe that the power supplies batteries ran out powering the node servicing this area. So following this logic, and the fact that were all living within 3 blocks of each other, the chances are very high that we are on the same node, correct?
Additionally a few weeks ago we had a brown out condition at OUR house (lasted about 19 hours), but our friends and family down the street still had cable. |
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beerbum
Premium
join:2000-05-06
Reading, PA
clubs:
| reply to cypherstream
the "box" in your second picture.. that's a trunk amp.. generally the 1st amp off the node..
being that you are in Reading PA, more likely or not each node is going to serve between 300-500 homes..
at least that's how it was back in 2001-2002 when they redid the system for HSI (I worked in-house for Comcast at the time).. and pretty much now, in the city proper the node layout is the same today , save for a new node we had put in to serve Albright College in 2003..
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs:
1 edit | 300-500 nodes, that's much better than the 1200 I read about in a charter forum. Also last I heard they split a node in sinking spring due to major HSI/VOD usage.
That's cool you know the area. Another guy suggests they are talking about upgrading to 1GHz starting 4th Quarter 2007. Being that the system is now full, they'll have to do something. I've seen those slim line rectangular SA System III amplifiers. I believe the two I saw had four feeders (two on each side) They are long and rectangular in shape. When do they use these, compared to the big white trunk amps? I do know the square SA Line extenders only have 1 input and 1 output. Thanks cableguy, that's the one thing that always confused me -- difference between Amps, trunk amps, and line extenders. The nodes, well I can spot them I guess when I see the fiber splice enclosure and the black fiber input.
I really wish I could see some plant prints for learning purposes. I'm so into the technology and want to know every little detail about it. I don't work in the field because a few reasons. 1) Driving record sucks, 2) I'd take a pay cut 3) I don't like the idea of going into everyone's house.
Plant maintenance or Headend tech would be a neat job, but I would imagine they'd want a few years tech experience. |
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cypherstream
Looking forward to the future of things.
Premium,MVM
join:2004-12-02
Reading, PA
clubs: | reply to beerbum
Bocephus,
Do you know what the amp cascade is in this system? Is it like Fiber => Node => trunk, then trunk amp = > Bridger = > 3 to 5 LE's ? |
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beerbum
Premium
join:2000-05-06
Reading, PA
clubs:
| said by cypherstream  :Bocephus, Do you know what the amp cascade is in this system? Is it like Fiber => Node => trunk, then trunk amp = > Bridger = > 3 to 5 LE's ? depends on the node.. some are fiber, trunk amp, intermediate (forget the tech name) then LE's.. others are node to trunk amp then to LE's..
then throw some splitters and bridgers in the mix.. like I said it all depends on how the node was built out and especially how much signal needs to go along a certain node segment..
my memory is rusty.. it's been a little over 3 yrs since I had access to node maps.. I'm just a lowly contractor now, all that matters to me is enough signal goes to the house to feed all the crap ppl want..
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