Broadband and Fiber-Optic Training | Courses, Certifications & Degrees | NCTI

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Delivery: Online | Est. Length: 2 Seat Hours | Price: $195.00

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Course Overview

The NCTI Introduction to Multiplexing course shines a light on the invisible traffic cop of the network: multiplexing. This often-overlooked stage of signal processing is the technology that allows massive amounts of data to travel over a single wire or fiber strand.

This course defines the fundamental schemes that power modern telecommunications, including Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) and Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM). It also explores the evolution into Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)—the standard for DOCSIS 3.1—and dives deep into optical transport technologies. Students will learn how Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) splits light into multiple colors to exponentially increase fiber capacity.

Who Should Attend:

  • HFC Network Technicians
  • Headend Technicians
  • Telecommunications Specialists
  • Fiber Optic Installers

What You Will Learn

Upon completion, students will be able to identify the characteristics of common multiplexing techniques and recognize the capabilities and limitations of the HFC network.

Core Competencies:

  • Multiplexing Schemes: Distinguish between Frequency Division (FDM), Time Division (TDM), and the advanced Orthogonal Frequency Division (OFDM) used in next-gen broadband.
  • Optical Multiplexing: Review fiber-optic basics to understand Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) variations, including Wide (WWDM), Coarse (CWDM), and Dense (DWDM).
  • TDM Applications: Describe how TDM frames are structured, distinguishing between Synchronous and Asynchronous applications in telecommunications protocols.
  • Physics of Transport: Define the electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength, and optical fiber modes to understand how signals propagate.
  • Efficiency: Explain how techniques like interleaving data and optimizing TDM frames maximize network bandwidth.

Certification and Benefits

Understand the Physics of Capacity

This course provides the technical knowledge needed to understand how networks scale without laying new physical cable.

Additional Benefits:

  • Industry Recognition: Receive the NCTI Certificate of Graduation.
  • Cross-Discipline Skill: The principles learned here apply to both traditional telephony and modern HFC broadband networks.
  • Flexible Learning: A concise 2-hour technical module available online for up to four months.

Course Outline

Module 1: Distinguishing Multiplexing Schemes

  • Optical fiber basics.
  • Describing Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM).
  • Assessing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

Module 2: Multiplexing Optical Wavelengths

  • Wave propagation and the Electromagnetic Spectrum.
  • WDM Types: Wide (WWDM), Coarse (CWDM), and Dense (DWDM).

Module 3: Detailing Time Division Multiplexing

  • Interleaving data and defining TDM frames.
  • Optimizing efficiency.
  • Synchronous vs. Asynchronous TDM applications.