Delivery: Online | College Credit: 4 Credit Hours | Est. Length: 34 Seat Hours
Price: $910.00 | Equivalency Exam: $120.00
Course Overview
The NCTI Advanced Technician course is the definitive training program for broadband professionals transitioning from field operations to the sophisticated environment of the cable headend.
While digital signals are now the standard, a deep understanding of the fundamental principles of physics and analog processing remains crucial for troubleshooting. This course bridges that gap, covering transmission lines, radio wave propagation, and microwave systems. Students will gain critical skills in maintaining both legacy analog video analysis and modern digital satellite receivers, modulators, and equipment protocols.
Who Should Attend:
- Field Technicians moving into Headend roles.
- Network Engineers seeking a refresher on RF and Microwave theory.
- Technicians preparing for FCC compliance testing.
Certification and Benefits
Prepare for SCTE Certification
This course is an excellent preparatory tool for the SCTE Broadband Transportation Specialist (BTS) and Broadband Telecom Center Specialist (BTCS) certifications.
Additional Benefits:
- Career Advancement: Earn credit toward the prestigious NCTI Master Technician certification.
- Academic Value: Receive 4 hours of college credit upon completion.
- Industry Recognition: Receive the NCTI Certificate of Graduation.
What You Will Learn
Upon completion, students will be able to manage the intersection of analog and digital technologies within a headend facility.
Key Skills:
- Signal Processing: Explain how headend components process analog and digital television services.
- RF Mastery: Define transmission line categories, radio wave propagation, and antenna optimization.
- Advanced Comms: Configure satellite receivers and identify microwave components.
- Compliance: Execute FCC Proof-of-Performance tests and apply NCTA recommended practices.
- Network Logic: Apply proper combining and distribution techniques for upstream and downstream signals.
Course Outline
Module 1: RF, Transmission, and Antennas
- Transmission Lines: Impedance matching and adjusting line characteristics.
- Radio Wave Propagation: Electromagnetic waves and atmospheric propagation.
- Antenna Principles: Transferring energy, categorized antenna types, and optimizing performance.
Module 2: Microwave and Satellite Systems
- Microwave Applications: Transporting signals through waveguides and creating/processing microwave signals.
- Satellite Communications: Technologies, ground-based antenna operations, and signal reception.
Module 3: Signal Processing and Protocols
- Analog & Digital: NTSC analog video formats vs. Digital Integrated Receiver/Decoders (IRDs).
- Modulation: Digital modulators, demodulators, and Conditional Access (CA) systems.
- Equipment Protocols: Interconnection protocols, Digital Program Insertion (DPI), and transcoding.
Module 4: Testing, Measurement, and Compliance
- Combining Signals: Downstream combining and upstream distribution.
- Video Testing: Baseband video measurements, vectorscopes, and test signals.
- FCC Proof-of-Performance: Understanding requirements, executing tests, and compiling results for set-top boxes and network compliance.