Delivery: Online
Estimated Length: 30 seat hours
Price: $850
This course provides the advanced student with a comprehensive understanding of system testing theory and application. The course concentrates on the use and selection of proper test equipment and application necessary for testing and complying with FCC and NCTA testing requirements and recommendations. It also focuses on equipment utilization for observing and locating analog and digital network problems. The student is exposed to the proper use, theory of operation, applications and measurement procedures for test equipment used in the network from the customer premises to the headend. The materials provided are also appropriate as a reference tool for those who need to understand more about testing procedures and terminology.
Completion Time:
The estimated completion time for this course is 30 hours. The maximum allotted time is four months from enrollment.
Benefits:
- receive an industry-recognized NCTI certificate of graduation
Upon completing this course, students will be able to:
- perform broadband cable AC/DC voltage and resistance measurements using a DMM
- use an SLM to troubleshoot a drop installation
- interpret measured digital modulation channel parameters to determine if, and what, corrective action needs to be taken
- list and describe measuring and controlling signal leakage
- use a TDR to locate coaxial cable impedence mismatches and to confirm and identify unauthorized drop cable connections
- comply with FCC Technical Standards and NCTA Recommended Practices for audio carrier center frequency separation and video carrier level measurements
- measure chrominance to luminance gain and phase, differential gain and differential phase distortions
- measure visual signal-to-coherent beats, test terminal isolation, and measure hum in compliance with FCC Technical Standards and NCTA Recommended Practices
- set proper sweep and telemetry injection levels and realize the importance of two telemetry paths
- interpret digital measurements with a digital signal analyzer to evaluate digital signal quality
- perform tests using an optical power meter for measuring transmit and receive power
- use an OTDR to confirm the performance of an optical link
- set up the forward RF output level at an optical node
Outline:
Operating Digital Multimeters
Defining Types of DMMs, controls, components and specifications, measuring voltage, resistance and current and caring for and maintaining DMMs
Quantifying Digital Channel Quality
Defining digital measurements, considering digital modulation test instruments and interpreting digital modulation measurements
Detecting Signal Leakage
Reviewing signal leakage basics, selecting and operating signal leakage detection equipment and eliminating signal leakage
Measuring Signal Leakage
Reviewing signal leakage, examining signal leakage measurement equipment, identifying specific signal leakage measurement considerations and preventing and repairing signal leakage
TDR Fundamentals and Operation
Describing types of TDRs, understanding TDR theory of operation and applications, considering TDR preliminaries, noting TDR measurement precautions and learning measurement procedures and pinpointing fault site
Analog Video Measurements and Testing
Characterizing the baseband video signal, examining video test equipment and test signals, executing baseband video measurements and recognizing alternative baseband video test equipment
Sweeping Broadband Cable Networks
Describing network sweep, operating a sweep system and sweeping the downstream and upstream
Maintaining Return Path Signals
Examining return amplifier input levels, examining return amplifier output levels, examining the fiber node, adjusting upstream channel levels from the headend, injecting test carriers, describing equipment test points, injecting test carriers without interference, injecting return sweep pulses, explaining measurement methodology, considering test carrier injection, observing the balancing sequence, balancing the node, balancing a distribution amplifier and balancing the return path in a line extender
Examining Return Path Signals
Reviewing basic types of digital modulation, citing quadrature phase shift keying, detailing quadrature amplitude modulation, explaining bit rate, symbol rate, bandwidth, conceptualizing orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, controlling access to the media, delving into time division multiple access, achieving higher data throughput, employing ingress cancellation, discussing S-CDMA, reviewing set-top box return carriers, examining DOCSIS 1.0 and 1.1 return carriers, discussing DOCSIS 2.0 return carriers, analyzing DOCSIS 3.0 return carriers and assessing DOCSIS 3.1 return carriers
Recognizing Spectrum Analyzer Basics
Presenting the spectrum analyzer, recognizing spectrum analyzer operation and operating the spectrum analyzer
Planning and Executing FCC Proof-of-Performance Tests
Recognizing the FCC proof-of-performance testing requirements, applying the FCC proof-of-performance testing requirements to a broadband cable network, examining test descriptions and procedures, including the set-top box in the proof-of-performance test results and compiling the FCC proof-of-performance test results
Introducing Optical Test Equipment
Examining optical power meters, examining light sources, examining optical fiber identifiers, examining optical fiber talk sets and examining optical loss test sets
Presenting OTDR Basics
Overview, types, features and specifications
Performing OTDR Measurements
Performing preliminary procedures, recognizing OTDR signatures, programming the OTDR, understanding OTDR tests, conducting OTDR tests and making span measurements
Conducting Acceptance Testing of a Broadband Optical Link
Testing optical power and reflectivity, performing optical transmitter and receiver tests, examining scalable optical nodes and using documentation Overview, types, features and specifications