HFC Outside Plant
Course Overview
In a hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) system, the outside plant (OSP) is the shared, neighborhood-scale infrastructure that connects a cable operator's headend to residential and business customers, using fiber for long-distance transport and coaxial cable for the final, local "last-mile" connection. The NCTI® HFC Outside Plant course provides a comprehensive introduction to the coaxial portion of hybrid fiber/coax (HFC) broadband networks, focusing on the technologies, equipment, and practices required to build, operate, and maintain reliable distribution systems.
Students learn how to properly prepare cable, select and install splice connectors, and ensure correct impedance, shielding, and weather sealing. The course emphasizes how splice quality directly affects both upstream and downstream performance, including signal loss, reflections, and ingress. Designed to build repeatable, field-ready skills, this training helps technicians reduce plant noise, improve reliability, and meet construction and maintenance standards in modern HFC networks.
- Price: $510.00
- Seat time: 18h
- Course number: eb0815_01_JN
- Dynamic language translation available
- Category: Technical and Safety
The estimated completion time for this course is 18 hours. The maximum allotted time is four months from enrollment.
Course Objectives
broadband network architectures and signal flow by distinguishing between radio frequency and digital signal principles used in residential broadband systems.
analyze passive HFC devices by assessing their mechanical elements and their roles in signal dividing, combining, and power insertion.
explain how to read a network design map, then use the design map to splice splitters, directional couplers, power inserters, distribution taps, inline equalizers, and amplifiers into the coaxial cable portion of the hybrid fiber/coax network
describe the various hardline coaxial cable connectors and adapters, how the cable is prepared for connector attachment, the tools used, connector attachment, and options to ensure weatherproof connections
describe the mechanical and electrical properties of hardline coaxial cable and how to maintain these properties
describe the line extender amplifier and how to align it for operation in a hybrid fiber/coax network
describe distribution amplifiers and their applications in hybrid fiber/coax networks and guidelines for proper distribution amplifier operation
describe how power is provided over the coaxial cable in hybrid fiber/coax networks to operate fiber nodes and amplifiers
identify and use standard HFC coaxial test equipment to troubleshoot and maintain the coaxial portion of the network.
apply structured thinking and metacognitive strategies to develop effective and repeatable troubleshooting approaches
analyze passive HFC devices by assessing their mechanical elements and their roles in signal dividing, combining, and power insertion.
explain how to read a network design map, then use the design map to splice splitters, directional couplers, power inserters, distribution taps, inline equalizers, and amplifiers into the coaxial cable portion of the hybrid fiber/coax network
describe the various hardline coaxial cable connectors and adapters, how the cable is prepared for connector attachment, the tools used, connector attachment, and options to ensure weatherproof connections
describe the mechanical and electrical properties of hardline coaxial cable and how to maintain these properties
describe the line extender amplifier and how to align it for operation in a hybrid fiber/coax network
describe distribution amplifiers and their applications in hybrid fiber/coax networks and guidelines for proper distribution amplifier operation
describe how power is provided over the coaxial cable in hybrid fiber/coax networks to operate fiber nodes and amplifiers
identify and use standard HFC coaxial test equipment to troubleshoot and maintain the coaxial portion of the network.
apply structured thinking and metacognitive strategies to develop effective and repeatable troubleshooting approaches
Course Benefits
receive an industry-recognized NCTI certificate of graduation
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