Detecting and Locating Signal Leakages from Cable TV Networks – A Case Study
Abstract
Since the digitalization of terrestrial television, many countries have discontinued television broadcasting in the UHF band. The freed-up frequencies are now available as digital dividends for mobile and fixed wireless access communication networks (MFCN), particularly for 4G/5G and public safety services in broadband called BBPPDR. Since cable TV still uses the UHF band, leakage from cable TV networks is the most common cause of interference in MFCN networks. Insufficient containment of the radio frequency signals transmitted through a cable system results in cable signal leakage. This article investigates the significance of controlling electromagnetic signal leaks from cable TV networks and how they impact authorized and standardized MFCN networks in the digital dividend bands. The periodic drive-test approach to detect and measure electromagnetic leakage from a cable TV system in the 700 MHz band at a site is detailed. The causes of the detected leaks and offered the appropriate procedure to repair them are also discussed. Additionally, the current measures taken in Hungary to address cable television signal leakage in the digital dividend bands are also discussed and alternative strategies for the adopted test drive approach are proposed.References
International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Geneva, Switzerland. [Online]. Available: https://www.itu.int/
ITU, “Final Acts of the Regional Radiocommunication Conference for planning of the digital terrestrial broadcasting service in parts of Regions 1 and 3, in the frequency bands 174-230 MHz and 470-862 MHz (RRC-06)”, Geneva, Switzerland, 15 May - 16 June 2006, pp. 1-336 [Online]. Available: https://www.itu.int/pub/R-ACT-RRC.14-2006/en
Juan Castro, “GE06 Agreement Articles 4 & 5”, 29th ITU World Radiocommunication Seminar 2020 (WRS-20) Online, 30 November to 4 December 2020, pp. 1-26 [Online]. Available: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-R/terrestrial/workshops/WRS-20/Documents/GE06-agreement-Art%204-5-wrs20-final.pdf
Pascal Lamy, “Results of the work of the high-level group on the future use of the UHF band (470-790 MHZ)”, Report to the European Commission 1, 2014, pp. 1-34 [Online]. Available:
https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/dae/document.cfm?doc_id=6721
The European Parliament and the council of the European Union, “Decision (EU) 2017/899 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2017 on the use of the 470-790 MHz frequency band in the Union”, Strasbourg, France, 2017. pp. 1-7 [Online]. Available: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2017/899/oj
NMHH, “National roadmap for the utilization of the VHF III (174–230 MHz) and the UHF (470–790 MHz) frequency bands; the future of digital broadcasting and mobile broadband frequency use options”, National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), Budapest, Hungary, published on 20 August 2017, pp. 1-22. [Online]. Available: https://english.nmhh.hu/document/190192/uhf_vhf_3_national_roadmap_eng.pdf
Tamás István Unger, “Frequency co-ordination: MFCN Agreements in Hungary; Tasks and Challenges in the Present and for the Future”, National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), Budapest, Hungary, published on 2 July 2020, pp. 1-27. [Online]. Available: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Regional-Presence/Europe/Documents/Events/2020/Spectrum_EUR_CIS/Tamas%20Unger%20(1).pdf
National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), Budapest, Hungary, [Online]. Available: https://english.nmhh.hu/
National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH), Radio Spectrum Strategy, Hungary, December 2020, pp. 1-71 [Online]. Available: https://english.nmhh.hu/document/219290/nmhh_radio_spektrum_strategy_2021_2025.pdf
Hussein Taha, Péter Vári, and Szilvia Nagy, "On the Challenges of Mutual Interference between Cable Television Networks and Mobile Fixed Communication Networks in the Digital Dividend Bands", Infocommunications Journal, Vol. XIV, No 3, September 2022, pp. 63-71., https://doi.org/10.36244/ICJ.2022.3.8
Steve Windle, et al, “Operational Practice for Minimizing Signal Leakage in the UHF Spectrum”, JOURNAL OF NETWORK OPERATIONS, 2016, pp: 55-78. [Online]. Available:
https://www.scte.org/documents/3593/SCTE-ISBE-NOS_Journal_V1N1.pdf
Engineering committee and network operations subcommittee, “Technical Report UHF Leakage, Ingress, Direct Pickup”, SCTE Technical Report, The Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE), 209, Exton, PA, USA, 2015, pp. 1-80. [Online]. Available:
https://www.scte.org/documents/203/SCTE-209-2015-1575563912519.pdf
ARCOM digital, “LTE interference and CATV”, 2014, pp.1-63 [Online]. Available: https://pdf4pro.com/cdn/lte-interference-and-catv-2f0440.pdf
Ron Hranac, Greg Tresness, “Another Look at Signal Leakage; The Need to Monitor at Low and High Frequencies”, A Technical Paper prepared for the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers, SCTE Cable TEC, EXPO12, Orlando, USA, 17-19 October 2012, pp. 1-32. [Online]. Available: https://www.arcomdigital.com/wp-content/media/hranac-tresness-scte-white-paper.pdf
Maciej Sadowski, “Leakages from devices of CATV system”, IFAC-Papers Online, 51.6, 2018, pp. 490-495.,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2018.07.108
76.605 Technical standards, title-47, section CFR § 76.605, Cable Rules | Federal Communications Commission, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/section-76.605
76.609 Measurements, title 47, section CFR § 76.609, Cable Rules | Federal Communications Commission, 2018. [Online]. Available: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-76/subpart-K/section-76.609
76.613 Interference from a multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD), title-47, section CFR § 76.613, Cable Rules | Federal Communications Commission, 2015. [Online]. Available:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-76/subpart-K/section-76.613
76.611 Cable television basic signal leakage performance criteria, title-47, section CFR § 76.611, Cable Rules | Federal Communications Commission, 2015. [Online]. Available:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-76/subpart-K/section-76.611
76.614 Cable television system regular monitoring, title-47, section CFR § 76.614, Cable Rules | Federal Communications Commission, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-76/subpart-K/section-76.614
76.616 Operation near certain aeronautical and marine emergency radio frequencies, title-47, section CFR § 76.616, Cable Rules | Federal Communications Commission, 2015. [Online]. Available:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-76/subpart-K/section-76.616
76.617 Responsibility for interference, title-47, section CFR § 76.617, Cable Rules | Federal Communications Commission, 2015. [Online]. Available: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-76/subpart-K/section-76.617
Rohde & Schwarz, “R&S®EB500 Monitoring Receiver”, Product Brochure | Version 05.00, Germany, April 2015, pp. 1-28 [Online]. Available: https://scdn.rohde-schwarz.com/ur/pws/dl_downloads/dl_common_library/dl_brochures_and_datasheets/pdf_1/EB500_bro_en_5214-3800-12_v0500.pdf
HENSOLDT, “GEW® SkyScan7 Compact multirole spectrum-monitoring and direction-finding system”, Technical Specifications and Features, Version 3.00, South Africa, 2020, pp. 1-4 [Online]. Available: https://dam.hensoldt.net/m/400432882130e952/original/GEW-SkyScan7-Brochure-English.pdf
Narda Safety Test Solutions GmbH, “IDA-3106 Interference and Direction Analyzer”, Operating Manual, Operating Manual, Germany, 2022, pp. 1-282 [Online]. Available: https://www.narda-sts.com/en/monitoring-receiver/ida-2-handheld/pd/pdfs/23446/eID/
European standards, CSN Standards, Electrical Engineering, EN 50083 series, [Online]. Available: https://www.en-standard.eu/search/?q=EN+50083
European standards, CSN Standards, Electrical Engineering, EN 60728 series, [Online]. Available: https://www.en-standard.eu/search/?q=EN+60728
Albert Domingo, Marlies Van der Wee, Sofie Verbrugge, Miquel Oliver, “Deployment strategies for FTTH networks and their impact on the business case: A comparison of case studies”, Conference: 20th ITS Biennial Conference At: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2014, pp. 1-20 [Online]. Available: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/106863/1/816637695.pdf
Robert Kenny, “Exploring the costs and benefits of FTTH in the UK”, March, Nesta, London, UK, 2015, pp.1-27 [Online]. Available: https://media.nesta.org.uk/documents/exploring_the_costs_and_benefits_of_ftth_in_the_uk_v7.pdf
Jack Burton, “FTTH and Next-Generation HFC: Myth vs. Reality”, Broadband Success Partners, August 2019, pp. 1-27 [Online]. Available: https://www.broadbandsuccess.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/FTTH-or-NG-HFC-Myth-vs-Reality-082019.pdf
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 International Journal of Electronics and Telecommunications
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
1. License
The non-commercial use of the article will be governed by the Creative Commons Attribution license as currently displayed on https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
2. Author’s Warranties
The author warrants that the article is original, written by stated author/s, has not been published before, contains no unlawful statements, does not infringe the rights of others, is subject to copyright that is vested exclusively in the author and free of any third party rights, and that any necessary written permissions to quote from other sources have been obtained by the author/s. The undersigned also warrants that the manuscript (or its essential substance) has not been published other than as an abstract or doctorate thesis and has not been submitted for consideration elsewhere, for print, electronic or digital publication.
3. User Rights
Under the Creative Commons Attribution license, the author(s) and users are free to share (copy, distribute and transmit the contribution) under the following conditions: 1. they must attribute the contribution in the manner specified by the author or licensor, 2. they may alter, transform, or build upon this work, 3. they may use this contribution for commercial purposes.
4. Rights of Authors
Authors retain the following rights:
- copyright, and other proprietary rights relating to the article, such as patent rights,
- the right to use the substance of the article in own future works, including lectures and books,
- the right to reproduce the article for own purposes, provided the copies are not offered for sale,
- the right to self-archive the article
- the right to supervision over the integrity of the content of the work and its fair use.
5. Co-Authorship
If the article was prepared jointly with other authors, the signatory of this form warrants that he/she has been authorized by all co-authors to sign this agreement on their behalf, and agrees to inform his/her co-authors of the terms of this agreement.
6. Termination
This agreement can be terminated by the author or the Journal Owner upon two months’ notice where the other party has materially breached this agreement and failed to remedy such breach within a month of being given the terminating party’s notice requesting such breach to be remedied. No breach or violation of this agreement will cause this agreement or any license granted in it to terminate automatically or affect the definition of the Journal Owner. The author and the Journal Owner may agree to terminate this agreement at any time. This agreement or any license granted in it cannot be terminated otherwise than in accordance with this section 6. This License shall remain in effect throughout the term of copyright in the Work and may not be revoked without the express written consent of both parties.
7. Royalties
This agreement entitles the author to no royalties or other fees. To such extent as legally permissible, the author waives his or her right to collect royalties relative to the article in respect of any use of the article by the Journal Owner or its sublicensee.
8. Miscellaneous
The Journal Owner will publish the article (or have it published) in the Journal if the article’s editorial process is successfully completed and the Journal Owner or its sublicensee has become obligated to have the article published. Where such obligation depends on the payment of a fee, it shall not be deemed to exist until such time as that fee is paid. The Journal Owner may conform the article to a style of punctuation, spelling, capitalization and usage that it deems appropriate. The Journal Owner will be allowed to sublicense the rights that are licensed to it under this agreement. This agreement will be governed by the laws of Poland.
By signing this License, Author(s) warrant(s) that they have the full power to enter into this agreement. This License shall remain in effect throughout the term of copyright in the Work and may not be revoked without the express written consent of both parties.