Wireless CATV network access for personal communications using simulcasting

Existing cable television (CATV) networks are proposed as a means to interconnect wireless terminals to terrestrial networks and services. Discrete antennas, each controlled by a remote antenna driver (RAD), are separated by 250 m along a cable to provide wireless access. RAD's transceive as a group on any active channel, and are controlled by a remote antenna signal processor (RASP) which interconnects to the public switched telephone network, or other broad-band network. Simulcast interference caused by transmissions involving the RAD's is analyzed. It is determined that communication is feasible, even in the simulcast interference zone, provided the time delay difference caused by differences in path length traveled by simulcast signals with comparable power levels is a small fraction of the signal pulse duration. Emphasis here is on the CT2 air interface with its 72 kb/s baud rate. The possible effects of cable transmission delay on the time-division duplex (TDD) transmission algorithm are considered. Some discussion involving communications through walls or around obstructions is included.<
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