Upgrade of coaxial CATV networks for upstream high speed digital communication

There is a growing interest to extend existing coax CATV networks to enable interactive multimedia services. In this paper we describe necessary modifications and additions of CATV network components to provide broadband upstream channels in the range of 6 to 40 MHz. To investigate linear and nonlinear distortions, reflexions, noise and ingress, suitable digital modulation schemes and adaptive equalization, the CATV network-components are modelled and a computer simulation program using PTOLEMY is established. It is shown that all 3370 subscribers of an existing CATV sub-network can be provided with up to 25 kbit/s collision free on the physical network layer. Using appropriate teletraffic and media access control protocols, user bit rates of up to 2 Mbit/s are feasible in the upstream direction.