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Analog Cable Services The process of delivering analog cable services begins with our receiving signals containing content from various broadcasters using multiple satellite antennas located at an analog head-end. The signals received by the antennas for a particular channel are then fed into an integrated receiver/decoder ("IRD"), which is an electronic device used to demodulate the C-Band signal and decrypt it to output as an analog baseband signal. In the analog head-ends, each IRD is dedicated solely to a particular channel. After decryption, the analog baseband signal is modulated using a radio frequency modulator, which modulates the analog baseband signal to cause one channel only to be transmitted per radio frequency carrier. Once these modulations are completed, the modulated radio frequency signals are combined so that they can be transmitted via a single cable to our HFC network. The HFC network further distributes the signals from the head-end to LCOs in various servicing areas. Each LCO in turn delivers the signals to end-user subscribers' televisions through their own network of cables. Digital Cable Services The process of delivering digital cable television services begins with our receiving signals containing content from various broadcasters using various antennas located at a digital head-end. The signals received by the antennas are then fed into an IRD, which demodulates the signal and converts the digital information contained in the signal into a decrypted signal. An encoder is then used to encode the signal. Following encoding (compression), a multiplexer is used to select and package signals to be transmitted as a bundle of channels on a single radio frequency carrier. Thereafter, a device called a transrater adjusts the bandwidth (i.e., rate of data transfer) of each channel in the pool using statistical multiplexing to facilitate efficient sharing of the transmission bandwidth. Depeding on the type of output, the signal is either fed directly to the multiplexer or a switch is used to perform the routing of a signal. After the transrater and switching device have performed their functions, the signal is encrypted by our CAS to prevent unauthorised reception of the signal. Once encrypted, a signal undergoes a final modulation process and is then combined with other analog modulated signals before being transmitted to our HFC network for transmission of signals from the head-ends to LCOs in various servicing areas. Each LCO in turn deliver the signals to end-user subscribers through its own "last mile" network. Each subscriber receives the signal through a digital set top box that is connected to the LCO's network and the subscriber's television. The set top box decodes and decrypts the signals, which results in the conversion of the signals into the content that is displayed on the subscriber's television screen. The set top box is activated by sending box specific commands via the subscriber management system. Click Here for More Details >> |