At Shaw Cablesystems G.P. we recieve signals (channels) form many different sources. These sources are Fibre Optic, Satellite, Microwave, Antenna, Direct feed (a cable directly connecting us to CFRN for example) and some channels are recieved through Shaw Cable's fibre system (sent through an interconnect cable).
We then take these channels and demodulate them (remove them from where they were) and modulate them to the place where we want them. ie:if a channel comes in by satellite we would take it and change it to a frequency (channel) that is on our cable system. Another example is channel 2 CFRN, you can pick it up by antenna(without cable) in Edmonton on channel 3, we also receive it on channel 3 then we modulate it to channel 2 where you see it on your TV.
Once we have all these channels in the right place we convert them to light and send them out through the fibre optic cables to the different areas of the city that we service.
At the end of the fibre optic cables we convert the channels back to analog (which the tv understands) and send them off towards the house.
The place where we hook up the subscriber is at the tap. The tap is a splitter, behind the house (in the hall,basement, or outside wall of an apartment) either in a pedestal for underground cables or attached to the power poles in an aerial area. This is where we can hook up or disconnect subscribers.
From the tap we run a cable to the house where we insert a ground block (a grounding device). This is usually situated at the breaker box in the house (if we have access to it). It is at the ground block that we would put the splitter if you wanted more than one outlet (whenever possible). From the ground block a wire should be run to each Tv that you want cable tv connected to.
It is not quite as straight forward as it seems. When you turn on your Tv (if it is programed) it nicely goes through the channels in order and everything is dandy. The truth is it is not that simple. The order that the channels come through the cable is different than the order you watch them in. Let me explain...
When you push the channel up button on your remote the channels go up from 2 to 55 or what ever level of cable you are paying for in order.
On the cable system the channels come in a different order and your Tv puts them in the order that you watch them in. The order is 2 to 6, A-2(98), A-1(99), 14 to 22, 7 to 13, and then 23 and up to whatever you are paying for or what your Tv tuner can receive.
Your next Question may be WHY??? The answer is a little more complicated but let me give it a try.
Channels 2 to 6 are the low band. The frequency range they were given is 54 Mhz to 88 Mhz on the frequency spectrum. Right after channel 6 we have the FM band (yes FM radio) this covers 88 Mhz up to 109 Mhz. Next in line are the A channels and the range from A-8 (pronounced A minus 8) to A-1. Then comes channels 14 to 22. After channel 22 we have channels 7 to 13. the channel right after that is 23 and from there the channels follow all the way to 135 and even higher in order.
In the following chart I show the order the channels come in on the cable. Make note of the other names for these channels because in most manuals the lettered names are used for the channels.
For instance if in the manual (under specifications) for your equipment it states that it is capable of 2-6 low 7-13 high, A to I mid and J to W super, it really means that you can get up to channel 36 in the cable band.
Channel Frequency Band Other Names
2 54 Mhz Low
3 60 Low
4 66 Low
1 72 Low (VAR) A-8, C54, J54, G64, 4+, 5A
5 78 Low A-7, C55, J55, G65
6 84 Low A-6, C56, J56, G66
95 90 Low (FM) A-5, C57, J57
96 96 Low (FM) A-4, C58, J58
97 102 Low (FM) A-3, C59, J59
98 108 Low A-2, C60, J60, G60
99 114 Low A-1, C61, J61, G61
14 120 Mid A
15 126 Mid (ATC) B
16 132 Mid (ATC) C
17 138 Mid (VAR) D
18 144 Mid (VAR) E
19 150 Mid (VAR) F
20 156 Mid (VAR) G
21 162 Mid (VAR) H
22 168 Mid (VAR) I
7 174 High
8 180 High
9 186 High
10 192 High
11 198 High
12 204 High
13 210 High
23 216 Super (VAR) J
24 222 Super (VAR) K
25 228 Super L
and on to
36 300 super w
37 306 hyper AA
38 312 hyper BB
and on to
185 in the VHF band
Once we have all the channels on the system and to your TV the TV takes them and puts them in the order you watch them in.
The system we use in North America is NTSC 3.58. For the technicaly minded we use a 6 megahertz (Mhz) bandwidth. If you check above you will see that there is 6Mhz between each channel (under frequency).
Hows that for not getting technical???
To put this in plain Canadian...eh!!
If you had a Vcr that you adjusted by turning a little wheel, as you turned that wheel up you would start at channel 2 then go to ch.3, 4, 5 and go to channel 6. The next channel after 6 would be 14, 15, 16... and on to 22. After 22 you would get channel 7 all the way to 13 in order. After 13 the next channel would be channel 23 and from 23 you would get channels in numerical order all the way to 185 if your tuner would go that high.
Comming soon the Catv switch and what it does...
Click here to go to basic trouble shooting.