Cable Modems:

Theory of Operation
Gina Colangelo
EE194-SDR
04/03/2006
 Topics Covered
Cable Modems Basics
Cable Data Network Overview
Cable Modem Architecture
Downstream/Upstream Specifications
Cable Data Network Standards/Protocols
Conclusion
 Cable Modem Basics
Cable TV (CATV) Network serves as the Internet Service
Provider (ISP)
Cable Modem modulates/transmits and
demodulates/receives to/from a CATV channel
Downstream: data received at the modem is
communicated to one or more PCs on a LAN via
Ethernet, USB, PCI Bus, etc.
Upstream: data requests from the PC are transmitted
through the modem to the CATV network via coaxial
cable, phone line or wireless.
CATV data service interfaces to the Internet via Cable
Modem Termination System (CMTS )
Cable Modem Network Overview
Headend: DOCSIS-certified CMTS (Cable Modem Termination System)
 One Headend supports @ 2000 Cable Modem Users on a single TV Channel
 CMTS interfaces the CATV network to the Internet
CMTS output channel combined with TV video signals
CATV Network to Subscriber via coaxial cable
One-to-Two splitter: One signal to Set Top Box (STB), other to Cable Modem
Cable Modem
 One Modem can support up to 16 users in a local-area network
PC/Ethernet Card
 Cable Modem connected to PC via ethernet, USB, PCI Bus, etc
 Cable Modem Architecture
Transmit/Upstream
 QPSK/QAM Modulator performs:
QPSK/QAM-16 modulation
Reed-Solomon Encoding
D/A Conversion
Up-conversion to the selected
frequency/channel
Receive/Downstream
 RF Tuner
Converts TV Channel to a fixed
lower frequency (6-40MHz)
 QAM Demodulator performs:
A/D conversion
QAM-64/256 demodulation
MPEG frame synchronization
Error Correction (Reed-
Solomon)
MAC - Media Access Control
 Implemented partially in
hardware and software
Data and Control Logic
 Receive Path
Diplex Filter – splits/combines bands for 2-way capability on CATV systems
Tuner – isolates TV channel and mixes it down to Analog IF (6-40MHz)
Analog to Digital Conversion
Decimation Filters to down-sample to the symbol rate (e.g. CIC)
QAM Demodulator
 MPEG Frame synchronization
 Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
 Equalizer – removes distortions, and cancels echoes or multi-path conditions
 Carrier Removal
 Automatic Frequency Control (AFC)

QAM Demodulator
TUNER
Diplex Analog RF Analog IF Decimate Dig BB
Tunable ADC QAM
Filter LNA VGA LPF to Symbol
Demodulation
BPF Rate
(Internal or
Fixed
External to Variable Freq
Modem) Freq

Digital Ctrl Logic/Signals Digital Ctrl Logic/Signals

Generic Receive Path of a Cable Modem

 Downstream Specifications
Frequency Range: 65-850MHz
Bandwidth: 6MHz (USA) or 8MHz (EU)
Modulation: 64-QAM (6 bits/symbol) or 256-QAM (8 bits/symbol)
Data rate: 27-56 Mbps (depends on modulation and bandwidth)

64-QAM 256-QAM
6 MHz 31.2 41.6 Mbps
Mbps
8 MHz 41.4 55.2 Mbps
Mbps
Continuous stream of data
Framing: MPEG-2 (based on DOCSIS spec)
Encryption: DES (Data Encryption Standard)
Reed-Solomon Forward Error Correction

* Symbol rate listed under Modulation does not compensate for error correction and other overhead
** Data rates listed in the table use a symbol rate of 6.9 Msym/s for 8MHz BW and 5.2Msym/s for 6MHz BW
 Transmit Path
QAM (Burst) Modulator
 Reed-Solomon Encoder (Forward Error Correction)
 Randomizer/Scrambler – whitens the data
Helps to avoid discrete spurs in output spectrum
Improves synchronization at the receiver since data is more equiprobable
 Preamble Insertion
Inserts a training sequence into the system
Transmitted without R-S Encoding or Scrambling
 Modulation Encoder (QPSK/16-QAM)
 Pulse Shaping (e.g. Raised Root Cosine)
 Programmable Interpolation Filters (e.g. CIC)
 Programmable NCO, digitally modulates carrier anywhere in the Nyquist Bandwidth
 Digital to Analog Conversion
Variable Gain CATV Line Driver
QAM Modulator
To Diplexer
Preamble
Programmable Insertion
Interpolation Pulse-Shaping Digital
Program- Filter FIR Filter Modulation Reed- Data In
DAC mable Encoder MUX Randomizer Solomon
NCO Programmable Pulse-Shaping (QPSK/16-QAM)) Encoder
Interpolation FIR Filter
Variable Gain Filter
CATV Line Fixed
Driver Freq

Digital Control Logic/Signals

 Upstream Specifications
Frequency Range: 5-65 MHz
Variable Bandwidth: 200 kHz to 3.2 MHz (2 MHz
typically)
Modulation: QPSK (2 bits/symbol) or 16-QAM (4
bits/symbol)
Data rate: Variable 320 Kbps to 10 Mbps
Transmit bursts of data in timeslots (TDM)
Encryption: DES
Reed Solomon Forward Error Correction
Media Access Control (MAC)
MAC layer provides general requirements for
many cable modems subscribers to share a
single upstream data channel for transmission:
 Communication layer between Cable Modem and
CMTS
 Allocates Time-slots for transmission (upstream BW)
 Assigns upstream frequency and data rate
 Defines collision detection and retransmission
 Runs calibrations on TX levels and time references
(compensates for cable delays and losses)
 Includes ability to integrate encryption of user data
 DOCSIS Standard
Several CATV Standards:
 Various Proprietary protocols – 1G
 DOCSIS/MNCS – mainly USA (2G)
 DAVIC/DVB – mainly Europe (2G)
 IEEE 802.14 (3G??)
DOCSIS – Data over Cable Service Interface
Specifications
 Defined by the Multimedia Cable Network
System Partners (MCNS)
 Set of standards for transferring data by CATV
and cable modems
 Enable multi-vendor interoperability
 Defines all system layers such as the MAC
and PHY Layers
 Defines User Privacy Standards
 Cable vs DSL
Bandwidth/Data Rates
 Cable
Faster theoretical speeds (@ 30+ Mbps)
Average Plan: 6 Mbps down, 384 Kbps up ($43/mo + cable plan)
Scales by the number of subscribers using a particular channel
This problem can by resolved by the cable company adding more channels
 DSL
Slower data rates (< 10 Mbps, except for the unpopular VDSL)
Average Plan: 1.5 Mbps down, and 128 kbps up ($35/mo + phone line)
More consistent speeds
Performance/Quality
 Cable: designed to provide digital signals at a particular quality (variable
gain on upstream provides proper signal strength)
 DSL: quality depends on distance from central office
 Websites for More Info:
http://www.ciscopress.com/articles/article.asp?p=31289&seqNum=2&rl=1
http://www.iec.org/online/tutorials/acrobat/cable_mod.pdf
http://www.cable-modems.org/tutorial/index.htm#TOC
http://www.broadcom.com/collateral/pb/3349-PB01-R.pdf
http://www.analog.com/UploadedFiles/Data_Sheets/13374136AD9853_c.pd
f
http://www.wideband.com/products/Modems/QAM20Mod/QAMmod.html
http://focus.ti.com/lit/an/slwa023/slwa023.pdf
http://www.broadcom.com/collateral/pb/3419-PB02-R.pdf
http://www.cableaml.com/website3/wireless_catv/descriptions.htm
http://www.fcc.gov/mb/engineering/cablemqa.html
http://www.cablemodem.com/
http://www.nextgendc.com/index.htm
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cable-modem.htm
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/dslvscablemodem/a/dslcablecompare.
htm