BDS Customer Premises Equipment and Drop Systems

Question 1

What is the maximum recommended length for a standard RG-6 coaxial drop cable from the tap to the customer's cable modem?

Accepted Answer

150 feet

Answer

The maximum recommended RG-6 drop cable length is typically 150 feet (approximately 45 meters) to ensure adequate signal levels reach the customer's equipment within DOCSIS specifications.

Question 2

What type of connector is used on RG-6 coaxial cable at customer premises equipment connections?

Accepted Answer

F-type connector

Answer

The F-type connector is the standard coaxial connector used throughout US cable broadband drop plants and customer premises wiring for connecting cable modems, set-top boxes, and splitters.

Question 3

What is the purpose of a ground block on a customer's drop cable entry point?

Accepted Answer

To provide a grounding point that protects equipment from lightning surges and satisfies NEC grounding requirements

Answer

A ground block bonds the coaxial cable shield to the building's electrical ground system, providing a path for surge currents from lightning to safely dissipate rather than flowing through customer equipment.

Question 4

What is a eMTA (Embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapter)?

Accepted Answer

A cable modem that includes a built-in VoIP ATA for telephone service

Answer

An eMTA combines a DOCSIS cable modem with an embedded Multimedia Terminal Adapter (MTA) for PacketCable VoIP telephone service, allowing subscribers to receive voice and data through a single device.

Question 5

What is the function of a signal splitter at customer premises?

Accepted Answer

To divide the cable signal to feed multiple devices such as cable modems and televisions

Answer

A customer premises splitter passively divides the incoming cable signal to feed multiple devices, with each split introducing approximately 3.5 dB of additional insertion loss.

BDS - Broadband Distribution Specialist Practice Test

BDS - Broadband Distribution Specialist Practice Test

BDS Customer Premises Equipment and Drop Systems