Cable TV 108: FiBeR oPtIcS!!!

This is a MUST see! This is a great resource that shows how fiber optics work in numerous ways! It shows how they work with a single-mode fiber and both ways they work with multimode fibers. Like a said, a GREAT resource to see where Cable TV is going. We've given a lot about where it's from and what it is now...so here is a little...or quite a bit, on where it is going. GREAT stuff! Enjoy!

cable tv 107: dig deeper!

Here are all our sources if you wanted to learn more about Cable TV. A lot of them are summarized in previous posts. But if you want to learn more about cable, these are some great places to do it!

nBellis, M. (2007). Cable Television History. Inventors. Retrieved October 9, 2007, from http://inventors.about.com/library/ inventors/ blcabletelevision.htm

nFranklin, C. (2007). How Cable Television Works. howstuffworks. Retrieved October 19, 2007, from http://www.howstuffworks.com/cable-tv.htm

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Grant, A. E. & Meadows, J. H. (2006). Communication technology update, 10th edition. Focal Press: Burlington, MA.

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McCleskey, J. (1999, November). An Inside Look at Cables and Connectors. Videomaker. Retrieved October 19, 2007, from http://www.videomaker.com/article/ 7284/

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HowStuffWorks. (2007). How Cable TV Works. You Tube, LLC. Retrieved October 9, 2007, from, http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=l5gZ02DZY08

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Net Publishing Guides. (2004). A Basic Cable Package. How Cable TV Works. Retrieved October 9, 2007, from http://www.howitworks .net/how-cable-tv-works.html

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New Jersey Cable Telecommunications Association. (2005). A Cable Timeline. History of Cable. Retrieved October 9, 2007, from http:// www.cablenj.org/ facts_history.asp

cable tv 106: future status

Cable is evolving! Here are some of the developing trends:
1. online content delivery
2. continuing integration of content creators and distributors
3. bundled services
4. entry into cable services by other communication providers
5. a la carte services and regulation

cable tv 105: current status

59.3% of households with access to cable TV are currently subscribers

Cable TV revenue in 2006 totaled $69.5 billion
- most revenue did not come from cable programming, but additional services such as Internet, voice, and other services.

Digital cable upgrades, high definition, and interactive services are now available.

Cable is in such high demand that the FCC has set a limit on when to intervene in order to prevent a monopoly of service providers.

cable tv 104: RF Cables

We only took a segment from this website (the second heading, "RF Cable") but it was most helpful in really getting down to the functions and transmitting of signals from point A to point B. It gives you an inside look at what "cable wire" is made of and what it does. Check it out!

cable tv 103: Inside the Cable...

A great visual as well as a detailed description of the cable's function is found at this website. Another picture can be found here (the one I think we'll use...) This is what it looks like!

cable tv 102: a brief preview

Here is a brief history of cable TV. Many of the important dates in the history of cable can be found here.

Highlights:
>Cable TV began in Mahanoy City, PA in 1948
>It was invented by John Walson
>It was difficult to receive signals from the 3 local Philadelphia stations because of the mountainous terrain
>Walson put an antenna on a mountaintop nearby and connected it to his appliance store by cable enabling clear broadcasts
>Walson then linked the homes of customers to the main cable, creating the first cable TV system

Rapid growth:
1948 - invention, only a few customers
1950 - 14,000 customers
1962 - 850,000 customers nationwide
1980 - 15 million customers
1989 - 53 million customers

This site explains how cable tv works.

cable tv 101