Volpe Firm | Technology Blog

13 06, 2024

Coaxial Cable Impedance, Attenuation and Beyond

Mia Colabrese2024-06-13T09:40:50-04:00June 13th, 2024|

Some people say coax but Ron likes coaxial cable. Coaxial cable has been a key component in our networks dating back to the industry's early days. As such, it's easy to take coax for granted without really understanding just what it is. Here's your chance to learn more about coaxial cable, along with a high-level look at some of its characteristics such as impedance, attenuation, velocity of propagation, DC loop resistance, and more. Please tell us your thoughts in the comments. Coax or Coaxial? 📡 --- Ron's Bio:

6 06, 2024

The Error Era: Rethinking Codeword Calculation with OFDM and SC-QAM

Mia Colabrese2024-06-06T13:43:07-04:00June 6th, 2024|

In our DOCSIS networks, accurately calculating uncorrectable codeword errors is essential for monitoring and maintaining network integrity. These errors, which cannot be corrected by the system’s error-correction algorithms, are known as uncorrectable codewords. The frequency and occurrence of uncorrectable codeword errors can signal physical or network impairments that adversely affect a subscriber’s quality of experience (QoE). When the percentage of these errors surpasses 1%, subscribers typically experience noticeable declines in service quality, which may include slower Internet speeds, disruptions to real-time services like voice and gaming, or even

7 05, 2024

Upgrading Your HFC Plant For The Next 5 Years

Mia Colabrese2024-11-12T14:32:59-05:00May 7th, 2024|

Upgrading Your HFC Plant For The Next 5 Years - the how, the why and the when - listen to uur latest episode of Get Your Tech On! Hosted by Brady Volpe, Founder of VolpeFirm and Chief Product Officer at OpenVault, and featuring John Downey, DOCSIS Sr. Industry Consultant, this livestream focuses on the technical aspects you should consider when looking to upgrade your HFC plant to last for the next five years. 85 MHz or 204 MHz or even higher? DAA? And more. We are going to

6 05, 2024

Pillars of Network Maintenance

Mia Colabrese2024-05-06T15:40:20-04:00May 6th, 2024|

Join network maintenance experts Brady Volpe, Founder of VolpeFirm and CPO OpenVault, and Mike O'Dell, Distinguished Engineer at Comcast, as they reveal the 5 critical pillars of network maintenance. In this insightful livestream, you'll discover: 👉 Proactive strategies to prevent HFC network problems 👉 Effective plant maintenance techniques to minimize downtime 👉 Best practices for identifying and fixing common issues 👉 How to transform your reactive maintenance approach into a proactive one Don't miss this opportunity to learn from industry experts and take your network maintenance skills to

26 04, 2024

The half-wave dipole antenna

Mia Colabrese2024-04-26T11:09:08-04:00April 26th, 2024|

The simple half-wave dipole antenna has played a role in the RF side of the cable industry for decades. Many are familiar with its use for signal leakage measurements. The half-wave dipole antenna also forms the basis for other types of antennas, such as Yagi-Uda and log periodic dipole array antennas used at many headends and antenna sites. This livestream will cover a few of the basics of dipole antennas, followed by some fun guidelines on how to make your own. 📡 Dive into the Fascinating World of

27 03, 2024

DOCSIS 3.1 understanding capacity calculator

Mia Colabrese2024-03-27T09:05:53-04:00March 27th, 2024|

Embark on an enlightening journey with our latest episode of Get Your Tech On! Hosted by Brady Volpe, Founder of VolpeFirm and Chief Product Officer at OpenVault, and featuring John Downey, DOCSIS Industry Technical Expert, this livestream is a treasure trove for cable and telecom enthusiasts. In this captivating episode, we unravel the complexities of DOCSIS 3.1 capacity issues and explore the best strategies to comprehend and maximize them: Topic Highlights: Estimating OFDM Capacity in DOCSIS 3.1 / 4.0: Discover the intricacies of estimating data capacity on an

20 03, 2024

Myth of capacitance effect

Mia Colabrese2024-03-25T09:14:04-04:00March 20th, 2024|

Ready to level up your RF knowledge in the world of HFC plants? Our next episode is a must-watch just for you! Get pumped as our host extraordinaire, Brady Volpe, teams up with the renowned Ron Hranac for a knowledge-packed session. The presentation will cover the widespread myth of a so-called capacitance effect supposedly being discharged when disconnecting and reconnecting a drop cable. The real culprit is not quite as mysterious as the myth, and is nothing more than good ol' corrosion. Ron is all set to take

26 02, 2024

DOCSIS 3.1 Deep Dive: OFDM vs. SC-QAM, Upstream Bonding, and Troubleshooting Tips

Mia Colabrese2024-04-26T11:12:26-04:00February 26th, 2024|

DOCSIS 3.1 extended with an eye on DOCSIS 4.0 :: Watch Brady Volpe – the founder of The Volpe Firm and the Chief Product Officer at OpenVault. By his side, the legendary John "Data Dynamo" Downey, a CMTS Guru whose knowledge of cable systems bends the very fabric of the internet. Together, they're diving deep into the cutting-edge tactics vendors are deploying to supercharge DOCSIS 3.1, tackling the Herculean task of managing the avalanche of data our subscribers send surging through DOCSIS networks. We'll shine a spotlight on

26 02, 2024

OFDM Capacity in DOCSIS 3.1 and 4.0

Mia Colabrese2024-02-28T12:54:24-05:00February 26th, 2024|

Estimating OFDM Capacity in DOCSIS 3.1 / 4.0 A Simplified Approach I am often asked how one estimates the data capacity on a OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) channel in DOCSIS 3.1 networks. The question is easy, the answer is not. In this article I provide the background behind estimating OFDM data channel capacity, at least what I can do within the confines of a three-page article. I’ll also provide some practical calculations and a link to a Python script which will do the work for you. Please

13 02, 2024

What is Signal Leakage Field Strength? Back to Basics in HFC

Mia Colabrese2024-02-13T13:35:01-05:00February 13th, 2024|

What is signal leakage field strength? Are you keen to expand your knowledge on RF leakage within HFC plants? Our upcoming episode is tailored just for you! We're excited to have our host Brady Volpe and our well know guest Ron Hranac lead an insightful session on Signal Leakage Field Strength. Ron is set to guide us through an engaging exploration of field strength. We'll uncover the intricacies of how radiated RF signals from a loosely fitted or improperly terminated F-connector are measured. Beyond that, we’ll delve into