Podcast Archives

8 10, 2025

SCTE EXPO 2025 Recap

DOCSIS Rocks2025-10-08T09:56:30-04:00October 8th, 2025|

Watch a brief recap of SCTE Tech Expo, John Downey and Brady Volpe break down the latest DOCSIS 4 innovations, Low Latency L4S for gamers, and the role of AI from Harmonic and OpenVault in transforming networks. Gamers will be thrilled to hear how L4S (Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable throughput) is shaping the next era of online experiences, while broadband operators and engineers will appreciate insights into Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM) and real-world AI use cases. We had a blast checking out all the new technologies—though

3 09, 2025

Turning My vCMTS into a PON OLT – Live Fiber Demo with multi-Gbps ONU Speed Test!

DOCSIS Rocks2025-09-03T11:52:54-04:00September 3rd, 2025|

Hey everyone—welcome back! You usually see me talking coax, DOCSIS, MER… but today we’re flipping the script: it’s fiber time. Join Brady Volpe and Andrii Vladyka, Vice President, Growth and Technologies at Harmonic, for a LIVE fiber lab demo like no other! In this session, we’re turning a virtual CMTS (vCMTS) into a PON OLT (Optical Line Terminal) and connecting an ONU (Optical Network Unit) — all live and in real time. After our last chat on PTP-less timing, Andrii asked if I’d be up for playing

6 08, 2025

PTPless vCMTS

DOCSIS Rocks2025-08-06T10:25:10-04:00August 6th, 2025|

Unlock the next evolution in cable networks with PTP-less vCMTS (virtual CMTS) and DAA (Distributed Access Architecture)! In this in-depth session, Brady Volpe (The Volpe Firm / OpenVault) sits down with Harmonic’s Andrii Valadka and Adam Levy—one of the primary inventors behind PTP-less technology—to break down how this innovation simplifies timing requirements, reduces costs, and increases network reliability for cable operators. We explore: • Why networks use PTP (Precision Time Protocol) • How PTP can create single points of failure in DAA • The use cases of

5 08, 2025

THE CABLE CLIMB Mike Collins

DOCSIS Rocks2025-08-05T10:39:33-04:00August 5th, 2025|

Join Brady Volpe on The Cable Climb as he interviews Mike Collins, Product Manager at VeEX, Inc., about his 40-year journey in the broadband industry. From his early days as a cable technician in the 1980s to developing cutting-edge test equipment for DOCSIS 3.1 and 4.0 networks, Mike shares invaluable career lessons and insider perspectives. Learn how foundational skills in RF, AC, DC, and fiber have evolved, the importance of mentors in the cable industry, and how test meters like the CM1000 and CX380C have transformed technician

18 07, 2025

SC-QAM

DOCSIS Rocks2025-10-23T13:21:51-04:00July 18th, 2025|

Join Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac as they take a technician-level look. Educate cable broadband technicians and engineers on how to effectively use a QAM analyzer to diagnose and resolve issues with SC-QAM (Single Carrier Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) channels in the HFC plant or CMTS environment. If you’re a cable tech, broadband engineer, or just a DOCSIS nerd, this is the livestream for you. Struggling with pixelation, slow speeds, or downstream signal issues? In this video, we show broadband technicians how to troubleshoot SC-QAM channels using a QAM

7 07, 2025

ANGACOM 2025 Recap: Fiber Domination, Low Latency DOCSIS, and Charter-Cox Merger Insights

DOCSIS Rocks2025-08-06T10:10:18-04:00July 7th, 2025|

Brady Volpe and DOCSIS expert John Downey recap the latest from ANGA COM 2025 in Germany. 🇩🇪 We discuss: • Why Europe is going 90% fiber and the impact on HFC • The powerful low latency DOCSIS demo from Harmonic and what it means for streaming and gaming • Charter’s acquisition of Cox and what it means for the US broadband landscape • The upcoming SCTE Expo in DC • And yes… the mystery of The Hoff’s disappearance at the party 🎤 👀 Watch for timestamps and drop

28 05, 2025

THE CABLE CLIMB: Billy Williams

DOCSIS Rocks2025-05-28T16:15:38-04:00May 28th, 2025|

How do you grow from climbing poles as an HFC line tech to designing next-gen DOCSIS and managed-Wi-Fi networks? In this episode of The Cable Climb, host Brady Volpe sits down with Billy Williams, Design Engineer – DOCSIS & Video Systems at Comporium, to trace a 25-year journey that proves field grit and continuous learning can launch a high-impact engineering career. In this conversation you’ll hear: • Billy’s first day in a bucket truck—and the mentor who pushed his pace • Turning the light on in the

15 05, 2025

Reddits Top DOCSIS Troubleshooting Questions Answered 

DOCSIS Rocks2025-05-15T14:10:16-04:00May 15th, 2025|

We went deep into r/CableTechs, pulled the most‑asked DOCSIS questions, and tackled them on air—now you can watch the full replay! I’m Brady Volpe, joined by cable legend John Downey, breaking down everything from upstream ingress hunts and OFDM migraines to T3/T4 storms and mid‑split mysteries. 🔍 What you’ll learn Why RxMER bounces and how to spot the real culprit The drop‑swap vs. plant‑sweep debate for return‑path noise Ideal DS/US power windows in a mid‑split (85 MHz) world Reading ICFR, Max P‑V & Tilt on an OFDM meter—when to roll

29 04, 2025

THE CABLE CLIMB: Andy Parrot

DOCSIS Rocks2025-05-07T09:40:51-04:00April 29th, 2025|

What does it take to climb from summer installer to President & CEO? In this episode of The Cable Climb, host Brady Volpe sits down with Andy Parrott, President & CEO of Vyve Broadband to unpack the hard-won lessons, setbacks, and milestones that powered his 30-year rise through the broadband ranks. Episode Highlights • How a “no summer break” ultimatum launched Andy’s career in 1993 • Early installer days, 3 a.m. snow-storm callouts, and proving Dad wrong • Charter start-up chaos, Suddenlink’s gigabit firsts, and leading Vyve

21 04, 2025

DOCSIS 3.1 OFDM Field Measurements

DOCSIS Rocks2025-04-21T12:01:21-04:00April 21st, 2025|

Join Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac as they take a technician-level look into DOCSIS 3.1 downstream OFDM field measurements. Learn what to measure, how to measure it, and what those measurements really mean — from subcarrier spacing to RxMER and everything in between. If you’re a cable tech, broadband engineer, or just a DOCSIS nerd, this is the livestream for you. Topics covered: • OFDM vs SC-QAM differences • How to interpret RxMER per subcarrier • Locking to PLC, NCP, and Profiles A/B • Measuring channel power