Cable Television got its start in the late 1940’s as a way for people in mountainous or remote locations to have access to television signals.  Over the years it has grown to be the most popular way for people to get television – not only the local broadcast stations, but lots of other specialty channels for news, sports and entertainment.  Cable also now provides Internet access and phone service in many areas.  In the early days it was all about RF – receiving signals and transmitting them via wire and amplifiers to a local network of homes.  Not surprisingly most of the cable pioneers – who had to do it all themselves – had technical backgrounds, and many of them got that background from their experiences in amateur radio. 

Today’s cable networks are sophisticated digital networks based on a mixture of fiber and coax, with complex electronic controls.  But the heart of a cable network is still based on RF, even though the technology that gets the most publicity is based on computer technology. 

SCTE recognizes that RF continues to hold a central place in the cable industry, and through its education and certification programs is providing services to its members in the RF area.  In late 2009 the SCTE Board approved the idea of establishing an amateur radio club for SCTE members to provide a symbol of the continuing interest in RF and a focal point for all those interested in the technology.  This was a logical outgrowth of the popular "ham radio reception" at our annual Cable-Tec Expo show, which every year draws many of the top cable technologists.  The club is open to SCTE members world wide.

As part of the process of revitalizing RF in cable, SCTE has established a club station at its headquarters in Exton, Pennsylvania west of Philadelphia.  The club station has the call W3HFC – a fitting reminder that cable technology is based on Hybrid Fiber Coax networks.  We intend to use the club and the station for special events related to RF in the cable industry, and to participate in other services for the community.