Executive Summary
The shielding attributes of components in a CATV system are critical to system performance. Ingress and egress issues can have detrimental effects on the overall performance of the system from both regulatory and quality perspectives.
Ingress issues can cause problems with television picture quality, and the effective transfer of data by allowing interfering signals into the system.
Egress issues can allow signals captured in the system to leak out and possibly interfere with wireless communications which utilize the same frequencies as those signals being leaked from the system.
It is the goal of this document to address the coaxial cables and connectors in the system, and how to properly gauge their performance in this critical area.
Scope
This document details the procedure for measuring the Ssielding effectiveness (SE) of coaxial cable and connectors using the gigahertz transverse electromagnetic (GTEM) cell. More particularly, this procedure applies to measuring the S.E. of 75 ohm braided coaxial drop cables and connectors presently used within the broadband communications industry. S.E. measurements can be performed with or without the affixing coaxial connectors removed from the measurement.
Benefits
This procedure exists in order to provide a standard method of testing between laboratories performing shielding effectiveness tests. When utilized this procedure helps to ensure confidence in results when published.