
HDTV
High Definition TV: can be either analogue or
digital.
Headend
The control center of a cable television
system. The headend receives incoming
signals from satellites, broadcast antennae,
etc. , then amplifies, converts, processes and
combines signals as required for transmission
along cable lines to hubs or nodes for
distribution to cable subscribers’ house
drops.
HFC
Hybrid Fiber Coax
HPF
High Pass Filter
Hub
A signal distribution point that receives signals
directly from the headend; a sub-station
comprising a collection of nodes. A hub
facilitates trouble-shooting and changes within
the overall system. Larger cable systems
have multiple hub sites.
Hum
Low-Frequency Modulation of a carrier when
it passes through an active or passive
component. Shows on TV screen as bar(s)
scrolling slowly up through the picture.
Measured in Stealth as dBmV or as a
percentage.
Ingress
RF “leaking in” to a reverse path, interfering
with transmission. Interruption into the cable
line by through breaks in the integrity of the
cable
Inter-
modulation
Modulation of a TV carrier frequency by power
line frequencies and harmonics, or other low-
frequency disturbances.
Inter-
modulation
Distortion
Nonlinear distortion produced by the presence
of inter-modulation.
Harmonics are not included in this category
IPPV
Impulse Pay-Per-View
Level
Level is a measurement of signal and
reference voltages in the cable system,
expressed in dBmV or as a ratio expressed in
dB
LPF
Low Pass Filter