A General Seminar on

INTERNET ACCESS VIA CABLE TV NETWORK

A report Submitted in partial fulfillment of the academic

Requirement for the award of degree of

MASTER OF COMPUTER APPLICATION

Submitted

By

Name: M.MURALI KRISHNA

H.T.No: 09R01F0022

CMR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

(Approved by AICTE, Affiliated to JNTU, Hyderabad)

Kandlakoya, Medchal Road, R.R. Dist.

Hyderabad.

2011-2012

CMR INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY(Approved by AICTE, Affiliated to JNTU, Kukatpally)

Kandlakoya, Medchal Road, Hyderabad

Department of Master of Computer Application

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that Mr. /Ms. M.MURALI KRISHNA bearing the Hall Ticket

No: 09R01F0022 has successfully completed his/her General Seminar on –

INTERNET ACCESS VIA CABLE TV NETWORK

For partial fulfillment of MCA VI Semester of JNTU Hyderabad for the academic year

2011-2012.

Mr. T. A. JOSEPH JUDSON Internal Guide, Head of Department,

INTERNET ACCESS VIA CABLE TV NETWORK

Presented by

M.MURALI KRISHNA, Roll No: 09R01F0022, MCA 3rd Year, CMRIT.

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. HOW TO ACCESS INTERNET VIA CABLE TV NETWORK 2

2.1 DIFFERENT WAYS OF INTERNET ACCESS

3. CABLE MODEM 4

4. WORK OF CABLE MODEM 6

5. SERVICES 8

6. SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE PC’S 9

7. HOW FAST IS CABLE MODEM 9

8. REAL WORLD PERFORMANCE 10

9. ETHERNET OVER COAX ADAPTER 10

10. ADVANTAGES &DISADVANTAGES 11

11. LIMITATIONS 11

12. APPLICATIONS 12

13. CONCLUSION 12

14. REFERENCES 12

1. INTRODUCTION

Internet is a network of networks in which various computers connect each other throughoutthe world. The connection to other computers is possible with the help of ISP (Internet ServiceProvider). Each Internet users depend dialup connections to connect to Internet. This has manydisadvantages like very poor speed, may time cut downs etc. Miraculous developments intelecommunication systems and information technology have created marvels for the newgeneration i.e. Internet using a phone line. Internets via phone connections are painfully slow,especially when downloading photographs, graphics, or video images and large files. To solvethe problem, Internet data can be transferred through Cable networks wired to the usercomputer.

The cable modem technology for the Internet provides an 'always on' feature forindividuals to access the Internet rapidly, while its digital broadband network technologyallows user to move around quickly.

Various advantages are High availability, High bandwidth to low cost, high speed data access,always on connectivity etc.The huge growth in the number of Internet users every year hasresulted in the traffic congestion on the net, resulting in slower and expensive internet access.

As cable TV has a strong reach to homes, it is the best medium for providing the internet toHouse-holds with faster access at feasible rates.

A cable modem connects to a PC using the same coaxial cable that brings all channels to your television.India has a cable penetration of 80 million homes, offering a vast network for control the internet access.

Broadband cable Internet access requires a cable modem at the customer's premises and acable modem termination system at a cable operator facility, typically a cable television headend. The two are connected via coaxial cable or a Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) plant. Whileaccess networks are sometimes referred to as last-mile technologies, cable Internet systemscan typically operate where the distance between the modem and the termination system is upto 100 miles (160 km). If the HFC network is large, the cable modem termination system canbe grouped into hubs for efficient management.

The cable TV signals are often removed by filtering at the line tap outside the customer's premises. Cable TV networks and telecommunications networks are the two predominant forms of residential Internet access.

Recently, both have seen increased competition from fiber deployments, wireless, andMobile networks. Cable Internet access is the principal competitor to DSL and is offered.

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2. HOW TO ACCESS INTERNET VIA CABLE TV NETWORK

We are all quite familiar with the Internet browsing via fax modem through dial-up. TheInternet is accessed using a telephone line as the transmission media. The analogue telephonelines originally meant for voice transmission now carries data but at very low speeds. The basicdisadvantages of this method are the occupation of the telephone line while the Internet is beingaccessed, and the telephone bill, in addition to the fees for Internet account, which can touchthe roof! The disconnections and redialing required quite often during the browsing, isdistressing more so when the connection gets cut while you are downloading importantinformation or large files. Whereas broadband access technologies enable data transfer at highspeeds. Therefore, any medium or technology that allows data transfer speeds of more than64kbps can be called as broadband technology. The medium can carry numerous voice, videoand data channels simultaneously since each channel takes up a different frequency and there isno interference with one another. A co-axial cable TV is a classic example of broadband technology as it can broadcast several channels simultaneously, but only in one direction. The same technology principles are now applied for delivering rich multimedia content in two-way direction.

Different ways of Internet Access:

Dial-up connection: Dial-up Internet access is a form of Internet access that uses theFacilities of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to establish a dialed connection toAn Internet service provider (ISP) via telephone lines. The user's computer or router uses anAttached modem to encode and decode Internet Protocol packets and control information intoAnd from analogue audio frequency signals, respectively.

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ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a set of communications standards forSimultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over theTraditional circuits of the public switched telephone network. The key feature of ISDN is thatit integrates speech and data on the same lines, adding features that were not available in theClassic telephone system.

DSL: Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) is a family of technologies that provides digital datatransmission over the wires of a local telephone network. DSL originally stood for digitalsubscriber loop. In telecommunications marketing, the term Digital Subscriber Line is widelyunderstood to mean Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL), the most commonlyinstalled technical variety of DSL. DSL service is delivered simultaneously with regulartelephone on the same telephone line. This is possible because DSL uses a higher frequency.These frequency bands are subsequently separated by filtering. The data throughput ofconsumer DSL services typically ranges from 256 Kb/s to 20 Mbit/s in the direction to thecustomer (downstream), depending on DSL technology, line conditions, and service-levelimplementation. In ADSL, the data throughput in the upstream direction, (i.e. in the directionto the service provider) is lower, hence the designation of asymmetric service. In SymmetricDigital Subscriber Line (SDSL) service, the downstream and upstream data rates are equal.

Cable TV Network: Cable Internet access is a form of broadband Internet access thatuses the cable television infrastructure. This seminar report will cover this part in detail.

Wi-Fi: A Wi-Fi enabled device such as a personal computer, video game console,Smartphone or digital audio player can connect to the Internet when within range of awireless network connected to the Internet. The coverage of one or more (interconnected)access points — called hotspots — can comprise an area as small as a few rooms or as largeas many square miles. Coverage in the larger area may depend on a group of access pointswith overlapping coverage. In addition to private use in homes and offices, Wi-Fi can providepublic access at Wi-Fi hotspots provided either free-of-charge or to subscribers to variouscommercial services. Organizations and businesses - such as those running airports, hotelsand restaurants - often provide free-use hotspots to attract or assist clients. Enthusiasts orauthorities who wish to provide services or even to promote business in selected areassometimes provide free Wi-Fi access. Routers that incorporate a digital subscriber linemodem or a cable modem and a Wi-Fi access point, often set up in homes and otherpremises, can provide Internet access and internetworking to all devices connected(wirelessly or by cable) to them. With the emergence of MiFi and WiBro (a portable Wi-Firouter) people can easily create their own Wi-Fi hotspots that connect to Internet via cellularnetworks. Now many mobile phones can also create wireless connections via tethering oniPhone, Android, Symbian, and WinMo. One can also connect Wi-Fi devices in ad-hoc modefor client-to-client connections without a router. Wi-Fi also connects places that wouldtraditionally not have network access, for example bathrooms, kitchens and garden sheds.

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Wi-Max: WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is aTelecommunications protocol that provides fixed and fully mobile Internet access. WiMAX isa standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access asan alternative to cable and DSL. The current WiMAX revision provides up to 40 Mbit/s withthe IEEE 802.16m update expected to offer up to 1 Gbit/s fixed speeds.

GPRS and EDGE: General packet radio service (GPRS) is a packet oriented mobile dataservice on the 2G and 3G cellular communication systems global system for mobilecommunications (GSM). GPRS networks evolved to EDGE networks with the introductionof 8PSK encoding. Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Enhanced GPRS(EGPRS), or IMT Single Carrier (IMT-SC) is a backward-compatible digital mobile phonetechnology that allows improved data transmission rates, as an extension on top of standardGSM. EDGE was deployed on GSM networks beginning in 2003.

3G: 3G or 3rd Generation is a generation of standards for mobile phones and mobiletelecommunications services fulfilling specifications by the International TelecommunicationUnion. Application services include wide-area wireless voice telephone, mobile Internetaccess, video calls and mobile TV, all in a mobile environment. Compared to the older 2Gand 2.5G standards, a 3G system must allow simultaneous use of speech and data services,and provide peak data rates of at least 200 kbit/s according to the IMT-2000 specification.Recent 3G releases, often denoted 3.5G and 3.75G, also provide mobile broadband access ofseveral Mbit/s to laptop computers and smart phones.

3. CABLE MODEMCable TV Network is made up of coaxial cable lines that bring television signals to TV. Eachtelevision channel is given a 6-megahertz channel on the cable. Cable TV Networks are highbandwidth networks i.e. 550 to 750 MHz by their very nature of design. These networks weretraditionally built as one way networks carrying 60-100 Cable TV channels downstream i.e.from Head end to the Subscriber.

4For access of Internet through the cable network you need a cable modem instead of atelephone modem. The cable modem is however, not just a modem, its encryption and securityfeatures are in-built and user can also access television channels simultaneously through thecable connection, optionally, as shown in figures 1 and 2. A cable modem is a device thatallows high-speed access to the Internet via cable TV network. It typically has two connections,one to the cable wall outlet and the other to a computer and TV through a splitter. With cableTV network and Using a phone line, connections are painfully slow, especially whendownloading photographs, graphics, or video images.

The cable modem technology for the Internet provides an always-on feature for individuals toAccess the Internet rapidly, while its broadband network allows user to move around quickly.

One gets unlimited time of surfing at a very high speed. As a result, information providers areable to offer better-quality content as more consumers gain Higher-speed access to the Internet.• The cable network was designed to deliver TV signals in one direction from the Head-End to the subscribers homes.• To provide TV services Cable Operators had to recreate a portion of the over-the-airradio frequency (RF) spectrum within a sealed coaxial cable line.• Operators had to upgrade the cable network so that signals could flow in both directions• Cable Operators assign a spectrum of signal frequencies to the cable network• One spectrum is used for the signals that move from the Head-End towards the cablesubscriber.• Another spectrum of signal frequencies are used for the signals that move from thecable subscriber towards the Head-End.• By replacing existing one way amplifiers with two way amplifiers Cable Operators areable to separate the upstream and downstream signals and amplify each directionseparately in the right frequency range.(Up to 16 pes with current software configuration)

5Fig. 2:

4. WORK OF CABLE MODEM

Your Cable Company supplies you with a connection to your home which in turn is

Connected to a splitter box.

One spur from the splitter box is connected to your TV through a TV Adapter, the other

being connected to your Cable Modem, which in turn is connected to your computer

Through an Ethernet connection.

Cable modems can be part modem, part tuner, part encryption / decryption device,

part bridge, part router, part NIC card and part Ethernet hub.

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The television and the Internet transmission take place simultaneously on the same cable butat different frequencies. This allows the user to view TV and access Internet at the sameTime.When a cable company offers Internet access over the cable, Internet information can use thesame cables because the cable modem system puts downstream data (data sent from theInternet to an individual computer) into a 6-MHz channel. On the cable, the data looks justlike a TV channel. So Internet downstream data takes up the same amount of cable space asany single channel of programming.One downstream channel can handle hundreds of cable modems. Upstream data (informationsent from an individual back to the Internet) requires even less of the cable's bandwidth, just2 MHz, since the assumption is that most people download far more information than theyupload.Hence setting up of a robust two-way Cable TV network is the first requisite beforedeploying Cable Modems on a Cable TV network. This is done by upgrades to the amplifiersin the cable distribution network etc.

Equipments Required:Putting both upstream and downstream data on the cable television system requires two typesof equipment:1. A cable modem at the customer end2. A cable modem termination system (CMTS) at the cable provider's end

DSL vs. Cable:

Speed (advantage - Cable): Cable boasts faster speed than DSL Internet in theory. However,cable does not always deliver on the promise in everyday practical use.

Popularity (advantage - Both): In the US, cable Internet enjoys significantly greaterpopularity than DSL, although DSL has been closing the gap recently. Outside the US, DSLcontinues to hold the edge.

Customer Satisfaction (advantage - DSL): US cable services generally rate lower thanDSL in customer surveys.

Security (advantage - Both): Cable and DSL implement different network security models.Historically, more concerns have existed with cable security, although cable providers havedefinitely taken steps to improve security over the past few years. It's likely both DSL andcable are "secure enough" for most people's needs.

SOME COMPANY NAMES OF CABLE MODEM

3Com Phasecom Zenith Cisco Systems Samsung Com21 Terayon General Instrument Toshiba Motorola Nortel Networks 7

5. SERVICESThe emergence of communication technology and information technology lead to electronicLibrary with the help of internet, and expert systems development and a widespread use ofInformation networks for the dissemination and interactive use of information covering everyfacet of human life will become the order of the day. The vision and legacy of Dr. S.R.Ranganathan will continue to be an inspiration and a guiding star for the emergence of the newlibrary and information profession.

To keep abreast and to lead the information revolution of the new millennium, the profession should strive for a dynamic approach in training and development with a new spectrum of specializations.

These are essential to scenarios in information systems and related technologies; including development of cable TV network and more techniques to meet the emerging user needs. In this network the most popular service undoubtedly is the high-speed Internet access this enables a typical array of Internet services at speeds.

Hundreds of times faster than with a telephone. Other services offered may include access to streaming audio and video servers, local content (community information and services), and CD-ROM servers.

New services and ideas are born daily. The Internet on cable will offer high-speed interactive content to homes and workplaces over coaxial distribution architecture. The network provides the high speed cable modem; 24-hours a day, unlimited access to the internet; e-mail and chat; a Netscape navigator browser; and an internet guide featuring local and world-wide content cable modems enable data connections with much higher speeds than ISDN.

ISDN transmits and receives at speeds of 64 kbps and 128 kbps. Cable modems will be able to receive data at up to 10Mbps and send it at speeds up to 2 Mbps (in some cases up to 10 Mbps). Other benefits include local customer care, no need for additional phone line, always-on facility, and unique local and national content. The dominant service is high-speed Internet access– This enables the typical array of Internet services to be delivered at speeds far fasterthan those offered by dial-up telephone modems– Other services will include– access to streaming audio and video servers, local content (community information andservices)– access to CD-ROM servers– a wide variety of other service offerings. New service ideas are being developed daily.In North America, cable operators are packaging high-speed data services much like they do

basic cable television service

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6. SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE PC’SA Cable Modem can provide the Internet access to multiple PCs, if they are connected via LAN.Using Ethernet hub or Router.

A cable modem can provide Internet access to multiple PCs, if they are connected via a local area network (LAN)

Cable modems typically have an Ethernet output, so they can connect to the LAN with a standard Ethernet hub or router

Each PC must have an assigned IP address• The cable ISP usually sells at a premium of $5-$10 a month per PC• NAT (Network Address Translation) can allow multiple PCs to "hide" behind a

single IP Address.

7. How fast is Cable Modem? Cable modem speeds vary widely

• Depends on the cable modem system• Cable network architecture• Traffic load.

In the downstream direction (from the network to the computer), network speeds can be up to 27 Mbps• BUT, this is an aggregate amount of bandwidth that is shared by users.

Few computers will be capable of connecting at such high speeds or have exclusive access to the network• A more realistic number is 1 to 3 Mbps.

In the upstream direction (from computer to network), speeds can be up to 10 Mbps. • However, most modem producers have selected a more optimum speed between

500 Kbps and 2.5 Mbps• AND, many cable operators limit the upstream bandwidth to 128 or 384kbs

An asymmetric cable modem scheme is most common. The downstream channel has a much higher bandwidth allocation (faster data rate) than the upstream,

Primarily because Internet applications tend to be asymmetric in nature. Activities such as World Wide Web (http) navigating and newsgroups reading (nntp)

send much more data down to the computer than to the network. Mouse clicks (URL requests) and e-mail messages are not bandwidth intensive in the

upstream direction.

Image files and streaming media (audio and video) are very bandwidth intensive in the downstream direction.

9 8. REAL WORLD PERFORMANCE

The theoretical performance of a Cable Modem is based upon all other devices being able to work at the same speed and performance as the Cable Modem.

However, in a similar way that the actual usable bandwidth on a 10Mbps Ethernet connection reduces to a 4Mbps, so too will the performance of a Cable Modem connection be reduced.

The Cable network itself will suffer the same problems of Internet performance as any other Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Although performance to services on the cable network itself can be amazingly fast, access to 'the outside world' will be slowed down by the performance of other connections on the way.

As usage on your segment grows (as more customers are added) the bandwidth must be shared by more people.

9. ETHERNET OVER COAX ADAPTER

ETHERNET CO-AXIAL ADAPTER:

The Ethernet over Coax adapter provides a simple and inexpensive way to create a reliable home network, without running CAT5 cables through your walls.

It delivers high speed internet, voice and video over coaxial cable.

Ideal for homes, apartment buildings or hotels seeking to add high-speed internet capabilities over existing coaxial TV cables.

1010. ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

ADVANTAGES:

High Availability High Bandwidth to Low Coast High Speed Data Access Always on Connectivity No new software is required No reconstruction of cable system is required. Use Of free frequency range from 3 to 5 MHz without TV program reorganization. Components and amplifiers must have only return path ability. Each PC must have an assigned IP address

– The cable ISP usually sells at a premium of $5-$10 a month per PC – NAT (Network Address Translation) can allow multiple PCs to "hide" behind a single

IP Address.

DISADVANTAGES:

Bandwidth is shared over the same cable line. Connection speed is affected by the number of people using the internet at the same time in your neighborhood.

Higher security risk than dialup (personal firewall is needed). Not available to all cable TV networks. Usually tied with cable TV subscription

11. LIMITATIONS Traffic congestion on the net Higher security risk than dialup connections Always on Connectivity Usually tied with cable TV subscription

Cable connections are not available in every neighborhood, because cable connections are ‘Always on,’ one needs a firewall and activation of other security features so as to protect the computer.

1112. APPLICATIONS

Connect set-top boxes, personal computers, game consoles, broadband modems etc. to your home network instantly.

Add high-speed internet, digital voice and video access to any room with a coaxial TV cable.

Ideal for homes, apartment buildings or hotels seeking to add high-speed.

13. CONCLUSIONS

Cable Internet access is the principal competitor to DSL and is offered at a range of Prices and speeds overlapping that of DSL.

Cable TV has a strong reach to the homes and therefore offering the Internet through Cable is a scope for furthering the growth of internet usage in the homes.

The cable is an alternative medium for delivering the Internet Services in the US, There are millions of homes with cable modems, enabling the high-speed internet

Access over cable. Internet accessing via cable network with help of broadband technology have opened up

a new realm of information access, storage, and delivery of information professionals. The Internet is accessed mainly using a telephone line as the transmission media. The basic disadvantages of this method are the occupation of the telephone line while the

Internet is being accessed, and the telephone bill, in addition to the fees for Internet account, which can be highly expensive.

This technology is feasible if certain basic requirements are met which includes two way cable network and better quality cables.

14. REFERENCES

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_Internet_access http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_modem http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Access http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_modem_termination_system http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cable-modem.htm http://www.hathway.com/brodband/prod_broadband_faq3.asp

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