Is the cable network fully capable of 2-way transmission?
Yes. Time Warner cable modems are only being deployed in areas where the plant has been fully upgraded to a hybrid fiber/coaxial cable network; 500 homes (or less) are fed by each fiber node, and there is an active return path. In addition, the cable system must put in place measurement and maintenance procedures to ensure the integrity of the forward and return paths. This maintenance includes sweeping and aligning the plant to eliminate trouble spots that could produce RF noise or leakage. Such maintenance is becoming a routine part of cable TV’s HFC networks everywhere.
