Get Your Tech On

Why did the cable industry choose 75-ohm coaxial cable — and not 50 ohms? The answer is rooted in physics, engineering tradeoffs, and decisions made decades ago that still define every HFC network running DOCSIS today. Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac break down one of the most fundamental design choices in cable network history: why The post 75 ohm in coaxial cable appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Watch a brief recap of SCTE Tech Expo, John Downey and Brady Volpe break down the latest DOCSIS 4 innovations, Low Latency L4S for gamers, and the role of AI from Harmonic and OpenVault in transforming networks. Gamers will be thrilled to hear how L4S (Low Latency, Low Loss, Scalable throughput) is shaping the The post SCTE EXPO 2025 Recap appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Hey everyone—welcome back! You usually see me talking coax, DOCSIS, MER… but today we’re flipping the script: it’s fiber time. Join Brady Volpe and Andrii Vladyka, Vice President, Growth and Technologies at Harmonic, for a LIVE fiber lab demo like no other! In this session, we’re turning a virtual CMTS (vCMTS) into a PON The post Turning My vCMTS into a PON OLT – Live Fiber Demo with multi-Gbps ONU Speed Test! appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Unlock the next evolution in cable networks with PTP-less vCMTS (virtual CMTS) and DAA (Distributed Access Architecture)! In this in-depth session, Brady Volpe (The Volpe Firm / OpenVault) sits down with Harmonic’s Andrii Valadka and Adam Levy—one of the primary inventors behind PTP-less technology—to break down how this innovation simplifies timing requirements, reduces costs, The post PTPless vCMTS appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Join Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac as they take a technician-level look. Educate cable broadband technicians and engineers on how to effectively use a QAM analyzer to diagnose and resolve issues with SC-QAM (Single Carrier Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) channels in the HFC plant or CMTS environment. If you’re a cable tech, broadband engineer, or just The post SC-QAM appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Brady Volpe and DOCSIS expert John Downey recap the latest from ANGA COM 2025 in Germany. 🇩🇪 We discuss: • Why Europe is going 90% fiber and the impact on HFC • The powerful low latency DOCSIS demo from Harmonic and what it means for streaming and gaming • Charter’s acquisition of Cox and what The post ANGACOM 2025 Recap: Fiber Domination, Low Latency DOCSIS, and Charter-Cox Merger Insights appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a lab curiosity for cable operators—it’s quietly rewriting the rules of DOCSIS operations. Following is an overview of my take on where artificial intelligence is delivering value today and how it will reshape high-speed data service as DOCSIS 3.1 and 4.0 roll-outs continue across North America and beyond, The post AI: for 10G Reliability appeared first on Volpe Firm.

We went deep into r/CableTechs, pulled the most‑asked DOCSIS questions, and tackled them on air—now you can watch the full replay! I’m Brady Volpe, joined by cable legend John Downey, breaking down everything from upstream ingress hunts and OFDM migraines to T3/T4 storms and mid‑split mysteries. 🔍 What you’ll learn Why RxMER bounces and how The post Reddits Top DOCSIS Troubleshooting Questions Answered  appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Join Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac as they take a technician-level look into DOCSIS 3.1 downstream OFDM field measurements. Learn what to measure, how to measure it, and what those measurements really mean — from subcarrier spacing to RxMER and everything in between. If you’re a cable tech, broadband engineer, or just a DOCSIS The post DOCSIS 3.1 OFDM Field Measurements appeared first on Volpe Firm.

SCTE 294 2024r1 EXPLAINED: Mastering Cable Upstream RF Troubleshooting for DOCSIS Pros In this episode, we take a deep dive into SCTE 294 2024r1, one of the most important industry references for cable professionals. Discover how to optimize your upstream RF spectrum by mastering topics like unity gain, sub-split vs. mid-split vs. high-split architectures, and The post Mastering Cable Upstream RF Troubleshooting for DOCSIS Pros appeared first on Volpe Firm.

In today’s evolving broadband landscape, DOCSIS technology continues to adapt to the demands of modern networks. During a recent podcast of Get Your Tech On, we explored how innovations like the profile management application (PMA) are shaping the way we think about impairments, plant efficiency, and network performance. My conversation with industry experts John The post DOCSIS 3.1 Performance and Impairment Priority appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Join us for our livestream event part 2, Tips, Tricks and what not to do in your RF network. Ask Ron Anything! (RF related) In this episode, AMA Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac in this episode Ron and Brady will answer your burning RF questions. --- Ron's Bio: Ron Hranac, a 50 year veteran The post RF network AMA appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Proactive Network Maintenance: Precision Impairment Location with OFDM & OFDMA Channel Estimation Are you ready to revolutionize your network maintenance approach? In this video, we explore how advanced OFDM and OFDMA channel estimation techniques are driving precision impairment location, setting a new standard in Proactive Network Maintenance (PNM). What You’ll Learn: • Precision Fault The post Precision Impairment Location with OFDM & OFDMA Channel Estimation appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Great episode with a ton of questions. Watch or listen as Brady Volpe, Mike O'Dell and John Downey go in-depth Qualifying Network Performance and Impairment Priority. Brady Volpe, Founder of The Volpe Firm and CPO at OpenVault, and Mike O'Dell, Distinguished Engineer at Comcast,  John Downey, DOCSIS Senior Industry Consultant In today’s broadband landscape, The post Qualifying Network Performance and Impairment Priority appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Join us for our next livestream event, Tips, Tricks and what not to do in your RF network. Ask Ron Anything! (RF related) In this episode, AMA Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac in this episode Ron and Brady will answer your burning RF questions. --- Ron's Bio: Ron Hranac, a 50 year veteran of The post Tips, Tricks and what not to do in your RF network appeared first on Volpe Firm.

We had a very busy episode with a lot of watcher questions. Watch or listen as Brady Volpe and John Downey go in-depth into the latest research on low-latency DOCSIS technology presented in "Latency Outcomes Across Access Network Architectures" at SCTE TechExpo! We'll be breaking down the key findings of 'Latency Measurement - Baselines', The post Unleash Ultra-Fast Internet: Low Latency DOCSIS Explained appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Join us for our next livestream event, understanding unity gain is an important concept that applies to the forward and reverse paths of most cable networks. Without it, network performance can be degraded. In this episode, Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac will walk you through the principles and practices of unity gain, what it The post Understanding Unity Gain appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Brady Volpe and John Downey dive into the SCTE TechExpo24 paper, “HFC - The Gift That Keeps on Giving?” by Dr. L. Alberto Campos and CableLabs. Get ready for an exciting breakdown of the current state of HFC networks and architectures—this is one episode you won’t want to miss! We’re kicking things off with The post How HFC Networks Keep Up with Today’s Broadband Demands: Amplifiers, Coax, and More! appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Welcome to another legendary episode of Get Your Tech On! Join Brady Volpe and John Downey as they break down all the hottest trends and innovations from SCTE TechExpo24. This episode dives into what’s new with DOCSIS 3.1, DOCSIS 4.0, and real-world demos showcasing 9.8 Gbps down and 3.7 Gbps up. We also explore The post DOCSIS 3.1 & 4.0 Demos, AI Insights, and vCMTS Innovations from SCTE TechExpo24 appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Hosted by Brady Volpe, Founder of VolpeFirm and Chief Product Officer at OpenVault, and featuring John Downey, DOCSIS Sr. Industry Consultant, this livestream will focuses on cable / broadband hot topics that will be featured at SCTE Cable Expo 2024. PNM Live and Your network is talking to you - Listen! https://volpefirm.com/blog-2/ Links / Upcoming The post Upcoming Tech in Our 100th Episode and DOCSIS 3.1 appeared first on Volpe Firm.

RF with Ron and Brady - This topic is a little different than previous presentations, but is important considering the widespread use of very big and very small numbers in cable. Ours is a world of numbers, and in cable we tend to use a lot of really big and really small numbers. In reality, The post Very big and very small numbers appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Hosted by Brady Volpe, Founder of VolpeFirm and Chief Product Officer at OpenVault, and featuring John Downey, DOCSIS Sr. Industry Consultant, this livestream will focuses on cable / broadband hot topics such as: 👉 Reddit Rants and Raves: We'll dive into recent user feedback on Starlink and Google Fiber, straight from Reddit. 👉 CommScope's Big The post Broadband Insights appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Some people say coax but Ron likes coaxial cable. Coaxial cable has been a key component in our networks dating back to the industry's early days. As such, it's easy to take coax for granted without really understanding just what it is. Here's your chance to learn more about coaxial cable, along with a high-level The post Coaxial Cable Impedance, Attenuation and Beyond appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Upgrading Your HFC Plant For The Next 5 Years - the how, the why and the when - listen to uur latest episode of Get Your Tech On! Hosted by Brady Volpe, Founder of VolpeFirm and Chief Product Officer at OpenVault, and featuring John Downey, DOCSIS Sr. Industry Consultant, this livestream focuses on the technical The post Upgrading Your HFC Plant For The Next 5 Years appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Join network maintenance experts Brady Volpe, Founder of VolpeFirm and CPO OpenVault, and Mike O'Dell, Distinguished Engineer at Comcast, as they reveal the 5 critical pillars of network maintenance. In this insightful livestream, you'll discover: 👉 Proactive strategies to prevent HFC network problems 👉 Effective plant maintenance techniques to minimize downtime 👉 Best practices for The post Pillars of Network Maintenance appeared first on Volpe Firm.

The simple half-wave dipole antenna has played a role in the RF side of the cable industry for decades. Many are familiar with its use for signal leakage measurements. The half-wave dipole antenna also forms the basis for other types of antennas, such as Yagi-Uda and log periodic dipole array antennas used at many headends The post The half-wave dipole antenna appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Embark on an enlightening journey with our latest episode of Get Your Tech On! Hosted by Brady Volpe, Founder of VolpeFirm and Chief Product Officer at OpenVault, and featuring John Downey, DOCSIS Industry Technical Expert, this livestream is a treasure trove for cable and telecom enthusiasts. In this captivating episode, we unravel the complexities of The post DOCSIS 3.1 understanding capacity calculator appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Ready to level up your RF knowledge in the world of HFC plants? Our next episode is a must-watch just for you! Get pumped as our host extraordinaire, Brady Volpe, teams up with the renowned Ron Hranac for a knowledge-packed session. The presentation will cover the widespread myth of a so-called capacitance effect supposedly being The post Myth of capacitance effect appeared first on Volpe Firm.

What is signal leakage field strength? Are you keen to expand your knowledge on RF leakage within HFC plants? Our upcoming episode is tailored just for you! We're excited to have our host Brady Volpe and our well know guest Ron Hranac lead an insightful session on Signal Leakage Field Strength. Ron is set to The post What is Signal Leakage Field Strength? Back to Basics in HFC appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Join us in this insightful episode of Get Your Tech On, where we delve deep into the intricacies of DOCSIS 3.1. Hosted by Brady Volpe, founder of VolpeFirm and Chief Product Officer at OpenVault, and featuring John Downey, Industry Technical Expert on DOCSIS, this livestream is a must-watch for anyone in the cable and telecommunications The post DOCSIS 3.1 Deep Dive: OFDM vs. SC-QAM, Upstream Bonding, and Troubleshooting Tips appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Beneath the Surface: Exploring Skin Effect and Depth in Coaxial Cables Welcome to another enlightening episode in our series where we dig deep into the technical phenomena that shape our understanding of cable systems. I'm Brady Volpe, and I'm thrilled to have Ron Hranac back with us, a seasoned expert whose insights into the cable The post Beneath the Surface: Exploring Skin Effect and Depth in Coaxial Cables appeared first on Volpe Firm.

What is RF? Join us as we venture into the world of "What is RF" RF (Radio Frequency) . I'm Brady Volpe, and alongside the incomparable Ron Hranac, we're set to guide you on this next phase of our signal journey. Diving into the Details: In the context of Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial (HFC) networks, RF (Radio The post What is RF? appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Step right into the electrifying next episode of "Get Your Tech On"! Get ready for a turbocharged livestream where we're diving headfirst into the magical world of DOCSIS 4.0 wizardry and the latest updates. Our fearless host, Brady Volpe, the tech maestro behind The Volpe Firm and now also Chief Product Sorcerer at OpenVault, is The post DOCSIS 4 or stay with Docsis 3.1? appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Navigating the Ingress Labyrinth: Management, Mitigation, and Mastery (Part 2) on Youtube Join us as we venture further into the world of Ingress in this sequel to our illuminating episode. With the foundations of Ingress laid out in Part 1, this segment dives into the art and science of managing this elusive phenomenon. I'm Brady The post Navigating the Ingress Labyrinth: Management, Mitigation, and Mastery (Part 2) appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Into the Ingress Abyss: Understanding Leaks, Causes, and Consequences (Part 1) Join us for another enlightening episode as we delve deep into the world of Ingress. I'm Brady Volpe, accompanied by the knowledgeable Ron Hranac, here to guide you through the complexities and curiosities of signal disruptions. What's on the agenda? Terminology Demystified: Get fluent The post Into the Ingress Abyss: Understanding Leaks, Causes, and Consequences appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Welcome to another thrilling episode of "Get Your Tech On"! In this highly informative livestream, we delve into the realm of managing DOCSIS 3.1 channel bonding to ensure optimal performance in your HFC network. Join host Brady Volpe, founder of The Volpe Firm and Chief Product Officer of OpenVault, as he teams up with the The post Managing DOCSIS 3.1 Channel Bonding: Ensuring Optimal Performance appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Distortion, Signal Leakage, Codewords and more - Did you know? Part Two picks off from our last episode of "Did You Know? DOCSIS: Back to Basics and Clearing Misconceptions," part of our enlightening Back to Basics series. I'm Brady Volpe, your host and guide for this journey into the intriguing world of DOCSIS. In this The post Distortion, Signal Leakage, Codewords and more – Did you know? appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Welcome to another engaging episode of Get Your Tech On, titled "Your Questions, Our Answers: SNR (RxMER) and DOCSIS 3.1 Modems." In this episode, we delve into listener queries about DOCSIS technology, focusing on Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), RxMER, and the details of DOCSIS 3.1 modems. Our host, Brady Volpe, founder of NimbleThis and The Volpe The post SNR (RxMER) and DOCSIS 3.1 Modems appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Welcome to "Did You Know? DOCSIS: Back to Basics and Clearing Misconceptions," part of our enlightening Back to Basics series. I'm Brady Volpe, your host and guide for this journey into the intriguing world of DOCSIS. In this episode, I'm joined by the esteemed Ron Hranac, who will be our guest presenter. Together, Ron and The post Did You Know? DOCSIS: Back to Basics and Clearing Misconceptions appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Welcome, Brady Volpe and John Downey will dive into the world of UTSC (Upstream Triggered Spectrum Capture) for return path monitoring in a DAA world, how cable operators can harness these game-changing technologies. Join us as we discuss the latest updates on UTSC and PNM. Whether you're a cable operator looking to stay ahead of The post UTSC appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Join cable industry veteran Ron Hranac and host Brady Volpe in this must-watch video on "Introduction to Carrier-to-Noise: Learning the Basics." This video is a comprehensive guide to understanding Carrier-to-Noise Ratio (CNR) and how it works in real-world applications. We'll cover everything from Thermal Noise to Noise Figure to Practical CNR measurements and much more. The post Introduction to Carrier-to-Noise: Learning the Basics appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Welcome back, tech enthusiasts! I'm your host Brady Volpe, founder of Nimble This and the Volpe Firm, and I'm thrilled to be here with another exciting episode of "Get Your Tech On." Today, we have a very special guest with us, Ron Hranac, who will be the main presenter on our topic, "Putting the Decibel The post Putting the Decibel to Work appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Welcome to the future of lightning-fast internet connectivity! In this video, Brady Volpe and John Downey will dive into the exciting world of DOCSIS 3.1 and DOCSIS 4.0, showcasing how cable operators can harness these game-changing technologies to provide unparalleled speeds and robust networks for their customers. We'll explore the key differences between the two The post Cable Operators’ Mastering the DOCSIS 3.1 to 4.0 Transition for Next-Level Networks! appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Signal Level 101: Learning the Basics with Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac Welcome to our YouTube show where we are joined by two renowned experts, Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac, as we explore the fascinating world of signal level, current and voltage, and power! I am your host, Brady Volpe, and together with Ron Hranac, The post Signal Level appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Welcome to the latest episode of "Did You Know" with Brady Volpe and special guest John Downey of Cisco. In this episode, we'll be discussing "Did you know?  Balancing Amplifiers and Other Critical Broadband Concepts" some of the most important topics related to balancing amplifiers, cable & fiber, signals & spectrum analyzers, downstream signal levels, The post Did You Know? Balancing Amplifiers and Other Critical Broadband Concepts appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Why should PNM be on your mind? Discover the power of PNM in this informative panel discussion with industry leaders Brady Volpe, Jason Rupe of CableLabs, and Larry Wolcott of Comcast. Learn why PNM should be top of mind for anyone in the tech industry and the numerous benefits it offers. Tune in now and The post Why should PNM be on your mind? appeared first on Volpe Firm.

What is a dB? RF and Cable Basics :: Brady Volpe and Ron Hranac discuss RF and cable basics in a new series designed to help those who are interested in understanding RF and Cable TV technology a little better. In this first episode we cover what is a decibel (dB). This is a fundamental The post What is a dB? appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Brady Volpe, John Downey, Jason Miller (Cisco) and Flavio Marcon (Effigis) discuss how OFDM Upstream Data Profile (OUDP) test burst in cable modems are used in the measurement of cable leakage tests in high-split cable plant. • What is leakage testing and why do we need it? • How is leakage testing done today • The post OUDP Leakage Detection appeared first on Volpe Firm.

OFDMA Capacity Estimation, pre-eq, LTE & 5G Ingress and more! Your questions answered Brady Volpe and John Downey discuss OFDMA Capacity Estimation, pre-eq, LTE & 5G Ingress and more! In this episode we cover incoming questions from our listeners covering a wide variety of topics. Be sure to join and ask your own questions in The post OFDMA Capacity Estimation appeared first on Volpe Firm.

Brady Volpe and John Downey discuss what you can expect to get out of DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem today. How many modems can transmit in a 6.4 MHz OFDMA channel? How much life is in the DOCSIS 3.1 modem for your network. Also a SCTE EXPO overview and wrap. What is Possible with a The post What is Possible with a DOCSIS 3.1 Modem Today appeared first on Volpe Firm.