THE RESIDENTIAL TELEVISION NETWORK

The residential network is what is known as a "hybrid fiber/coax"
network, combining fiber optic and coaxial cable.  It was installed
primarily as a one-way network to provide cable television for campus
residents.  The fiber optic backbone of the network was designed and
built by Cyberstar of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, and donated to the
University in 1996.  The system has a bandwith of 700 MHz (50 to 750
MHz), which has a capacity of 115 standard (uncompressed) channels.  (If
digital compression is used, more channels may be carried.)

Signals are purchased from TCI Cable of Wisconsin.  The connection from TCI is
fiber optic all the way from TCI's Tokay Boulevard headend to the UW's
Computer Sciences and Statistics building on Dayton Street.  The channels
included in this service are TCI's Basic and Expanded Basic service.  Premium
channels (like HBO, Showtime and Cinemax), Pay-per-View channels, DMX (digital
audio service) and SEGA Channel are not included in the present arrangement.

Please note that emergency helicopters land at nearby University and
Meriter Hospitals, and signal leakage from a poor connection could
interfere with their radio communications.  Please use only approved
cables and devices on this network.  ResNet and DoIT technicians
monitor for signal leakage, and will disconnect cables or devices which
cause signal leakage.  Do not connect the cable to rod or "rabbit ear"
type antennas on televisions or FM receivers.  This would cause signal
leakage.


                               FM SERVICE

FM service is available.  To use the FM service, an FM radio, receiver
or tuner with an external antenna connection is required.  External
antenna connections may be of the 75 ohm or the 300 ohm variety.

300 ohm connections require an adapter, known as a "matching
transformer" to connect the 75 ohm coaxial cable to the 300 ohm
terminals.  Attempting to connect the coaxial cable directly to 300 ohm
terminals will pass signal to the receiver but will also cause signal
leakage which could be harmful interference to two-way radio or aviation
radio.  Matching transformers are available from ResNet or local
electronics dealers.

75 ohm external antenna connectors are often implemented by a pair of
screw terminals, but these have a high probability of signal leakage.
In this case, we recommend using a matching transformer and the 300 ohm
terminals.  If FM receivers have 75 ohm coaxial connections (using an F
connector), they may be used directly.

For more information, contact the DoIT Help Desk by dialing 4-HELP 
(then press 1).

26-July-1996 by David Devereaux-Weber djdevere@doit.wisc.edu