Cable Modem Architecture
Similar to DSL (with one main difference):
- DSL: point-to-point technology
- Cable modems: use shared multipoint circuits
- All messages on the circuit heard by all computers on the circuit ? security issue
- 300 – 1000 customers per cable segment
Type of equipment used
- Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS)
- Used for upstream traffic only
- Converts data from DOCSIS to Internet protocols
- Fiber Node with an Optical Electrical (OE) converter
- Combiner (for downstream traffic only)
- Combines Internet traffic with TV video traffic