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Understanding Cable television
Cable television is a system which provides television programming to customers directly through a cable run (normally underground) to their home or business. Traditional broadcast television is transmitted through the airways using radio waves and received by an antenna. Cable television’s origins go back to the late 1940s. It originated in areas where groups of potential customers had poor or no television reception due to great distances from a transmitter or mountains that tended to block transmissions.
For years cable television companies have been transmitting through coaxial cable using radio frequencies. Now they are changing over to fiber optic cable which can transmit digital light pulses. This new technology allows cable companies to also provide consumers with FM radio programming, high speed internet, digital telephone services and other non-television services.
Almost all television sets have a built in cable TV tuner capable of receiving cable television analog signals. Basic cable channels have only required that the cable wire be attached directly to the television. To receive additional channels, it usually required a set-top box. Now to receive the new digital signal, most televisions require a cable converter box to process the digital input.
As early as the 1920s, radio programs were distributed by cable in Europe. today television cable systems are common in North America, Europe, Australia and East Asia. They are present in South America, Central America and the Middle East but not as common. Cable systems are not very common in Africa. Cable is most cost effective in heavily populated areas. In areas where there is long distances between potential customers, so-called “wireless cable” which is microwave based system is a viable alternative.