Uninterruptable tap
A coaxial tap in a hybrid fiber coaxial cable distribution system serves subscribers with an RF signal.
1. A refurbished tap for use in a cable television distribution system comprising:
a tap housing installed between upstream and downstream coaxial cable runs, stingers of the coaxial cables protruding into the housing;
the tap designed to utilize a switch therein for passing RF signals and power; and,
an RF-only switch used in place of the switch for passing RF signals and power.
2. The tap of claim 1 configured to pass unswitched power between the upstream and downstream coaxial cable runs.
3. The tap of claim 1 further comprising:
the tap housing including a circuit board;
a tap cover including a circuit board;
the tap cover mated with the tap housing; and,
the tap housing circuit board populated with filter(s) and/or diplexer(s).
4. The tap of claim 3 wherein the cover circuit board excludes low pass filters.
5. The tap of claim 3 wherein;
the tap housing circuit board includes cut-outs; and,
the cut-outs assist with placement of the stingers into spring clamp connectors located on the tap housing circuit board.
6. The tap of claim 3 wherein:
the spring clamp connectors designed to wrap around the stingers; and,
the spring clamp connectors designed to contact the coaxial stingers along a length that is 3-12 times the stinger diameter.
7. The tap of claim 3 wherein the filter(s) and/or diplexer(s) are configured to continuously pass power between the upstream and downstream coaxial cable runs.
8. The tap of claim 3 wherein the RF-only switch is configured such that removal of the cover closes the switch and provides an RF signal path via the switch from the upstream cable run to the downstream cable run.
9. A tap for use in a cable television distribution system comprising:
the tap for insertion between upstream and downstream coaxial cable runs;
first circuitry configured to continuously pass power between the upstream and downstream coaxial cable runs; and,
an RF-only switch configured to pass RF signals between the upstream and downstream coaxial cable runs solely when the tap cover is separated from the tap housing.
10. The tap of claim 9 further comprising:
the first circuitry including filter(s) and/or a diplexer; and,
second circuitry including a directional coupler.
11. The tap of claim 10 wherein the directional coupler is removable from the second circuitry.
12. The tap of claim 11 wherein the directional coupler is removable via a hole in a surface of a tap enclosure.
13. The tap of claim 11 wherein a state of the RF-only switch is changed when the directional coupler is removed from the second circuitry.
14. The tap of claim 13 wherein the diplexer and the directional coupler are located on a single printed circuit board.
15. The tap of claim 14 wherein the directional coupler is removable from the single printed circuit board via a socket.
16. The tap of claim 11 further comprising a printed circuit board, at least the directional coupler removable from the printed circuit board.
17. The tap of claim 16 wherein the directional coupler is received in a hole in the printed circuit board.
18. The tap of claim 11 further comprising:
a mechanical link for changing a state of the RF-only switch; and,
the mechanical link moving in response to the directional coupler moving.
19. The tap of claim 11 wherein relative motion of the directional coupler with respect to a directional coupler electrical connection changes a state of the RF-only switch.
20. The tap of claim 9 further comprising:
a housing;
the first circuitry including a bridge; and,
the second circuitry including drop circuits.
21. The tap of claim 20 wherein the bridge and drop circuits are located on a single printed circuit board within the housing.
22. The tap of claim 20 wherein the bridge and drop circuits are located on multiple printed circuit boards within the housing.
23. The tap of claim 9 wherein a hole in a housing allows for insertion and removal of a directional coupler and manipulation of the RF-only switch.
24. The tap of claim 23 wherein removal of a directional coupler via the hole in the housing changes a state of the RF-only switch.
25. The tap of claim 9 further comprising:
a module including a directional coupler; and,
the module removable from the tap via a hole in a surface of a housing.
26. The tap of claim 25 further comprising:
a socket; and,
the module removable from the socket.
27. The tap of claim 26 further comprising:
a printed circuit board;
a splitter; and,
the printed circuit board bearing the socket and the splitter.
28. The tap of claim 26 wherein an RF-only switch state is changed when the directional coupler is moved relative to the socket.
29. A tap for use in a cable television distribution system comprising:
the tap inserted between upstream and downstream coaxial cable runs;
within the tap, separation of RF signals and power;
the separated power continuously passed between the upstream and downstream coaxial cable runs;
in a first mode, the separated RF signals are conducted between the upstream and downstream coaxial cable runs by an RF-only switch; and,
in a second mode, the separated RF signals are conducted between the upstream and downstream coaxial cable runs without passing through the RF-only switch.