MDU/SMATV CERTIFICATION

Distribution of television programming to residents of multiple dwelling units sharing a common antenna requires knowledge and skills beyond those required for single-family residential installations. This course provides the general knowledge and skills required for high-quality multiple-dwelling unit L-band and SMATV system installations. Upon completion of this course, you will receive the SBCA MDU/SMATV Certification, which is part of the SBCA commercial MDU installer certification series.

Objectives: In this course, you will learn the theory and critical skills necessary to correctly install generic L-band and SMATV multiple dwelling unit systems. Upon successful completion, you will be able to:

• Understand the principles of microwaves, frequency bands, and polarization as applied to direct-to-home satellite television.
• Explain the characteristics and functions of the signals and uplink gateways in a DTH system.
• Describe the operation of satellite television receive systems.
• Understand the functions of cables and connectors in MDU/SMATV systems and how to install connectors correctly.
• Use Ohm's law to calculate voltage drops and explain how signals, DC, and control tones can coexist on the same cable.
• Understand how signal power is defined and how to use losses and gains to calculate levels throughout a system.
• Identify the components used in L-band distribution networks and describe their purposes.
• Plan an L-band distribution network and balance its levels.
• Describe test equipment used in L-band systems.
• Use a typical L-band signal meter.
• Troubleshoot an L-band system.
• Explain how signals are generated, processed, and distributed in an SMATV system.
• Balance an SMATV system and explain why balancing is important.
• Test and troubleshoot an SMATV system.
• Conduct a site survey for an MDU system and properly ground it.

Course outline:

• Lesson 1. Learning System Orientation. How to use the online learning system.
• Lesson 2. Course and Program Introduction. About the SBCA course series and paths for certification. Objectives and prerequisites for this course.
• Lesson 3. Microwaves and Polarization. Electromagnetic waves, frequencies, band plans, linear and circular polarization.
• Lesson 4. Digital Satellite Television Transmission. Modulation & demodulation; analog and digital modulation; generating satellite TV signals; standards; uplink gateways; program multiplexing and multiple carriers.
• Lesson 5. Satellite Receive Systems. Key components; single- and multi-beam antennas; why pointing is important; what's in an LNB; polarity control; the important of the cable; how an IRD works.
• Lesson 6. Cables and Connectors. How cables carry signals. Impedance, return loss, and VSWR. Connector types. Common faults. Recommended procedures for terminating cables.
• Lesson 7. DC on Cables. Ohm's law; cable loop resistance; calculating voltage drop; signals, DC< and 22 kHz sharing a cable.
• Lesson 8. Gains, Losses, and Levels. Theory review of loss, gain, and levels. Includes dB, dBm, dBuV. Adding and subtracting gains and losses. Interactive level analysis exercises.
• Lesson 9. L-band Distribution Concepts and Components. Splitters, combiners, couplers, taps, diplexers, power inserters, line amps, multiswitches, stackers, destackers. Building sacred trunk and stacked trunk systems with multiswitches and stackers.
• Lesson 10. Planning an L-Band Distribution System. Cascading splitters; adjusting tap values for uniform levels; system examples and interactive exercises.
• Lesson 11. Test Equipment for L-Band. Multimeter/DVM; peaking meters; signal meters; spectrum analyzers; example measurements.
• Lesson 12. Measuring L-Band Signals. What are signal level, C/N, IRD value, and BER. How C/N affects picture quality. How C/N and level are affected by dish pointing and rain fade. What's in a typical L-band meter. Using a meter to peak the antenna and make measurements.
• Lesson 13. L-Band Troubleshooting. Troubleshooting low signal, high signal, distortion, bad picture, and excess voltage drop.
• Lesson 14. Signals in SMATV Systems. Components of an analog TV signal. How SMATV works. High speed Internet on cable. How QAM works.
• Lesson 15. SMATV Headend Design and Construction. Typical system tour. Common components. Building a head end rack. Avoiding interference. Planning a distribution system.
• Lesson 16. SMATV System Balancing. Balancing objectives. Balancing an analog signal. Balancing a head end. Balancing a distribution network.
• Lesson 17. SMATV Headend Testing and Troubleshooting. Troubleshooting hum, distortion, and other impairments.
• Lesson 18. MDU Site Surveys and Grounding. Why is grounding important. Following local and NEC code. Performing commercial site surveys.
• Lesson 19. Review and Final Test. Review of key concepts: commercial site surveys; switched vs. stacked systems; L-band and SMATV components; test equipment; interference; distortion; balancing.

Who should take this class? All commercial MDU system installation technicians.

Recommended prerequisites: SBCA Satellite Essentials.

Certification: Upon successful completion of this online course, you will receive SBCA MDU/SMATV Certification. Follow-up hands-on training for SBCA MDU/SMATV MFH-2 Technician Certification is offered by authorized SBCA partner organizations. Please watch www.sbcatest.com for announcements.

Duration: Approx 300 pages, requiring 15-30 hours study.

Delivery: Animated & interactive HTML/Flash, self-paced, on-line format. (Note: Flash Player version 9 is required.)

Tuition fee: $500.00, payable by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and Diner's Club).

Registration: Click "Add to Cart" and then "Checkout" to remit your tuition fee. As soon as your fee is processed, you will select your own student username and password. You can then log in and start on your course immediately.

Questions? Contact us at SBCASupport@satprof.com.