SCTE Primers
Value to Members
The SCTE Primer Series is a members-only multimedia technical presentation designed to answer a "What is…?" question related to industry technology and services. These high-level webinars are intended to serve several purposes for the members, including:
- Enhance Fundamental Knowledge
- Introduce Cutting-edge Technology
- Serve as a Technical Refresher
- Prepare for Certification exams
To find out more about the SCTE Primer Series, download the SCTE Primer: What is...an SCTE Primer.
If you would like to develop a primer for the SCTE Primer Series, e-mail primer@scte.org.
View the primers that are available in Spanish 
Featured Primer of the Month...
This the third Primer in a series covering basic digital cable which discusses the types of video content and how they are transmitted to the headend (satellite, over the air, fiber, and IP) and the home (QAM). In addition, the governing bodies are summarized so you can stay up to date on the standards involved in the transmission as systems evolve.
Developed in partnership with Blonder Tongue. 
Additional Primers Available to SCTE Members...
What are... Carrier Ethernet Attributes?
Learn about the limitations of Ethernet in terms of its use beyond the LAN and then explore the five attributes (Standardized Services, Scalability, Reliability, Quality of Service & Service Management) of Carrier Ethernet that address these limitations. The primer also proposes some key features that one should look for when investigating a Carrier Ethernet solution.
Developed in partnership with Ciena.
What is...Carrier Ethernet?
Understand the history and evolution of Ethernet, the drivers and key characteristics of Carrier Ethernet and some key technology enablers for Carrier Ethernet deployments.
Developed in partnership with JDSU. 
This the third Primer in a series covering basic digital cable which discusses the types of video content and how they are transmitted to the headend (satellite, over the air, fiber, and IP) and the home (QAM). In addition, the governing bodies are summarized so you can stay up to date on the standards involved in the transmission as systems evolve.
Developed in partnership with Blonder Tongue. 
What are...Digital & Analog Content/Connector Types?
Continuing in the quest to clarify digital cable television technology and terminology, this second primer about digital and analog television covers the content and connection types found in the home or the cable headend, including SDI, HDMI, ASI, DVI; WHDI, DiiVA, and HDBaseT; as well as YPbPr and RGB of yesteryear.
Developed in Partnership with Blonder Tongue
What is...eWaste?
Learn about the challenges and trends associated with recycling electronic equipment.
Developed in partnership with Colt Recycling.
What is...Fiber Cleaning?
Learn the basics of cleaning optical network components, including what to clean, when to clean and how to clean. The primer also discusses the tools used for cleaning and some important tips for effective fiber cleaning.
Developed in partnership with MicroCare Corporation
What is...Fiber Termination?
In this primer, viewers will learn to identify the primary types of fiber termination, understand the different approaches to terminating fiber, and recognize the various testing and troubleshooting techniques used in conjunction with these termination methods.
Developed in partnership with AFL. 
What is…Hex?
Learn why hexadecimal is used today, the format of hexadecimal numbering and how to convert hexadecimal to decimal and binary formats.
Developed by SCTE Pd. 
What is…a Home Health Check?
A Home Health Check describes the standard battery of tests taken at subscribers' premises that assure adherence to the quality specifications established by the MSO. Ultimately, predetermined and consistently practiced home health testing helps guarantee consistently high quality product and service and dramatically reduces repeated truck rolls. Learn about the various specifications associated with Home Health Checks.
Developed in partnership with ComSonics.
What is...IPv6?
A technical overview of the industry’s newest deployment, What is...IPv6? explains the origins of the protocol, the reasons for implementation, and identifies the features and benefits of IPv6. What is...IPv6? is designed for all field personnel, headend, managers, supervisors and engineers who have responsibility for implementing, supporting and/or managing IPv6 related services.
Developed by SCTE Pd.
What is...IPTV?
Upon completing this Primer, viewers will be able to recognize how IPTV differs from traditional forms of cable digital video as well as from "Internet, or Over-the-Top, video." Also, viewers will be able to identify some of the value that IPTV brings to the consumer video experience. Finally, viewers will understand the cable operator‘s perspective on why IPTV is compelling enough to re-think major components of service delivery and network architecture.
Developed in partnership with Motorola.
What is…Leakage and Ingress Prevention?
Learn about signal egress and ingress and the importance of preventing signal so you can assure enhanced product quality and customer satisfaction on every call.
Developed in partnership with Comsonics Inc.
What is..LTE?
LTE (Long Term Evolution) is the predominant fourth generation (4G) cellular technology. This overview of LTE will include a discussion of LTE ingress issues, egress/leakage issues, tools and methodologies, and practical/regulatory issues.
Developed in partnership with Rohde & Schwarz. 
What is...Metro Ethernet?
Understand the differences between a Metro Ethernet Network and a legacy Metropolitan Area Network, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of a SONET/SDH network compared to a Metro Ethernet Network.
Developed in partnership with Sunrise Telecom. 
What is…MoCA? Part I
Understand the next-generation products and services that will be deployed using MoCA (Multimedia over Coax Alliance) home entertainment networks.
Developed in partnership with Spirent Communications. 
What is…MoCA? Part 2
An introduction to some of the MoCA home entertainment network terminology, including topologies, channels and frequency band plans, carrier modulation, data rates, transmit power levels and the MAC Layer.
Developed in partnership with Spirent Communications.
What is…MoCA Home Networking?
This primer will explore how MoCA home networks are designed and operated and will cover a best practices approach to installing and maintaining MoCA home networks.
Developed in partnership with Spirent Communications.
What is…MoCA 2.0?
Explore the enhancements that were introduced with the MoCA 2.0 specification.
Developed in partnership with Spirent Communications.
What is…Modulation?
Learn about the definition, purpose, and use of analog and digitial modulation techniques.
Developed in partnership with In-Transition Broadband. 
What is...OMI?
This presentation defines optical modulation index (OMI) and discusses why OMI is important to downstream and upstream system performance optimization and maintenance of laser transmitters. It also includes conventional and new ways of measuring OMI.
Developed in partnership with M2 Optics. 
What is...Optical Spectrum?
Learn about the frequency range suitable for optical signals and find out why some of these frequencies are better than others for transmission of signals over a fiber optic medium. Explore how optical signals are amplified without conversion to electrical form and how the information-carrying capacity of an optical fiber can be increased by the use of multiple wavelengths. Also, learn about the differences and similarities between traditional RF transmission, and a new technology called RF over Glass, or RFoG, that operates in the optical spectrum.
Developed in partnership with CommScope. 
What is…Power Theory?
Learn the definitions of voltage and current and the ways they relate to each other and to other electrical power terms and phenomena. This primer also introduces the two types of current as well as the concepts of capacitance and inductance, which are used to store and couple electrical energy.
Developed in partnership with CommScope.
What is...Precision Optical Cleaning?
Not all optical cleaning processes deliver the same result, viewers will understand the importance of precision cleaning a fiber optic connection. In addition, viewers have an increased awareness of how to select a technique appropriate for existing and "future proof" needs.
Developed in partnership with ITW Chemtronics 
What is...Project Management?
This primer is an introductory presentation to Project Management. It addresses key definitions, knowledge areas, process groups, communication, and supporting tools such as the Gantt chart and Pareto Analysis.
The intended audience is any business professional, at any level of their career, with the desire to gain an introductory-level knowledge of project management and improving business processes.
Developed by SCTE Pd.
What is…PSIP? Part 1 of 3
This primer introduces PSIP by discussing the definition of Digital Television, the information in an MPEG packet and how digital video transport streams are constructed.
Developed in partnership with Triveni Digital, Inc. 
What is…PSIP? Part 2 of 3
The PSIP presentation continues with the definition of PSIP, a discussion of the data tables contained in PSIP and a description of the method used for injecting PSIP into a digital broadcast system.
Developed in partnership with Triveni Digital, Inc.
What is…PSIP? Part 3 of 3
Learn how PSIP in Cable is different from Broadcast PSIP, gain a better understanding of the tables that are used to send metadata in Cable and learn how Cable PSIP is delivered to Set-top Boxes and how it can be used for ClearQAM.
Developed in partnership with Triveni Digital, Inc.
What is...R and U Value?
R and U values are used to describe the amount of heat transfer of various building materials. These values impact decisions that can reduce heating and cooling costs
Developed by SCTE Pd.
Learn about the similarities and distinctions of RFoG (RF-over-Glass) with HFC, the ranges of applications for RFoG, and how RFoG works as an alternative or pathway to PON.
Developed in partnership with CommScope.
What is…RF Spectrum?
View this primer to understand the definition of spectrum and how it relates to sine wave frequencies as well as where cable’s radio frequency section of the electromagnetic spectrum is located, and why that section does not belong only to cable. Learn how individual services are allocated space within the cable spectrum and learn about tools that allow cable operators to view signals within a spectrum.
Developed in partnership with CommScope. 
What is…RF Theory?
Learn how RF (Radio Frequency) waveforms relate to the most basic waveform in nature, the sine wave. We’ll show you the three attributes that define a waveform, and which waveforms are generally known as RF. You’ll learn the definition of impedance and how it affects the performance of RF circuits, and how modulation is used to transport signals via RF and other waveforms. You’ll also learn about noise and how it affects signals. Finally, you’ll learn about some of the characteristics of RF signal travel in transmission medium.
Developed in partnership with CommScope.
What is...Risk Concentration Analysis for Dispatch Operations?
Learn the fundamentals of Risk Concentration Analysis, including how it works in real-world settings and its role in dispatch operations.
Developed in partnership with Rev2. 
What is…Signal Theft Prevention?
Learn to identify different devices, methods, and locks used to aid in the prevention of signal theft as well as how many security devices are compromised.
Developed in partnership with IndiBlock, LLC. 
What is…Skin Effect?
This primer covers the definition of skin effect and associated terminology as well as the components of the Skin Depth Formula. It includes a description of how to correlate permeability and conductivity with skin depth.
Developed in partnership with PPC. 
What is...System Integrity and CLI?
Learn about the detection and troubleshooting of signal leakage, as well as procedures for avoiding leakage.
Developed in partnership with Comsonics Inc.
What is…Terminated Connector Performance?
For optimum terminated connector performance, learn how to select the appropriate connector, what questions to ask the patch cord vendor, and the impact of measurements of connector performance and end-face quality.
Developed in partnership with Clearfield.
What is...Theft of Service?
Learn about the definition of signal theft, the different types of theft and how to identify them, and how much signal theft really costs the cable company.
Developed in partnership with IndiBlock, LLC.
What are...Video Delivery Methods?
This primer describes today’s traditional linear cable TV service and then discusses Over the Top (OTT) and Internet TV video, as well as the advantage of IPTV in managing video services.
Developed by SCTE Pd.
What is…a Video Display?
Learn the alphabet soup of digital cable technology, beginning with what everyone is most familiar with, the TV in the home. This primer covers video displays, their technology and the terminology that surrounds them: CRT, LCDs, PDP; ATSC, QAM; 480i, 720p, 1080i; digital ready, HD ready, SDTV, HDTV, and EPG.
Developed in partnership with Blonder Tongue.
What is...WDM?
Learn to identify the different WDM technologies, understand the major WDM applications, and recognize the differences between CWDM and DWDM hardware.
Developed in partnership with AFL.
What is...WiFi?
Availability of smart phones, tablets, eReaders, gaming devices, etc., is driving data usage in mobile networks at a very rapid rate. End users are agnostic about the access technology as long as the network provides the best end user experience. A large number of popular data applications have been optimized around Wi-Fi capability in the broadband data devices and as a result, end users are more comfortable with Wi-Fi access. View this high level introduction to the concept of wireless communications networks which allows end devices to exchange data wirelessly over a computer network. This primer is a valuable resource for all levels of our engineering profession.
Developed in partnership with Arris. 
What is...a Wi-Fi Hotspot?
Learn how customer demand is affecting the way Wi-Fi hotspots are deployed today and how cutting edge technologies are enabling operators to overcome some of the challenges and add value to their current business models.
Developed in partnership with ARRIS.
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