How does cable television work? Easily explained

Most German households use cable television. But how does the technology actually work? You can find out in this practical tip.

How does cable television work?

The television program is delivered via a so-called coaxial cable. This cable connects your television set to the head end of the cable network operator.

• As a rule, the cable network operator offers other services via the coaxial cable. The coaxial network is often used for Internet services or telephony.
• Frequencies between 80 and 1000 megahertz are transmitted via a coaxial cable. These frequencies are divided into so-called channels with a width of 8 megahertz.
• The cable network operator can now decide what he wants to do with the individual channels. The channels can either be used for Internet access, for making calls or for television programs. However, it is important that the maximum bandwidth of 54 megabits per second is not exceeded on the individual channels - this limitation applies to both Internet access and digital television programs.
• Your network operator can place either one analog or several digital programs on one channel. Normally, three television channels are broadcast in digital form per channel.
• Your cable network operator receives the television programs via satellite and then sends them via its coaxial network. During the channel search, your TV checks all frequencies and stores the channels so that it later knows which TV channels can be found on which channel.

In the next practical tip you will find out what a hybrid fiber coax network is.