US Cable operator ADELPHIA has upgraded an existing Cable AML link to provide for transport of high-quality 8VSB-modulated off-air TV signals from a remote location to the central headend.

The link was originally installed several years ago to transport a number of distant off-air channels into Susanville (California). The Cable AML equipment replaced old channelized FM video radios that had developed serious reliability issues.

When the digital 8VSB off-air signals became available, Cable AML analyzed the possibility of transporting the digital carriers through the existing AML radios and concluded that it could be done by just upgrading the IF output of the receiver.

The digital 8VSB carriers were then added to the existing link together with the FM video channels. According to Mike Miller of Adelphia, “with the combined analog and digital signals, the AML link has been performing superbly.”.