A few weeks ago I happened to spot the Comcast node serving our neighborhood, and took some quick photos of it-- this was from a so-so cellphone camera, but hopefully they're recognizable:
http://vt11.net/hfc/comcast-node-0.jpg
http://vt11.net/hfc/comcast-node-1.jpg (showing its adjacent fiber-splice enclosure)
http://vt11.net/hfc/comcast-node-2.jpg
I know there are some here who work in the industry -- can you identify the make and model of this particular node from its outside enclosure? I'm just curious. All the nodes in this area have that same curving heatsink-fin pattern, rather than the straight vertical ones found on bridging amps and line extenders.
Also, why would they only use two of the six hardline ports, then immediately split both outputs? Doing that fan-out within the node enclosure should have made for a cleaner installation, with fewer connections exposed the elements. Maybe additional modules inside are required to light up all six ports? Or the splitters were already there when this node was dropped in to replace an amp?
The fiber to it was brought in (partly underground) maybe 5-6 years ago.
About one block down the road is the power supply cabinet and injector feeding the node and all its downstream amps-- a bit of a messy setup, with unsupported hardline just dangling alongside the pole, some of it apparently abandoned in place:
http://vt11.net/hfc/comcast-psu-1.jpg
Its utility meter is easily readable from the street, and registers a constant power consumption of 680W, for a system supplying about about 140 homes (passed), probably 15 or so amplifiers in all, though I haven't tried to count them.
By comparison, the VRAD supplying AT&T uVerse service to this same territory is pulling only 214W. I was surprised it was so low. Of course uVerse only has to serve loops actually connected to subscribers (perhaps a third of the houses here, judging by the prevalance of ATTxxxxxxx SSID's), and perhaps the VRAD is able to shut down vacant/spare ports to save power, but it's interesting that the AT&T outside plant infrastructure seems to be more energy efficient, and might be able to run longer on batteries during an extended blackout. I remember the old ADSL DSLAM would hold up at least 5-6 hours, and its adjacent POTS SLIC nearly a full day.
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