Several tests and techniques are used to identify the presence of reverse path interference, isolating the source of ingress and maintaining the plant to correct problems and minimize future ones. No single solution provides a full answer operators need a combination to achieve a tight plant and robust return path that allows customers to fully enjoy the two-way services being delivered. Five proactive measures for conquering ingress problems exist. Of those, the majority are connector-related. But technicians haven t always known the problems loose connectors can cause.
Lockdown is a basic, but extremely effective method of getting a high-integrity plant.
It involves visiting every connection point in the network, tearing down the heat shrink if required, tightening housing connectors and F-connectors for drops at every tap and ground block resealing. A single technician may perform lockdown without interacting with the headend, and no special test equipment is required. To improve the cost-effectiveness of implementing lockdown procedures, some operators simultaneously conduct tap audits to verify filters and terminations. They may even go one step further and terminate the unused ports to eliminate potential ingress. Perhaps the biggest drawback to lockdown is that it does not provide a positive elimination of ingress because no real determination of cause exists.