Patent ID: 8724681

Claim:
A tag device for locating ingress noise in a cable network including a headend and a plurality of nodes in communication with the headend, the tag device comprising: a housing; and a subassembly within the housing, for providing a response to a return path signal, wherein the response is dependent on a magnitude of the return path signal and is characterized by a response function having at least one pre-defined parameter unique to the subassembly, whereby, when the tag device is coupled to a return path of a first node of the plurality of nodes, ingress noise in the return path of the first node is identifiable at the headend, wherein the subassembly comprises a RF-controllable switch and a first delay line connected thereto, for providing a switchable secondary path for the return path signal, wherein the RF-controllable switch is configured for switching in the switchable secondary path at time intervals between RF bursts in the return path signal, the switchable secondary path having a first delay, wherein the at least one parameter includes the first delay.