SCTE FIELD TECH 2 CERTIFICATION EXAM
250 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
LATEST UPDATE 2026
---
SECTION 1: SIGNAL QUALITY & MEASUREMENT (Questions 1-30)
---
Question 1
Which of the following is the most accurate measure of digital signal quality?
A) Carrier-to-Noise ratio (C/N)
B) Modulation Error Ratio (MER)
C) Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR)
D) Bit Error Rate (BER)
Correct Answer: B) Modulation Error Ratio (MER)
Rationale: MER is a much better measure of digital signal quality than C/N
because it accounts for all impairments in the digital domain, including phase
noise, amplitude noise, and linear distortions. While C/N measures only the ratio of
1
,carrier power to noise power, MER provides a comprehensive assessment of the
entire modulation quality.
---
Question 2
What is the minimum MER required into the cable modem for a 256-QAM carrier?
A) 24 dB or greater
B) 28 dB or greater
C) 32 dB or greater
D) 36 dB or greater
Correct Answer: C) 32 dB or greater
Rationale: For a 256-QAM carrier, the minimum MER into the cable modem must
be 32 dB or greater to ensure reliable demodulation and acceptable bit error rates.
Lower MER values indicate degraded signal quality that can lead to uncorrectable
errors.
---
Question 3
True or False: MER is sensitive to CTB/CSO distortions.
A) True
B) False
2
,Correct Answer: A) True
Rationale: MER is sensitive to CTB (Composite Triple Beat) and CSO (Composite
Second Order) distortions. These nonlinear distortions directly impact the
modulation quality and will be reflected in the MER measurement, making it a
valuable tool for detecting amplifier and system nonlinearities.
---
Question 4
True or False: It is not possible to have a zero BER when uncorrectable codeword
errors are present.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: A) True
Rationale: If uncorrectable codeword errors are present, the Bit Error Rate (BER)
cannot be zero. Uncorrectable errors indicate that the Forward Error Correction
(FEC) could not repair the corrupted data, meaning actual bit errors exist in the
payload.
---
Question 5
3
, What do reflections and/or micro-reflections look like on a spectrum analyzer
display of signal amplitude vs. frequency?
A) Flat response
B) Ripple
C) Spikes
D) Gradual roll-off
Correct Answer: B) Ripple
Rationale: Reflections and micro-reflections appear as ripple on a spectrum
analyzer display when viewing signal amplitude versus frequency. This ripple is
caused by multiple signal paths arriving at the receiver at different times, creating
constructive and destructive interference across the frequency band.
---
Question 6
What is the primary purpose of measuring MER in a digital cable system?
A) To measure the power level of the signal
B) To determine the quality of the digital modulation
C) To check for impedance mismatches
D) To measure the cable length
Correct Answer: B) To determine the quality of the digital modulation
4
250 MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED RATIONALES
LATEST UPDATE 2026
---
SECTION 1: SIGNAL QUALITY & MEASUREMENT (Questions 1-30)
---
Question 1
Which of the following is the most accurate measure of digital signal quality?
A) Carrier-to-Noise ratio (C/N)
B) Modulation Error Ratio (MER)
C) Signal-to-Noise ratio (SNR)
D) Bit Error Rate (BER)
Correct Answer: B) Modulation Error Ratio (MER)
Rationale: MER is a much better measure of digital signal quality than C/N
because it accounts for all impairments in the digital domain, including phase
noise, amplitude noise, and linear distortions. While C/N measures only the ratio of
1
,carrier power to noise power, MER provides a comprehensive assessment of the
entire modulation quality.
---
Question 2
What is the minimum MER required into the cable modem for a 256-QAM carrier?
A) 24 dB or greater
B) 28 dB or greater
C) 32 dB or greater
D) 36 dB or greater
Correct Answer: C) 32 dB or greater
Rationale: For a 256-QAM carrier, the minimum MER into the cable modem must
be 32 dB or greater to ensure reliable demodulation and acceptable bit error rates.
Lower MER values indicate degraded signal quality that can lead to uncorrectable
errors.
---
Question 3
True or False: MER is sensitive to CTB/CSO distortions.
A) True
B) False
2
,Correct Answer: A) True
Rationale: MER is sensitive to CTB (Composite Triple Beat) and CSO (Composite
Second Order) distortions. These nonlinear distortions directly impact the
modulation quality and will be reflected in the MER measurement, making it a
valuable tool for detecting amplifier and system nonlinearities.
---
Question 4
True or False: It is not possible to have a zero BER when uncorrectable codeword
errors are present.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: A) True
Rationale: If uncorrectable codeword errors are present, the Bit Error Rate (BER)
cannot be zero. Uncorrectable errors indicate that the Forward Error Correction
(FEC) could not repair the corrupted data, meaning actual bit errors exist in the
payload.
---
Question 5
3
, What do reflections and/or micro-reflections look like on a spectrum analyzer
display of signal amplitude vs. frequency?
A) Flat response
B) Ripple
C) Spikes
D) Gradual roll-off
Correct Answer: B) Ripple
Rationale: Reflections and micro-reflections appear as ripple on a spectrum
analyzer display when viewing signal amplitude versus frequency. This ripple is
caused by multiple signal paths arriving at the receiver at different times, creating
constructive and destructive interference across the frequency band.
---
Question 6
What is the primary purpose of measuring MER in a digital cable system?
A) To measure the power level of the signal
B) To determine the quality of the digital modulation
C) To check for impedance mismatches
D) To measure the cable length
Correct Answer: B) To determine the quality of the digital modulation
4
