Method and system for providing power to booster amplifiers in h.f. cable network

Claim 1

In a network for transmitting high frequency signals via cable from a source to multiple users at different locations, the network being organiZed in several levels including a primary level, into which the h.f. signals are fed, secondary levels branching off the primary level, and lower levels including user levels branching off the secondary levels and into which the signals are to be distributed, and wherein booster amplifiers for the h.f. signals are included in the network, comprising: a plurality of power regulation units respectively individually associated with and connected to said amplifiers for powering the respective amplifier with regulated d.c. and constructed for connect-disconnect switching as between the d.c. supply line of the network the respective amplifier; and a plurality of d.c. power supply means smaller in number than the plurality of units, and each for feeding d.c. into the network, the power supply means of the plurality being located at several different, spaced apart locations along the network so that d.c. is fed into the network at the said different and spaced apart locations whereby each said power supply means provides a d.c. voltage to several of said power regulation units, and each said power supply means provides electric power for amplifiers in a portion of the network accordingly and over a distance in the network signficantly smaller than the network as a whole; and means included in the network for preventing d.c. supply current from flowing from a secondary level into the primary level, each secondary level connected to at least one of said supply means of the plurality, the primary level connected separately to at least one of said supply means.