A
system for monitoring reverse paths of a bi-directional cable communication network such as a CATV network, to detect and analyze ingress signals entering a reverse path and ending at a network sub-headend or headend through a corresponding one of communication lines, comprises a plurality of
radio frequency signal detectors connected thereto. The
radio frequency signal detectors are provided with bandpass filter for receiving a
radio frequency signal within the
frequency band used, to generate corresponding output signals indicative of the strength of the received
radio frequency signal. The output signal generated by the frequency
signal detector which is coupled to the communication line corresponding to the ingress signal carrying path is indicative of the strength of the received ingress signal with received reverse signals. The
system further comprises a signal processor for analyzing the
detector output signals through comparison with one or more predetermined ingress thresholds to generate an
alarm signal whenever the ingress signal is detected. The
system further comprises a control computer receiving the
alarm signal to generate monitoring
sequence control data indicative of the communication line corresponding to the ingress signal carrying path to be monitored. The system also comprises a selector switch having a plurality of inputs being connected to the communication lines and being responsive to the monitoring
sequence control data to select the input connected to the communication line to be monitored, and
signal monitoring instrumentation such as a
spectrum analyzer and a
broadband analyzer coupled to an output of the switching device and being responsive to the monitoring
sequence control data for analyzing the ingress signal and generating
alarm message data accordingly. The control computer receives the
alarm message data to further generate diagnostic sequence
control data for the monitoring
instrumentation also used to determine source characteristics of the ingress signal.