CATV amplifier bypass repeater for digital data and systems including same

A bypass data repeater (40, 40′) permitting data signals to bypass a CATV amplifier (30, 30′) in a CATV system (1, 1′), comprising:

• a downstream data path including a first data receiver (401) and a first data transmitter (402) serially coupled to one another;
• an upstream data path including a second data receiver (403) and a second data transmitter (404) serially coupled to one another;
• and
• circuitry (405, 406 or 412, 413) for temporarily disabling one of the first and second data transmitters when the data signals are received by a respective one of the second and first data receivers.

A CATV system (1, 1′) permitting data signals passing bidirectionally between a headend (HE) and a television (TV) to bypass a CATV amplifier (30, 30′), comprising:

• an upstream signal splitter (10) operatively connected to the headend (HE), the CATV amplifier (30, 30′), which operates above a predetermined frequency, and a bypass data repeater (40, 40′), which operates below the predetermined frequency;
• a downstream signal splitter (50) operatively connected to the television (TV), the CATV amplifier (30, 30′), and the bypass data repeater (40, 40′);
• and
• the bypass data repeater (40, 40′), which includes:
• a downstream data path including a first data receiver (401) and a first data transmitter (402) serially coupled to one another;
• an upstream data path including a second data receiver (403) and a second data transmitter (404) serially coupled to one another;
• and
• circuitry (405, 406 or 412, 413) for temporarily disabling one of the first and second data transmitters when the data signals are received by a respective one of the second and first data receivers.