Segmentable optical node module configurable as an RF amplifier and corresponding methods and systems

A module for a hybrid fiber coax network that is configurable between an RF amplifier configuration and an optical node configuration, the module comprising:

• a housing having one or more fiber entry points and one or more coaxial cable entry points for connecting in the HFC system in either the RF amplifier configuration or the optical node configuration;
• at least one port connectable to one or more coaxial cables via the one or more coaxial cable entry points for RF communication to and from the module;
• at least one port connectable to one or more fiber links via the one or more fiber entry points in the housing for optical communication to and from the module;
• a configured port for operation in either the RF amplifier configuration or the optical node configuration;
• a power supply connection with said housing;
• a location within the housing for interchanging connection to a control board between a) one or more optical transmitter modules or receiver modules and b) an RF pre-amplifier;
• the control board that is connectable to either a) the one or more optical transmitter modules or receiver modules in the optical node configuration or b) the RF pre-amplifier in the RF amplifier configuration,
• the configured port to couple to the radio frequency (RF) pre-amplifier in the RF amplifier configuration or one or more of the optical transmitter modules or receiver modules in the optical node configuration;
• wherein when the module communicates over at least one fiber link in the upstream direction and the configured port is coupled to the one or more optical transmitter modules or receiver modules for RF communication in a downstream direction, the module is operable as an optical node module;
• and
• wherein when the module communicates over at least one coaxial cable in the upstream direction and the configured port is coupled to the RF pre-amplifier for RF communication in the downstream direction, the module is transformed to be operable as an RF amplifier.

A method in a hybrid fiber coax system, comprising:

• disposing one or more optical node modules between an optical node module and one or more client devices, each optical node module comprising a quad-output amplifier module comprising:
• four ports for communication with upstream devices,
• four ports for communication with downstream devices, and
• a configured port;
• pre-configuring at least one optical node module of the one or more optical node modules to a 1×4 radio frequency (RF) amplifier;
• and
• delivering forward RF signals to the at least one optical node module after the pre-configuring.