A Cable Television (CATV) digital return link system that provides
dedicated, high-speed, full-duplex and point-to-point connections between
users and the head end system is disclosed. The CATV digital return link
system includes return path transmitters, intermediate hubs and a head
end hub coupled to each other via a network of fiber optic cables. The
return path transmitters are each coupled to a relatively large number of
users via a local CATV-subtree. Signals from cable modems are transmitted
via the local CATV-subtree to the return path transmitters for
transmission to the head end. The return path transmitters include
circuitry for digitally processing the RF data from the subtree prior to
transmitting the RF data to the head end.