Abstract: A system includes a device and a wireless network. The device uses multiple wireless communication protocols. The wireless network is coupled to the device by the multiple wireless communication protocols. The device simultaneously uses two of more of the multiple wireless communication protocols. The wireless communication protocols and the wireless communication export protocols include WiFi, ZigBee and Bluetooth.

Abstract: A method of isolating an appliance coupled to receive radio frequency (RF) broadcast signals from an electrical hazard includes the step of coupling a first and second conductor for providing the RF broadcast signals to an isolation device. The isolation device is coupled to the appliance so that the first and second conductors are electrically isolated from at least one of the chassis and the ground of the appliance. An apparatus for isolating appliances such as community antenna television (CATV) devices coupled to receive RF broadcast signals from an electrical hazard includes an isolation device, such as an isolation transformer. The isolation device is coupled to two conductors provided for receiving the RF broadcast signals. The isolation device is also coupled to the appliance. The isolation device electrically isolates each of the two conductors from at least one of the ground and the chassis of the appliance. The methods and apparatus are particularly applicable for isolating CATV devices (e.g.

Abstract: A method of tuning channels for television and community antenna television (CATV) devices includes the step of receiving a radio frequency input (RFI) signal having at least one carrier signal at frequency f.sub.s associated with a selected broadcast channel. The RFI signal is up-converted by m to a first intermediate frequency wherein the carrier signal is located at f.sub.s +m. The first intermediate frequency is filtered. The filtered first intermediate frequency is down-converted by n to a second intermediate frequency wherein the second intermediate frequency includes the carrier signal at f.sub.s +m-n. Additional methods for improving the reception of the selected channel include the step of varying m and n in order to avoid frequency-dependent anomalies within the pass band of the filter. For digital communications, m and n are varied in accordance with an error rate of the digital communications in order to reduce the error rate of the digital communications.

Abstract: A method for interfacing a media independent interface with a DVB compliant modulator includes the step of receiving nibbles of data from a media independent interface in accordance with a transmit clock signal and a holdoff signal during assertion of a transmit enable signal, wherein the nibbles of data are a portion of a variable sized packet. The nibbles of data are stored into a first buffer. The transmit clock signal is disabled. The nibbles of data are shifted out of the first buffer in accordance with a serial clock signal to provide a first bitstream. The first bitstream is framed into a predetermined packet size. The holdoff signal is asserted to halt the first bitstream. A synchronization indicator is serially inserted into the first bitstream in accordance with the serial clock signal to form a second bitstream. The second bitstream is parallelized to form parallelized data.

Abstract: A method for detecting ground faults between a community antenna television (CATV) coaxial cable and an appliance coupled to the CATV coaxial cable for receiving CATV broadcasts is provided. A potential difference between a shield of the coaxial cable and a chassis of the appliance is determined. A fault indicator is provided, if the potential difference exceeds a predetermined threshold voltage. An apparatus for detecting ground faults between an appliance and a CATV coaxial cable is also provided. The apparatus includes a comparator. A first input of the comparator is coupled to a chassis of the appliance. A second input of the comparator is coupled to a shield of the coaxial cable. The comparator indicates a fault condition if a potential difference between the first and second inputs exceeds a predetermined threshold.