Abstract: An RF component with integrated EMI shielding may be used in an RF amplifier. The RF component includes a component housing made of a dielectric material, an RF component circuit, and an EMI shield integrated with the component housing for shielding the RF component circuit. The EMI shield may include a shielding portion located in the component housing and spaced from the RF component circuit by a predetermined distance and engaging members extending from the shielding portion inside the component housing to outside of the component housing. The engaging members contact an amplifier chassis for securing the RF component to the amplifier chassis and for grounding the EMI shield to the amplifier chassis. One example of the RF component includes a diplexer.

Abstract: A digital repeater for use in a tree and branch communication network is disclosed. The digital repeater has first path for downstream data communications. The first path does not perform Viterbi decoding in order to minimize the delay for downstream communications. A second path with a Viterbi decoder is used to detect communications addressed to the digital repeater. The disclosure includes other related material including teachings on the integration of the digital repeater into a network including modifications to polling, discovery, and automatic gain control procedures.