This part of IEC 60728 is applicable to any cable network (including individual receiving systems) distributing only digital channels having in the forward path a coaxial cable output and primarily intended for television and sound signals operating between about 30 MHz and 3 000 MHz. This standard specifies the basic methods of measurement of the operational characteristics of a cable network having coaxial cable outputs in order to assess the performance of these systems and their performance limits. All requirements refer to the performance limits, which shall be obtained between the input(s) to the headend or headends and any system outlet when terminated in a resistance equal to the nominal load impedance of the system, unless otherwise specified. Where system outlets are not used, the above applies at the subscriber s end of the subscriber s feeder. Also the requirements which are obtained between the input(s) to the headend or headends and any home network interface (HNI) are given. NOTE 1 Methods of measurement described in this standard are considered as basic. However, any equivalent method that ensures at least the same accuracy can be used. NOTE 2 If the system operator wishes to subdivide the system into a number of parts or wishes to use different transmission media (for example, coaxial cabling, balanced cabling, optical cabling), the limits for the accumulation of degradations as given in this standard are still applicable. NOTE 3 System performance requirements of return paths as well as specific methods of measurement for the use of the return paths in cable networks are described in IEC 60728-10. Clause 5 defines the system performance limits which will, with an unimpaired input, (headend input signal), produce picture and sound signals (at system outlets) where the quality requirement is a quasi-error-free (QEF) reception. Appropriate performance requirements for the signals at the receiving antennas site are given in Clause 6 in order to provide at the input of the headend of the cable network for digital television signals with suitable quality. Clause 7 is applicable to home networks (including those of individual receiving systems) using coaxial cables, balanced cables or optical cables and primarily intended for television signals, sound signals and interactive services, operating between about 30 MHz and 3 000 MHz. This clause, considering the basic operational characteristics of a home network, specifies the requirements which shall be obtained at the home network interface (HNI) taking into account the performance requirements given at the system outlet or at the terminal input.