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SCTE · Last updated November 2026

SCTE Broadband Distribution Specialist (BDS): free practice test

BDS certifies knowledge of RF distribution over the access network, from the node and amplifiers out to the distribution tap. SCTE lists five subject areas: system architectures, distribution components, signal types, maintenance and troubleshooting, and safety and construction. The online exam allows 2 hours, is open book and needs 76% to pass.

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About the SCTE BDS exam

BDS certifies knowledge of RF distribution over the access network, from the node and amplifiers out to the distribution tap. SCTE lists five subject areas: system architectures, distribution components, signal types, maintenance and troubleshooting, and safety and construction. The online exam allows 2 hours, is open book and needs 76% to pass.

What's on the exam

SCTE BDS
System Architectures and Access Networks
7 key facts
HFC System Design, Cable Math and Powering
8 key facts
Distribution Components: Actives and Passives
8 key facts
Coaxial Cable and Hardline Connectorization
8 key facts
Signal Types, Modulation and Impairments
8 key facts
Sweep, Return Path and Test Equipment
8 key facts
FCC Rules, Signal Leakage and Troubleshooting
8 key facts
Field Safety and Plant Construction
8 key facts

Each branch is a topic in the official outline. Members see every key fact on the full mind map. Read the free study guide →

How to pass the SCTE BDS exam

  • It is open book, so bring a one-page sheet: dB and dBmV rules, the square-root rule for cable loss, voltage drop (I x R) and the ripple formula (492 x VP / spacing in MHz).
  • Keep the FCC numbers apart: 20 µV/m at 3 m is the monitoring and repair threshold, 50 µV/m is the cutoff for counting leaks in the CLI, and 64 is the CLI limit.
  • Check which way the signal travels. Forward levels are set at amplifier outputs with tilt; the return path is aligned for unity gain back to the node.
  • SCTE recommends its Field Safety course on top of the BDS curriculum. Learn approach distances, fall protection on poles and how to test and bond before you touch anything on a joint-use pole.

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Create a free account after the test: your score by topic, a mistakes bank, the complete study notes for the first topic, flashcards and the RCDD Numbers & Formulas Sheet.

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What's in the premium SCTE BDS prep

Premium SCTE BDS prep is studied one topic at a time. Each step starts with that topic's key notes and flashcard deck, then its own question sets of 25, so you master one topic before you move to the next. When every topic is strong, the 6 full mock exams show you're ready.

3,000practice questions, every answer explained
6full-length mock exams, 50 questions each, timed
800flashcards with spaced repetition, sorted by topic
60comprehensive key notes across 8 topics

Your step-by-step study path

  1. 1
    System Architectures and Access Networks8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Notes free with an account
  2. 2
    HFC System Design, Cable Math and Powering8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  3. 3
    Distribution Components: Actives and Passives8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  4. 4
    Coaxial Cable and Hardline Connectorization8 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  5. 5
    Signal Types, Modulation and Impairments7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  6. 6
    Sweep, Return Path and Test Equipment7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  7. 7
    FCC Rules, Signal Leakage and Troubleshooting7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  8. 8
    Field Safety and Plant Construction7 key notes, 100 flashcards, then 375 practice questions in 15 sets of 25
    Premium
  9. Final step: 6 full mock exams50 questions each, timed like test day. Pass them, then book your exam.
    Premium
Free with an account

Read the complete SCTE BDS study notes for “System Architectures and Access Networks”

Our first full set of comprehensive notes, about 12 minutes of reading: The HFC layout · Cascades and serving areas · Distributed access · Plant splits · PON beside HFC, a worked exam example, the traps examiners use and a one-minute recap. Create a free account to read it and see how premium notes work before you decide.

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Study tools included

3,000 practice questions

3,000 exam-style questions per exam, organized topic by topic in sets of 25. Every answer explained, with the rule it comes from.

6 full mock exams

6 full-length timed mock exams per exam, with real question counts and time limits, so test day feels like practice day.

Exam Readiness Score

One 0 to 100 number that tells you when you're ready to book. Reach 80 and you're covered by our Pass Guarantee.

800 flashcards + spaced repetition

800 flashcards per exam, in a deck for each topic, that come back right before you'd forget them. Five minutes a day keeps every number fresh.

60 comprehensive key notes

60 key notes per exam, split across its topics and each explained in full: the concepts, worked exam examples, the traps examiners use and a quick recap. Your first set is free with an account.

Mind maps

See the whole exam on one screen: every topic and the facts under it.

Sample questions with answers

These are the questions in the free test above, with answers. Try the test first. You'll learn more by getting some wrong.

1. A node+5 serving area is rebuilt as node+0, with several small nodes replacing the original node and its amplifier cascades. What is the main benefit for the upstream?
Answer: Far fewer homes and actives feed noise into each return. Return path noise funnels: every home and amplifier on a node adds to the noise arriving at the return receiver. Node+0 shrinks the serving area and removes the cascade, so less noise reaches each receiver. Coax, taps and drops remain, so ingress is still possible and still has to be fixed.
2. A hub-fed analog node is replaced by a Remote PHY node connected over 10 Gbps Ethernet. Which source of RF impairment does this remove?
Answer: Noise and distortion from the analog optical link. With Remote PHY the RF is generated in the node, and the fiber carries digital Ethernet, so analog laser noise and clipping no longer degrade the signal. Everything after the node is still ordinary coax. Ingress, reflections and misaligned amplifiers remain the maintenance technician's job.
3. An amplifier's output is +48 dBmV at 1002 MHz. It feeds 500 ft of hardline rated 1.60 dB per 100 ft at that frequency, then a two-way splitter with 3.5 dB of loss on that leg, then a 17 dB tap. Ignoring connectors, what is the level at a tap port at 1002 MHz?
Answer: 19.5 dBmV. Cable loss is 5 x 1.60 = 8.0 dB, so the tap input is 48 - 8.0 - 3.5 = 36.5 dBmV, and the port is 36.5 - 17 = 19.5 dBmV. 36.5 stops at the tap input, 27.5 forgets the cable and 23.0 forgets the splitter. Work down the map one device at a time.
4. A power supply delivers 89 V AC. The first 500 ft of cable carries 10 A, and the next 1,000 ft carries 4 A to the last active. Loop resistance, counting center conductor and shield, is 1.0 ohm per 1,000 ft. What voltage reaches the last active?
Answer: 80 V. Drop in each section is current times resistance: 10 A x 0.5 ohm = 5 V, then 4 A x 1.0 ohm = 4 V. 89 - 9 = 80 V. Using 10 A for the whole run gives 74 V, and counting only one section gives 84 or 85 V. Current falls along the line as each active takes its share.
5. After a long span, the level at an amplifier's input is 12 dB higher at 54 MHz than at 1002 MHz. The design calls for a nearly flat signal into the gain stage. Which plug-in corrects this?
Answer: An equalizer, which cuts low frequencies more than high. Cable loses more at high frequencies, so a long span leaves the low end too hot. An equalizer has the opposite slope and restores flatness. A pad lowers the whole band but leaves the slope, and a cable simulator adds slope, which suits a very short span instead.
6. To raise the level at a customer's tap port by 3 dB, a technician replaces a 20 dB tap plate with a 17 dB plate. What side effect should the technician check on the rest of the line?
Answer: Through loss rises, so levels after the tap fall slightly. A lower-value tap couples more signal to its ports, leaving less for the through path, so insertion loss goes up. Every device after it then sees a lower level. Changing tap values without checking the design can push the end of the line below minimum.
7. A hardline is rated 0.80 dB per 100 ft at 250 MHz. Using the square-root rule for cable loss, about what loss should you expect per 100 ft at 1000 MHz?
Answer: 1.60 dB. Coax loss rises roughly with the square root of frequency. 1000 MHz is 4 times 250 MHz, and the square root of 4 is 2, so 0.80 x 2 = 1.60 dB. Scaling in direct proportion gives 3.20 dB, which overstates the loss.
8. A ladder strike dents a span of 0.625-in hardline, pushing the outer conductor closer to the center conductor at one point. What does this do at the dent?
Answer: Lowers impedance there and reflects part of the signal. Coax impedance depends on the ratio of the outer conductor's diameter to the center conductor's. Shrinking that ratio lowers impedance below 75 ohms at the dent, and the mismatch reflects energy in both directions. That shows as poor return loss and sweep ripple, so damaged cable is replaced, not reshaped.
9. An upstream single-carrier QAM channel at 5.12 Msym/s is changed from 64-QAM to 16-QAM because of noise. What is its new raw bit rate, before overhead?
Answer: 20.48 Mbps. 16-QAM carries 4 bits per symbol, so 4 x 5.12 = 20.48 Mbps. 64-QAM carries 6 bits, or 30.72 Mbps, which is the rate before the change. Bits per symbol is log2 of the constellation size, and lower orders trade capacity for noise tolerance.
10. On a plant that still carries analog channels, a spectrum analyzer on the return path shows discrete beats spaced every 6 MHz across the 5 to 42 MHz band. What is the most likely cause?
Answer: Common path distortion from a corroded contact. A corroded or oxidized contact acts like a diode and mixes forward carriers, producing products that fall in the return band at intervals matching the 6 MHz channel spacing. Shortwave ingress sits in specific broadcast bands, impulse noise is broadband and short, and laser clipping raises a broad distortion floor. Look for loose or corroded connectors.
11. A forward sweep on a coaxial leg shows an even ripple with peaks every 4 MHz. The hardline has a velocity of propagation of 87%. About how far apart are the two mismatches causing it?
Answer: 107 ft. Distance in feet is about 492 x VP divided by the ripple spacing in MHz: 492 x 0.87 / 4 = 107 ft. Leaving out VP gives 123 ft, and halving the result gives 54 ft, because the 492 already accounts for the round trip. Use the distance to narrow the search on the strand map.
12. In the return path, there is 9 dB of loss from one amplifier's return output to the return input of the next amplifier toward the node. The return module has 21 dB of gain. For unity gain, how much total pad and equalizer loss belongs in that module's path?
Answer: 12 dB. Unity gain means each return amplifier makes up exactly the loss of the span before it, so the net gain must be 9 dB. 21 - 9 = 12 dB of pad and equalization. Padding by only 9 dB leaves 12 dB of excess gain, which raises noise and overdrives the stages toward the node.
13. During routine monitoring, a technician finds a leak of 28 µV/m at 3 m on a 133 MHz carrier. What does FCC 47 CFR 76.614 require?
Answer: Log it and repair it within a reasonable time. 133 MHz is in the 108 to 137 MHz aeronautical band, and any leak of 20 µV/m or more at 3 m found in monitoring must be noted and repaired within a reasonable period. The 50 µV/m figure only sets which leaks count in the cumulative leakage index calculation. Keep the log, as 76.1706 requires.
14. Upstream noise rises across a node with four coaxial legs. The return transmitter checks out. What is the most efficient next step?
Answer: Isolate each leg at the node and watch the noise floor. Divide and conquer: find the leg that contributes the noise, then split that leg at its midpoint and repeat. Walking from the far end wastes time when the source could be anywhere. Raising receive levels overdrives the path and does not remove the noise source.
15. Before starting work on a joint-use pole, a technician sees an exposed vertical power ground wire running past below the communications attachment. It is not visibly bonded to the strand. Under OSHA 1910.268, what comes first?
Answer: Test it for voltage, then bond it temporarily to the strand. OSHA treats an exposed vertical power ground wire below the attachment as energized until tested, unless it is visibly bonded to the strand or sheath. If the test shows no hazardous voltage, a temporary bond is placed. Bonding first could put the technician in the fault path, and a ground wire can carry dangerous current.

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SCTE BDS exam FAQ

How many questions are on the SCTE BDS exam?

50 questions (SCTE Certification Exam Integrity Policy), with a time limit of 2 hours; the exam cannot be paused and breaks are not allowed. Format: open book: scte training materials, books, printed documents, notes, tables, calculators and internet resources are allowed (digital content in a separate tab of the same browser); ai tools are not allowed. scte does not publish the question format; the practice items here are 4-option single-best-answer.

What is the passing score for SCTE BDS?

76% minimum (38 of 50 correct), per the SCTE Certification Exam Integrity Policy.

How much does the SCTE BDS exam cost?

US$125 for members and non-members (English exam); the Spanish exam is US$112 for non-members and US$84 for members. Each attempt needs a new fee, and the exam must be taken within one year of purchase. Certification lasts 3 years and is renewed with 36 continuing education hours (CEH) or by retaking the exam. BICSI fees can change without notice, so confirm on bicsi.org before you apply.

Which languages is the SCTE BDS exam offered in?

English and Spanish (Especialista en Distribución de Banda Ancha).

Where do I take the SCTE BDS exam?

Online through the SCTE account portal, with Proctorio automated remote proctoring on Chrome or Edge (webcam, microphone and photo ID required).

Is this SCTE BDS practice test free?

Yes. The 15-question practice test on this page is free, with an explanation for every answer and no signup. A free account also unlocks the complete study notes for the first topic. The full SCTE BDS prep is Premium at $147 a month for this exam.

What's in the premium SCTE BDS prep?

3,000 practice questions organized topic by topic (System Architectures and Access Networks: 375; HFC System Design, Cable Math and Powering: 375; Distribution Components: Actives and Passives: 375; Coaxial Cable and Hardline Connectorization: 375; Signal Types, Modulation and Impairments: 375; Sweep, Return Path and Test Equipment: 375; FCC Rules, Signal Leakage and Troubleshooting: 375; Field Safety and Plant Construction: 375), 6 full-length timed mock exams of 50 questions, 800 flashcards and 60 comprehensive key notes split across all 8 topics, plus a mistakes bank and the Readiness Score.

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Exam details are summarized from the official candidate information available in October 2026. BICSI changes formats and fees, so confirm with SCTE (Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers), a subsidiary of CableLabs before you book. RCDDQuizBank is not affiliated with BICSI or Pearson VUE.

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