User can simultaneously receive cable tv signal and data from cable modem (that is transfered to PC) with splitter, because the splitter is connected at the users end with cable modem and TV output.
Purpose of the cable modem is to modulate and demodulate cable signal in to the data stream. Similarity with analog model is ended with that. Cable modem include:
Cable modem have at least three interfaces. First interface is standard F port conector,
conector for coaxial cable that is like conector on the back of TV device or
VCR (video casset recorder). Cable tv is connected with that port. Second end
third interface is Ethernet and USB conector where the cable modem is connected with computer.
In spite of possible overload, in 99 of 100 cases cable modem will provide far
more speed and higher reliability then the dial-up modem. Download speed
(direction from network to user) can have theoretically value up to 36 Mbit/s,
and upload up to 10 Mbit/s.
Speed is achieved due to cable modem that have one or two channels for
data transfer with range of 6 MHz that is far more above omission range
of clasic telephone line with 3 MHz.