Final answer:
The correct option is: C) the two-way communication design, HFC return path design is sensitive to ingress and noise due to coaxial cables and the two-way communication design. Coaxial cables are more susceptible to ingress and external noise compared to fiber optics. They also require amplifiers unlike fiber optics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The HFC return path design is especially sensitive to ingress and noise because of coaxial cables and the two-way communication design (Option C). In an HFC (Hybrid Fiber-Coaxial) network, the return path is responsible for carrying signals from the customer premise equipment (CPE) back to the headend. Coaxial cables are used for the return path, and they are more susceptible to ingress (unwanted signals entering the cable) and external noise compared to fiber optics.
The correct option is: C) the two-way communication design, HFC return path design is sensitive to ingress and noise due to coaxial cables and the two-way communication design. Coaxial cables are more susceptible to ingress and external noise compared to fiber optics. They also require amplifiers unlike fiber optics. Coaxial cables are also more prone to signal loss over distance and require amplifiers to compensate, unlike fiber optics that have low loss characteristics.