What does Ingress refer to?

Ingress refers to defects in a telecommunications system that allow unwanted signals to enter the system. This is a critical issue for maintaining signal integrity because external signals can interfere with the transmission of the desired signals, leading to degradation in quality. Ingress can occur through various means, including physical damage to cables or connectors, poor sealing at entry points, or using inadequate materials that do not effectively block external interference.

Understanding ingress is particularly essential for technicians, as it directly impacts the performance of cable systems, broadband services, and overall customer satisfaction. It is important to identify and mitigate ingress in order to ensure the clarity and reliability of the signals being transmitted, thereby reducing issues like noise and distortion in data transmission.

The other options presented do not accurately define ingress or relate to its impacts on signal quality and system performance.