Iterative mapping methods for ingress mitigation in cable communication systems

Methods for reducing ingress in a neighborhood node of a cable communication system. The node includes a hardline cable plant and multiple subscriber service drops to convey upstream information from multiple subscriber premises over an upstream path bandwidth. A mobile broadcast apparatus equipped with a transmitter is directed along a drive path proximate to the hardline plant, and a test signal having a frequency falling within the upstream path bandwidth is broadcast along the drive path. Respective positions of the broadcast apparatus, and signal amplitudes at the test signal frequency representing test signal ingress in the node due to one or more hardline plant-related and/or subscriber-related faults, are recorded, and a neighborhood node ingress map is generated. Following remediation of one or more faults based on the map, the process is repeated to generate one or more additional iterations of the map to document a progression of ingress mitigation efforts.