Why are RF return channel carriers ineffective for aligning return path equipment?

RF return channel carriers are indeed considered ineffective for aligning return path equipment primarily because they are of short duration and often originate from multiple sources. This means that the signals received are not consistent or stable enough to be used reliably for alignment purposes.

When aligning return path equipment, it's crucial to have a steady and continuous signal that can be effectively measured and analyzed. However, since these RF return channel carriers can be sporadic and come from various devices sending data at different times, it makes it challenging to attain a clear and usable reference signal for alignment.

In contexts where equipment needs to be finely tuned, having short-duration signals leads to difficulties in obtaining the necessary measurements over a sustained period. The interaction of signals from multiple devices can further complicate the situation, as varying signal strengths and timings can lead to confusion rather than clear alignment data. Therefore, the nature of RF return channel carriers makes them unfit for such alignment tasks.