Dwight, the quick answer is "you'll be lucky !"
The broadband system is a modification to the Telephone system which in turn is a modification to the 19th Century Telegraph system. In the course of it's evolution there are things which would be done differently if one could start again, just like human beings have air- and food-pipes crossing which lets a drink go "down the wrong way" .
It is difficult to explain this sort of system when not knowing the full history, so it can end up as "We have always done it this way", which is not a justification, (except to an accountant !) and doesn't help a newcomer understand.
Also the industry has used several imported techniques in a rather sloppy way.
For instance, WiFi is promoted as if obstacles and reflections didn't exist. For a professional microwave link an engineer would survey the paths and select one with no obstructions and no reflecting objects within the aerial beamwidth. For WiFi the beamwidth is near 360 degrees so it is a case of try it and see, and if it doesn't work use a bigger hammer, i.e. more power.
