Steven J. Crowley, P.E.
Consulting Engineer
Archive for the ‘DTV’ Category
The FCC’s Broadcast Engineering Forum
The FCC held its Broadcast Engineering Forum on June 25, 2010 from 3 to 5:35 p.m.
As background, the National Broadband Plan recommends repurposing 120 MHz of from the TV bands to mobile broadband. On June 14 the FCC released an Omnibus Broadband Team Technical Paper that describes some of the analyses supporting this repurposing. Chairman Genachowski asked the Commission staff to hold the Forum to consider ideas in the Paper.
At this Forum there were four areas discussed:
- Advancements in Compression Technology
- Cellularization of Broadcast Architecture
- Improvements in VHF Reception
- Methodologies for Repacking the TV Band
Each area had been the subject of discussion by groups in workshops earlier in the day. At the Forum each of the four groups reported preliminary findings and recommendations.
After hearing the Forum, which is a preliminary effort, I”d say its gist is that technical changes in the TV industry aren’t going to free up significant TV spectrum for mobile broadband. There are no advancements in compression technology that can be implemented in a timely manner (i.e., less than 13 years). State-of-the-art in compression technology, and market realities, makes channel sharing by different licensees impractical. Cellularization of broadcast architecture is seen as not practical nor economical. There is room for improvement in VHF reception, perhaps through higher transmit power levels and better, smart receive antennas. An examination of methodologies for repacking the TV band shows no scenarios where stations can avoid sharing channels, unless some stations voluntarily go off-the-air. (And, as we heard in the presentation on compression, sharing is seen as impractical.)
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Experimental Radio Applications at the FCC
This summarizes a selection of applications for the Experimental Radio Service received by the FCC during May 2010. These are related to WiMAX, sensors, SAW devices, radio-location, ultra-wideband, white space, aircraft passenger communications, landslide monitoring, collision avoidance radar, mobile DTV, LTE, Inmarsat handsets, highway rock-fall monitoring, HF communications, spacecraft link characterization, and interference into broadband access.
- Polytechnic Institute of NYU filed an application (with supporting exhibit) for experimental license to conduct a network research project using WiMAX on 2535-2540 MHz. This is part of the nationwide Global Environment for Network Innovations (GENI) project, a suite of infrastructure that will support experimental research in network science and engineering. GENI is supported by the National Science Foundation and managed by the GENI Project Office at BBN Technologies.
- Mnemonics, Inc. filed an application (with supporting exhibits) for experimental license to operate in support of a research project that is to develop and demonstrate the viability of wirelessly extracting measured data from a network of passive surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor devices. This sensing technique is said to have several advantages over existing sensors, including no wired connections needed to extract data, no power requirements, operation up to 1000 degrees C., and sensor cost in-quantity in the tens of cents each. Operation will be on 915 MHz.
3DTV standards development in SMTPE, ITU, and the U.K.’s Digital TV Group
Television Broadcast reports on the status of 3DTV standards development around the world.
The Challenge of Developing 3D TV Standards
What works in the theater doesn’t necessarily work on TV. Issues include bandwidth, captions, subtitles, and metadata. Television Broadcast looks at some of the challenges faced by the SMPTE 3D Standards Working Group.
The Broadcast and Wireless Industries: Latest Spectrum Arguments at the FCC
The FCC is working under a Congressional deadline of February 17, 2010 to develop a National Broadband Plan. That work includes looking for additional spectrum for wireless broadband services.
On December 2, 2009, the FCC issued a Public Notice asking for more comment on spectrum licensed to broadcast TV stations, and on market-based mechanisms that would encourage broadcasters to make spectrum available for wireless.
TV broadcasters generally like their spectrum as it is. They argue that over-the-air TV is a public service. It is the only source of video programming for some. A large investment was made in the recent DTV transition. They are working on advanced technologies including Mobile DTV and other content delivery platforms. Multicasting provides greater choice in programming without the need to subscribe to a cable or satellite service.
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Multiplexed Terrestrial Television Broadcasting
Following the FCC’s suggestion that there may be opportunities for TV broadcasters to share 6 MHz channels, Michael Marcus looks at multiplexed digital terrestrial TV in the UK. He cites an Ofcom consultation on the future of digital TV.