May 4, 2006
Industry News
Commission seeks comment on measurement of DTV signal strength
May 3, 2006 12:35 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
The FCC is looking at establishing measurement procedures for determining DTV signal strength at any given spot as a way to decide whether or not households are eligible to receive distant DTV network signals retransmitted by satellite.
On April 24, the commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding the matter as required by the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 (SHVERA). On Dec. 8, 2005, the FCC issued the SHVERA Report to Congress stating it needed to conduct a rulemaking proceeding to lay out procedures for measuring the field strength of DTV signals at individual locations and that it believed the procedures should be similar to those used to determine the field strength of analog signals.
Among the matters the commission is seeking comment on:
- Whether or not there are ways to minimize the cost of digital signal strength tests while ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the results;
- Whether measurements should be required to be taken using a calibrated gain antenna with a front-to-back ratio consistent with the DTV planning factors or with either a standard half-wave dipole antenna or a gain antenna with a known antenna factor for the channel(s) that are to be tested;
- A proposal to require digital signal measurement to be done by measuring the integrated average power over the signal’s entire 6MHz bandwidth and that the IF bandwidth of the measurement device not be greater than 6MHz.
- A proposal to require test instruments to be set up with a shielded transmission line between the test antenna and the field strength meter, that antenna impedance be matched to the transmission line at all measured frequencies, that the tester account for line loss and when an unbalanced line is used so must a suitable balun.
- A proposal that DTV measurements be made with a horizontally polarized antenna and a requirement that the antenna be oriented so its maximum gain faces the strongest signal coming from the transmitter being tested. If more than one station’s signal is being measured, the antenna must be oriented separately for each station.
- A proposal that testing antennas be elevated 20ft above the ground when measuring at one-story buildings and 30ft for buildings higher than one story.
- A proposal that tests should not be conducted in inclement weather.
- A proposal to require the same recording of DTV signal measurement strength as requirements for an analog signal.
- Whether it is possible to develop rules that address the lack of qualified, independent testers to perform the signal strength tests.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
Aloha Partners forms new subsidiary to test DVB-H service
May 3, 2006 12:39 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Aloha Partners, a major owner of the 700MHz spectrum in the United States, has formed a subsidiary called Hiwire to test a digital broadcast network in Las Vegas.
Hiwire will deploy a high-resolution broadcast network and deliver 12MHz of television, music, datacasting and interactive entertainment services for wireless carriers and consumer electronic device makers.
Hiwire will sell its services to wireless carriers and consumer electronic device makers, offering a cost-effective way to deliver high-definition mobile entertainment content to subscribers.
According to Charlie Townsend, president of Aloha Partners, by using 700MHz to deliver those channel choices to consumers, Hiwire will require one-tenth the number of cell sites when compared to higher frequency systems.
Hiwire will test its mobile TV offering in Las Vegas using UHF channels 54 and 59 and use the Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) platform. Following successful completion of the pilot program and continued interest from wireless carriers, the service will be expanded to other markets.
Hiwire will feature high-resolution, live broadcast quality programming delivered via a high-speed network designed to take advantage of H.264/MPEG-4 enabled wireless devices. Frame rates will achieve up to 30 per seconds.
For more information, visit www.alohapartners.net.
USDTV demonstrates MPEG-4 AVC set-top box, transmission
May 3, 2006 12:45 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
U.S. Digital Television (USDTV) will begin offering MPEG-4 AVC set-top boxes for its multichannel over-the-air alternative to cable that uses the Sigma Designs SMP8634 chipset.
Currently, USDTV is transitioning its network to an advanced video compression technology, MPEG-4 AVC. USDTV's next-generation STB will have integrated MPEG-4 AVC technology to provide enhanced services for its customers. Some of the new features include all the latest codecs, high-definition video and set-top box processing power through the use of Sigma's SMP8634.
At NAB2006 in the ATSC DTV Hot Spot, USDTV demonstrated the first live MPEG-4 AVC broadcast over its digital terrestrial network.
USDTV recently announced the details of its second-generation set-top box that will begin shipping to new customers in two phases starting in the fall of 2006. The last phase will ship in the first quarter of 2007 and incorporate a 250-gigabyte hard drive, which will support a variety of storage based and in-home networking services.
The USDTV STB has an HDTV receiver and allows viewers to receive all the digital and HD programs sent out by local stations and national broadcast networks.
USDTV service currently is available in five markets: Albuquerque, NM; Las Vegas; Salt Lake City, UT; Dallas; and Norfolk, VA. Tests of the system reportedly are underway in New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago.
For more information, visit www.usdtv.com and www.sigmadesigns.com.
FCC Actions
Media Bureau moves on digital signal strength test waiver requests
May 3, 2006 12:57 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
The FCC Media Bureau took action April 28 on requests for waivers to exempt 60 stations from a rule that would allow satellite subscribers to receive or conduct a test of over-the-air digital signal strength under the Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act of 2004 (SHVERA).
Under FCC rules, satellite subscribers could request such a test beginning April 30 if the local network station they wished to be tested is within the top 100 television markets and has received a tentative channel designation on its allotted digital channel or has lost interference protection. This rule will cover all full power local network television stations beginning July 15, 2007.
At issue is allowing the digital television signal of a distant local network station to enter a covered television market via satellite service where a local station affiliated with the same network exists. SHEVRA allows consumers to demonstrate eligibility for the distant signal by showing that a signal test of the local over-the-air network affiliate does not meet the standard for digital signal intensity proscribed by commission rules.
The Media Bureau granted digital testing waivers for 23 stations and denied or dismissed requests for 25 stations. Twelve were returned because the stations making the requests were not covered under the April deadline.
The stations granted the waiver would be exempt from the requirement for the digital signal strength test for six months. No further extension or waiver is permitted, the commission said.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
SBE counters wireless association comments on proposed changes to ULS
May 3, 2006 8:00 AM, News Technology Update e-newsletter
The Society of Broadcast Engineers told the Federal Communications Commission April 18 that the objections of CTIA–The Wireless Association to an FCC rulemaking proceeding to modify the Universal Licensing System mischaracterize the SBE’s proposal and were filed in a “non-timely manner.”
At the heart of the matter is RM-11308, a commission rulemaking proceeding that grew out of an SBE proposal to allow TV pickup licensees to document the locations and heights of their ENG receive-only sites and remote pickup licensees to document the location and height of their RPU-RO sites.
The CTIA objections don’t state the true nature of the SBE’s petition, the society told the commission. Specifically, the CTIA claims the SBE petition seeks “a prior coordination notice requirement for CMRS operators with respect to ENG-RO sites,” according to the SBE filing.
Additionally, the CTIA claims the SBE petition “asks that CMRS licensees be required to notify ‘BAS licensees’” before building and operating such stations. The comments also say the SBE petition would require CMRS base stations “to delay testing and operation” until after filters are installed on ENG receivers.
The SBE filing asserted that its petition did not ask that CMRS licensees “be required to first notify a TV Pickup licensee” with an ENG-RO site near a CMRS base station. According to the filing, “in the spirit of being a good spectrum neighbor,” if tests revealed a new CMRS base station interfered with an existing ENG-RO site “licensed to an earlier-in-time TV pickup station,” the tests could be halted until the “necessary filters were added.”
The SBE told the commission that nowhere had it suggested steps would be mandatory and that “these entirely reasonable possible mitigation measures” were a suggestion.
For more information, visit www.sbe.org.
Barehand joins FCC as tribal liaison
May 3, 2006 1:01 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
The FCC hired Shana Barehand as Tribal Liaison, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs in the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau.
The Office of Intergovernmental Affairs administers the commission’s Indian Telecommunications Initiatives (ITI), an FCC program designed to increase access to telecommunications services on tribal lands and to promote understanding, cooperation and trust among the FCC and other government agencies, the telecommunications industry, American Indian tribes, Native American Indian tribal organizations and Alaska Native corporations and communities.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
Miller to serve as acting deputy general counsel
May 3, 2006 1:14 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
FCC chairman Kevin Martin has named Eric Miller as acting deputy general counsel.
Miller most recently worked on the appellate staff of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice.
For more information, visit www.fcc.gov.
Dates and events you need to know
May 3, 2006 1:29 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
FCC filing window for LPTV and TV translator digital companion application
Date: May 1 - 12
Applicants must electronically submit a short-form application (FCC Form 175), as well as technical data from FCC Forms 346 or 301-CA, to specify their proposed digital companion channel.
FCC Independent Hurricane Katrina Panel Meeting
Date: 10 a.m., May 12
Location: FCC Commission Meeting Room, Washington D.C.
ATSC Annual Meeting
Date: May 9 – 11
Location: Westfield Marriott in Chantilly, VA, near Dulles International Airport
For more information visit www.atsc.org.
Texas Association of Broadcasters Convention
Date: Aug. 9-11
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown in Austin, TX.
For more information visit www.tab.org.
New DTV Table of Allotments
Date: August 2006
FFC will issue Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for new DTV Table of Allotments.
For more information visit www.fcc.gov.
SBE 22 Broadcast & Technology Expo/National Meeting
Date: Sept. 26 - 27
Location: Event Center at Turning Stone Casio in Verona, NY.
This year’s national meeting will be held in conjunction with the SBE 22 Broadcast & Technology Expo.
For more information visit www.sbe.org.
RF Products & Reviews
Hearst-Argyle turns to Harmonic for multicast solution
May 3, 2006 1:40 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Hearst-Argyle Television is upgrading stations in its group with Harmonic's compression and service management systems. The systems will be used to upgrade stations for multicasting.
The system uses DiviCom standard and high definition encoders, and the DiviTrack statistical multiplexing solution, which maximizes the channel density while providing a broadcast-quality picture. NMX Digital Service Manager is being used to monitor service performance and to control and automate critical functions.
ATSC operators, like Hearst-Argyle, are now transitioning to second-generation multichannel and multiservice digital broadcasting. To do so, they must maximize the efficiency and capacity of their infrastructure. Harmonic's solutions allow broadcasters to do more with their allocated spectrum and the programming they produce. In addition to multicasting, Hearst-Argyle can increase revenue opportunities through advertising and other paid programming formats, as well as explore new business models, such as delivering video content to PCs and other devices.
For more information, visit www.harmonic.com.
Axcera rolls out next generation ATSC exciter-modulator
May 3, 2006 1:47 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Axcera introduced its new Axciter, a feature-rich digital ATSC exciter-modulator, at NAB2006.
The Axciter is the company's second-generation, fully adaptive digital television exciter-modulator system and the successor to its DT2B fully adaptive exciter.
The new Axciter offers 100 percent digital signal processing technology, allowing it to evolve as broadcast requirements change. The Axciter is designed for simple field upgrades to new operating modes, such as DTx slave, EVSB, Watermark or even other yet to be adopted ATSC enhancements, by inserting a USB flash drive into one of the three available USB ports and executing the upgrade through the front panel GUI. This ensures operability and optimal performance well into the future.
All Axciters include Axcera adaptive correction technology, AXACT, the newest version of Axcera's continuously adaptive linear and nonlinear pre-correction technology, as well as DTVision integrated DTV signal analysis, which samples the transmitter output and measures critical transmitter performance parameters.
For more information, visit www.axcera.com.
Rohde & Schwarz, Samsung demonstrate Advanced-VSB
May 3, 2006 1:53 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Rohde & Schwarz partnered with Samsung at NAB2006 to conduct the first public demonstrations of the emerging ATSC technology.
Advanced-VSB (A-VSB) was submitted by the proponents to the ATSC in 2005, is approved and is currently in the standardization process for consideration as an amendment to A/53.
A-VSB is focused at bringing extensibility tools to the 8-VSB physical layer to allow broadcasters new and more reliable terrestrial DTV services in the future, including Supplemental Reference Sequences (SRS) to address the problem of reliable ATSC dynamic reception.
The demonstration focused on a system with adequate equalizer training signals coupled with the latest algorithmic advances in receiver design principles to achieve new levels of performance in dynamic environments.
For more information, visit www.samsung.com and www.rohde-schwarz.com.
Harris introduces DVB-H transmitter for 1670MHz mobile TV services
May 3, 2006 1:57 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
At NAB2006, Harris has introduced Cool Play 1670, a new television transmitter platform designed for 1670MHz Digital Video Broadcasting Handheld (DVB-H) applications, including the Modeo mobile TV service planned for the United States.
The Cool Play 1670 is the first Harris mobile TV platform developed for harsh operating environments. Capable to operating at temperatures from -40 degrees to 113 degrees, it is equipped for outdoor installation without specialized cooling equipment. Specialized printed circuit board coatings and air-handling systems ensure that the electronics within Cool Play 1670 transmitters receive sufficient ventilation and cooling without corrosive effects from humidity or impurities in the air.
All the elements required for a local DVB-H transmitter, including satellite receiver, TV exciter, amplification, wireless or wired Ethernet modems and uninterruptible power supplies are contained within the climate-controlled Cool Play 1670 cabinet.
The Cool Play 1670 transmitter is designed for easy deployment on rooftops and other difficult environments, and offers various redundancy options to ensure that the mobile TV service operates continuously.
For more information, visit www.broadcast.harris.com.
Tektronix introduces RTX130A integrated MPEG, RF signal generator
May 3, 2006 2:03 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Tektronix has rolled out the RTX130A, an integrated MPEG and RF signal generator offering both unmodulated and RF modulated playout of MPEG transport streams, supporting both cable (QAM A, B & C) and terrestrial (ATSC) standards.
Designed to act as a compact, portable test source for product development and manufacturing test, the RTX130A addresses the need for a high performance repeatable test streams source at the RF, IF and unmodulated transport stream interfaces, enabling faster and higher quality product development.
RTX130A users can playout a modulated or unmodulated repeatable test stream stored on the unit’s hard disk drive, which can be continuously looped with PCR jitter inserted to stress the device under test.
The RTX130A supports ITU-T J.83 QAM modulation standards Annex A (DVB-C), B and C and the ATSC 8-VSB modulation standard. Customers can purchase the modulation options they need today and add further modulation options later.
For more information, visit www.tektronix.com.
Sennheiser unveils A5000 CP passive antenna
May 3, 2006 2:09 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
Sennheiser has introduced the A5000 CP passive antenna, which transmits and receives RF signals throughout the UHF spectrum.
The wideband design (450-960MHz) of the A5000 CP allows it to accommodate antenna distribution systems for either wireless monitors or wireless microphones across multiple frequency ranges.
Actual installations have demonstrated that the circular polarization minimizes variations in signal strength and almost completely eliminates multipath problems.
For more information, visit www.sennheiserusa.com.
WHYY opens VOD market for PBS stations
May 3, 2006 2:17 AM, RF Update e-newsletter
WHYY in Philadelphia is using the SeaChange International QuickSilver Agility VOD workstation to create a new model for public broadcasters.
The station is using the workstation to optimize the production and distribution of its programs for on-demand distribution.
In addition to quadrupling the volume of local and national programs available for on-demand television services, WHYY will also act as a service bureau for other PBS stations, helping them encode their local and national productions for on-demand distribution.
WHYY's efforts in on-demand distribution required developing a new set of production skills to repurpose programs developed for traditional broadcast. Inserting new bumpers and breaks through nonlinear editing, as well as adding metadata and encoding made completing packages a job that took several weeks.
However, using the QuickSilver Agility VOD Workstation, developed in conjunction with Anystream, automatically produces standards-based CableLabs-compliant on-demand content without requiring additional nonlinear editing. The system automatically ingests files from storage or editing workstations, inserts metadata, branding messages, promos and underwriting credits and then processes it into CableLabs-compliant packages. Finished content can be sent over fiber optic links to PBS' on-demand partners for immediate access via on-demand subscriber navigation.
For more information, visit www.anystream.com and www.schange.com.
