Harris supplies technology to Washington, D.C., area broadcasters for mobile DTV consumer showcase
Jan 8, 2010 2:40 PM
Local broadcasters can retrofit their transmitters with a Harris Apex M2X exciter to transmit ATSC Mobile DTV signals.
Harris is providing its portfolio of mobile DTV broadcast equipment, based on the ATSC A153 standard, to six local digital TV stations in the Washington, D.C., market, in support of the Mobile DTV Consumer Showcase sponsored by the Open Mobile Video Coalition (OMVC) that begins this month.
The Consumer Showcase in Washington will be the first time that everyday consumers can see the types of mobile TV applications being touted by the OMVC. It will include the reception of up to 20 different programs (such as local news, weather and entertainment) on handheld phones, netbook computers, mobile digital television sets and other portable devices.
The Harris MPH (Mobile Pedestrian Handheld) platform integrates into most DTV transmitters (those from Harris and others). It includes everything that broadcasters need to launch and support one or more ATSC Mobile DTV program streams, including the Harris NetVX video networking platform, Synchrony mobile networking adapter and Apex M2X exciter. The complete solution could also feature signal generation and electronic service guide (ESG) components from Roundbox.
Harris has so far supplied its MPH platform for ATSC Mobile DTV in Washington, D.C., to: WUSA-DT, the CBS affiliate; WDCA-DT, the local Fox station; WPXW-DT, an ION owned-and-operated station; WHUT-DT, a PBS member station broadcasting from Howard University; as well as WNVC-DT, an independent station owned by MHz Networks.
A sixth station, TeleFutura affiliate WFDC-TV (owned by Univision Television Group), will go on the air with Harris MPH equipment following the CES show.
Broadcasters using the MPH platform can launch ATSC Mobile DTV programming for an investment of about $100,000.
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