[opendtv] Re: U.S. mobile TV spec in the works

[Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxx>]

At 5:03 PM -0400 4/9/07, Manfredi, Albert E wrote:
> I'm assuming the new spec in the works *is* A-VSB, although the piece
> does not say so explicitly. One could read the piece to say that Samsung
> is proposing something else also be added to the ATSC standard.
A-VSB is "one" of the proposals. Harris also has an in-band proposal 
as well. I am including a story about the Harris proposal from 
Broadcast Engineerings's Beyond the Headlines e-newsletter in this 
message.
> The last sentence is interesting. Maybe Mr. Leopold has his doubts about
> this handheld stuff.
There may be several reasons for the slow start in Europe. IMHO the 
most significant is their attempt to re-invent the wheel, when the 
original DVB-T specs worked very well. The main advantage of DVB-H 
was the ability to time slice in the receiver to reduce power 
consumption. I suspect that this can easily be done with any of the 
DVB-T constellations.
The OTHER major reason that there may be an issue, both in Europe and 
here in the U.S., is that regulators have encouraged the telcos to 
get into this business.  There will be a day of reckoning in the near 
future when broadcasters push to use their spectrum to compete with 
subscription services that are operating in spectrum that has been 
obtained at auction. The ATSC and U.S. broadcasters may find that the 
FCC and COngress are not very excited about broadcasters getting into 
the mobile business, as this could have an impact on the revenues 
that can be obtained in the upcoming 700Mhz auctions.
Regards
Craig



http://broadcastengineering.com/RF/harris-designs-mobile-tv-0409/?r=1

Harris designs mobile TV system

MPH allows stations to use their existing DTV channel and the 
mandated ATSC 8-VSB modulation scheme to send video to portable 
receivers.
Apr 9, 2007 8:00 AM

Harris is working with LG Electronics and some independent broadcast 
groups, including Sinclair Broadcast Group, to encourage the 
deployment of an in-band mobile DTV system.
If successfully deployed, stations will be able to monetize their 
localized content (news, weather and sports) to subscribers in their 
own markets. Other mobile TV services thus far have focused on 
network programming and other content that appeals to a national 
audience. Stations would also replicate their main DTV channel. Cell 
phones, laptop and handheld computers, DVD players and in-car 
entertainment systems would receive these local signals.
The idea for new mobile DTV system, called Mobile-Pedestrian-Handheld 
(MPH), is that stations will use their existing DTV channel and the 
mandated ATSC 8-VSB modulation scheme. The MPH system is being 
pitched to stations as a multiple-stream approach, with the main 
service stream being sent for existing DTV and HDTV services, and the 
MPH stream used for one or more mobile services.
MPH will be demonstrated at the NAB convention, using signals of a 
looping video from a server transmitted by the local CW affiliate, 
KVCW-DT to a van that will travel around Las Vegas. The technology 
will also be featured inside the Las Vegas Convention Center at the 
Harris booth #N2502 and in the ATSC "Hot Spot" in the South Hall, 
upper lobby. LG Electronics, Zenith and Harris will also disclose 
field test results.
LG Electronics and its U.S. research subsidiary, Zenith Electronics, 
have joined forces with Harris on the development of new in-band 
mobile technology. The MPH stream uses advanced video and audio 
coding for robustness and efficiency and is backward compatible with 
the existing ATSC 8-VSB transmission and receiving equipment.
Harris will manufacture the necessary circuit boards that go inside 
existing transmitters already deployed, while LG Electronics will 
make the required reception chips that will go into portable 
receivers, which consumers will use to receive a signal at high speed 
with a single antenna. The next-generation portable devices with the 
LG MPH chips will not be ready for market until 2008.
With the MPH system, broadcasters do not need to involve outside 
service providers or spectrum-pooling arrangements.
DVB-H and MediaFLO are similar yet different mobile TV technologies 
that use an IP packet -based design that is directed to cell phones, 
while MPH will be transmitted to a wider variety of portable devices, 
according to Harris. Harris supports both competing standards in its 
transmitters as well.
For more information, visit www.harris.com, www.lgusa.com and www.zenith.com.


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• References:
  • [opendtv] U.S. mobile TV spec in the works
    • From: Manfredi, Albert E

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