I guess some of you guys saw this Doug Lung column: http://www.tvtechnology.com/pages/s.0001/t.456.html but didn't catch this interesting tid-bit. It is interesting to see two similar design approaches, one being the new Chinese OFDM-based system with advanced FEC and the other being A-VSB in the STS mode. For all the skeptics, take a look at the most robust modes and how they compare: CDMB-T in 8 MHz channel, 4-QAM (most robust), 4K mode, LDPC FEC: ~5 Mb/s and 1.9 dB C/N margin. A-VSB in 6 MHz, 1/4 rate STS mode (also most robust), turbo code: 4.5 Mb/s and 1.7 dB C/N margin. To compare capacity fairly, 5 * 6/8 = 3.75, which shows somewhat lower spectral efficiency for the CDMB-T system, although that 5 Mb/s figure was approximate. Also to be fair, no mention of whether the Chinese system was using a diversity antenna. But then again, the diversity antenna is more essential and beneficial in a single carrier scheme. I'd say, not bad for an afterthought to 8-VSB, eh? Another point about OCRs is a strange paradox that this column also mentions. Which is, the newer receivers are the most compatible with OCR nets, however they are also the ones that benefit from OCRs least. In the sense that they *already* make use of echo energy created by the single transmitter, without needing an OCR to sort of shape that energy better. Bert ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You can UNSUBSCRIBE from the OpenDTV list in two ways: - Using the UNSUBSCRIBE command in your user configuration settings at FreeLists.org - By sending a message to: opendtv-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word unsubscribe in the subject line.