[opendtv] Italian mobile TV provider has signals covered

This is a more optimistic look at mobile TV than her previous two
articles, by Yunko Yoshida.

Craig Birkmaier wrote:

> In Europe, it is quite feasible to segment the available
> spectrum for different applications using a SINGLE
> standard - you simply tune the modulation characteristics
> for the desired application. The situation in Japan is
> similar.

This is only a difference on paper.

Not to say I'm giving up on mobile ATSC at all, mind you. Just pointing
out that as long as mobile has to be provided with a separate signal
from DTT, made especially for receivers that are power-strapped, the
difference between US and European spectrum allocations is immaterial to
consumers. And, in practice, in Europe, also immaterial to broadcasters.
They are not sending DVB-H over the same RF channels as DVB-T. And in
some cases, they aren't using DVB-H anyhow, they are using DMB-T. So
"same standard" doesn't amount to much at all.

The interesting challenge is to make the DTT signal compatible with
portable devices. Creating separate streams for portable devices is, to
me, rather ho-hum.

Bert

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Italian mobile TV provider has signals covered

Junko Yoshida
(06/28/2006 1:48 PM EDT)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=3D189602385

PARIS - As the World Cup soccer tournament builds toward its climax,
technology companies involved in the ballyhooed launch of mobile TV
launch are scrambling behind the scenes to gather data on "real-world"
broadcast reception.

The tournament has provided backers with fodder to tout the birth of
mobile TV. Texas Instruments, for example, is heralding a Fourth of July
press event in Munich, Germany, involving a "big" but unidentified
mobile TV customer to be held in conjunction with a World Cup semifinal
match.

Other chip and handset vendors are meanwhile seeking concrete data on
mobile TV trials. Some companies have signed up independent consultants
to collect data on an Italian DVB-H-based mobile TV broadcast during the
World Cup.

While most data have yet to be disclosed, three executives of the French
multimedia chip maker DiBcom-Marco Landi, chairman; Khaled Maalej, CTO;
and Yannick Levy, CEO-provided EE Times with personal reports on mobile
TV broadcasts during their recent visit to Rome.

The DiBcom executives used LG U900 and Samsung P910 handsets to receive
soccer broadcasts. Both are designed to receive DVB-H-based mobile TV
broadcasts. LG's handset incorporates Microtune's DVB-H tuner while
Samsung's uses a Freescale tuner. Both handsets use DiBcom's DVB-H
demodulation chip.

The handsets were able to receive eight channels currently being
broadcast by 3 Italia, a subsidiary of Hutchison Whampoa. 3 Italia has
built its own DVB-H broadcast network, separate from an existing 3G
cellular network.

Unlike the poor signal coverage broadcast earlier this month in Berlin
by T-System during DVB-H trials, 3 Italia demonstrated more than
adequate commercial coverage, according to the DiBcom executives.

They reported "excellent signal reception, with no loss of signal"
around Rome, including from Ciampino Airport about 15 km southeast of
Rome and Fiumicino Airport, about 25 km west of the capital.

Within Rome, however, they found no signal in 20 percent of the city.
The cause was a faulty transmitter.

According to Landi, excellent coverage was also observed around Milan,
from Milan south to Genoa (about 60 km) and from Milan east to the
Linate airport (20 km). Landi noted that the signal was never lost while
in his car, even while driving up to 100 miles per hour.

Initialization time was about 15 seconds and it took an "acceptable" six
seconds to change channels. "We recognize it should be improved for next
generations," the executives said.

Meanwhile, a consultant hired by Microtune reported an initialization
time of about 20 seconds and 40 seconds to receive a "no service"
notification.

The DiBcom execs gave a thumbs-up to mobile TV picture and resolution.
"You can also see the ball in a football stadium with half the stadium
displayed on the screen," they reported. Indoor coverage was mostly
deemed adequate and sometimes better.

Battery life ramains a concern for both mobile TV users and chip
vendors. The DiBcom executives said they watched TV on their handsets
for three hours without recharging.

While three-hour usage may seem reasonable, varying network conditions
could easily change the math. The DVB-H standard uses a time-slicing
method to enable low power consumption. Under the spec., data is
received only 1/10th of the time so that power consumption should be in
the range of 1/10th of the continuous mode power consumption (e.g., 50
mW instead of 500 mW).

If mobile performance is poor, however, then locking time increases.
This increases power consumption dramatically. For multiple services,
power consumption will be even greater, according to DiBcom.

All material on this site Copyright 2006 CMP Media LLC. All rights
reserved.
 
 
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