About Mobile DTV ATSC M/H Standard IDOV Technical Trials
IDOV Technical Trials
As an important component of the standards process, the OMVC and its partners sponsored an Independent Demonstration of Viability (IDOV) trial in two diverse geographical locations in early 2008. The ATSC is pursuing the development of a backward compatible mobile and handheld standard (ATSC M/H) for television broadcasters in the United States. The three technologies under consideration are: The MPH (Mobile-Pedestrian-Handheld) system jointly developed by LG Electronics and Harris Corporation; the A-VSB system jointly developed by Samsung Electronics, Co. Ltd. and Rohde & Schwarz; and a third system jointly developed by Thomson and Micronas (T/M).
Field trials were conducted during March and April of 2008 in the Las Vegas and San Francisco Bay areas. The OMVC measurement program was funded and managed by the Association for Maximum Television (MSTV). Participating broadcast companies volunteered the use of their broadcasting transmitting facilities for these trials, and the mobile field measurements were conducted by the firm of Meintel, Sgrignoli, & Wallace (MSW). More than 90 hours and 700 miles of mobile data were collected in the San Francisco Bay area and approximately 50 hours and 300 miles of data were collected in the Las Vegas area.
For the San Francisco Bay area trials, three DTV stations (one high VHF and two UHFs) were selected. KNTV-DT, channel 12 and KKPX-DT channel 41, are located at Mount San Bruno, south of San Francisco, and KICU-DT channel 52 is located at Monument Peak, north west of San Jose. Mobile and pedestrian tests were performed over a period of 15 days. Simultaneous measurements were made of all three channels using a combination of vehicle-attached antennas (high-VHF and UHF mounted on the roof of a van), high-VHF and UHF in-vehicle handheld antennas (located inside the van), and high-VHF channel 12 using a vehicle-attached UHF antenna. Measurement included city and highway driving in Berkeley, Daly City/Broadmoor, Oakland, San Carlos/Redwood City, San Francisco, Sunnyvale, Union City, and West San Francisco.
In the Las Vegas trials, three DTV stations (one High VHF and two UHF) were also selected. KTNV-DT channel 12 is located at Black Mountain in Las Vegas, and KVMY-DT Channel 22 and KVCW channel 29 are located four miles east of KTNV. Mobile and pedestrian measurements were collected over a 10 day period, and measurements were made in the Las Vegas downtown area, the Strip, north of Las Vegas, Henderson and South Green Valley.
The results of these field trials demonstrate the relative viability of the current proposed systems for a mobile/handheld DTV broadcast standard and will help lead to broad industry consensus on a preferred approach.
Test Measurement Vehicle
