The DVB terrestrial (DVB-T) specification and its implementation in a practical modem

Key features of the DVB-T specification for digital terrestrial television, jointly agreed in 1996 by broadcasters and manufacturers, are described. The DVB-T builds on the work of several European collaborative projects and uses COFDM to counter the peculiarities of the terrestrial channel. Some issues affecting the receiver cost and feasibility are explained, including details of the effects of local-oscillator phase noise. An experimental modem, built by BBC R&D and used to make the first-ever successful demonstration of DVB-T-compliant transmissions, is outlined.