Terrestrial DVB (DVB-T): A Broadcast Technology for Stationary Portable and Mobile Use

Digital video broadcasting-terrestrial (DVB-T) is the name of the terrestrial transmission system which was developed by the DVB Project. DVB-T is in operation in many countries around the world. This paper analyzes the features of the system. It describes its capabilities with a special emphasis on mobile reception and looks at the introduction of DVB-T in Germany using the launch of DVB-T in this country as a case study. In order to analyze how an MPEG transport stream at the input of a DVB-T modulator is turned into a DVB-T signal, we consider the channel coding and modulation used. Then we look at various aspects of the system performance. The next section deals with mobile reception. Network planning issues, antenna diversity concepts for mobile receivers, and handover procedures will be considered. Finally, the introduction of DVB-T in Germany is presented as a case study. In contrast to various other countries Germany decided to offer DVB-T as a means of providing the "anywhere TV" experience. This implies that DVB-T signals can be received with mobile and portable receivers. In regions with DVB-T coverage analogue terrestrial TV services were discontinued just a few months after the launch of DVB-T.