Reliable and Repeatable Power Measurements in DVB-T Systems

The rapid growth of digital video broadcasting by terrestrial transmission (DVB-T) has created the need for getting new measurement methods as well as getting new test equipment up and capable of providing reliable and repeatable results. Some problems are, in fact, experienced in power measurements conducted through currently available instruments, especially in those involving the integration of input signal power spectrum over a certain frequency interval. Trying to give an answer to the measurement needs, a digital signal-processing method, already proposed in literature and specialized for power measurements in spread spectrum systems, is here optimized to be operative also on DVB-T signals. Suitable stages, in simulation and emulation environment, are designed and applied in order to optimally regulate major parameters of the method, thus making it assure negligible bias and high repeatability in most operative conditions. The results of a number of experiments on actual DVB-T signals give also evidence of the method's efficacy with respect to competitive measurement solutions