On the Use of Antenna Diversity Measurements for Mobile DVB-T Performance Assessment

A novel measurement method based on antenna diversity principle is proposed for mobile digital video broadcasting-terrestrial (DVB-T) performance assessment. The method relies on an integrated measurement station and follows a measurement procedure that allows the direct comparison of A/V video signal quality and the respective electric field levels on a geo-referenced basis. The results of a wide measurement campaign performed in the urban area of Bolzano not only allow the validation of the method but also outline the necessity to enhance the practical application of the common link budget model, which predicts the minimum median field strength in a target area, as a function of the specific combining technique used at the receiver side.