IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON BROADCASTING, VOL. 45, NO. 4, DECEMBER 1999 365

DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSMISSION PARAMETERS -- ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

Carl Eilers, Consultant Gary Sgrignoli, Staff Consulting Engineer

Zenith Electronics Corporation 1000 Milwaukee Avenue Glenview, Illinois 60025

ABSTRACT Terrestrial digital (DTV) broadcasting is now underway in the major markets in the United States after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in several Reports and Orders set the standard on December 24, 1996, and subsequently released rules of operation and broadcaster channel allocations. Broadcasters are concerned with many in-band and out-of band transmission parameters, including data signal quality, clock tolerance, radiated power tolerance, carrier phase noise, adjacent channel emissions, and precision frequenq offset requirements. The FCC permits DTV power-level changes and/or transmitting antenna location and height and beam tilt in the context of de minimis interference levels. The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) has provided guidelines for broadcasters in the form of suggested compliance specifications, which will be covered in this paper.

1. INTRODUCTION

On December 24, 1996, the FCC adopted the Advanced Television System Committee (ATSC) system (minus video formats) as the new digital television standard for the United States (Kef 1). Shortly thereafter, on April 3, 1997, the FCC issued its rules for digital operation as well as its first set of channel allocations, loaning each U.S. broadcaster a second 6 MHz channel for digital television transmission (Ref 2, 3). Subsequently, a revised set of allocations was issued in March 1998 with additional rules and changed rules, including a new transmission emission mask and potential increased transmission power provided new de minimis interference criteria are met (Kef 4). Reference to the digital terrestrial standard appears in the FCC rules and regulations (Kef 5). U.S. broadcasters, as part of the DTV build-out schedule, are now implementing terrestrial DTV, which consists of standard definition and high definition video signals, 5.1 (5 full bandwidth, 1 subwoofer) channel compact-disc quality audio, and the capability of a plethora of ancillary data services.

The ATSC transmission system employed is digital Vestigial Side Band (VSB), and includes two modes: trellis- coded 8T-VSB for terrestrial use, and a high data rate 16- VSB cable mode. The ATSC system is described in Kef 6, 7, and 8. Implementation has begun and broadcasters are seeking guidelines on transmission parameters. The ATSC committee has published a suggested compliance document

(Kef 9) for broadcasters that describes performance parameters for the DTV transmission subsystem. The two modes in the ATSC standard (8T and 16-VSB) are part of a family of five VSB transmission modes (2, 4, 8, 16, and 8T- VSB) in the international ITU-T J.83 standard (Kef 10)

This paper will examine in-band and out-of-band transmission characteristics as well as potential transmission parameter changes allowed a broadcaster by the FCC, provided certain conditions are met.

The in-band signal characteristics are examined in regard to departure from 100% data eye opening (error vector magnitude) of the data symbols as affected by: circuit or “white” noise, phase noise, intermodulation noise caused by non-linearity, and intersymbol interference caused by linear distortions (phase and magnitude). The effect on DTV threshold and coverage by degraded eye openings is quantified and expressed in terms of error vector magnitude (EVM) and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Additional DTV parameters not currently regulated by the FCC are identified: in-band signal quality, symbol rate tolerance, carrier phase noise, power level tolerance, peak-to-average power ratio, and co-channelladjacent channel frequency offsets.

The new FCC emission mask is examined with an NTSC subjective weighting function for DTV interference into first adjacent analog channels. The new mask is also examined regarding interference into first adjacent DTV channels. The effects of beam tilt, elevation pattern, antenna height and location, power levels, and azimuth pattern scalloping will be analyzed.

Finally, methods of cable carriage of terrestrial DTV broadcast signals will be discussed.

2. TERRESTRIAL IN-BAND DTV SIGNAL CHARACTERISTICS

In-band signal characteristics define the qualir) of the DTV signal as generated at a television transmitter and fed to the transmission line and antenna for broadcast to the DTV receiver. See Reference 6 for system block diagrams of the ATSC VSB transmitter and receiver. Various parameters determine the signal quality, as described below.

Publisher Item Identifier S 0018-9316(99)10441-4 0018-9316/99$10.00 0 1999 IEEE

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2.1. VSB Signal Description

2.1.1. Spectral Shape The ATSC transmission system is digital VSB, which transmits a data-modulated signal with most of the lower R F sideband removed. The quality of the received DTV signal is mainly determined by the “eye” opening of the data waveform which is affected principally by the upper band edge of the RF channel. The roll-off of the upper band edge of the cascaded transmitter and receiver filters should have Nyquist skew symmetry (anti-symmetric or odd) at the Nyquist frequency of 5.381119 MHz (one-half the data symbol rate of 10.762238 MHz), and is mathematically described as a raised cosine. The digital VSB transmitter and receiver each share this Nyquist filtering process equally, meaning the transmitter and receiver each have a (square) root-raised cosine roll-off region. (Transmitter as used in this paper includes modulator/exciter, filters, and band-pass amplifiers). The roll-off at the lower band edge of the cascaded transmitter and receiver also has skew symmetry around the pilot frequency, which is placed 0.309 MHz above the lower edge of the 6 MHz channel. Any departure from skew symmetry on the lower band edge is less important than on the upper band edge, and affects long strings of identical data pulses.

Excess bandwidth is defined as the additional bandwidth required for data transmission beyond the “ideal” minimal Nyquist bandwidth. For the ATSC system in the U.S. where 6 MHz channels are employed, 0.619 MHz of excess bandwidth is used beyond the 5.381 MHz Nyquist bandwidth, i.e. (6.000 - 5.381 MHz).

The idealized transmitter RF channel spectral response is shown in Figure 1, where the roll-off regions are

1 .o

Amplitude (Voltage Ratio)

mathematically characterized by a (square) root-raised cosine. Since the RF carrier is modulated by a randomized data signal, the RF signal appears noise-like in nature, thus having a flat spectrum over most of the 6 MHz channel. The only exception is the small, in-phase CW pilot. Note that the 3-dB bandwidth of the transmitted signal is 5.381 119 MHz (Nyquist bandwidth), and can be thought of as its equivalent noise bandwidth (NBW).

Together, the cascaded transmitter and receiver filters have a flat magnitude response with raised-cosine roll-off regions. Since the transmitted signal is not double sideband, the demodulated VSB signal will have an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature-phase (Q) component, as shown in Figure 2. As a result of using steep, raised-cosine (cascaded) filters, the I-channel impulse response rings for about 40 symbols before and after the main impulse, and travels through zero at previous and subsequent symbol times. It is this system property that allows severe impulse response ringing (due to highly efficient, but steep transition regions) without causing intersymbol interference (ISI), i.e. one symbol ringing into (interfering with) another. This allows open data eye patterns on the I-channel (see next section). Also note that the Q-channel response is anti- symmetrical around zero time, has no DC component, and travels through zero only every other symbol time. This means that there are no open data eyes on the Q-channel data signal as on the I-channel signal. However, the function of the Q-channel can be thought of as canceling the appropriate sideband (hence, VSB modulation) while the I- channel carries the data information.

2.1.2. Data Pulse Shape

Transmitter’s Output Spectrum t/ & Z ? r / Fsyrnbol

2 = 5.381,119 MHz

(Fsvrnbol/2) (1-a/2) = 5.071,678 MHz

= 309.441 kHZ Fsyrnbola -- - 618.881 kHz 2

l ‘ I I I I

6.000000 MHz -4 Frequency

CC = [6.000 MHz / (Fsymbol/2)] - 1 = 0.1150097

Figure 1 Idealized DTV transmitter spectral channel response with root-raised cosine roll-off regions

367

TS = 1/(2Fs)

2.1.3. Data Eye Pattern Analysis While frequency domain parameters such as magnitude, phase, and group delay ripple are sometimes used to describe signal and circuit quality, data signals are best described and quantified in the time domain. For example, echoes on the transmission line feeding the DTV broadcast antenna cause one particular form of ISI. The height of the antenna (length of transmission line) determines the echo delay time while the transmission line mismatch to the antenna determines the magnitude of the echo. This situation causes a magnitude and phase ripple across the DTV channel, the value of which determines the eye closure. However, these frequency domain parameters do not uniquely describe the complete effects on a digitally modulated signal. In this example for instance, group delay (derivative of phase versus. frequency) would have a larger peak-to-peak value if the transmission line were longer, even though the magnitude mismatch was the same. In other words, group delay is not informative relative to data eye closure effects. Further details can be found in Reference 11.

After VSB demodulation, the I-channel component is the desired data pulse, and when displayed repetitively at the symbol rate will produce the data “eye” pattern shown in Figure 3. This perfect eye pattern, when distorted by linear or non-linear effects, has less than 100% eye openings. There are several causes of data eye closure. One is inter- symbol interference, which can be caused by linear or non- linear effects. Another form of interference is intermodulation distortion caused by non-linearities, primarily in the transmitter’s high power amplifier (HPA). An additional form of interference that causes eye closure is circuit or white noise encountered in conductors due to thermal effects, or shot noise in electron beam devices, or combinations of these two in semiconductors. A multiplicative type of noise interference is phase noise arising during frequency conversion. Lastly, direct signal interference encountered in the propagation path causes eye

Time I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I

Figure 2 I and Q system impulse response.

closure and could be from any source, including an NTSC or another DTV channel, having components within the desired DTV channel or strong levels on another channel causing tuner overload. Various methods exist to describe and quantify this “eye closure” by measuring the deviations from an ideal signal over a period of time. Two of these methods are described in the next section.

Figure 3 8T-VSB I-channel data symbol eye pattern (2 symbol intervals shown)

2.2. In-band EVM or SNR (MER)

All of the previous interference sources or signal distorters can be quantified as to their effect on the signal state by a scalar quantity called error vector magnitude (EVM). EVM is defined as the magnitude of the complex vector that connects the ideal VQ signal phasor to the measured (received) signal phasor, and is computed as follows:

EVM = S Q R T ( I ~ ~ ; + ~ ~ ~ 2 )

where IERR is the I-channel error at each symbol time and QERR is the Q-channel error at each symbol time. Note that EVM is computed only at the symbol times, i.e. the instant in time when symbols are sampled and detected, and does not include the points between the symbols. EVM is often expressed as a ratio, in percent, of the total RMS error normalized to the outer most data level (state) of the ideal

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constellation, and is just one figure of merit for the signal quality.

EVM can be readily seen in the VSB VQ constellation diagram shown in Figure 4. A constellation diagram is a vector diagram showing the I-channel versus Q-channel channel signal only at symbol clock times, i.e. ignoring the transition times between symbols. Constellation diagrams help identify such things as amplitude imbalance, quadrature error, or phase noise. Any departure from the intended signal state along the in-phase (I) axis and the quadrature-phase (Q) axis is an error, and creates distorted vertical lines. Ideally, the eight data states create thin vertical lines in the constellation diagram. All of the interference types mentioned above, except for phase noise, disturb the signal state uniformly, along both I and Q axes, and may be quantified as a vector error magnitude.

Q I

I I

Figure 4 VSB VQ constellation diagram (vector diagram at symbol times)

Another figure of merit parameter for the data signal quality, and perhaps more applicable for broadcast engineers, is signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), sometimes described as modulation error ratio (MER). SNR is the ratio of the signal power to “noise” power, where the noise includes any unintended noise source that causes the received symbol to deviate from its ideal state position, such as linear or non-linear ISI, white Gaussian noise, phase noise, or RF signal interference. More formally, SNR is defined as the ratio, in dB, of average signal power to the total average “noise” (error between ideal and received data levels) power. That is,

SNR = 10 * log [C (si) / C (EJ ’1 = 10 * log [c (Si)* / c (S, - Si)2]

= 10 * log [E (si)2 /E (IERR)’]

where Si are the ideal (undistorted) I-channel symbols, S, are the received (distorted) I-channel symbols, and Ei (and IERR) are the I-channel error values at each symbol time.

The ATSC suggests that the SNR (MER) ratio at the transmitter output be at least 27 dB for minimal effect on DTV reception throughout the broadcaster’s coverage area. This 27-dB value provides a worst case VSB receiver S/N threshold degradation of no more than about 0.3 dB, from 15.0 dB to 15.3 dB. This has the effect of reducing the coverage area approximately 0.3 mile for UHF assignments. This can be calculated by converting the 27-dB transmitter figure of merit value and the 15-dB receiver threshold value to equivalent linear relative powers, adding them together, and converting back to a logarithmic value resulting in 0.28 dB (= 0.3 dB) of increased noise.

However, the 27-dB value is a worst case degradation because the transmitter spectrum must meet the FCC rigid emission mask (see Ref 4), which has adjacent channel sideband splatter of at least -36 dB relative to the spectrum flat top, as shown in Figure 5. The FCC specification is described in terms of the 500 kHz band edge shelf being 47 dB below the total average DTV power (see dot at top of graph in Figure 5), which when corrected for the 6 MHz DTV bandwidth means that the shoulders are about 36 dB below the flat top spectrum. See Sections 3.1 and 3.2 for more details on the FCC emission mask.

Since the band edge shelves can be thought to extend into the DTV passband, the total in-band “non-linear noise” power is approximately 36 dB down from the total in-band signal power. If the transmitter SNR (MER) is 27 dB and, assuming that white noise and phase noise are insignificant, then the bulk of the 27 dB S/N ratio is due to linear distortion. The VSB receiver’s linear equalizer can easily remove this linear distortion, resulting in a threshold degradation of than the worst case 0.3 dB. However, there is still some degradation (about 0.1 dB) involved. To further explain, as each equalizer (tapped delay line) tap gain becomes active in order to remove the correlated transmitter distortion, the non-correlated white noise at the receiver’s tuner input is enhanced by an amount proportional to the square (i.e. energy) of each tap gain. That is, white noise enhancement is:

NEN = 10 * log[C IC?} / {c:}] for all i,

where CO is the main tap gain and Ci is the individual tap gain at each tapped output.

Total Signal Power

(3rd & 5th Order) (3rd & 5th Order)

Level

Figure 5 In-band SNR definition based on VSB signal with adjacent channel emission mask compliance

2.3. Transmitted Power Specifications

2.3.1. Definition NTSC signals are described by their constant peak sync power, which is well defined by their horizontal and vertical synchronizing pulses. NTSC average power, on the other hand, is not constant but rather depends on the video modulation. The peak sync power is defined as the average RF carrier power measured only during its sync region. Peak power is NOT the absolute peak carrier voltage squared and divided by the impedance, sometimes referred to as instantaneous peak power. Only average peak sync power (or peak envelope power) is of importance to NTSC power measurements.

DTV signals are carriers that are modulated by random-like data, and therefore appear as noise-like signals that are best described by their constant average power. The small, in- phase CW pilot is not random, and adds only 0.3 dB to the total power. DTV signal peaks, unlike those of NTSC, are not constant and deterministically defined but rather must be described statistically by a cumulative distribution function (CDF). All DTV signal measurements are average power in a 6 MHz band (in the U.S.). That is, the integral of the in- band root-mean-square (rms) value of the signal voltage is squared and divided by the impedance to obtain total power. An equivalent method is to integrate the square of the spectrum’s magnitude function over the 6 MHz bandwidth. This equivalency is called Parseval’s theorem:

P,,, = AVE [ f v2 (t) dt] = AVE [ S I F(w) 1 dw]

Figure 6 illustrates a typical DTV spectrum with some 3Id and 5‘h order intermodulation distortion causing adjacent channel spillage, as well as examples of three power measurement methods. There are several methods to properly measure the DTV signal. Care must be taken when using full-wave rectifier types of power meters on noise-like digital signals as they read about 1 dB lower than the true average power. They can be calibrated using true average

power methods (e.g. calorimeters). Note that the flat top portion of the spectrum is NOT the total average signal power; rather bandwidth corrections are necessary.

The first method is to use a broadband power meter, as long as there are no other signals present at the time of power measurements (this assumes that the out-of-band spillage has insignificant total power). The greatest accuracy is obtained when a thermal sensing meter is used to measure the true average power.

A second method is to use a spectrum analyzer with a given resolution bandwidth and make a measurement at the center of the DTV spectrum. After converting the analyzer’s resolution bandwidth to its equivalent noise bandwidth (NBW), correcting for this bandwidth (lO*log [5.38 MHz/NBW]), correcting for any logarithmic or envelope detector distortion factors (total of 2.5 dB), and finally adding 0.3 dB more for the small CW pilot, the total average power is obtained. This method assumes that the spectrum is essentially flat (no tilts or ripples), with reasonably accurate root-raised-cosine transition regions. Also, the known spectrum analyzer’s noise bandwidth value used in the calculation should be reasonably accurate.

A third method is similar to the second, except that a spectrum analyzer having a noise marker (in dBm/Hz) is used. This type of instrument performs any envelope detectorAogarithmic amplifier distortion correction as well as bandwidth correction to 1 Hz. All that is left to do is make the final correction to the channel bandwidth (10 * log I5.38 MHz]) and add 0.3 dB for the small CW pilot.

Finally, an instrument that averages the integrated squared- magnitude spectrum over the 6 MHz channel will provide the most accurate average power measurement, especially when the signal has been distorted by filtering or has echoes caused by mismatched filter elements. In this method, no assumptions have to be made about resolution or noise bandwidths, logarithmic and detector circuits, root-raised- cosine transition regions, or pilot power contribution.

Spectrum Analyzer: 1 Hz -97.6 dBm/Hz

C.F.= 0 dB (no correction) NBW =I20 kHz (1.2*RBW) C.F.=2.5 dB (env det/log) C.F.=I 0 Iog(5.38/.12)+2.8 -30 dBm/GMHz -30 dBm/6MHz

NBW=I HZ

C.F.=IO log(5.38 x1O6)+O.3

Vector Analyzer: 6 MHz -30 dBrn/6 MHz

I I I I I I I 1 I I I Figure 6 DTV spectrum for various average power measurement methods

2.3.2. Tolerance The FCC has assigned location, antenna height, and effective radiated power to each DTV station. There is no tolerance on power level in DTV as there is for NTSC analog transmissions (e.g. +110 to -80 %). Variations in DTV power have a direct effect on signal recovery at the fringe of the service area. Because of the so-called digital cliff effect, a reduction of 1.0 dB in transmitted power, for example, will have the same effect as changing the DTV threshold from 15 dB to 16 dB. For typical UHF assignments, this represents, approximately, a one-mile reduction in coverage distance. Accuracy of power measurement is involved as well. The ATSC has suggested a tolerance on effective radiated power o f ? 5%, or k 0.22 dB, and a measurement uncertainty of 5% (Ref 9).

2.4. Peak-to-Average Power Ratio

In digital communication systems such as the ATSC system, the signal is random and noise-like. It has a well-defined average power but a statistically described peak (envelope) power. The instantaneous (envelope) power of the transmitted signal can be treated as a random variable. Therefore, peak power may be described as being below (or above) a particular power level for a certain percentage of the time.

Peak-to-average power ratio measurement is a method that performs histograms by placing modulation envelope samples into bins over a period of time, and then taking the ratio of these bin values to the long-term power average. When this histogram of envelope power samples is integrated, a cumulative distribution function (CDF) is obtained, as shown in Figure 7 for a VSB signal. Also shown for comparison is white noise. Note that the ATSC digital signal does not have as high a peak-to-average power ratio as that of white Gaussian noise.

The typical peak-to-average power ratio is about 6.5 dB for 99.9% of the time, that is, 99.9% of the envelope samples are 6.5 dB or less above the average power. Peak-to-average power ratio provides the broadcaster with an idea of how much overhead the high power amplifier must have in order to avoid excessive clipping of the digitally modulated signal which increases the adjacent channel splatter.

10

1

0.1

0.01 3 5 7 9

PeaWAverage Power Ratio (dB)

Figure 7 Typical DTV peak-to-average power ratio

2.5. Symbol and Transport Clock Frequency Tolerance

The clock symbol rate FsyM is defined as 684 times the NTSC horizontal sweep frequency FH. That is:

FsyM = 684 * F H

FsyM = 684 * [4.5 MHz / 2861 = 10.762238 MHz

The ATSC standard (see Ref 6) requires that the symbol clock frequency and the net transport clock frequency FTP be locked together so that no data packets are lost. That is:

FTp N * (188/208) * (312/313) * FsyM

where N = 2 for 8T-VSB and N = 4 for 16-VSB.

37 I

The (1 88/208) factor takes into account the space needed for Reed-Solomon forward error correction bytes while the (3 12/3 13) factor accounts for the VSB transmission frame sync, neither of which are part of the data transport stream. The parameter N varies with the number of data bits per symbol transmitted in the various VSB modes. In the ITU-T standard (J.83 and J.84), there are 5 VSB modes, as shown in Table 1, with each mode identified in the frame sync’s VSB mode ID bytes. Note that the net data rate differs from the transport clock rate because the net transmission data rate does not take into account the MPEG sync (replaced by the segment sync) whereas the transport clock does.

ATSC suggests that the tolerance for the symbol clock frequency of each VSB mode is f 2.8 ppm, which allows a suitable reference for generation of the NTSC color subcarrier frequency in devices translating the digital signal to NTSC. Since the symbol and transport clock frequencies must be locked to one another, the transport clock frequency must have the same frequency tolerance. This translates to a f 30 Hz tolerance on the symbol clock frequency (in any VSB mode), a k 54 Hz tolerance on the 8T-VSB-transport clock frequency, and a k 108 Hz tolerance on the 16-VSB- transport clock frequency.

2.6. Frequency Offsets

In general, the frequency tolerance of the DTV carrier is expected to be within 1 kHz of nominal. However, there are some special considerations when co-channel or adjacent channels are present.

2.6.1. Upper Adjacent DTV-Into-NTSC The FCC has chosen the DTV channel for each broadcaster as shown in the table of allotments (Ref 3, 4). In cases

where the DTV station operates in a channel above an assigned analog NTSC channel, and where the stations are located closer than 106 km (66 miles), the pilot frequency of the DTV station must be precisely offset from the visual carrier of the analog station by 5.082138 MHz with a tolerance of f 3 Hz. This offset maintains frequency interleaving between the DTV pilot frequency and the NTSC chrominance subcarrier frequency to minimize low frequency color beat visibility that may occur in some TV sets. This causes the pilot beat pattern to alternate at the NTSC line rate, allowing for the human eye to average out the interference. It also maintains additional NTSC 29.94 Hz frame rate interleaving to minimize a high frequency luminance beat. The DTV offset must track any NTSC channel offsets (f10 kHz) that already exist.

The frequency of the upper adjacent interfering DTV pilot is calculated as follows:

Fp~o~( , , l = F VIS(,,.^) + (455/2)*FH + 95.5 * FH - 29.97

Fpao~(,,) = 5.082138 MHz f 3 HZ

where n represents a DTV signal, (n-1) represents an NTSC adjacent channel signal immediately below the DTV signal, (455/2)* FH is the 3.579545 MHz color subcarrier frequency, FH is the 15.734 kHz NTSC horizontal frequency, 29.97 is the NTSC frame rate, and 95.5 is the odd multiple of NTSC half-line rate offset required to minimize the color beat.

With upper adjacent DTV-into-NTSC interference, cooper- ation between the NTSC and DTV stations is required. Figure 8 illustrates this frequency offset in more detail.

Table 1 Symbol and transport clock frequencies for ITU-T VSB modes.

312

6 4 b

F3 F5 r 7

A b

P P

F1

F1 = 6.000000 MHz; F2 =309.44? kHz F3 = 0 kHz F3’ = 1.5*Fseg = +19.403 kHz

(NO offset) (WITH offset)

FOFF = F3’ - F3 = +19.403 kHz

Figure 9 CO-channel DTV-into-DTV frequency

2.6.3. Co-Channel NTSC-Into-DTV Finally, a channel offset between co-channel DTV and NTSC stations, also not in the current FCC rules but suggested by ATSC, places the three narrow band NTSC carriers (visual, chroma, aural) near one of the nulls produced by a 12-symbol NTSC rejection comb filter in the DTV receiver. The choice of this offset frequency not only places the three NTSC carriers near these comb filter nulls but also places the large NTSC video carrier in a null of any DTV clock recovery correlation filter that uses the repetitive segment syncs to extract both segment syncs and symbol clock. This means that the DTV pilot is offset 911.944 kHz from the visual carrier with a tolerance of k 1 kHz. This correlates to a DTV pilot offset of 28.615 kHz from its nominal frequency. In this NTSC-into-DTV case, the DTV carrier should also track any existing NTSC channel offsets (* 10 kHz).

FPILOT(n) = FVIS(m) - 70.5 * FSEG

FpILOT(,,) = 91 1.944 ~ H Z * 1 ~ H Z

where n represents a DTV signal, m represents an NTSC signal on the same channel, FsEC is the 12.9 kHz DTV segment frequency (FsyM/832), and 70.5 is an odd multiple of halfsegment rate that places the NTSC visual carrier in a segment sync correlation filter null and near the NTSC rejection filter null.

Figure 10 illustrates this frequency offset in more detail.

r

F1 I -

FO = 1.250000 M Hz; F1 = 6.000000 MHz F2 -309.441 kHz

F3’ = 70.5* Fseg = 911.944 kHz F3 = FO - F2 = 940.559 kHZ (NO offset)

(WITH offset) FOFF = F3 - F3’ = +28.615 kHZ

Figure 10 CO-channel NTSC-into-DTV frequency offset dianram offset diagram

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2.7. Carrier Phase Noise

Phase noise is added to signals any time there is a multiplication process between the signal and an oscillator. This is commonly performed in the heterodyning process during frequency translation, including modulation and demodulation. The oscillator used to translate the signals may not be absolutely pure and may have some phase noise sidebands. This phase noise is then transferred to the signal.

Carrier phase noise is currently defined indirectly at one frequency point at 20 kHz offset from the main carrier (e.g. the pilot), and the measurement with respect to the carrier level, in dBc/Hz, is normalized to a 1 Hz bandwidth. ATSC suggests a level of pilot carrier phase noise no greater than -104 dBc/Hz ‘3 20 kHz offset from the carrier frequency for the$nal RF output, which includes any phase noise added by the IF and RF heterodyning (mixing) process.

The simplest method of measurement is to measure the spectrum of pilot-only signal (no data modulation, while the transmitter is off-line), at an offset from the carrier frequency of 20 kHz. The difference between the carrier and its sideband energy at 20 kHz offset is corrected for a 1 Hz bandwidth (10*log[NBW/1 Hz] where NBW is the equivalent noise bandwidth of the spectrum analyzer IF filter). Figure 11 illustrates such a phase noise measurement that measures the phase noise sideband surrounding the up- or-down conversion oscillator. Other sophisticated methods are available by which the phase noise is determined from a modulated signal after demodulating the signal, thus allowing the transmitter to stay on the air while this measurement is being performed.

Carrier phase noise has the effect of rotating the constellation about the origin of the constellation diagram. Since phase noise is a multiplicative effect, the outer data states are displaced more during the phase rotation than the inner states, resulting in burst-like errors. This is illustrated in Figure 12 (compare with Figure 4).

I

20 kHz

Figure 11 Single frequency point (20 kHz offset) phase noise measurement.

Figure 12

2.8. Synchronization Signals

VSB VQ constellation with phase noise rotation.

It can be expected that in broadcast operations there may be temporary disruption of the MPEG transport packets to the VSB modulator, resulting in incorrectly timed sync and clock signals. In such cases, the consumer’s receiver will go out of lock, thereby prolonging the disruption of service. Rather, the transmitted RF VSB stream should retain continuity throughout the time of loss of MPEG packets. VSB segment and field syncs should be transmitted at all times, remaining within the 2.8-ppm frequency tolerance without significant phase discontinuity. During the disruption, it is suggested that MPEG null packets be transmitted in a normal VSB-modulated fashion.

3. TERRESTRIAL OUT-OF-BAND PARAMETERS

3.1. Rigid DTV Emission Mask

A new DTV emission mask was described in the FCC “Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration of the 6Ih Report and Order,” released February 23, 1998. The purpose of this rigid emission mask is to protect adjacent channel NTSC and DTV signals in affected areas. It replaced the original emission mask from the 61h Report and Order, improving adjacent channel interference for the current channel allocations in the U.S.

The order requires that:

In the first 500 kHz from the authorized channel edge, transmitter emissions must be attenuated no less than 47 dB below the average transmitted power;

More than 6 MHz from the channel edge, emissions must be attenuated no less than 110 dB below the average transmitted power; and

At any frequency between 0.5 and 6 MHz from the channel edge, emissions must be attenuated no less than the value determined by the following formula:

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Attenuation in dB = 11.5(Af+3.6) where Af= frequency diflerence in MHz from the edge of the channel. All attenuation limits are based on a measurement bandwidth of 500 kHz. Other measurement bandwidths may be used as long as appropriate correction factors are applied. Measurements need not be made any closer to the band edge than one h a y of the resolution bandwidth of the measuring instrument. Emissions include sidebands, spurious emissions and radio frequency harmonics. Attenuation is measured at the output terminals of the transmitter (including any filters that may be employed). In the event of inte$erence caused to any service, greater attenuation may be required.

Figure 13 shows the current adjacent channel emission mask in graphical form. Note that the total average DTV power in 6 MHz is denoted with a dot about 11 dB (actually, it’s IO*log(5.38/0.5) + 0.3 = 10.618 dB) above the flat portion of the spectrum, with band-edge shoulders about 36 dB below the flat top spectrum. The dark line actually represents the “maximum envelope” of an FCC-compliant DTV spectrum.

Total Average DTV

11 dB

. ~ .

. . .

.47 dB

~ . .

. ~ .

~, . .

. . .

~~~

. , . .

0 3 6 9 12 15 18

Frequency (MHz)

Figure 13 FCC DTV adjacent channel rigid emission mask

As is evident from the FCC order, the attenuation values are based on a measurement bandwidth of 500 kHz, and the reference is the total average power in the DTV channel. If a transmitted signal has an adjacent channel splatter that exactly matches the FCC rigid emission mask, the amount of interference caused to an adjacent channel NTSC or DTV signal can be predicted. The total integrated splatter power in this compliant DTV spectrum is about 44 dB below the total average DTV signal power (in 6 MHz). This is approximately a 5 dB improvement (more stringent) over the earlier FCC mask. See the next section for the

calculation procedure for adjacent channel interference into NTSC and DTV, and Reference 13 for further details.

The measurement of the new FCC emission mask is not an easy task, as the dynamic range needed in a measurement instrument (e.g. spectrum analyzer) is beyond the current state of the art. While calibrated band stop filters can be placed in line with the measurement test point to remove the in-band signal power when the extreme band edges of the adjacent channel splatter are being measured, this is not a most desirable situation. Since the FCC emission mask most likely requires a narrow bandpass filter at the transmitter output to guarantee the adjacent splatter compliance limits, there is another possible measurement method available. By measuring and storing a replica of this transmitter filter transfer magnitude function, measurements of the transmitter output (before the filter) can be made, and the stored filter transfer magnitude function applied mathematically to the transmitter output spectrum for emission mask compliance verification.

3.2. NTSC Weighted Out-of-Band Power

During the transition period, DTV and NTSC signals must co-exist, with both analog and digital channel allocations intermixed. Adjacent channel energy spillage caused by 31d and 5‘h order non-linearities in high power transmitter amplifiers act as a co-channel interference for an upper or lower adjacent NTSC signal (see Figure 6 for an example). In order to determine if this interference is noticeable to typical NTSC viewers at any location within the coverage area of the station, the amount of interference needs to be quantified. Luminance, chrominance, and sound should be treated separately and uniquely.

Since NTSC is an analog transmission system, the viewer will see any interfering signal on the television set that is above threshold of visibility (TOV). If the interfering co- channel signal is another NTSC signal, beats are visible. However, since the interfering signal, in this case, is the adjacent channel spillage from a DTV signal, it will be a noise-like non-jut spectrum signal. This necessitates the use of a subjective weighting function to quantify the distortion observed by NTSC viewers since the human visual system is subjective in nature.

Subjective video evaluation of various types of random noise (e.g. flat, triangular, etc.) at several viewing distances was performed in the 1950s and 1960s to quantify primary transmission feed quality. Several basic principles were determined. Noise is less noticeable at higher video frequencies due to the human eye’s frequency response (visual acuity) that looks like a low-pass-filter transfer curve. Formulas were developed to describe the human eye’s response to luminance white noise versus frequency, and describe this low pass transfer function which has a bandwidth that decreases with increased viewing distance. (The assumption is often made that the typical NTSC

315

ATTEN (dB)

viewing distance is at five times the picture height (5H)). But this weighting curve must be modified near the 3.58 MHz chroma carrier since color information is obtained in NTSC receivers by demodulation of the quadrature- amplitude-modulated color subcarrier (& 0.5 MHz BW) to low frequencies. However, low frequency color noise is approximately 6 dB less visible to the typical human eye than luminance noise. In addition to the subjective nature of the human eye, the objective nature of the NTSC receiver filtering must also be taken into account. That is, the IF Nyquist slope filtering of the visual carrier, the chroma takeoff bandpass filtering of the color subcarrier, and the aural bandpass filtering of the sound carrier have an effect on the amount of noise seen by the viewer. The effects of noise in each of these three areas cannot be traded off; each is handled uniquely.

A common practice is to use weighting functions on random noise interference that cannot be easily described mathematically as flat (constant) or triangular (linear ramp). A weighting function approach allows some flexibility in spectral sidelobe details (i.e. spectral shape), while still achieving completely adequate protection of adjacent NTSC channels. Similar to the work done in the 1960s regarding subjective noise, analysis of non-Jut white noise starts with dividing the 6 MHz channel into twelve 0.5 MHz measurement sub-bands. Each sub-band will have a specific subjective weighting value associated with it, the relative value depending upon the particular sub-band frequency and how the combination of the human eye and NTSC receiver circuitry react to this narrow frequency band noise. The total set of twelve weighting values is called the subjective weighting function, and is shown in Figure 14. Reference 13 provides more detail into how the subjective weighting function was developed and Reference 14 describes ATTC lab measurements to determine the NTSC TOV for 500 kHz wide noise sources centered at various points across the NTSC channel.

Figure 14 NTSC Interference Weighting Function for NTSC video interference.

Note that the frequencies near the lower band edge are not weighted heavily since the NTSC receiver IF Nyquist-slope filter attenuates the signal significantly. The peak of the weighting function is about 2.25 MHz where the NTSC Nyquist slope ends, yet the human eye can still easily see white noise interference. Beyond this frequency, the weighting function decreases since the human eye's frequency response decreases much like that of a low pass filter. The only exception is 0.5 MHz on either side of the 3.58 MHz color subcarrier to take into account the color demodulation process.

Since 1984, BTSC stereo broadcasting on NTSC sound channels has been in service. The stereo signal (actually multi-channel) occupies approximately 360 kHz, and it is entirely contained in the last 500 kHz of the 6 MHz TV channel. The visual-to-aural carrier ratio is assumed to be 13 dB. If a visual TOV from a 6 MHz flat spectrum noise signal occurs at a S/N ratio of 51 dB, then the last 500 kHz sub-band S/N ratio (i.e. the audio band) is about 11 dB lower, i.e. at 62 dB. The S/N ratio in 500 kHz has been measured to be 35 dB for threshold of audibility (TOA). Then correction terms are added, such as 12 dB when reducing to a 30 kHz band (a 15 kHz double sideband AM signal), 9 dB for FM-over-AM improvement, and 13 dB for 75 psecs de-emphasis. This results in an audio S/N ratio of 69 dB monophonic. Stereo S/N ratio is about 1 dB worse than monophonic audio, making TOA about 68 dB. Since the entire audio band fits into the last 0.5 MHz sub-band, a O-dB value (i.e. the entire sub-band) is used. Video subjective weighting does not include this bin, thus the - 00 in Figure 14.

The subjective weighting function is defined in terms of D/U ratio and 500 kHz measurement bandwidths. The protection of adjacent channel NTSC assignments using this method specifically recognizes that the required attenuation of DTV splatter depends on the relative signal power levels over the entire coverage area of both the DTV signal and an NTSC signal on the adjacent channel.

Development and measurement of the subjective weighting function is as follows. In ATTC laboratory testing, Jut spectrum wideband white Gaussian noise that was pulsed on and off every couple of seconds was applied to a wall of 24 NTSC television receivers that represented typical sets in the early 1990s. The noise pulsing not only allowed reasonable subjective measurements that are repeatable, but also provided a worst case determination of TOV in an analog NTSC signal. Expert observers sitting at an optimum viewing distance in a properly lit room repeatedly watching the same video material determined that for flat Gaussian white noise the median un-weighted C/N ratio of 51 dB determined the median TOV for all 24 NTSC sets under test. That is, the average noise power in 6 MHz was 51 dB below peak NTSC sync. If the subjective weighting function, in dB, is mathematically applied to this flat

376

spectrum white noise, the median weighted C/N ratio increases by 5 dB to 56 dB. This means that for various shaped noise-like distributions that appear across the 6 MHz NTSC channel, it has been verified that as long as the integrated weighted noise is at least 56 dB below NTSC peak sync power, TOV is avoided. In the case of DTV splatter, the NTSC noise interference is viewed as arising from the non-flat noise-like spectral characteristics of an adjacent channel DTV transmitter.

The analysis is accomplished by applying the subjective weighting function to the noise-like interference, integrating across 5.5 MHz for video and 0.5 MHz for audio, and then comparing the integrated weighted noise value to peak NTSC sync. If at any location the NTSC peak sync signal is 56 dB or more above the 5.5 MHz integrated video region splatter, the interference is below TOV. If the NTSC peak sync signal is 48 dB (i.e. 35+ 13) or more above the 0.5 MHz audio region splatter (assuming a visual-to-aural ratio of 13 dB), the interference is below TOA. If the NTSC visual-to-aural ratio is 10 dB, then the 48-dB TOA value becomes 45 dB.

The calculation begins by displaying the entire signal (in- band and adjacent channel spillage) on a spectrum analyzer in a resolution bandwidth less than 100 kHz (e.g. 30 kHz). This avoids a measurement error in the first 0.5 MHz sub- band due to transition region spreading from the spectrum analyzer IF filter. Correction to 500 kHz resolution bandwidth is made later. Twelve relative measurements are made (in dB) at the center of each 500 kHz sub-band, comparing the value to the center frequency of the in-band spectrum. An assumption of 500 kHz measurement bandwidth can be made since both the in-band and adjacent

resolution bandwidth. The 500 kHz in-band measurement can be assumed to be 0 dBm or 0 dBW since a relative measurement is desired. Twelve subjective weighting function values, in dB, are applied to these 12 measurements, understanding that the 1 2th sub-band measuremendweighting function values are for NTSC audio interference only. Each dB power number is then converted to linear power before being integrated (summed). After integration, the sum can be converted back into logarithmic form. This value, in dB, is the ratio of the total integrated and weighted adjacent channel spillage compared to a 500 kHz bandwidth within the main signal spectrum. In order to determine the ratio of sideband splatter to the total average in-band DTV power, a correction value of 10.6 dB (10 * log [5.38 MHd0.5 MHz +0.3]) must be added to the ratio. This takes into account the root-raised-cosine transition regions at each end of the band (5.38 MHz equivalent noise bandwidth) plus the additional 0.3 dB of power that the small in-phase pilot adds to the total signal power. This provides a ratio of the total weighted-sideband splatter power to the total in-band average power. By adding the ratio of NTSC peak sync power to average DTV power, the final power ratio between NTSC peak sync and total weighted splatter interference can be obtained. If the ratio is greater than 56 dB, TOV interference is avoided. If the 12'h sub-band is greater than 48 dB below NTSC peak of sync (for a 13-dB visual-to-aural carrier ratio), TOA interference is avoided.

Tables 2 and 3 illustrate the calculation of upper and lower adjacent channel DTV spillage (non-flat noise spectrum) into NTSC, where the DTV adjacent channel interference is shaped exactly as the FCC's rigid emission mask.

channel spectrum measurements are made with the same

Table 2 Upper adjacent (desired signal above DTV) channel energy spillage analysis (DTV into either NTSC or DTV)

311

Log Linear

Subtotal powers

Table 3 Lower adjacent (desired signal below DTV) channel energy spillage analysis (DTV into either NTSC or DTV).

Note that the subjective weighting calculation indicates that the total (integrated) weighted splatter interference power into NTSC video is 55.6 dB and 56.2 dB (both = 56 dB) below the total in-band DTV power for upper and lower adjacent channel DTV-into-NTSC, respectively. Likewise, the audio interference power is 107.1 dB and 46.6 dB below NTSC peak sync. Once this splatter power ratio has been calculated for the DTV signal by itself, the ratio of the known (or measured) NTSC peak sync power to DTV average power must be taken into account. By adding these two power ratios together at a given location within the coverage area, video TOV (< 56 dB) or audio TOA (<48 dB) interference can be determined.

It should be noted that this calculation could be done for co- located NTSC and DTV stations using the nominal ERPs of each station. From Tables 2 and 3, the weighted out of band splatter power (on either side) is about - 56 dB relative to the in-band DTV power, which happens to be at the NTSC receiver threshold of visibility (TOV). Consequently, if the transmitted in-band average DTV power is equal to the co-located adjacent channel peak-of-sync power, the DTV interference will be at TOV on the NTSC receiver. However, interference over the entire coverage area will be affected by a number of transmission parameters, including differences in NTSC and DTV transmitter antenna azimuth and elevation patterns, as described in following sections and in Reference 12.

3.3. DTV Un-Weighted Out-of-Band Power

Assuming DTV splatter that exactly matches the FCC emission mask as in Tables 2 and 3, the total integrated un-

weighted power of the DTV adjacent channel spillage is about 44 dB below the total in-band average DTV power. This value can be used to predict interference from one DTV signal into an adjacent channel DTV signal. This straightforward un-weighted integration of the non-flat splatter spectrum is due to the fact that interference into the DTV signal is not subjective in nature but rather only objective. The DTV signal-to-white noise ratio for threshold of visibility is 15 dB. Since an interfering DTV signal is a random, noise-like data signal, the DTV-into-DTV interference ratio is also about 15 dB. If the total un- weighted adjacent channel splatter power (also noise-like) of the undesired DTV signal is 15 dB below an adjacent DTV signal power, there will be no interference. However, the entire noise margin will have been used.

If no more than 0.25 dB of DTV threshold degradation (i.e. 15.0 to 15.25 dB) is desired due to the interfering DTV signal, the un-weighted adjacent channel splatter should be more than 27 dB below the desired DTV signal. If only 0.1 dB of threshold degradation is desired, the un-weighted adjacent channel splatter should be more than 32 dB below the desired DTV signal. This last example implies that co- located adjacent channel DTV assignments can be 12 dB (44 - 32) disparate in radiated power without having more than 0.1 dB of reduced threshold. However, as with the DTV-into-NTSC case above, DTV-into-DTV interference over the entire coverage area will also be affected by a number of transmission parameters, including differences in each of the DTV transmitting antenna azimuth and elevation patterns.

37s

4. BEAM TILT TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING CLOSE-IN COVERAGE WITHOUT INCREASING FRINGE- AREA COVERAGE

In its "Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration of the 6th Report and Order" the FCC stipulated effective radiated power (ERP), antenna height, and location for each digital television broadcast station. Modifications to these parameters, up to a maximum ERP value of 1 MW, were possible under certain conditions with a showing in some cases of new interference not exceeding the de minimis standard. Evaluation of coverage and interference is to be done using the Longley-Rice algorithm described in the FCC Office of Engineering Technology (OET) Bulletin # 69 (Ref IS). One such modification is a beam tilting technique that allows the ERP to increase if the main beam is directed not at the horizon, but rather to a point much closer to the transmitter. The DTV field strength at the noise-limited contour remains almost unchanged, but the signal strength much closer to the transmitter (e.g. equivalent NTSC grade A region) is significantly greater.

The usual elevation pattern for a television antenna is one where the main beam is directed at the horizon. Because of the earth's curvature, the usual selection for beam tilt for a 1000-foot tower is about 0.7" downward tilt, which maximizes the coverage at the fringe.

When an existing NTSC VHF station is assigned a companion UHF DTV channel, the DTV coverage is intended to match that of NTSC (service replication), but due to the propagation difference between UHF and VHF, the UHF coverage sometimes falls short of the VHF coverage. In the FCC "Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration of the 6'h Report and Order", a 1000 kW transmitted power level is permitted if beam tilting techniques are used, and field strengths at the fringe of the service area are 1 dB lower than that authorized in the current assignment. Beam tilt techniques allow increased field strength in the equivalent Grade A area without causing excessive interference out at the fringe. Increased interference caused by this technique shall not exceed the 2% (population increase) de minimis standard.

To explore UHF beam-tilt possibilities, consider the elevation pattern shown in Figure 15 which has a conventional declination (depression) angle of 0.7" (with respect to horizontal) and may represent a DTV adjacent channel elevation pattern. Beam tilt is generally used to aim the beam towards the horizon. The corresponding field strength versus distance with antenna height of 1000 feet

and ERP of 50 kW, using F(50, 90) statistics, is shown in Figure 16. Figure 15 also shows an elevation pattern using a declination angle of 2.2". The corresponding F(50,90) field strength versus distance is also shown in Figure 16 with an antenna height of 1000 feet and ERP of 1000 kW (the maximum permitted by the FCC using beam tilt techniques). Comparing the field strengths of the two declination angles in Figure 16 at about 56 miles distance, the field strength of the 50 kW signal with conventional 0.7" beam tilt is about 1 dB greater than that of the 1000 kW signal with 2.2" beam tilt. This is the protection that the FCC requires.

1 .o

0.9

0.8

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0.0

-2 -1 0 0 . 7 1 2 2 2 3 4 5 6

Declination Angle (degrees)

Figure 15 Elevation patterns for transmitter antennas declination angles (beam tilts) of 0.7" and 2.2".

Comparing the two DTV field strength versus distance patterns, identical field strengths are realized at about a 51 mile distance while at a 10 mile distance the antenna with 2.2" beam tilt has about 10 dB greater field strength than that with 0.7" beam tilt. The difference in field strength is even greater at the 5-mile distance, approximately 18 dB in favor of the 2.2" beam tilt. Using results from the previous section on FCC emission mask compliance, a co-located adjacent channel DTV signal would cause TOV interference into a 5 MW NTSC signal (i.e. 0 dB NTSC/DTV power ratio) at 4 -5 miles using conventional beam tilt. TOV (0.1 dB threshold degradation) interference into DTV (i.e. 12 dB DTV/DTV power ratio) would occur at 8.2 miles using conventional beam tilt. Excessive interference would be experienced closer than 8.2 miles. (It must be noted that the horizon is at 45 miles, as determined by a geometrical model where the earth has a radius of 5,280 miles. The FCC propagation curves, F(50, lo), F(50,50) and the derived F(50,90) data go beyond the horizon; in this example, 56 miles represents the DTV edge of service with 1dB margin in field strength.).

319

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20 1 5 8.2 10

Distance (miles) 56 100

Figure 16 Field strength versus distance for 2 DTV and 1 NTSC transmit antennas using DTV beam tilt techniques.

This example would seem to represent an extreme case of transmitting antenna elevation pattern difference - whether co-channel or adjacent channel.

5. AZIMUTH PATTERN SCALLOPING ANALYSIS

In order to achieve large UHF ERPs, NTSC antennas are often narrow-band with increased gain created by stacking elements to narrow the elevation pattern. DTV antennas, on the other hand, may be wide band, lower gain devices to achieve the lower ERP values. These antennas may have significantly different azimuthal and elevation patterns. Azimuth pattern differences between co-located adjacent channels (DTV-NTSC, or DTV-DTV) where the patterns are essentially omni-directional was considered in Reference 12. The antennas examined were top-mounted designs or wrap around panel designs. There was an essential circularity in both with differences in scallops, i.e. variation (ripples) in antenna gain as the azimuth angle varies.

An important case can be added taken from Reference 12 where the existing NTSC antenna is top-mounted and is essentially circular with a broad scallop, and the DTV antenna is side-mounted off one tower leg. Figure 17 shows a possible combination of transmitting antennas. If the top mounted antenna broadcasts NTSC and the side mounted antenna broadcasts adjacent channel DTV (a likely

arrangement), it is seen that the DTV field strength generally increases in the opposite direction from the tower leg (reflection) and in the tower direction the field strength decreases (shadowing). Figure 17 illustrates how the tower legs and other reflecting surfaces on the tower affect the side-mounted antenna free space pattern. In the northwest (320') - southeast (140') direction the scallops are +2.9 dB and -2.0 dB, respectively, relative to the free-space DTV pattern. To remain below NTSC TOV at 320' azimuth, the DTV average power must be an additional 0.65 dB below the NTSC peak of sync. Note that the azimuthal pattern in Figure 17 is in relative field strength (linear), not dB. (See the previous section on NTSC weighting of the FCC Mask). The conclusion is that antenna patterns (elevation and azimuth) for each signal (desired and undesired) must be accounted for when calculating a predicted interference at a given azimuth.

Another conclusion from Reference 12 is that the echoes caused by the RF reflections from tower components affect the DTV signal by insignificant amounts, often less than 0.1 dB S/N threshold degradations. Therefore, the use of omni-directional side-mounted DTV antennas, when no other better alternative is available to broadcasters, can be employed successfully if care is taken during their design and installation. However, the final radiation pattern is more directional.

380

+ 2.9 dB DiffFrence o o

Figure 17 Azimuthal pattern differences between two dissimilar broadcast transmitting antennas

FCC has selected only a couple of these as absolute requirements. Table 4 contains the transmitter parameters with ATSC suggested specifications and FCC required

6. COMPARISON OF ATSC AND FCC TERRESTRIAL COMPLIANCE VALUES

specifications. The ATSC has suggested a number of specifications on various parameters for broadcasters to follow. However, the

Parameter I ATSC I FCC I Average Power Tolerance Adjacent Channel Splatter

Inband SIN Symbol Rate Tolerance Phase Noise (@ 20 kHz offset) CO-Channel D-into-D Frequency Offset CO-Channel N-into-D Frequency Offset Upper Adjacent D-into-N Frequency Offset

_ _ _ _ _ +_ 5%

Rigid FCC Mask and Weighting Function

27 dB f 2.8 ppm

Rigid FCC Mask

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

-104 dBc1Hz _ _ _ _ _ +19.403 kHz (k 10 Hz) ----- +28.615 kHz (k 1 Hz) _ _ _ _ _ +22.697 kHz (f- 3 Hz) +22.697 kHz (f 3 Hz)

7. CABLE CARRIAGE OF DTV BROADCAST SIGNALS

7.1. Channel Frequency Conversion

The simplest method of carrying terrestrial DTV signals on a cable television system is as trellis-coded 8 VSB (8T- VSB) on a 6-MHz channel. If a different cable channel from the received terrestrial DTV channel is chosen for transmission on cable, then a channel converter will have to be employed which may result in some degradation because of filters which may be employed. An alternative approach would be to fully demodulate the received terrestrial VSB signal, obtain the corrected transport data packets, and use these packets to modulate an RF carrier with 8T-VSB or 16- VSB. This provides a pristine signal to be transmitted on the cable system, and allows for Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) data processing, if desired.

7.2. Trans-Modulation

At present, there is no agreement on a method of carriage for DTV terrestrial signals on the cable medium. The cable industry has chosen QAM as the preferred modulation method, while terrestrial broadcasters use VSB. One solution is to demodulate the VSB signal, derive the MPEG- 2 Transport data stream, and then in turn modulate the QAM carrier with the appropriately PSIP-processed MPEG-2 Transport stream at the head-end. The MPEG-2 Transport stream is recovered (with a set-top-box) at the receiving location on the cable. Currently, the only defined input on the terrestrial DTV receiver is the antenna RF terminal.

7.3. Home Digital Network Interface

The cable industry and the television receiver industry have been developing standards to interconnect consumer electronics products which include the DTV receiver, a set- top-box (STB) for cable, a STB for satellite, a VCR, a DVD player, and similar devices. This activity is an ongoing process. The current situation is described as follows.

One such interface is IEEE 1394, which is a two-way high speed (196.608 Mbits/sec or greater) baseband data interface which carries the MPEG-2 data transport signal but requires a specially equipped DTV receiver with the IEEE 1394 interface. At present, there is no agreement in the receiver industry to provide the IEEE 1394 interface.

7.3.2. Re-modulation Standard (EIA 761) The re-modulator standard uses the DTV receiver antenna connection, very much like the analog counterpart in an NTSC VCR, and typically uses TV channels 3 or 4. The re- modulator has an MPEG-2 Transport Stream input provided by a VCR, cable STB, satellite STB, DVD player or other device, and a VSB-compliant RF output signal, and thus requires no special DTV receiver input connection (see Figure IS). The standard also provides on-screen-display (OSD) for additional information superimposed on the main image. In the extreme, this extra data could be an additional MPEG-2 Transport Stream corresponding to an additional DTV signal. In this mode, the signal is 16 VSB -the ATSC high data rate (cable) mode. The re-modulator contains all of the data processing as defined in the ATSC standard - High Data Rate Cable Mode (Ref 6).

7.3.1. IEEE 1394 Standard

382

Valid ATSC Transport

Stream

MUX .+. ReMod

O.S.D. Generator

I I DTV Antenna

Terminal Valid ATSC Transport

Stream

DeMod -b DeMUX \,

O.S.D. Interpreter

Coax cable

+ Random- Data Solomon Reed- Inter- Data + Mapper +

izer + Encoder + leaver

Figure 18 Re-modulator system block diagram

~ p ~ T ~ ~ l Pilot Insertion Modulator Converter +

7.4. VSB Cable Mode

7.4.1. Transport Rate and Threshold The 16-VSB Cable Mode carries a transport data stream of 38.785316 Mbitdsecond as compared to 19.392658 Mbitdsecond for trellis-coded 8 VSB - the terrestrial broadcast standard - a 2-to-1 bit rate increase. Doubling the data rate requires a higher white noise threshold, an acceptable tradeoff in a more benign environment such as cable. While the threshold for 8T-VSB is at 15 dB signal-to- noise ratio, the corresponding threshold for 16-VSB is 28.5 dB signal-to-noise ratio. Because the noise level in cable systems is much lower than in terrestrial DTV broadcast, this is a beneficial tradeoff. Two 19.3 Mbps DTV transport streams can be carried in one 6 MHz channel. such as two

-

Equal- izer -+

188-byte MPEC-packets

(see Note)

Data Reed- Data Phase Slicer De- Solomon De-

%er Tracker -b -+ Interleaver + Decoder -b ' Random -b

HDTV programs. DTV receiver integrated circuits can decode 16-VSB as well as 8T-VSB.

7.4.2. VSB Signal Processing The signal processing parts of the 16-VSB system are identical to 8T-VSB except for the substitution of a 16-level mapper for the 8T-VSB trellis coder. The number of transmitted levels is 16 for 16-VSB and 8 for 8T-VSB. All of the other transmitter processes of data randomizer, Reed- Solomon encoder, data interleaver, data segment sync, data field sync, pilot insertion, and VSB modulator are identical for the two systems (see Figure 19). The receiver contains the complementary processes (see Figure 20). However, the NTSC interference rejection comb filter is not needed for cable.

n I I

To Cable

Note: MPEG packets provided by terrestrial broadcasts, satellite, or local origination

Figure 19 16-VSB cable transmitter system block diagram

RF Input

Data output

* Sync & Timing

Figure 20 16-VSB cable receiver system block diagram

7.4.3. Emission Mask Since signal levels on cable do not require high-power amplifiers for their transmission, the spillover distortion into adjacent channels is much less than in terrestrial DTV. Therefore, no emission mask is currently required for cable transmission. Instead, the FCC Part 76.605 requirements on intermodulation distortion from all channels into one of the channels of -51 dB and the ratio of visual carrier-to-noise ratio of 43 dB effectively control the interference levels into a DTV signal occupying any one 6 MHz channel. (Cable measurement bandwidth is 4 MHz; the equivalent in 6 MHz is -49.2 dB and 41.2 dB SNR, respectively). Also adjacent channel levels are well controlled, and must be within 3 dB of each other. Considering that the FCC emission mask for terrestrial DTV allows an adjacent NTSC channel power to be equal to the DTV power and just be at TOV for the NTSC signal, the suggested 6-dB "backoff" of the average DTV signal from the NTSC peak sync signal provides additional margin.

7.4.4. In-Band Signal Characterization Since the equivalent NTSC C/N ratio on a cable system of 43 dB (in 4 MHz) is 41.2 dB (in 6 MHz), the -6 dB DTV injection level reduces the SNR to 35.2 dB. The margin with respect to the 16-VSB SNR threshold of 28.5 dB is 6.7 dB. Any distortion that appears on the DTV signal will increase the white noise threshold, but since no high power amplifiers are required for cable transmission as in the terrestrial case, no significant non-linear effects are present. Also, since no high-power, narrow-band emission mask- compliance bandpass filters are required either, no significant linear distortion (e.g. magnitude or group delay) is present, allowing the receiver to easily equalize the signal without consequential white noise threshold degradation.

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8. CONCLUSION

As U.S. broadcasters begin the DTV build-out, signal quality characteristics of DTV signals are of paramount importance. Signal quality parameters are primarily affected by the DTV transmitters (modulator, exciter, high power amplifiers, and any emission mask filters), transmission line, and antennas.

Broadcasters are also concerned about acceptable in-band signal characteristics such as transmitted power tolerance, Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) or SNIUModulation Error Ratio (MER), peak-to-average power ratio, frequency offsets, and carrier phase noise. All of these parameters affect the reception of their DTV signals throughout their coverage areas.

Also of importance are the out-of-band signal quality characteristics, such as frequency offsets and emission splatter constraints. These parameters determine what, if any, interference will exist between channels. The FCC emission mask, along with potentially interfering signal power ratios, limits the amount of acceptable splatter so that other channels (particularly adjacent) will not experience unacceptable interference.

An important topic currently is the use beam-tilt elevation pattern techniques to improve signal strength in close-in areas without increasing interference at the fringe areas. However, the effect in the first 10-20 miles on co-located adjacent channels can nor be ignored, and this technique must be used with great care to avoid additional interference problems to either NTSC or DTV signals.

Finally, cable carriage of terrestrial broadcast DTV signals is an important consideration to broadcasters. Several alternatives are available, including the ATSC 8T-VSB terrestrial signal or its 16-VSB high data rate signal.

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9. REFERENCES

1. Fourth Report and Order, MM Docket 87-268, FCC 96- 493, Federal Communications Commission, December 24, 1996. Fifth Report and Order, MM Docket 87-268, FCC 97- 1 16, Federal Communications Commission, April 3, 1997. Sixth Report and Order, MM Docket 87-268, FCC 97- 115, Federal Communications Commission, April 3, 1997. Memorandum Opinion and Order on Reconsideration of the Sixth Report and Order, MM Docket No. 87-268, FCC 98-24, Federal Communications Commission, February 17, 1998. Code of Federal Regulations, Telecommunications, Title 47, Chapter I, Federal Communications Commission, Part 73, Subpart E, Sec 73.622-73.625, and Part 76, Subpart K, Technical Standards, October 1, 1997. “Digital Television Standard for HDTV Transmission: ATSC Standard”, Doc. A53, Advanced Television Systems Committee, September 16, 1995. “Guide to the Use of the Digital Television Standard for HDTV Transmission”, Doc. A54, Advanced Television Systems Committee, October 4, 1995. “VSB Tutorial”, Gary Sgrignoli, Zenith Electronics Corporation website. “Transmission Measurement and Compliance for Digital Television,” Doc. N 6 4 , Advanced Television Systems Committee Technology Group on Distribution (T3), November 17, 1997, In the processing of being revised.

Programme Systems for Television, Sound, and Data Services for Cable Distribution, Annex D, Study group 9, February 3, 1997.

11. “The In-Band Characteristic of the Vestigial Sideband Emitted Signal for ATV Digital Terrestrial Broadcasting,” Carl G. Eilers, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting , December 1996.

12. “Analyzing the FCC’s DTV Spectral Emission Mask and Potential Degradation to Adjacent Channels due to Antenna Pattern Differences,” Carl Eilers and Gary Sgrignoli, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, March 1998.

13. “The Development of a High Definition Television (HDTV) Terrestrial Broadcasting Emission Mask,” Carl G. Eilers, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, December, 1995.

14. “Results of RF Mask Test,” Advanced Television Technology Center, June 13, 1996.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10. ITU-T Recommendation J.83, Digital Multi-

15. “NTSC TV Receiver Performance with Upper Adjacent Channel ATV Interference,” Carl Eilers, IEEE Transactions on Consumer Electronics, Volume 42, No. 3, pp. 710-715, August, 1996.

16. “Echo Analysis of Side-Mounted DTV Broadcast Antenna Azimuth Patterns,” Carl Eilers and Gary Sgrignoli, IEEE Transactions on Broadcasting, March, 1999.

MPEG-2 Digital Transport Stream,” SMPTE Journal, April 1998..

18. “Longley-Rice Methodology for Evaluating Television Coverage and Interference,” OET Bulletin Number 69, FCC Office of Technology, July 2, 1997.

19. “DTV Re-modulator with Enhanced On-Screen Display,” EIA 761, November, 1998.

20. “IEEE 1394 Digital Baseband DTV”, EIA 775, December, 1998.

10. BIOGRAPHIES

17. “SMPTE 310M: Synchronous Serial Interface for

Carl Eilers was born on March 21, 1925 in Fairbury, Illinois. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering f rom Purdue University in 1948 a n d a M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University in 1956. He joined Zenith Radio Corporation as a beginning engineer in 1948 working on subscription television scrambling a n d subsequently became assistant a n d then manager of wha t became Circuits a n d Communications Research. During this time h e led development effort on Stereo FM Broadcasting which became a U.S. national a n d international standard. He then became Manager, Electronic Systems R&D a n d led the development effort o n TV multi-channel sound broadcasting which w a s subsequently incorporated in the U.S. national standard. He has been involved in High Definition Television development, a n d recently, has been a contributor to the ATSC T3/Sll activity on compliance. H e has n o w retired a n d is a Consultant t o Zenith Electronics Corporation.

Mr. Eilers h a s served on the National Stereophonic Radio Committee, CCIR S tudy Group 10, National Quadraphonic Radio Committee, National A M Stereo Radio Committee, Broadcast Television Systems Committee (BTS), BTS Teletext Committee, BTS Multichannel Television Sound Committee, JCIC AdHoc Committees, a n d on the FCC Advisory Committee on Advanced Television Services (ACATS). He h a s authored over 25 papers, has been awarded 19 patents, a n d h a s received the E.F. McDonald a n d Adler awards from Zenith Electronics

Corporation. He is a Fellow (1993) of the Audio Engineering Society, is a Fellow (1977) of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a n d Member (1956) of the Society of Motion Picture a n d Television Engineers.

Gary Sgrignoli received his bachelor and Master of Science degrees from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana in 1975 and 1977, respectively. He joined Zenith Electronics Corporation in January 1977, and is currently a staff consulting engineer in the Electronics Systems, Research and Development department.

Gary has worked in the R&D design area on television ghost canceling, cable TV scrambling, cable TV two-way da ta systems, and digital high-definition television transmission systems. Over the last 11 years, he has been extensively involved in the VSB transmission system design, its prototype implementation, the ATTC lab tests, and both ACATSfield tests in Charlotte, N.C.

Currently, Gary is involved with the Model Station Subcommittee's RF working group, helping to develop DTV RF testing at transmitter sites and in the field, and has been involved with commercial DTV station field testing, training broadcasters for DTV field tests and data analysis. Also, he was involved in numerous DTV over-the-air demonstrations with the Grand Alliance and the ATSC, and holds VSB tutorial seminars around the country. He has published many technical papers, given presentations at various conferences, and holds 34 U.S. patents with 3 pending.