RF TASK FORCE COMPLETES WORK AND PUBLISHES REPORT
ATSC Receives Proposals for VSB Enhancements
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 16, 2001 &Mac246; The Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) Task Force on RF System Performance has completed its work. The Task Force was formed in March 2000 to examine technical issues related to DTV RF system performance and to make appropriate recommendations regarding potential ATSC technical initiatives. "The RF Task Force performed a very valuable service, providing an open industry forum for discussion of RF-related issues," said Mark S. Richer, ATSC Executive Director. "Active participation of broadcasters, consumer electronics manufacturers, semiconductor manufacturers, professional equipment manufacturers and others made the Task Force successful."
As a part of its activity, the Task Force completed a comprehensive report, "Performance Assessment of the ATSC Transmission System, Equipment and Future Directions". Among other things, the Task Force concluded that newer generation 8-VSB receivers largely meet the goals of outdoor reception by fixed receivers in accordance with the FCC DTV planning factors. Another major finding of the Task Force is that the main limiting factor for indoor, pedestrian and mobile reception is adequate field strength at a given location, not the modulation standard. This report is available at <http://www.atsc.org>www.atsc.org.
Even before its final conclusion, the work of the Task Force led to important new work begun last year in the ATSC Specialist Group on RF Transmission (T3/S9). Earlier this month, T3/S9 received ten responses to its Request for Proposals (RFP) for enhancements to ATSC transmission specifications. The RFP, which was issued on January 25th, with responses due on April 2nd, was aimed at addressing emerging digital television (DTV) applications. Respondents to the RFP include the following organizations: ADC Telecommunications, Broadcom, Conexant Infotainment Systems, Merrill Weiss Group, Patel-Limberg-McDonald, NxtWave Communications, Oren Semiconductor, Philips, Sarnoff Corporation, and Zenith Electronics. "We are extremely happy with the high level of interest in this effort," said John Tollefson, Vice President, CTO of PBS and Chairman of T3/S9. "The thoroughness and quality of the responses are very encouraging." Evaluation of these proposals will be done in accordance with the due process procedures of the ATSC. ATSC may combine various aspects of multiple responses into a final specification.
The Advanced Television Systems Committee is an international, non-profit organization developing voluntary standards for the entire range of advanced television systems. The ATSC has approximately 200 member organizations representing the broadcast, broadcast equipment, motion picture, consumer electronics, computer, cable, satellite, and semiconductor industries.
