Bob Utne on 8-VSB Deficiencies and COFDM: Resignation from ATSC

By Bob Utne · 2000

Mentioned: Bob Utne, Charlie Rhodes, Jim Sinclair

Summary

Bob Utne, an ATSC member, resigned from the organization after concluding that vested industry interests blocked meaningful examination of 8-VSB deficiencies and prevented COFDM from being added to the U.S. terrestrial DTV standard. He warns that without COFDM adoption, cable, satellite, and MMDS providers will dominate DTV delivery at the expense of over-the-air broadcasting.

Bob Utne. Member of ATSC

Dale, I'd like to offer the following to your distinguished list of
contributors' comments:

We are in an evolutionary mode of 8-VSB with real solutions to potential problems available, TODAY.

Zenith has developed a DTV receiver which, according to Zenith, eliminates ghosting due to multipath. See http://zenith.com and go to their 64" and 55" HDTV product profiles.

Also, Charlie Rhodes, from the ATTC proposes a new antennae with crossed dipoles with an inexpensive multiplier between them; the multiplier controlled by some indication of minimum adaptive-equalizer tap energy coming from the set. I'ts inexpensive, dynamically changing, optimized automatically for each receiver, and allow's a broad (90-degree) reception pattern. It, also, requires a minimum-tap-energy indicator from the DTV receiver (get it CE industry?).

Sinclair brings to light potential problems. We have real solutions readily available.

Bob Utne, Member ATSC

UPDATED 3/8/2000

Dale,

I note that my post of more than a year ago remains on your COFDM vs. 8-VSB site.

I'd either like it removed or the following added:

I have resigned from the ATSC after coming to the conclusion that vested interests preclude a meaningful examination of the deficiencies of 8-VSB and have halted any attempt to add COFDM to the ATSC terrestrial-delivery standard.

The major problem with the ATSC is that there is a lack of consumer representation and all power is controlled by a few industry insiders with direct or indirect ties to 8-VSB.

After reviewing the various apparent deficiencies of 8-VSB, it astonsihes me that the entire broadcasting industry (national and local) does not join Jim Sinclair in the call to add COFDM as an FCC standard for the terrestrial delivery of DTV in the U.S..

If 8-VSB remains the only DTV terrestrial standard, there is a good chance that the only remaining DTV players, within a few short years. will be the cable, satellite and MMDS players.

I strongly support Jim Sinclair's plea to turn around this FCC decision and bring universal DTV to the American Consumer, ASAP.

Bob Utne