DVB-T / DVB-H Modulator DVM 5000L

Features

• L-Band RF Output
• Full hierarchical mode support
• SFN and MFN support
• Near seamless switching between inputs
• Superior MER performance
• Linear and Non-Linear Digital Precorrection
• Web Browser Remote Control
• SNMP Remote Control
• Full DVB-H Support

Overview

Designed to meet the most demanding requirements of today's Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcast Market, the DVM 5000 L from UBS is ranked number one in its class. A key factor in the product success is the quality of the coding and modulation process. The modular design makes the unit highly flexible and the modulator is easily adaptable to provide the exact features required in a specific application.

Application

The performance and flexibility of the DVM 5000-L allows it to excel in any application related to DVB-T / DVB-H modulation. The core function of the DVM 5000 L is to modulate a MPEG-2 transport stream (input) onto a DVB-T or DVB-H compliant COFDM spectrum (output) in accordance with the rules for channel coding and modulation specified in the DVB-T and/or the DVB-H ETSI Standards. The user can configure the modulator to any transmission mode listed in ETSI EN 300 744 and/or ETSI EN 302 304.

IF Output

The basic version of the DVM 5000 L delivers the COFDM spectrum on a user defined frequency between 35 and 37 MHz. Inverted/non-inverted spectrum is selected on the front panel. The spectrum bandwidth may be user configured to 8, 7, 6 or 5 MHz as required. The IF Output can be directly interfaced to a wide range of transmitters and frequency converters.

RF Output

DVM 5000 L delivers the COFDM spectrum on a user defined frequency in the L-band, in the range of 1665 to 1680 MHz. Inverted/non-inverted spectrum is selected on the front panel. The spectrum bandwidth may be user configured to 8, 7, 6 or 5 MHz as required. The output level is adjustable between -10dBm and 0dBm.

Inputs

The DVM 5000 L has two MPEG-2 inputs (ASI format). Switching between the two inputs can be done manually and automatically. The automatic switching provides near seamless switching to a secondary transport stream in case the primary transport stream source fails (a truly valuable feature for broadcast applications.)

Optional Features

SFN Option

This option provides the DVM 5000 L with market leading SFN performance, with respect to basic timing accuracy and extent of the local delay offset range. Also, even when the SFN option is installed, you can still select MFN mode via the front panel controls. A convenient feature when conducting pre-testing and alignment of RF parameters on transmitter installations before the timing references and transport stream with MIP are in place (as a general rule SFN modulators must mute the output if either of these signals is absent).

Hierarchical Modulation option

Hierarchical modulation allows simultaneous transmission of two MPEG-2 transport streams. The compromise between data rate and ruggedness can be set differently between the two virtual channels. For example:

• highly protected channel (High Priority - HP- input) for transmission to mobile and/or portable receivers and
• high capacity channel (Low Priority - LP - input), at the expense of ruggedness, for transmission to rooftop antennas.

This option can be used to provide simultaneously two services: DVB-H and DVB-T, where DVB-H service is provided via the HP channel, while DVB-T service via the LP channel. Another typical application is simulcasting of the same program in high definition resolution and standard definition resolution. A significant benefit of hierarchical modulation is that the total data-rate available in a system with two hierarchically modulated RF channels is higher than what is available for a two-channel non-hierarchical system, where one RF channel is strictly dedicated to mobile/portable receivers and the other RF channel is strictly dedicated for transmission to rooftop antennas.

5 MHz BW option

DVM 5000 L will, in addition to the standard 8, 7 and 6 MHz BW, also support transmission in the 5 MHz BW, recommended when the DVM 5000 L operates in the DVB-H mode. Including this option for T&M and R&D applications is also highly attractive as the user simply executes the switching between the four bandwidths via the instrument front panel (one instrument covers all bandwidths defined by the ETS for DVB-T and/or DVB-H transmission).

6 MHz BW option

DVM 5000 L will, in addition to the standard 8 and 7 MHz BW, also support transmission in the 6 MHz bandwidth mode that is intended for applications in North and South America, Korea, Japan and elsewhere where 6 MHz channel raster is standard.

DVB-H option

This option allows the Modulator to generate a DVB-H COFDM signal, in accordance with the ETSI DVB-H standards.

Digital Linear and Non-linear Pre-corrector option

This option is recommended in order to maximize the performance of the transmitter in which the modulator is installed.

• The Non-linear pre-corrector balances out gain and phase non-linearity in the transmitter RF power amplifier, thereby reducing significantly the in-band as well as out of band intermodulation generated by the amplifier. This optimization of the performance will extend the transmitters coverage area and ease the performance requirement from the transmitter output filter, used for suppressing the radiation in adjacent channels below the maximum allowed level.
• The Linear pre-corrector balances out level and group delay variations over the channel bandwidth caused by the transmitter antenna filter and/or channel combiner filters. The linear optimization of the signal radiated from the transmitter means that the channel equalizer of the DVB-T or DVB-H receiver may focus all its correction capacity on level and group delay errors originating from the actual transmission path.

The characteristics of the linear and non-linear pre-correction curves are set by means of an easy to use and highly intuitive graphical user interface, the UBS Corrector GUI software package (Windows compatible).

Web Interface option

This option allows remote control of the DVM 5000-L via Ethernet (TCP/IP). The system is based on a Web server mounted inside the DVM 5000 L. The Web pages stored on the Web server are designed as a complete graphical user interface (GUI) for testing the status and setting the parameters of the modulator. The Web Interface concept is popular because remote control with this system only requires a standard PC with a network interface card (NIC) and a Web browser (Microsoft Explorer 6.0).

SNMP client option

This option allows remote control of the DVM 5000-L in accordance with the SNMP protocol (Get, Set and SNMP traps). This remote control option is intended for systems solutions where it is desired to integrate the control of a range of SNMP compliant equipment in a common management system.

Null Eliminator Option (patented)

This option allows the network designer to shift the stationary nulls in a typical DVB-H SFN environment, to eliminate dead reception areas.

GPS Elimination Software Option (patented)

For large network deployments.

Transmitter Control Option

This option allows the control of the Transmitter output power, with a closed loop power control mechanism.