The new TE1 liquid-cooled transmitter handles digital signals and ATSC 3.0 features efficiently, is designed to be more intuitive, and even boasts advanced remote capabilities.
At Rohde & Schwarz we see the ease-of-use challenge as an opportunity to innovate. We believe that operating a modern digital transmitter must not be an unpredictable burden of risk and complexity. The whole transmitter must be completely stable in operation, have minimal maintenance requirements, and include easy monitoring of performance metrics. Our technology achieves this by delivering the functionality required, including ATSC 3.0, and minimizing energy consumption and carbon footprint.
Notable challenges for RF engineers in the past were improving energy efficiency, and signal performance optimization - this called for expert modification of several parameters to achieve the output, coverage and performance required. This was a skilled and time-consuming task. A modern transmitter should use intelligent software for fully automated optimization. A single click on a menu to optimize all parameters not only simplifies commissioning, but it also ensures the best continuing performance.
Modern connectivity also equates to more comfort and flexibility when accessing the transmitter GUI. By incorporating Wi-Fi access into the control rack, engineers can securely access the transmitter’s user interface conveniently with their smartphone. This could be as simple as managing the system from a phone or iPad at the back of the rack, rather than needing an assistant to relay what is happening on screen at the front control panel. Ultimately, it supplies administrators with full control and supervision which can be managed from any location around the transmitter.
The next-generation digital television transmitter will be profoundly energy efficient, with high reliability and supreme quality performance. But to truly meet the specific needs of broadcasters, it must address the issue of ease-of-use.
Broadcasters are looking for transmitters that require minimal interventions from commissioning through an extended lifetime. The use of intelligence in the management layer should ensure that much of the maintenance is automated, and those tasks which require an engineer should be planned well and easily amendable, requiring as little specific RF knowledge as possible.
Full power factory testing, robust systems with technical issues reported in readily understood language to allow maintenance to be scheduled when convenient, remote access for monitoring and control, and the availability of support as a service from the manufacturer: these must also be considered vital in selecting a transmitter for the future.
