DVB-T2 Technology

DVB-T2

DVB-T2 is a digital terrestrial transmission system developed by the DVB project. It introduces the latest modulation and coding techniques to enable the highly efficient use of the valuable terrestrial spectrum for the delivery of audio, video and data services to fixed, portable and mobile devices.

DVB-T2 uses OFDM modulation, with a large number of subcarriers delivering a robust signal. Also like DVB-T, DVB-T2 offers a range of different modes, making it a very flexible standard. To perform error correction, DVB-T2 uses the same coding that was selected for DVB-S2. The combination of low density parity check (LDPC) coding and Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquengham (BCH) coding delivers excellent performance in an environment with high noise levels and interference, yielding a very robust signal.

Several options are available with regard to aspects such as number of carriers, guard interval size and pilot signals. Overhead can therefore be minimized for any target transmission channel. A new technique named "rotated constellations" provides significant additional robustness in difficult channels. A mechanism for separately adjusting the robustness of each delivered service within a channel is provided in order to achieve the required reception conditions (e.g. indoor antenna/roof-top antenna). This same mechanism allows transmissions to be tailored to enable a receiver to save power by decoding only a single program rather than an entire multiplex of programs.

Key performance features of DVB-T2

  • At least 30 to 50 % higher transmission capacity and improved SFN performance as compared to DVB-T
  • Service-specific transmission robustness
  • Program transmission for mobile and stationary receivers
  • Extensive re-use of DVB-T infrastructure
  • Reduction of peak-to-average power ratio and therefore of operating costs at the transmitter end

Enhancements provided by DVB-T2

  • OFDM modulation with additional IFFT modes
  • Efficient error protection by means of LDPC coding
  • Transfer and integration of the DVB-S2 baseband frame concept
  • Q-delayed rotated constellations
  • MISO transmission
  • Reduction of crest factor

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