Technology that allows a broadcaster to deploy a Single Frequency Network (SFN) in ATSC 3.0 is being shown live at IBC, following successful tests in Baltimore earlier this year.
One Media, Comark and TeamCast jointly undertook a US trial of the set-up in March 2016 within the context of the final reviews of the ATSC 3.0 Physical Layer Candidate Standard.
The SFN test network consisted of two transmitters with one located in Baltimore and the other in Washington, DC. A TeamCast ATSC 3.0 exciter, integrated by Comark, drove each transmitter.
For implementing the SFN network, TeamCast used Stream4Cast. On show here at IBC, this is a new modulation and IP streaming device that prepares the IP stream format to be transmitted in compliance with the ATSC 3.0 physical layer.
Rather than being implemented as part of the modulator in every transmitter throughout the SFN, Stream4Cast is installed at the Network Operating Center (NOC) or head-end.
The company said that having this centralised modulation process “significantly decreases the transmitter hardware complexity, therefore saving significant capex investment costs”.
The Stream4Cast unit can be used in combination with either the Extra3.0 ATSC 3.0 exciter or the Vortex exciter.
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