College of Engineering and Technology

Module:
Communication Systems and Digital Transmission
Module Code: 6EJ539

Module Leader: Ben Sams

Assessment Title: DVB Report

Student ID: 100497510

Date: 22nd April 2021

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Table of Contents

1. Tables, Figures and Abbreviations………………………………………………. 3

1.1 List of Tables…………………………………………………………….. 3

1.2 List of Figures……………………………………………………………. 3

1.3 List of Abbreviations……………………………………………………...3

2. Introduction………………………………………………………………………. 5

3. DVB Standards…………………………………………………………………….5

4. Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) ……………………………….5

3.1 Data Compression………………………………………………………….6

3.2 OFDM Modulation…………………………………………………………7

3.3 Error Correction……………………………………………………………8

5. Hierarchical Modulation…………………………………………………………..9

6. Block Diagram of DVB-T…………………………………………………………9

7. Second Generation DVB-T2…………….………………………………………..10

8. Countries of Use…………………………………………………………………...11

9. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………...12

10. References…………………………………………………………………………13

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1. Tables, Figures and Abbreviations

1.1 List of Tables

Table 1: DVB Standard Family………………………………………………………………….5
Table 2: Comparison of DVB-T and DVB-T2………………………………………………….10
Table 3: List of Countries using DVB-T/T2……………………………………………………12

1.2 List of Figures

Figure 1: Reduction of Video datarate for DVB and other applications…………………………6
Figure 2: Comparison of FDM (a) and OFDM (b)……………………………………………....7
Figure 3: Guard Bands in OFDM………………………………………………………………...8
Figure 4: Block Diagram of DVB-T System……………………………………………………..9
Figure 5: DVB-T and DVB-T2
deployment……………………………………………………...11

1.3 List of Abbreviations

Following abbreviations ate used in this document.
ACI Adjacent-Channel Interference
BCH Bose-Chaudhuri Hocquengham
CCI Co-Channel Interference
DVB Digital Video Broadcasting
DVB-T DVB-Terrestrial
DVB-S DVB-Satellite
DVB-C DVB-Cable
EDTV Enhanced Definition Television
FEC Forward Error Correction
HDTV High Definition Television
HM Hierarchical Modulation
HP High Priority

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LDPC Low-Density Parity Check
LP Low Priority
MPEG Moving Picture Experts Group
OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex
QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation
QPSK Quadrature Phase Shift Keying
SDTV Standard Definition Television
TV Television
UHF Ultra-High Frequency (300 MHz to 3 000 MHz)
VHF Very High Frequency (30 MHz to 300 MHz)

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2. Introduction
Broadcasting refers to a method to transfer messages to multiple recipients simultaneously.
Nowadays, Analog Video broadcasting is substituted by DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting). The
main concern was Ghost images due to multipath distortion and noise signals that compromise
quality of video. Also, DVB employed due to increasing demand of expensive spectrum for
more services like Telecasting (multiple programs) and HDTV (Dummies, A Wiley Brand,
2021) . In 1993, the world’s leading technological and media companies founded DVB Project
for Digital Media Delivery. Earlier it was used by European countries only, but now it used
worldwide. (DVB, 2019)

3. DVB Standards
In early 1990s, more than 200 companies formed an association for digital media delivery
system named DVB Project (David Wood, 2019). They set standards for digital TV that are
recognized internationally.

Table 1: DVB Standard Family (Shivia Gupta, 2015)

Table 1 shows the different standards used in DVB. In 1994, DVB-S was first introduced by
DVB Project (David Wood, 2019). First transmission using DVB-S system was by French
company Canal plus. DVB-T System was first used by UK in 1998 (David Wood, 2019).

4. Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T)

Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial is the most widely used DVB standard owing to its
flexibility and better use of spectrum by employing higher multiplex capacity and more effective
data compression. It uses many modern technologies to deliver high-quality video to the end-

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user. DVB-T standard was first published in 1997, and the first broadcast using this was done by
Sweden and UK in 1998 and later adopted in Germany in 2002 (David Wood, 2019).
4.1 Data Compression
The transmission of digital video is critical task since asking transmission rate is 166 Mbit/s and
it was not possible for existing media to transfer due to spectrum limitations. On the other hand,
bitstream data can be transferred at 38 Mbit/s by a single satellite and cable channel while 24
Mbit/s by a single terrestrial channel. So, data reduction or source coding is essential for digital
television. (Reimers, 1998)
“One of the key decisions taken by DVB project was the use of MPEG-2 for source coding of
Audio and video. By using MPEG-2 video, the signal can be compressed to 5 Mbit/s for
transmission and can be decompressed in the receiver” (Reimers, 1998)
Figure 1 shows the data compression ratio by use of MPEG-2. For DVB, “quality levels range
from SDTV (Standard Definition Television) via EDTV (Enhanced Definition Television) to
HDTV (High Definition Television)”

Figure 1: Reduction of Video datarate for DVB and other applications (Reimers, 1998)

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 4.2 OFDM Modulation
DVB-T utilizes many modern technologies for the delivery of high-quality videos to end-users.
For modulation, it uses OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex).

Major design requirement was a system that should have protection against high levels of Co-
Channel Interference (CCI) and Adjacent Channel Interference (ACI) as it needs to operate
within the existing VHF and UHF spectrum for analogue transmission. This requirement can be
achieved by the use of an OFDM system with an Error Correcting Code for error-free data
transmission in the presence of interference (ETSI, EN 300 744, 2004)

Also, OFDM is employed instead of FDM because it saves bandwidth for transmission, as
shown in fig. 2 (Majed M Albogame, 2014)

Figure 2: Comparison of FDM (a) and OFDM (b) (Majed M Albogame, 2014)

OFDM makes use of a multi-carrier modulation scheme. An OFDM signal consists of Multiple
closely spaced sub-carriers. So instead of traditional data transfer, which is sending bits one after
the other over the radio channel, it transfers data in parallel across various carriers hence
reducing interference risk.
Data carried by each subcarrier in OFDM signal is much lower. The overall data of the signal is
sum of data carried by each subcarrier.

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A further Guard band is added to extend the duration of each transmitted signal to guarantee
safety against interference due to multipath propagation. They are generated with no energy in
them to ensure that signals transmitting simultaneously don’t interfere with each other
(LibreTexts libraries, 2021).

Figure 3: Guard Bands in OFDM (Source: OFDM Systems by Arwa Mustafa)

Modes of Operation: “There are two modes of operation of OFDM: 2K Carriers plus QAM and
8K Carriers plus QAM. 2K mode is appropriate for smaller networks with limited transmitter
distances, while the 8K mode allows more multipath protection and suitable for both small and
large SFN networks. 2K mode also offers doppler advantages where a receiver is moving”
(David Wood, 2019)
Modulation Options: 3 modulation options (QPSK, 16 QAM and 64 QAM) are available,
which is a tradeoff between the amount of data and the Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR). QPSK
transfer less data than 64 QAM; however, SNR is low in that case, and coverage is limited as
well (Electronics Note, n.d.).

4.3 Error Correction

Any radio system transmitting data suffers from errors. Error correction comes into operation to
resolve noisy communication signals and ensure senders signal must match the receiver signal.
Normally two error correction techniques, At Transmission end, Reed Solomon and
Convolutional coding methods, are employed in concatenation within the encoder (Reimers,
1998).
Error correction is done in two steps. Outer Code, Reed Solomon is Block Level Code and
works on Bytes. It adds an extra byte for error correction up to 8 bytes in 204 bytes word.

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Inner Code, Convolution code with coding rate 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8 are used. Code rate 1/2 is
used where high transmission safety is a requirement, while 7/8 provide weak protection against
errors and used where there is low interference. Error Correction method slows down the data
rate of transmission.

5. Hierarchical Modulation
Hierarchical modulation (HM) is considered as substitute to conventional modulation (QPSK, 16
QAM, 64 QAM). By employing HM technique, two different multiplex signals can be
transmitted over the single channel. (Alexander Schertz, 2003).
2 Multiplex are used in HM over the single channel. High Priority (HP) multiplex is used for
low data but high signal strength requirement, while Low Priority (LP) multiplex is normally
used for portable indoor and mobile reception. LP stream is of higher bit rate but lower signal
strength.
“The total data rate (HP + LP) of 4-PSK in 64-QAM is higher than in the case of non-
hierarchical modulation using 16- QAM (the reference system)” (Alexander Schertz, 2003)
Although HM represents to be a better alternative than Non-hierarchical modulation, but less
attention paid to due to complexity involved

6. Block Diagram of DVB-T

Following is the block diagram of the DVB-T transmitter and receiver.

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 Figure 4: Block Diagram of DVB-T System Source: (Shivia Gupta, 2015)
7. Second Generation (DVB-T2)
In June 2008, DVB Project launched the second generation of DVB-T standard and named
DVB-T2. It offers multiple key features; some of them are mentioned below (DigiTAG, 2009)
 Provides at least 30% to 50% higher transmission capacity by employing the latest
modulation and error correction methods. It also maximizes spectrum efficiency.

 Major success comes from the re-use of existing antenna and transmitter system hence
saving cost of infrastructure.

 It reduces the total power of the system by reducing 25% of peak power of an amplifier
of a transmission station

 With the use of LDPC and BCH, error correction is more competitive for high noise
environment.

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 Table 2: Comparison of DVB-T and DVB-T2, Source: (DigiTAG, 2009)

The comparison clearly shows the use of advanced technologies in DVB-T2. Since both DVB-T
and DVB-T2 using OFDM modulation but addition of 256 QAM in DVB-T2 increase the ability
of carrying data per cell and improvement in forward error correction (FEC) gives major
capacity boost (DigiTAG, 2009).
Forward Error Correction (FEC) is equipped with Low-Density Parity Check (LDPC) and Bose-
Chaudhuri Hocquengham (BCH) to protect the signals from high noise levels and inferences.
DVB-T2 have additional flexibility to maximize or reduce data payload transmission over the
channels by using different modes of FFT size. Its helps to change video quality as per
requirement of the users.
DVB-T2 employee MPEG-4 along with MPEG-2 for source coding and data compression.
MPEG-4 require much less bandwidth in comparison to MPEG-2. It's more convenient for
online and portable devices by reducing data size. It uses a better algorithm that reduces and
discards pixels which are not required (Radiant Communications Corporation, 2018).
The implementation of DVB-T2 will reduce the usage of spectrum, available spectrum can be
used for more services (DigiTAG, 2009).
DVB-T2 is more efficient due to improved coverage, power-saving of approx. 35% as compared
to analogue system for the same coverage area (STAN MOOTE, 2011)

8. Countries of use
DVB-T Standard is most widely used than any other standard of DVB Project due to its spectral
efficiency and providing broadcasting frequencies for other services leading to digital switch

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over. 146 Countries are now using DVB-T and DVB-T2. Earlier it was used only by European
countries now deployed in America, Africa, and Asian countries due to its spectral efficiency
(DVB Project Office, 2020)

Figure 5: DVB-T and DVB-T2 deployment (International Telecommunication Union (ITU),

2019)

Table 3: List of Countries using DVB-T/T2 (International Telecommunication Union (ITU),

2019)
Continent Countries
America Panama, Bermuda, French Guiana, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, Curacao
Greenland, Haiti, Suriname, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.
Europe UK, Sweden, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Bulgaria, Albania, Greece,
Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Poland, Faroe Islands, Finland,
Slovakia, Georgia, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway,
Portugal, Macedonia, Russia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Spain, Turkey, Luxembourg, Ukraine, Romania,
Serbia

Asia Bangladesh, India, Iran, Bahrain, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Myanmar, Oman, Qatar,
Afghanistan, Yemen, Thailand, Syria, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab
Emirates, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Yemen, Thailand, Israel, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Mongolia, Palestine,

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 Singapore, Malaysia

Africa Nigeria, Tunisia, South Africa, Morocco, Kenya, Cameroon, Madagascar,

Algeria, Mauritius, Ghana, Namibia, Rwanda, Cape Verde

Oceania Australia, New Zealand

9. Conclusion
From the very beginning of the TV industry, analogue transmission was source of video
transmission but with passage of time industry face quality of signals, transmission rate and
spectral inefficiency issues. Till 1990, digital transmission was not used in the TV industry due
to the complexity and cost involved, but in the mid-1990s, more than 200 industries voluntarily
led a consortium (DVB Project) for Digital Media Delivery (David Wood, 2019).
With passing time, Analogue transmission is being replaced with Digital Video Broadcasting
(DVB) due to DVB project offers dramatically improved techniques that fulfills users demand of
high-quality videos and more programs.
Earlier DVB Project launched different standards like DVB-S, DVB-C and later DVB-T.
Initially, it was deployed in Europe, but later it reached in remaining continents due to spectral
efficiency and higher data rate.
Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVB-T) is widely used DVB standard due to spectral
efficiency, high data rate transmission and more flexibility. Its use of MPEG-2 source coding,
OFDM modulation and Error correction methods marks its success worldwide in digital video
broadcasting.
Later in 2008, DVB-T2 launched that provides at least 30% to 50% higher transmission capacity
that resolved demand of spectrum for more services in communication.
The future of Digital broadcasting is very bright since its making use of advanced technologies
for newly developing communication services to be used over radio frequency. 146 countries
already deployed DVB-T and DVB-T2, which is a clear mark of DVB Project success over the
years (DVB Project Office, 2020).

10. References

Alexander Schertz, C. W., 2003. Hierarchical modulation. [Online]

Available at: https://tech.ebu.ch/docs/techreview/trev_294-weck.pdf
[Accessed 30 March 2021].

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David Wood, 2019. History of the DVB Project. [Online]
Available at: https://dvb.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/History-of-the-DVB-Project.pdf
[Accessed 1 April 2021].

DigiTAG, 2009. Understanding DVB-T2. [Online]

Available at: https://www.ncc.gov.tw/chinese/files/12040/2835_120409_2.pdf
[Accessed 4 Apr 2021].

Dummies, A Wiley Brand, 2021. Why Are We Switching to Digital Television Signals?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.dummies.com/consumer-electronics/home-theater/why-are-we-switching-
to-digital-television-signals/
[Accessed 2 April 2021].

DVB Project Office, 2020. DTT Deployment Data. [Online]

Available at: https://dvb.org/solutions/dtt-deployment-data/
[Accessed 5 April 2021].

DVB, 2019. About: DVB. [Online]

Available at: https://dvb.org/about/
[Accessed 1 April 2021].

Electronics Note, n.d. What-is-DVB-T:. [Online]

Available at: https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/audio-video/broadcast-tv-television/what-is-
dvb-t-basics-tutorial.php
[Accessed 2 April 2021].

ETSI, EN 300 744, 2004. EN 300 744. [Online]

Available at: https://www.etsi.org/deliver/etsi_en/300700_300799/300744/01.05.01_60/
en_300744v010501p.pdf
[Accessed 02 April 2021].

European Telecommunications Standards Institute, 1997. Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB);

Implementation guidelines for DVB terrestrial services; Transmission aspects, s.l.: ETSI.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2019. STATUS OF THE TRANSITION TO DIGITAL

TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION (DSO). [Online]
Available at: https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Spectrum-Broadcasting/DSO/Pages/Countries.aspx
[Accessed 4 Apr 2021].

LibreTexts libraries, 2021. Multipaths and Delay Spread.. [Online]

Available at: https://eng.libretexts.org/@go/page/41212
[Accessed 2 April 2021].

Majed M Albogame, K. E., 2014. (OFDM) in Wireless Communication Network. [Online]

Available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259649471_Enhancement_Orthogonal_Frequency_Division
_Multiplexing_OFDM_in_Wireless_Communication_Network_by_Using_PTSPartial_Transmit_Sequence
s_Technique
[Accessed 1 April 2021].

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Radiant Communications Corporation, 2018. Understanding the Difference Between MPEG-2 & MPEG-4
Encoders. [Online]
Available at: https://www.rccfiber.com/understanding-difference-mpeg-2-mpeg-4-encoders/
[Accessed 30 March 2021].

Reimers, U., 1998. Digital broadcasting: the future of television. [Online]

Available at: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2058-7058/11/4/32/pdf
[Accessed 28 March 2021].

Shivia Gupta, R. S., 2015. Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB): Architecture, Applications, benefits and
Design. [Online]
Available at: http://ijcem.in/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Digital-Video-Broadcasting-DVB-
Architecture-Applications-benefits-and-Design1.pdf
[Accessed 02 April 2021].

STAN MOOTE, R. R., 2011. Green Advantages of DVB-T2. [Online]

Available at: https://www.gatesair.com/documents/slides/2011-07-Redmond-Moote-Green-
Advantages-of-DVB-T2.pdf
[Accessed 4 April 2021].

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