Digital broadcasting has been gaining more and more ground in the world of television broadcasting. This technology has the potential to radically change television habits. A pan-European platform, usually known as DVB, was created in 1993 in order to develop this system. The task of this organisation is to co-ordinate the introduction of standard digital television broadcasting in the various countries.
Based on the recommendation of DVB the following licences were created:
- DVB-T digital terrestrial broadcasting
- DVB-H digital mobile television
- DVB-S digital broadcasting through satellite
- DVB-C digital program allocation through cable networks
Thanks to the solutions of DVB-T, or digital terrestrial broadcasting, a wider range of programs, excellent quality and reliable reception can be offered to the viewers. In addition, DVB-T also represents a 'safe future' system that can create new market and business opportunities. Its universal introduction will enable us to free up frequencies for providing new services.
Why DVB-T?
- Because, using the MPEG-4 compaction technique, it enables the transmission of 8-10 excellent-quality programs in the usual analogue television channels, depending on the requirements of the service provider, and because it also makes it possible to introduce the HDTV system.
- Because due to the efficient utilisation of the data speed the number of programs can be increased and/or frequencies can be freed up to provide other services.
- Because it makes it possible to construct a single-frequency network (SFN). In order to ensure the economic utilisation of the frequency range, every transmitting station and relay station will broadcast a program package on the same frequency.
- Because assuming the same coverage area, the real investment cost is lowest in the case of DVB-T. Constructing a DVB-T network is cheaper than a cable network, and the DVB-T network can even be built upon the analogue infrastructure.
What does digital television offer to the viewers?
- More content, new channels: number of FTA channels could be increased.
- Faultless, noiseless picture and sound quality: no ghost image, flashing or colour distortion.
- With the most modern technology HD programs can also be achieved.
- More convenient handling: electronic program guide (EPG), where the viewer can select the desired program from a menu list. The selection can be made according to the program's name or classification.
What does DVB-T mean for the service providers?
- Coverage: the number of channels with nationwide coverage will increase significantly, thus creating broadcasting opportunities for new service providers.
- Conditional access program transmission: efficient encoding can be attached to the digital signals, which will make it possible to match the service to the demands of the viewers, and to efficiently protect the content.
- New advertising opportunities: the significant increase in the number of programs also enables the launching of advertisement channels.
- Planability: thematic program channels can be started to satisfy specialised and particular demands.
The DVB-T receiver
For digital broadcasts you need a broadband aerial which is suitable for the receiving of UHF frequency (UHF IV, V), namely the channels 21-69. The conventional TV set is not compatible in itself, for digital broadcasts you need a DVB-T MPEG-4 HD set-top-box, which receives and processes the arriving digital signals before emitting them through its output, having converted them into analogue signals. Different set-top-boxes are needed for the reception of terrestrially, via satellite and via cable distributed programs due to the different modulation techniques. Today there already exists a dual-mode television set (IDTV = Integrated Digital Television) which is suitable for direct reception of digital terrestrial broadcasts as well, because the units required for receiving both the analogue and the digital reception are present in the same device.
You can get more information about the available DVB-T receivers in Hungary on the MinDig TV homepage.
What is DVB-T?