Introduction
The aim of the project is to develop a professional receiver and signal analyzer for ATSC 3.0 MIMO broadcast transmission.
By enabling multiple antennas to be used for both transmitting and receiving data, MIMO technology allows increasing data rates and improved reliability. The key benefits of MIMO technology implemented in modern broadband applications include improved signal quality, increased coverage, and reduced interference.
In the context of ATSC 3.0, MIMO technology can be used to increase spectral efficiency and enable higher data throughput (theoretically doubling the data rate). For a TV broadcaster, this would allow an increased variety of channels and/or higher quality content delivery.
ATSC specifies MIMO implementation for ATSC 3.0 in version A/322:2021, Annex L: (https://prdatsc.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/A322-2021-Physical-Layer-Protocol.pdf)
Targeted Outcomes
- A fully operational prototype of a professional grade ATSC 3.0 MIMO Receiver, capable of capturing RF content from cross-polarized antennas.
- A MIMO-specific RF signal analyzer with predictive analysis for signal optimization.
- A solution to process and combine streams from two independent RF channels into an ATSC 3.0 standard compliant output.
Proposed Solution
- Avateq’s RF Signal Analyzers with optimized firmware for MIMO processing for each RF channel
- A suite of analytical and stream processing routines for real time stream assembly and IP output.
Project Challenges
- ATSC 3.0 Bootstrap detection for signals with less than 0 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) due to cross channel interference.
- MIMO signal equalization and optimization for strong cross channel interference.
- DSP for Forward Error Correction (FEC) for Low-Density Parity Check (LDPC) and Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) Frame Error providing higher than 100Mbps throughput.
Funding
- Avateq's Investment
- We thank our partners for valuable inputs and technical assistance with equipment used during the development:
Summary
- A fully operational prototype has been tested.
- Doubled RF channel capacity has been achieved in a laboratory set-up.
- A set of tools to estimate and predict potentially achievable MIMO data rate as a subject of antenna cross-polarization parameters, link, quality, etc. has been integrated into the prototype.
In-field testing for MIMO transmission/reception performance verification and optimization is planned for spring-summer of 2023 on premises of Humber College's Broadcast-Broadband Convergence laboratory (http://b2convergence.ca).
