Advanced ISDB-T-Next Generation Digital TV System: Performance in Field Tests in Brazil

The next-generation TV broadcasting systems must meet the demand for better audio and video quality, higher accessibility and interactivity, and personalized services on fixed and mobile devices. In Brazil, field measurement tests are being performed to evaluate the performance of candidate technologies. The Advanced ISDB-T is a promising Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) technology. It evolves from the current ISDB-T standard, already adopted in Brazil, increasing the system's flexibility, robustness, and spectrum efficiency. It also includes MIMO technologies to allow for high transmission rates. This work assesses the Advanced ISDB-T system performance in field tests, considering a 2x2 MIMO transmission through a Rayleigh channel, considering the requirements defined for the next generation of Brazilian Digital TV systems. We evaluate the channel power, threshold C/N ratio, and reception threshold on 20 measurement sites with outdoor reception. The measurements of the parameter Condition Number, which quantifies the suitability of the radio channel for MIMO transmission, indicate that the channel was well-conditioned at all measurement sites but one and that the tested system efficiently demodulated the MIMO received signal, even under less unfavorable conditions. This occurs when the C/N threshold is less than zero and the corresponding condition number is equal to or less than 2 dB.