A team of technologists came to Detroit last November to test a critical function needed to enable the use of ATSC 3.0 spectrum in automobiles and other consumer mobile functions. “Handover technology” allows a mobile phone to continue transmitting a call as it moves between the signals of two cell towers. The same technology is needed to use ATSC 3.0 data in a moving vehicle traveling between two or more broadcast towers. A version of DigiCAP’s DigiCaster, an ATSC 3.0 gateway, was installed on the two television stations participating in the test.
In the test car, LG Electronics installed a system to receive and display ATSC 3.0 signals on a rear entertainment TV. As the car moved from signal coverage from one TV station to the next, the NRT transfer technology successfully maintained a stable TV signal at the receiver.
“The success of the demonstration is significant as it shows that entertainment and data services in moving cars can be commercialized,” said Yeongho Je, director of C&M standard lab at LG Electronics. The two ATSC 3.0 test signals were provided by WKAR, Michigan State University’s public media station, and WMYD, The EW Scripps Co. MyNetworkTV affiliate in Detroit. Technical support and management of the proof of concept project was provided by Pearl TV. Heartland Video Systems installed and configured servers and installed the DigiCasters on both television stations.
“Achieving seamless data transfer between adjacent ATSC 3.0 television station signals is fundamental to any automotive and mobile data broadcasting application,” said Anne Schell, CEO of Pearl TV. “While the data transfer technology is not new, confirmation of successful testing of this technology for use with ATSC 3.0 spectrum is an important step forward.”