Antenna considerations for the TV Repack & ATSC 3.0

1. TV Repack & ATSC 3.0
SFNs and Future Proofing Antennas
Louis iana & Mis s is s ippi As s oc iations of
Broadc as ters
TV Engineer ing C onfer enc e
C hr is tine Zuba
J une 2, 2016

2. AG E N D A
• The Process
• Proposal and budgeting
• Antenna considerations
• Transmission line considerations
• Inside RF
• 3.0 Future proofing
2

3. I N C E N T I V E AU C T I O N T I M E L I N E
Event Current Estimate
Reverse Auction Initial Commitment Deadline March 29, 2016
FCC Announces Initial Clearing Target Late April 2016
FCC Sends Confidential Letters to Applicants April/May 2016
FCC Holds Mock Auction(s) May 2016
Reverse Auction Clock Rounds Begin May 2016
Reverse Auction Clock Rounds End June/July 2016
Forward Auction Begins June/July 2016
3

4. H O W M AN Y S TAT I O N S D I R E C T LY I M PAC T E D ?
Spectrum
Recovered
MHz
Highest
Remaining TV
Channel
Full Power
Stations
Class A
Stations
Total
Stations
Directly
Impacted*
84 36 593 144 737
108 32 656 162 818
114 31 695 164 859
126 29 922 211 1133
Directly impacted stations are those currently assigned to spectrum that
is to be cleared for wireless services
*Some will be participating in the auction thus reducing the number of
directly impacted stations
4

5. W H AT ’ S N E X T – S TAT I O N S O N T H E M O V E
Event
File CP for Modified Facility 3 months after
reassignment PN
Post-Auction Filing Windows (channel changes or
expanded facilities)
• Window 1: Stations unable to meet
technical parameters in reassignment PN
• Window 2: All other stations assigned to
new channels
After staff processes initial
applications
Construction Deadline Up to 39 mos. after
reassignment PN
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6. R E I M B U R S E M E N T P R O C E D U R E
Estimate of Reimbursement Costs
– Must be submitted via LMS within three months of
Reassignment PN
– Specific cost items:
• Transmitter
• Antenna
• Transmission Line
• Tower Equipment and Rigging
• Outside Professional Costs
• Other Expenses
– For costs outside catalog, must submit supporting
evidence and certify estimate made in good faith
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7. A T Y P I C A L D T V T R A N S M I S S I O N P L A N T
• Basic transmission system blocks:
• External RF Items:
• Mask Filter
• RF Combiner
• Transmission line
• Antenna
Program
Material
(Video, Audio,
Data)
RFPOWER
AMPLIFIER
RF
Control
Power Supplies
TRANSMITTER
Cooling
MASK
FILTER
COMBINER
TRANSMISSION
LINE
Other transmitter(s)
(if applicable)
ANTENNA
RF
EXCITER
LP
FILTER
• Transmitter, comprising:
• Exciter
• Amplifier
• Power Supplies
• Control
• Cooling System
7

8. W H AT ’ S I M PAC T E D B Y R E PAC K ?
Program
Material
(Video, Audio,
Data)
RFPOWER
AMPLIFIER
RF
Control
Power Supplies
TRANSMITTER
Cooling
MASK
FILTER
COMBINER
TRANSMISSION
LINE
Other transmitter(s)
(if applicable)
ANTENNA
RF
EXCITER
LPFILTER
Very
Likely
Very
Likely
Likely
100%
Very
Likely
Possibly
• If moving from an affected channel to a new one:
• The following items will need to be looked at for
retune or replacement:
8

9. ANTENNA CONSIDERATIONS
9

10. C O V E R AG E R E P L I C AT I O N
𝑃𝑟 = 𝑃𝑡
𝐺𝑡 𝐺𝑟 𝜆2
(4𝜋𝑅)2
1 MW ERP AT CH49 WILL BE ALLOCATED
687 KW ERP AT CH 25
• OET-69 “dipole factor”
10

11. L O W E R C H AN N E L AN T E N N A W I T H S AM E G AI N
Channel 51
TFU-30JTH-R O4
Ø10.75” Pipe
27 Gain
(EPA) = 42.4 ft2
W = 3800 lbs.
ERP = 1 MW
TPO = 37 kW
45.2 ft.
Channel 24
TFU-30JTH-R O4
Ø14” Pipe
27 Gain
(EPA) = 68.7 ft2
W = 7000 lbs.
ERP = 588 kW
TPO = 22 kW
58.3 ft.
REQUIRES LARGER HEAVIER
ANTENNA
11

12. L O W E R C H AN N E L AN T E N N A - S AM E W I N D - L O AD
Channel 51
TFU-30JTH-R O4
Ø10.75” Pipe
27 Gain
(EPA) = 42.4 ft2
W = 3800 lbs.
ERP = 1 MW
TPO = 37 kW
45.2 ft.
Channel 24
TFU-22JTH-R O4
Ø10.75” Pipe
20 Gain
(EPA) = 45.0 ft2
W = 3600 lbs.
ERP = 588 kW
TPO = 29 kW
43.5 ft.
SAME SIZE AND WINDLOAD – LOWER GAIN
12

13. AN T E N N A P L AN N I N G P R O C E S S
Broadcaster
Antenna Supplier
Structural Engineer
Other Tower Tenants
Tower Owner
RF Engineering Consultant
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14. R F I N F O R M AT I O N R E Q U I R E D F O R AN T E N N A
P R O P O S AL
• Channel
• ERP
• Polarization
• Pattern to match
(if directional)
• F or G code
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15. TO W E R S AN D AN T E N N A S
15
• Basic Wind Speed
• Antenna Elevation on Tower
• Design Ice
• Tower Height
• Structure Class
• Exposure Category
• Topographic Category
• Height of Crest Above Average Terrain
• Seismic Spectral Response Acceleration
Site Criteria Needed for 222-G Antenna Proposal:
Much more Site Design Information is required from
Broadcasters and/or Tower Engineers in 222-G

16. F U T U R E P R O O F I N G
• ATSC 3.0 Compatibility
– Higher PAPR – need higher voltage
standoff in line and antenna
– Wider bandwidth – be sure filters and
channel combiners are ready
• Add V-POL to antenna ?
• Single frequency Network ?
16

17. 4K
UHDTV
Fundamentally change the way U.S. Broadcast TV is delivered.
Merging internet with broadcast with
• More flexibility
• More services
• More robust delivery
• More platforms
More bits to more
places
More signal strength
M O R E , M O R E , M O R E
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18. 18
PAP R
• PAPR is “peak to average power
ratio”
• “Crest factor” is voltage defined –
therefore 3dB higher
• Common to measure at 0.01%
• ATSC 1.0 – 6 dB to 7 dB
• ATSC 3.0 – 8.4 dB (7x)
10.0 dB (10 x)
11.0 dB (12 x)
13.0 dB (20 x)

19. 19
O C C U P I E D B AN D W I D T H
• ATSC 1.0 – 5.38 MHz
• ATSC 3.0 – 5.832 MHz (ref ATSC S32-230r45, 4-6-16)
• FCC emission requirements unchanged
Ripple
bandwidth
• Most six pole mask filters have
adequate ripple bandwidth to pass
5.83 MHz
• Existing 6 pole filters OK
• Tx needs 36 dB shoulders
• Thermal stability more important

20. Purpose is not to establish next generation planning factors
FCC ATSC A/53 minimum field strength 41 dBu
Reduce antenna height 30ft. to 6ft. 7 dB
Building wall attenuation (10-28 dB) 15 dB
Smaller inefficient receive antenna gain (-3 dBd) 9 dB
Multipath (AWGN to Ricean / Rayleigh) (1-3 dB) 3 dB
Location correction F(95%,fade margin) 9 dB
Minimum required field strength for an indoor NG
broadcast service to support a data rate based on
15 dB C/N
84 dBu
Based on
• Outdoor
• Fixed antenna at 30’
• 6dB gain (10dB-4dB down lead)
• C/N 15 dB
[1] iBLAST DATA BROADCASTING FIELD TESTS
“A Study to Understand and Quantify Reception of the
ATSC Signal”, Andrew Miller, Steve Lacey, Jerry Glaser,
Mike Stauffer, and Pete Ludé, 23 April, 2001
[2] TV Technology: “DTV in the House, Part1”, Doug Lung,
Sept 5, 2007
[3] ITU-R BT.2033-1, “Planning criteria, including protection
ratios, for second generation of digital terrestrial television
broadcasting systems in the VHF/UHF bands”; “Effect of
AWGN & Fading (Rayleigh & Rician) channels on BER
performance of a WiMAX communication System, IJCSIS,
Awon, Islam, Rahman and Islam
[4] ITU-R P.1546-5 Method for point to area predictions for
terrestrial services in the frequency range 30MHz to 3000
MHz.
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
S I G N AL S T R E N G T H AP P R O X I M AT I O N
20

21. Fixed HD
No service
Outdoor
MobileIn / Out Portable
Deep Indoor
mobile HD
In / Out
Portable
In / Out
Portable
In / Out
Portable
Outdoor
Mobile
Saturate from main
antenna and add SFN sites
1. Increase beam tilt and add lots of power
2. Increase null fill
3. Add a SFN
Fixed HD
Fixed Gateway
Fixed
Gateway
B O O S T I N G T H E S I G N AL S T R E N G T H
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22. Simply increase the null fill of your antenna later
In anticipation of ATSC 3.0 services, future proofing should be considered if
purchasing an antenna now.
Field convertible null fill antenna
A D D I N G N U L L F I L L & F U T U R E P R O O F I N G T H E M A I N
S T I C K
22

23. z
θL
zo
𝐼 𝑍
5
8
L
180 deg
Increase null fill
Lead to the development of custom illuminations with standard null fill that
react positively to this theory
Equal
amplitude
Linear phase
S U P E R I M P O S I N G A N O U T O F P H A S E E X C I TAT I O N
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24. Field convertible high null fill antenna using a future proof illumination
• Simple
• Short conversion time
• VSWR performance is unaffected
10 dB increase
2 dB decrease in peak ERP
B O O S T I N G T H E S I G N AL S T R E N G T H
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25. There is no “One Size Fits All” antenna solution for ATSC 3.0 SFN’s. A combination of panel,
slot and broadband slot cavity antennas will be required
• Considerations
• Azimuth pattern
• Site sharing
• Windload constraints
W H AT T Y P E O F A N T E N N A T O U S E AT S F N S I T E S ?
25

26. Designing for service
Designing for coverage – old school thinking
Focus on consumers served
Type of Service
Inputs
Deep indoor
mobile HD
Fixed indoor
Gateway HD
Indoor Nomadic
- Portable
Outdoor
mobile
Outdoor
fixed HD Bootstrap
25 Mbps 25 Mbps 10 Mbps 5 Mbps 25 Mbps
FCC ATSC A/53 minimum field strength (dBu) 41 41 41 41 41 41 41
Reduce antenna height factor 30 to 6 ft. (dB) 7 7 7 7 7 N/A 7
Building wall attenuation (dB) 15 20 15 15 N/A N/A N/A
Smaller inefficient receive antenna gain factor (dB) 9 9 6 6 9 N/A 9
Dynamic multipath - AWGN to Ricean/Rayleigh (dB) 3 3 3 3 3 1 3
Location correction F(95%,fade margin) 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
Required C/N (dB) 15 20 20 15 10 20 -6
C/N Correction (dB) -15 -15 -15 -15 -15 -15 -15
Total - Required signal strength at 30' (dBu) 84 94 86 81 64 56 48
S I G N A L S T R E N G T H R E Q U I R E M E N T S F O R T Y P E S
O F S E R V I C E
26

27. Network planning assumptions / settings
• CRC propagation model
• Communication Research Center – Canada
• Much more realistic than Longley Rice
• Uses clutter data
• Services / Bitrate / RSS needed at 30’ receive antenna height
• Outdoor fixed HD / 25 Mbs / 56 dBu
• Outdoor mobile / 5 Mbs / 64 dBu
• Indoor nomadic-portable / 10 Mbs / 81 dBu
• Fixed indoor gateway HD / 25 Mbs / 86 dBu
• Deep indoor mobile HD / 25 Mbs / 94 dBu
• Network areas limited within the FCC 41 dBu contour or 103km from main antenna
• 47 CFR 73.626 – DTV distributed transmission systems
• SFN Tower search
• All towers in the search are available
• Towers located >10 km inside 103km circle
• Restricted to tower heights > 60 m
• PROGIRA plan network planning tool
Adding Null Fill and a SFN
Planning the ATSC 3.0 Network
27

28. WNUV – Baltimore Example
Assume
• Replace antenna with a high null fill field
convertible antenna
• Main antenna retains full ERP - 845 kW
• Main antenna remains at full HAAT - 1200’
• Strategically add SFN to coverage area using
existing towers.
Goal
• Boost signal strength and provide more
services to more people
• Provide deep indoor mobile HD in close to
highly populated areas
• Provide indoor portable service in targeted
areas
• Expand outdoor mobile services
41 dBu contour 103 km radius
B O O S T I N G T H E S I G N AL S T R E N G T H
28

29. Existing service after ATSC
3.0 switchover
WNUV – Baltimore Example
Existing
Main
Antenna
Service
RSS
(dBu)
Population
Served
Bootstrap 48 6,121,162
Outdoor fixed HD 56 4,940,909
Outdoor mobile 64 3,788,584
Indoor nomadic-portable 81 1,905,382
Fixed indoor gateway HD 86 1,429,098
Deep indoor mobile HD 94 658,493
• Total population inside 41 dBu curve is 7.9M
• Services are inclusive
B E N C H M AR K
29

30. B o o s t i n g t h e s i g n a l s t r e n g t h WNUV – Baltimore Example
Effect of increasing the null fill by simple field conversion
Existing antenna
Standard null fill
Future high null fill
Lose 174k consumers
using lower RSS services
in outer coverage areas
Gain 441k consumers using
data intensive services in
near in coverage areas
Overlay
Existing
Main
Antenna
Future High
Null Fill
Converted
Service
RSS
(dBu)
Population
Served
Population
Served
%
Change
Population
Change
Outdoor fixed HD 56 4,940,909 4,847,172 -2% -93,737
Outdoor mobile 64 3,788,584 3,716,684 -2% -71,900
Indoor nomadic-portable 81 1,905,382 1,896,801 0% -8,581
Fixed indoor gateway HD 86 1,429,098 1,527,028 7% 97,930
Deep indoor mobile HD 94 658,493 1,001,992 52% 343,499
Replacing the Main Antenna with a Field Convertible High Null Fill Antenna
30

31. B o o s t i n g t h e s i g n a l s t r e n g t h WNUV – Baltimore Example
Effect of increasing the null fill by simple field conversion
Fixed outdoor HD
Outdoor mobile
Indoor nomadic-portable
Deep indoor mobile HD
Fixed indoor gateway HD
• Slight loss in consumers serviced by lower bit rates
• Significant gain in consumers serviced with higher bit rates
31

32. B o o s t i n g t h e s i g n a l s t r e n g t h WNUV – Baltimore Example
Adding 50 kW ERP SFN sites with theoretical antenna patterns
1
2
3
4
Site 1
75m Tower
50 kW ERP
Site 4
100m Tower
50 kW ERP
Site 2
75m Tower
50 kW ERP
Site 3
75m Tower
50 kW ERP
Each site begins omni directional then applies power
reductions to meet FCC 41 limits
A D D I N G S F N S I T E S T O T H E E X I S T I N G M A I N A N T E N N A
32

33. B o o s t i n g t h e s i g n a l s t r e n g t h WNUV – Baltimore Example
Effect of adding theoretical SFN sites to the main antenna
with standard null fill elevation pattern
Gain 1.46M consumers
throughout service
offerings
Existing
Main
Antenna
Standard
Elevation
Pattern
Service
RSS
(dBu)
Population
Served
+ SFN
Population
Served
%
Change
Population
Change
Outdoor fixed HD 56 4,940,909 5,405,598 9% 464,689
Outdoor mobile 64 3,788,584 4,189,184 11% 400,600
Indoor nomadic-portable 81 1,905,382 2,157,756 13% 252,374
Fixed indoor gateway HD 86 1,429,098 1,702,093 19% 272,995
Deep indoor mobile HD 94 658,493 734,238 12% 75,745
C O N V E R T I N G T O H I G H N U L L F I L L A N D A D D I N G S F N
S I T E S
33

34. WNUV – Baltimore Example
• Significant gain in consumers serviced by lower bit rates
• Slight gain in consumers serviced with higher bit rates
Effect of adding theoretical SFN sites to the main antenna with standard elevation pattern
Fixed outdoor HD
Outdoor mobile
Indoor nomadic-portable
Deep indoor mobile HD
Fixed indoor gateway HD
B O O S T I N G T H E S I G N AL
34

35. BOOSTING THE SIGNAL STRENGTH. WNUV – Baltimore Example
Effect of adding SFN sites and increasing the
null fill of the main antenna
Gain 1.64M consumers
throughout service
offerings
Existing
Main
Antenna
Future High
Null Fill
Converted
Service
RSS
(dBu)
Population
Served
+ SFN
Population
Served
%
Change
Population
Change
Outdoor fixed HD 56 4,940,909 5,283,509 7% 342,600
Outdoor mobile 64 3,788,584 4,099,525 8% 310,941
Indoor nomadic-portable 81 1,905,382 2,142,988 12% 237,606
Fixed indoor gateway HD 86 1,429,098 1,760,761 23% 331,663
Deep indoor mobile HD 94 658,493 1,077,222 64% 418,729
C O N V E R T I N G T O H I G H N U L L F I L L A N D A D D I N G
S F N S I T E S
35

36. WNUV – Baltimore Example
• Significant gain in consumers serviced by both lower and high bit rates
Effect of adding SFN sites and increasing the null fill of the main antenna
B O O S T I N G T H E S I G N AL S T R E N G T H
36

37. Replacing SFN sites with antenna designs that closely replicate the theoretical patterns
WNUV – Baltimore Example
Site 1
75m Tower
42 kW ERP
Site 4
100m Tower
50 kW ERP
Site 2
75m Tower
37 kW ERP
Site 3
75m Tower
38 kW ERP
Combination of panel and
slot antenna designs
B O O S T I N G T H E S I G N AL S T R E N G T H
37

38. WNUV – Baltimore Example
Effect of changing SFN sites to real antenna designs
and increasing the null fill of the main antenna
Gain 1.58M consumers throughout
service offerings
Note :
Theoretical antennas gain = 1.64M
Existing
Main
Antenna
Future High
Null Fill
Converted
Service
RSS
(dBu)
Population
Served
+ Real Ant.
SFN
Population
Served
%
Change
Population
Change
Outdoor fixed HD 56 4,940,909 5,276,767 7% 335,858
Outdoor mobile 64 3,788,584 4,095,082 8% 306,498
Indoor nomadic-portable 81 1,905,382 2,123,632 11% 218,250
Fixed indoor gateway HD 86 1,429,098 1,742,929 22% 313,831
Deep indoor mobile HD 94 658,493 1,065,715 62% 407,222
B O O S T I N G T H E S I G N AL S T R E N G T H
38

39. WNUV – Baltimore Example Summary
Population gained over using “as is” existing
main antenna for ATSC 3.0 services
Add high null fill to
existing antenna
Add theoretical
SFN to existing
main antenna with
standard null fill
Add theoretical SFN
to main antenna
with converted high
null fill
Replace theoretical
SFN with real antennas
and converting main
antenna to high null fill
4%
decrease
B O O S T I N G T H E S I G N AL S T R E N G T H
39

40. There is no “One Size Fits All” antenna solution for ATSC 3.0 SFN’s. A combination
of panel, slot and broadband slot cavity antennas will be required
• Considerations
• Azimuth pattern
• Site sharing
• Windload constraints
WHAT TYPE OF ANTENNA TO USE AT THE SFN SITES?
40

41. • Slot Antennas:
• Much smaller size
• Less windload
• Higher reliability
• Less connections
• Less parts
1966 RCA adDisadvantage – Slotted coaxial antennas have a limited channel range
WHAT TYPE OF ANTENNA TO USE AT THE SFN SITES?
41

42. • Slotted coaxial antennas
• Versatility - Azimuth patterns can be tailored to meet any
coverage requirement
• Pipe size
• # of slots around
• Orientation of slots
• Power division between slots
• Addition of fins and directors
S L O T T E D C O AX I AL AN T E N N A S
42

43. • Full UHF band operation
• Excellent choice for co-located shared SFN sites
• Very good pattern flexibility
• Number of panels around
• Location
• Orientation
• Amplitude and phase division
• Element beam width
B R O AD B A N D PAN E L AN T E N N A S
43

44. Pylon Antenna Panel Antenna
+ =
TFU-WB
Panel Bandwidth Performance in a Pylon Package
Broadcasting ATSC 3.0 from
Black Mountain
• Broadband – Channels 14-51
• Low windload
• New w/g slot cavity technology
• Economical alternative to panels
Disadvantage
• Some loss in pattern flexibility
• Single cavity limited to directional and cardioid variations
B R O AD B A N D S L O T C AV I T Y AN T E N N A S
44

45. • ATSC 3.0 services will require a new definition of received signal
strengths
• Through the use of advanced SFN planning tools and innovative
antenna design, these required signal strengths can be achieved
• There is no “One Size Fits All” antenna solution for ATSC 3.0 SFN’s.
A combination of panel, slot and broadband slot cavity antennas will
be required
C O N C L U S I O N
45

46. • www.dielectic.com
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