Digital Satellite Broadcasting Reception System Test Center Consortium

Wide distribution of test stream begins

Hiroshi NAKAMURA, Managing Director of NHK	It is important for digital satellite broadcasting providers to make an affordable and reliable receiver available to viewers before its start in December, 2000. For this reason, we have started the wide distribution of test streams. We are also promoting the establishment of a system that enables the utilization of experimental radio waves. I sincerely hope that by promoting the diffusion of attractive digital satellite broadcasting, including data broadcasting and HDTV, many in our audience will enjoy the new services.
Figure 1: Composition of the working groups and their projects
Figure 2: Main schedule of the project

Digital satellite broadcasting is to begin in December this year. Broadcasters and broadcasting equipment manufacturers jointly established "The Digital Satellite Broadcasting Reception System Test Center Consortium" in April of last year, in order to facilitate the immediate preparation of digital satellite broadcasting test signals necessary for reception device development. The number of participating companies was 34. NHK's Managing Director, Mr. Nakamura, has been appointed as the chairman of the Consortium.
The Consortium has established three working groups as shown in Figure 1.
The Test Stream Working Group produces standard test streams that duplicate actual broadcasting radio wave signals necessary for adjusting receivers. In the beginning of September last year, the distribution of test stream Version 1 started. This is in relation to television visual/audio data.
The video formats are 1080i, 480p, and 480i with modulation schemes corresponding to TC8PSK, QPSK, and BPSK.
The Connection Experiment Working Group is promoting examinations regarding test items for experimental connections between receivers and transmitters. Every type of interface condition involving connection experiments is also studied.
The Radio Wave Experiment Working Group is considering necessary equipment and facilities to transmit experimental radio waves using an actual broadcasting satellite.
Figure 2 shows the main schedule for the project. Test stream Version 2 including data broadcasting, as well as Version 3 which is related to conditional access system, are to be distributed first in 2000. From March to August this year, experimental radio waves are scheduled to be transmitted as well.