WRAL-HD DTV Complete Field Test Report

Metadata

Publisher: SMPTE — White Plains, NY, USA
Doc Type: Journal Article
Content Type: Original Research
Abbreviated Title: SMPTE J
Volume: 108, No. 6, pp. 374–393
Abstract: WRAL-HD conducted one of the nation's first digital television (DTV) field tests. This report will explain the testing methods, results, and analysis of this test, with the final section devoted to comparisons with measured NTSC reception. The testing consisted of four phases that explored different aspects of the new transmission service. In the different areas of testing, the results showed that outdoor service availability of the 100-kW high-definition television (HDTV) service was 89.6% when measured to 65 miles. Also, a horizontally polarized transmitting antenna was compared to a circularly polarized transmitting antenna with no significant advantage or disadvantage found for either antenna to existing receive antennas. Testing was included from the inside of various residences and showed that the problems, which have always affected indoor NTSC reception, will need to be addressed with DTV. Finally, WRAL-HD's sidemounted DTV transmitting antenna was tested for pattern nulls and receiver white noise enhancement and showed that the tower does have an effect on the DTV transmission, but it is minimal and should not prevent the implementation of this type antenna. This report also contains some detailed comparisons between a 5000-kW NTSC signal and the DTV signal. With the NTSC signal enjoying not only a greater power but other transmission advantages as well, the outdoor service availability of the NTSC was 92.5% and for the DTV signal it was 91.8%. These comparisons were also evaluated for indoor reception. This report will detail these and other findings.
Publication Date: 1999-06-01
DOI: 10.5594/J08368
ISSN: Print: 0036-1682
Link: https://doi.org/10.5594/J08368
Author(s): Luther H. RitchieWRAL-HD/Capital Broadcasting Co., Raleigh, NC 27606
bio
Luther Ritchie is currently the HDTV Developmental Engineer for Capitol Broadcasting and WRAL-HD in Raleigh, N.C. Ritchie, an engineer's engineer, began his career at WLTX-TV, then moved to WPTF-TV, and finally landed at WRAL-TV. In 1997, he conducted the first DTV RF field testing since the ACATS testing was conducted in Charlotte, N.C. All of his research is available at www.wral-hd.com . Ritchie is an active member of SMPTE, IEEE, and The Model HDTV Station Committee in Washington, D.C. He has helped many of the industry's broadcasting and manufacturing leaders with issues concerning HDTV.
Copyright: © 1999 Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Inc.

Bibliographic Reference(s)

1. MSTV, CableLabs, and PBS , “Field Test Results of the Grand Alliance HDTV Transmission Subsystem,” SS/WP-2 Field Testing Task Force of ACATS, Sept. 16, 1994 . EXTERNAL
2. MSTV, CableLabs, and PBS , “Results of the Terrestrial Broadcast Transmission of the Grand Alliance HDTV System,” to SS/WP-2 Field Testing Task Force of ACATS, Oct. 16, 1995 . EXTERNAL
3. McKinnon M. Drazin M. Sgrignoli G. , “Tribune/WGN DTV Field Test,” July 1998 , available at http://www.wgntv.com/dtv/ . EXTERNAL
4. Ritchie L. , “WRAL-HD DTV Field Testing,” NAB Broadcast Eng. Conf., Apr. 8, 1998 , available at http://www.wral-hd.com . EXTERNAL
5. FCC , “WRAL-HD Field Test Report,” July 1997 , copy on file with the FCC and available at http://www.wral-hd.com . EXTERNAL
6. Sgrignoli G. , “ATSC Field Test Vehicle Design Information,” Internal Zenith memo and HDTV Model Station Project RF Working Group , 1997 . EXTERNAL
7. Sgrignoli G. , “ATSC Outdoor DTV Field Test Plan,” Internal Zenith memo and HDTV Model Station Project RF Working Group , 1996 . EXTERNAL
8. Sgrignoli G. , “ATSC Indoor DTV Field Test Plan,” Internal Zenith memo and HDTV Model Station Project RF Working Group , 1997 . EXTERNAL

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<span class="citation">Luther H. Ritchie; <cite>WRAL-HD DTV Complete Field Test Report</cite>, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 108, Issue: 6, June 1999); SMPTE, 1999. Available at <a href="https://doi.org/10.5594/J08368" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://doi.org/10.5594/J08368</a></span>

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Luther H. Ritchie; WRAL-HD DTV Complete Field Test Report, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 108, Issue: 6, June 1999); SMPTE, 1999
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Luther H. Ritchie; <cite id="bib-10-5594-j08368">WRAL-HD DTV Complete Field Test Report</cite>, SMPTE Journal ( Volume: 108, Issue: 6, June 1999); SMPTE, 1999
<span class="doi">10.5594/J08368</span>
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