Latest articles by Charles W. Rhodes
Moving Into an Interference-Limited Environment in 2015
This column has used the term “D/U ratio” (desired/ undesired) in describing how the FCC might repack the UHF TV spectrum.
Obstacles to DTV Reception
You'd be amazed at what stands in the way between the viewer and the broadcast signal
Television Reception History Repeats Itself
The January 1954 issue of "Proceedings of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers" was a special issue devoted entirely to the NTSC compatible color television system adopted by the FCC.
Out-of-Band Interference: Myth or Reality?
In the past, I have written about out-of-band (OOB) interference between ATSC signals in different bands: the low VHF band into a high VHF channel and a high VHF band ATSC into a UHF channel.
Auction Over, Now Let’s Assess the Damage
With the end of the FCC’s spectrum auction in January, it’s time to measure its damaging effects on broadcasters.
The Perils of Putting TV Stations in the Duplex Gap
In 2014 the FCC published details on how it will configure the 600 MHz Band.
Repacking Likely to Multiply Interference
The FCC recently released details of how it will repack remaining TV spectrum in the UHF band.
Minimizing DTV Interference After Channel Repacking
Last month we discussed the restrictions that the FCC must work under in repacking UHF broadcast spectrum.
The Effects of ACI on UHF Channel Allotments
Last month, this column introduced a scheme for allocating UHF band channels by analyzing a set of contiguous channels for a given community.
Assessing Post-Repack Channel Options
It’s a given that there is going to be considerable “channel shuffling” after the upcoming television broadcast spectrum auctions.
Detecting Unique DTV Reception Problems
His trouble started suddenly one evening when he discovered interference across the high VHF band that he had never had before.
Some Hope for Interference Issues
The most amazing finding from the FCC tests of converter boxes is the number of such toxic channel pairs there are.
Inter-Band RFI: Should Stations Worry?
All third-order intermodulation products, (IM3 and Triple Beats), occupy three contiguous channels, so there can be interference to reception on Chs. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35.
Testing Interference on UHF Taboo Channels
The FCC regulates co-channel and adjacent channel interference by its channel allotment plan. It does not regulate “taboo channel interference,” a term left over from analog television.
DTV Interference and Its Mitigation After Repacking
Our tests showed that the double-conversion tuners tested were more vulnerable to interference than the converter boxes with a single-conversion tuner.
Test Results for DTV-DTV Interference From ‘UHF Taboo Channels’
Tests demonstrated that DTV-DTV interference will happen.
Probable Causes and Solutions Found for Poor Reception
Charles Rhodes reports on an unusual DTV reception problem he experienced.
Does DTV Interference From Taboo Channels Exist?
With repacking now in the future for many UHF broadcasters, the problems of interference between DTV signals crammed into Channels 14–29 for example, need to be reconsidered.
