In-Car Mobile DTV Tuner Demonstrated

From Doug Lung’s RF Report.: Car audio-video manufacturer Concept Enterprises in City of Industry, Calif. demonstrated a market-ready in-car tuner for the new ATSC Mobile DTV standard at the SEMA trade show in Las Vegas earlier this month.

Concept said the tuner is due to hit the market in early December and will cost $499. It will work with any aftermarket or OEM monitor that has RCA inputs. Concept did not have any information on the unit on its Web site, but an article in TWICE, “First Mobile DTV Car Tuner at $499,” said the device will come with a six-inch long roof-top antenna. It will be interesting to see how well it works at VHF.

“Especially since AT&T CruiseCast is no longer, people are looking for an inexpensive TV solution to get TV in the car,” said Al Miller, Concept national sales manager. “You get clean, clear reception of local broadcasting.”

Concept appears poised to beat Kenwood to market with an ATSC mobile DTV tuner.

I suspect TV stations transmitting mobile DTV will be looking into the Concept tuners for their news reporters and crews. Stay tuned for an update on reception performance once these units make it to the market. -- Doug Lung is a long-time contributor to TV Technology.