Rohde & Schwarz, the chief broadcast proponent of A-VSB, and Thomson with its QED technology, both competitive transmission systems proposed for mobile DTV service in the United States, will support the ATSC Mobile/Handheld standard as it coalesces.
The statements from both companies come on the heels of two significant announcements last month: one from LG Electronics and Samsung that they had agreed to combine efforts to develop a common mobile DTV reception technology for use in the United States, and the other from Harris, which said it would modify its MPH push into the mobile DTV arena to support the LG-Samsung combined approach.
On May 30, Rohde & Schwarz issued a statement saying that it offers DTV transmitters and exciters that are ATSC M/H-ready. For example, the company’s R&S SX800 exciter, which was introduced in 2006, can be made to support the new standard with a firmware upgrade.
Responding to inquiries from RF Update May 22, Thomson, too, said it would jump on board the ATSC M/H standardization effort, offering the best elements of its competitive technology.
“We believe that Thomson’s QED solution has unique features that would work well within a single standard platform and we look forward to working with other organizations to incorporate the best elements of Thomson technology within the LG/Samsung solution to provide the broadcast community with the best possible system for today and into the future,” said Richard Fiore, senior director, Thomson North American sales for transmission and mobility.
Likewise, Rohde & Schwarz will “continue to contribute to the technology as we have done from the beginning,” said Eddy Vanderkerken, company director of sales.
