Year 51 - Issue 3 - December 2002
Cover Contents G.F. Barbieri
Editorial
A. Bertella, P. B. Forni, G. Giancane, B. Sacco, M. Tabone
DVB-T portable indoor reception
In  February 1998, the Rai Research Centre for Technological Innovation (CRIT) began the first experimental trials on Digital Terrestrial Television (DVB-T) in the Turin area. The main goal was the technical evaluation of the system performance - whose specification was defined by DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) with the contribution of Rai-CRIT - as well as the identification of service requirements.
The paper describes the main results of the tests related to portable DVB-T “indoor reception”(i.e. reception through a simple omnidirectional antenna), which offers an important opportunity for DVB-T penetration in the home.  
The technical evaluations have been carried out in more than 140 sites distributed on the three floors of the Rai-CRIT’s building.
The efficiency of domestic in band repeaters (gap-fillers) was also evaluated; these devices allow to improve the DVB-T reception in the building areas affected by strong attenuation of the over-air received signal, because of the building infrastructures (reinforced concrete walls, etc.) and the unfavourable position of the receiving site respect to the main transmitter (out of sight).
The influence on the reception quality of short-strong echoes, which currently affect portable indoor reception, was evaluated , as well as the compatibility  to the electromagnetic exposure limits established by the national Regulation. At the end, the technical characteristics of a receiving antenna system, based on a “space diversity” approach and implemented by Rai-CRIT to improve the DVB-T indoor quality reception, are presented and the results reported.
D. Milanesio, G. P. Placidi, V. Sardella 
DVB-T reception in MATV (Master Antenna Television) systems
The paper reports the main results of the research activity regarding the reception of digital terrestrial television (DVB-T) signals in MATV (Master Antenna Television) systems, carried out by Rai - Centre for Research and Technological Innovation . 
The experimentation was carried out both in laboratory, using a certain number of MATV networks designed on purpose, and in the field, by means of a measurement campaign in real MATV networks, located in Turin inside the service area of the DVB-T Torino-Eremo transmitter. Moreover, the article outlines the contributions to the relevant IEC/CENELEC standards, and the dissemination activity, towards the sector operators and the general public, concerning the Quality-of-Service aspects in the cable distribution systems

The Centre for Research and Technological Innovation at the IBC 2002
The IBC Exhibition is is one of the most important event to present the latest technology and foremost business ideas in broadcasting and media. It took place in Amsterdam on 13 - 17 September 2002.
The Centre for Research and Technological Innovation was at the EBU Village (stand 10.411) exhibiting:

  • A prototype of an ingestion system, towards a Multimedia Catalogue, mainly providing automatic documentation, segmentation and indexing of TV programmes.
  • A simplified remultiplexer for satellite distribution of signals to digital television transmitters. The adoption of conventional remultiplexer can increase costs and network complexity: the innovative solution proposed by the Research Centre of Rai allows a significant chain simplification, replacing the remultiplexer with a simple and low cost equipment able to extract a 'virtual bouquet' embedded in the complete DTH bouquetSee the brochure
  • The main Italian broadcasters are in favour of adopting MHP standard for DTT applications. Some examples of informative and interactive MHP applications for public-interest services (T-Government) are presented.See the brochure

Three papers were presented at the Conference:
MOBILE DVB-T RECEPTION: QUALITY OF STREAMING OVER IP OF AUDIOVISUAL SERVICES
DTT NETWORK STRUCTURES AND TECHNICAL INNOVATIONS
AUTOMATED INGESTION OF AU
What it is, How it works
"Elettronica e Telecomunicazioni" includes some short articles to illustrate technologies or systems adopted in the communication and broadcast fields.
In this issue, there are three short articles on the Optical Disk Tecnologies adopted for consumer and professional applications (recording and storage).
M. Barbero, N. Shpuza
Digital Versatile Disc (DVD)
M. Barbero, N. Shpuza
Writable and Re-writable Discs (DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD-RAM)
M. Barbero, N. Shpuza
Future is Blu (Blu-Ray Disc, AOD, ...)