Mobile World Congress, Barcelona 2008 — Rohde & Schwarz is presenting an optimized platform for the low-power range. The platform consists of the R&S SLx8000 transmitter family and the associated R&S XLx8000 transposers and gap fillers, which make it possible to flexibly close smaller coverage gaps. Since the components used feature an extremely high level of integration, Rohde & Schwarz can offer very favorably-priced equipment for expanding existing networks. This is a crucial factor, for a large number of units are required. The R&S SLx8000 transmitters support the DAB/T-DMB, DVB-T/-H and ATSC standards as well as virtually all analog TV standards. The R&S XLx transposers and gap fillers can also handle the MediaFLOTM and DTMB standards.
All analog products of the low-power family can also be used in digital TV networks without subsequent modification of the hardware. The equipment can be converted locally or remotely, making it easier for broadcast network operators to switch entire regions over at a fixed date.
The transmitters for the UHF and VHF frequency ranges cover the power ranges up to 100 W DVB-T/-H, 160 W ATSC, 250 W ATV and 300 W DAB. Owing to their compact design, they require merely two height units up to 10 W DVB power, three height units from 25 W to 100 W DVB power, and four height units for 300 W DAB power. Their space-saving concept is especially advantageous for small transmitter sites, since they do not have to be expanded. The following options will be available: an integrated GPS module, an internal DVB-T receiver for retransmitter or monitoring applications and an SNMP agent or parallel interface as remote control interface. An extremely efficient digital algorithm will also be available for the gap filler for suppressing echos. This algorithm will allow operation in single-frequency networks. Local operation can be performed either via display and keyboard, remote control via web browser and laptop. By means of a compact flash card, operation-relevant data can be easily transferred from one transmitter to the next. The transmitters support the N+1 (including 1+1) standby configuration.
The new models of the R&S SLx8000 low-power transmitter family with output powers from 2 W to 250 W for TV are available from Rohde & Schwarz since September. The DAB/T-DMB transmitter solutions as well as the R&S XLx8000 transposers and gap fillers will be available in the second quarter of 2008.
