World Headquarters, Beaverton, Oregon, USA

Our business n Design and Manufacture of RF coverage measurement and mapping instrumentation n Emphasis on digital and analog television coverage measurement n Specific expertise in automated RF measurement and analysis of DTV quality of service

Our television customers n Transitioning to 8VSB digital service n Operating analog and digital plants New transmission formatsNew transmission formats New power levelsNew power levels New channel assignmentsNew channel assignments New antenna locationsNew antenna locations New government regulationsNew government regulations n Cost and people constrained

Antenna Patterns n Not always as you would expect Horizontal Gain Vertical Angle Gain Oded Bendov / Krishna Praba, Television Engineering Handbook, Jerry Whitaker 6.5 miles from 1000’ AAT

Z Technology measurement systems n Address specific measurement needs documentationdocumentation identificationidentification acceptanceacceptance confirmationconfirmation resolutionresolution

DSS5800 DTV measurement system

Programmable field strength meter 8VSB data demodulator Laptop Windows tm PC GPS Receiver Power and Distribution AC DC

DSS5800 DTV measurement system Programmable field strength meter 8VSB data demodulator Laptop Windows tm PC GPS Receiver Power and Distribution AC DC

DSS5800 DTV measurement system Programmable field strength meter 8VSB data demodulator Laptop Windows tm PC GPS Receiver Power and Distribution AC DC

DSS5800 DTV measurement system Programmable field strength meter 8VSB data demodulator Laptop Windows tm PC GPS Receiver Power and Distribution AC DC

Three measurement techniques 1. Drive testing rapid accumulation of datarapid accumulation of data identification of problem coverage areasidentification of problem coverage areas 2. Calibrated testing used to validate more general dataused to validate more general data communicates very specific valuescommunicates very specific values 3. On-site testing detailed evaluation of local conditionsdetailed evaluation of local conditions

Drive Testing n Rapid accumulation of coverage data Calibrated measurement equipmentCalibrated measurement equipment 7 ft. antenna height, on roads7 ft. antenna height, on roads Automatic capture and recordingAutomatic capture and recording n Identification of problem areas Relative to previous runsRelative to previous runs Poor signal coveragePoor signal coverage Changes in coverageChanges in coverage

Drive Test Considerations n Equipment configuration Antenna, Power, Mounting, CalibrationAntenna, Power, Mounting, Calibration Convenience and SafetyConvenience and Safety n Environment Location, Obstructions, ReflectionsLocation, Obstructions, Reflections n Operator interface Driver Distraction, Information DisplaysDriver Distraction, Information Displays Setup & Automatic Collection of DataSetup & Automatic Collection of Data

Mobile Test Antennas n Horizontal dipole General direction towards transmitterGeneral direction towards transmitter Magnet mount, ~24” above roof surfaceMagnet mount, ~24” above roof surface Calibrated; antenna factors for dBuV/mCalibrated; antenna factors for dBuV/m n Vertical sampling antenna Mag mount 1/4 wave vertical antennaMag mount 1/4 wave vertical antenna Not true to horizontal componentNot true to horizontal component CharacterizedCharacterized

Mobile Test Antennas n Omnidirectional antennas Generally lower gain, uncalibratedGenerally lower gain, uncalibrated Subject to multipath distortionsSubject to multipath distortions n Rotators Dipoles are broad patternDipoles are broad pattern Just need a general directionJust need a general direction Beware of distracting driverBeware of distracting driver

Antenna Correction Factors n Measured correction factors supplied by antenna manufacturer n Add antenna factor plus cable loss to receiver reading in dBuV to convert to field intensity in dBuV/Meter. n Example: Antenna Correction Factor 16.0 dB/mAntenna Correction Factor 16.0 dB/m Cable loss.9 dBCable loss.9 dB Meter Reading 44.0 dBuVMeter Reading 44.0 dBuV Field Intensity 60.9 dBuV/meterField Intensity 60.9 dBuV/meter

Calibrate Antenna Setup n Mount antenna and adjust element length for frequency as indicated in manufacturer’s table n Connect to measurement equipment with calibrated cable n Add antenna correction factor for operating frequency and calibrated losses n Enter system correction factor into meter or PC application software n Meter or application will read field intensity in dBuV/m

Multiple Frequency Testing n Same band, one antenna Factory antenna factorsFactory antenna factors Element length vs. frequency vs. factorElement length vs. frequency vs. factor Characterizing for multiple frequenciesCharacterizing for multiple frequencies n Multiple Antennas Power combinersPower combiners FiltersFilters System characterizationSystem characterization

Multiple Antennas HP Filter LP Filter Power Combiner dBuV/m VHF UHF VHF ant correction factor - cable loss - LPF loss - Combiner loss - cable loss = VHF Antenna Factor (sys) UHF ant correction factor - cable loss - HPF loss - Combiner loss - cable loss = UHF Antenna Factor (sys) Add antenna factor plus cable loss to receiver reading in dBuV to convert to field intensity in dBuV/Meter.

Calibration Procedures n Equipment certification NIST traceable antennas, cables, field strength meterNIST traceable antennas, cables, field strength meter Secondary referenceSecondary reference n Equipment setup 30 ft. antenna height vs. vehicle rooftop30 ft. antenna height vs. vehicle rooftop Antenna factors recorded with dataAntenna factors recorded with data

Drive Test Procedure n Set up job FrequenciesFrequencies Antenna factorsAntenna factors Signal typesSignal types n Adjust antenna direction Spectrum displaySpectrum display Sample measurementSample measurement n Start Drive Test Hit recordHit record Drive the routeDrive the route

DVB-T Spectrum & data display

8VSB Spectrum & data display

3 uS (time) 38% of Main Tap Energy (voltage) Main Tap normalized To 100% 0.33 MHz (freq) 20 Log(.38)=8.4 dB 8.8 dB Example Case: One major reflection at 3 uS causes a.33 Mhz ripple on the Spectrum Display Percent Reflection (Voltage) At Cursor position (Delay) Signal Level (voltage) At Cursor Position (frequency)

Operational Precautions n Do not operate while driving n Be aware of antenna orientation n Stop and enter comments where appropriate n Analyze recorded data later

The Drive Test n Set up the “job” for signal types and frequencies n Click F1 “Sample” to check the reception n Click F3 “Record Continuous” n Drive until direction changes more than ~30 degrees; stop and adjust antenna direction n Click F4 “Stop Measurements” n Take a break and look at the data

Automatic data recording n Analog: records all setups, time, location, direction of travel, peak power, antenna factors, frequencies, etc. n Digital: adds wideband parameters; integrated power, etc. n DTV systems add data from the digital decoder; sync/eq locks, tap values, etc. n Clear text data files are easy to read and export to other applications

Clear-text Data File

Analyzing the data n Real-time map plotting Colored trail of dots for any parameterColored trail of dots for any parameter Plots value as a color for each GPS location measuredPlots value as a color for each GPS location measured Color may be automatically or manually scaledColor may be automatically or manually scaled

Analyzing the data n Map oriented data Colored trail of dots for any parameterColored trail of dots for any parameter Tool-tip displays selected value for selected locationTool-tip displays selected value for selected location Right-click for all data taken at that locationRight-click for all data taken at that location

DVB-T data parameters

8VSB data parameters

On-Site Testing n Problem resolution n Difficult locations n Sniff out problems n Using customer antennas n Site suitability

RF signal measurement products n Systems designed to meet specific industry needs digital and analog RF field strength measurementsdigital and analog RF field strength measurements automatic signal coverage mappingautomatic signal coverage mapping 8VSB/DVB-T demodulated data analysis8VSB/DVB-T demodulated data analysis

Our mission n Address the RF measurement needs of our customers n Provide economical, real-time assistance and solutions n Increase the confidence level of the technical operator n Enable the gathering of historical data for reference as conditions change

Learn more about our systems Z Technology, Inc NW 169th Place, Suite 3070 Beaverton, Oregon USA Tel: Fax: Factory Contacts: Guy Lewis, John Purdy, Jim Zook