Performance assessment and optimization of DVB-T systems affected by in-channel interference

Digital Video Broadcasting Terrestrial (DVB-T) systems affected by in-channel interference are here dealt with. Attention is paid to the assessment of the effects the interference produces, especially in terms of video quality perceived by the end user. To this aim, a number of experiments are conducted through a proper testbed, which enlists a high performance measurement apparatus, a flexible DVB-T transmission platform, a typical receiver stage, and a calibrated interference source. To confer reliability and generality to the research activity, different configurations of the platform parameters, common types of interference, several digital videos, and ordinary channel characteristics are considered. Moreover, a cross layer measurement approach is exploited; valuable relations involving the values that physical and modulation quantities as well as application level metrics assume at the same time are thus gained. The ultimate goal is to provide helpful information and hints for designers and broadcasters, to be applied whenever optimizing the performance of a DVB-T system affected by detrimental interference is of primary concern.