FAQ on DTT
Q1. What is DTT?
Digital Terrestrial Television, or DTT, is a new technology that will replace
analogue terrestrial television. DTT is a way of Transmitting digital signals – pictures
and sound- to an aerial and it occupies less RF Spectrum than an analogue signal.
With a single DTT, number of TV and Radio Channels can be relayed. A box on the
viewer’s TV set, known as a set-top box, decodes the digital signal received by the
aerial so that it can be watched on TV Set. It is spectral and energy efficient compared
to analog Transmitter. DTT is a transition in broadcasting technology like in past there
was transition from Black & White to Color TV and it provides new features to the
end users. India has adopted DVB T2 Standard for DTT, as it has highest data rate,
flexible and robust among all standards.
Q2. What are advantages of DTT?
The DTT is advantageous due to following features:
• Improved coverage and Crystal Clear picture and Sound Reception.
• Support new services like high definition television (HDTV) and multimedia
Services.
• Carry more contents in one Transmitted RF Channel of 8 MHz.
• Support mobile / portable reception.
• Digital Radio Service is possible.
• Better use of frequency spectrum and Release valuable frequency spectrum
for other uses after full migration from analogue to digital broadcasting
• Resolution up to 1080 lines (vertical) x 1920 pixels (horizontal),
• Aspect ratio 16:9 (Widescreen) ,
• It is energy efficient,
• Surround sound (e.g. Dolby 5.1 multi-channel sound)
Q3. How we can receive DTT Signal in TV?
It requires ordinary yagi antenna(Indoor or outdoor depending upon location of your
site) as used in analogue TV. With the existing TV a Set Top Box is required. But
some integrated Digital TV (iDTV) sets are available in market, which have in built
set top box. The following picture illustrates the reception method:
FAQ on DTT
Q4.What type of receiving antenna will be required?
Any type of existing yagi antenna will be suitable to receive the DTT signal.
However some trendy antennae are shown below:
Q5. Which Cities can receive DTT Signal?
DTT will be installed in 40 Cities in Two Phases as listed below. While DTT at 4
Metros at Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai & Mumbai will be available by April 2014, the
other 15 DTTs of phase I Cities will be installed during 2014 and in remaining 21
cities of Phase II will be installed during 2014- 2015. The signal from these DTTs will
be about 60-70 KMs in all directions from the TV Tower.
Phase I Cities
Ahmedabad, Jallandhar, Aurangabad , Kolkata, Bangalore, Lucknow, Bhopal ,
Mumbai, Chennai, Patna, Cuttack , Raipur, Delhi , Ranchi, Guwahati ,Srinagar,
Hyderabad, Thiruvanathpuram, Indore.
Phase II Cities
Agra, Kurseong, Allahabad, Mussorrie, Amritsar, Mysore, Bareilly, Nagpur,
Gwalior, Pune, Jaipur , Rajkot, Kanpur, Surat, Kasauli, Vadodara, Kochi , Varanasi
Kodaikanal, Vijayawada, Krishnangar
Q6. How many TV Programme Channels can we receive from a DTT?
There is a Trade off between Capacity of DTT and its signal robustness/coverage area.
Higher data can be achieved but with reduced coverage area and vice versa. For
optimum coverage 10-12 Standard Definition TV(SDTV) Channels or 3-4 High
Definition TV (HDTV) can be relayed. It is also possible to relay Radio Channels ,
Mobile TV and Billboards etc.
Q7. What type of receiver can receive DTT Signal?
It is very easy to receive DTT signals. The DTT signals can be received in Fixed,
Portable and mobile mode. Thus the DTT signals may be received in Laptop, tablets,
Fixed TV and TV receivers and T2 Radio Receivers in fixed and in moving vehicles.
The coverage area of DTT depends on Transmitter RF Parameters and terrain
condition around the Transmitter site and receiving site. Generally DTT signal with 6
FAQ on DTT
kW RF Power will reach in a radius of about 70 Kms around the Transmitter. The
following picture gives a glimpse of receiving equipments:-
Note: The STB for DVB T2 is different from cable TV STB. So one must ask for
DVB T2 STB , which should be capable to decode MPEG 4 signals.
Q8. Where from STB/iDTV can be purchased? What is the cost of STB?
DTT STBs will be available for purchase at retail outlets nationwide. Details will be
made available separately whenever the services are made available in the India . Presently the
STBs and integrated Digital TVs (iDTV) are available world over. The various manufacturers of
STBs includes Humax, Zinwell, Phillips, Kiryung, Blossoms Digital, Avertec, Skysun,
Sharpvision, SDE Technology, Zongjing, Junuo, Wisdigi, VS Technology, Topfield,Sharp,
Altobeam and many more . The leading manufacturers of iDTV are Sony, LG, Panasonic,
Philips, Samsung etc. BIS has also approved the standard of HDTV STB for DTTs.
The cost of STB varies from Rs. 1000/- to Rs. 4000/- depending upon the volume and
may drop down further. The increment of cost for iDTV is just Rs. 500/- for integration of STB
in the TV. T2 Radio receivers are manufactured by firms like Topfield. The cost of all these
receivers will reduce significantly when the services are launched by DD.
FAQ on DTT
Q9. What is T2 Radio?
DVB T2 Transmitter can relay Radio Services in addition to TV
Services. It is thus an excellent ecosystem for distribution of TV
and Radio Services. The sound quality of T2 Radio is excellent
like FM..
Q10. How many Radio Channels can be relayed from
DVB T2 Transmitter?
A single DTT may relay 25 to 100 T2 Radio Channels depending upon other bouquet of
Programme Channels, being relayed simultaneously. This feature can be availed after installation
of T2 MI Gateway. So one can receive Radio programmes in most of Indian languages. A
unique feature indeed.
Q11. What will be expected coverage and reach from 40 DTTs in India?
40 DTTs will be available for @ 38 % of Indian Population. The Expected coverage is shown as
below:-
FAQ on DTT
The coverage detail from proposed DTTs is detailed as below:
No. of
DTT Tx
Population served(
as per 2001
census)
% Of
Population
Served
Area
Covered in
Sq km
% Of Area
Covered
19 DTT
40 DTT
204115648
377151984
19.87
36.72
302189
703673
9.54
22.22
Q11. If one have two TV sets in his house, will he need two set top boxes?
Yes, if anyone want to watch two different TV set in one home, then to view different channels
from two TV Sets one would need two STBs. Thus to watch different programmes on multiple
TV's in their house, each individual TV will have to be connected to its own set top box.
Q12. How is the DTT set top box installed?
The STB is a plug-and-play device. It can be easily connected using the supplied manual. The
assistance from professional installers may not be needed, as in case of DTH. The reception will
be Free to Air on DTT and as such no recurring cost is involved..
Q13. Can we receive DTT Signals in Laptop/PCs and Smart Phones?
The Laptops/PCs can receive DTT Signals using Dongles. The some of the dongle manufacturers
include PCTV, Altobeam, Tevii etc. Similarly Dongles for smartphones are under development
and their commercial launch is expected by July 2014. The Dongles may be embedded by
manufacturer inside the Laptops/PCs and smartphones by the end of year 2014. Doordarshan will
be capable to start the mobile TV from September 2014 onwards.
Q14. Why to go for DTT, when there are number of Programme Channels available in the
Cable TV and DTH?
DTT is like a banyan tree, which is fast evolving. It is an all weather reliable mode of
broadcasting and only mode which is capable for fixed, portable and mobile reception as well as
single transmission system is capable to relay Radio, TV and Data. We may relay SDTV as well
as HDTV Programmes with same DTT. DVB T2 Standard has been adopted/deployed in 146
countries in the world. So there is large support for technology and receiver. In view of its data
capacity, flexibility and robustness of Digital Terrestrial TV Transmission, no country in the
world has disbanded the terrestrial transmission.
Q15. Contact details of persons regarding queries on DTT?
Although the desired information about DTT may be obtained from the nearest Doordarshan
Kendra ,for additional queries the following contacts at Doordarshan Directrorate New Delhi
may be approached:1. Ms. Archana Gupta, DE : [email protected]
2. Sh. M.S. Duhan,DDG(E)
:
[email protected]
3. Sh. Srinivasan Ramachandran ADG(E):
[email protected]