DigiCAP, LG Electronics, and Pearl TV Test an Automotive Mobile Data Handoff Test Between ATSC 3.0 TV Stations

DETROIT, MI, March 14, 2022–A team of technologists came to Detroit last November to test a critical function needed to enable ATSC 3.0 spectrum use in automobiles and other mobile consumer functions. “Handoff technology” enables a mobile phone to continue carrying a call as it travels between the signals of two cell phone towers. The same technology is needed to use ATSC 3.0 data in a moving vehicle traveling between two or more broadcast towers. A version of DigiCAP’s DigiCaster, an ATSC 3.0 gateway, was installed at the two TV stations participating in the test.

In the test car, LG Electronics installed a system to receive and display ATSC 3.0 signals on a rear-seat entertainment TV. As the car traveled from the signal coverage of one TV station to the next, the NRT handoff technology succeeded in keeping a steady TV signal on the receiver device.

“The success of the demonstration  is meaningful as it shows that both entertainment and data services in moving cars can be commercialized” said Yeongho Je, Director of C&M Standard LAB at LG Electronics. The two ATSC 3.0 test signals were provided by WKAR TV, the Michigan State University public media station, and WMYD, The E.W. Scripps Company TV station in Detroit. Technical support and proof of concept project management was provided by Pearl TV. Heartland Video Systems installed and configured servers and installed the DigiCasters at both TV stations.

“Achieving seamless data hand off between the signals of adjacent ATSC 3.0 TV stations is foundational for any datacasting application in the automotive and mobile fields,” said Anne Schell, Managing Director at Pearl TV. “While data handoff technology is not new, confirming a successful test of this technology for use with ATSC 3.0 spectrum is an important step forward.”

Pearl TV is a business organization of U.S. broadcast companies with a shared interest in exploring forward-looking broadcasting opportunities, including innovative ways of promoting local broadcast TV content and developing digital media and wireless platforms for the broadcast industry. Pearl’s membership, comprising more than 820 TV stations, includes eight of the largest broadcast companies in America: Cox Media Group, Graham Media Group, Gray Television, Hearst Television Inc., Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, The E.W. Scripps Company, and TEGNA, Inc.

Heartland Video Systems (HVS) has been supplying the Midwest with quality communication equipment, professional installation services, and ongoing technical support for over 20 years. The company partners with a multitude of major communication equipment manufacturers to offer customers an array of options in selecting technology for every link in the broadcast chain. HVS caters to multimedia production platforms including television stations, broadcasting stations, colleges, universities, and postproduction facilities. www.hvs-inc.com

For the past 20 years, DigiCAP has uses advanced software development to make television and telecom systems easier to use, less costly, and more profitable. DigiCAP’s ATSC 3.0 air chain, DigiCaster, has now been deployed in over half of the ATSC 3.0 market deployments in the US. DigiCAP also works privately with major telecom providers, broadcasters, and government agencies on software development projects. DigiCAP builds white label/customized ATSC 3.0 home gateway products and digital content protection and distribution systems. The company offers end-to-end solutions for ATSC 3.0 standards-based broadcast delivery platforms, including Signaling, Electronic Service Guide (ESG), Multiplexer, Broadcast Gateway (Scheduler), and IRDs.