DVB-S2 is the latest wireless communication technology to push channel capacity to the Shannon limit. By combining the most advanced information coding schemes with higher-order modulations, DVB-S2 can deliver channel performance close to the Shannon limit when properly characterized.

What does this mean? DVB-S2 is at least 30% more efficient under similar channel conditions, than its predecessor DVB-S. This implies, lower roll-out CAPEX through lower power requirements and smaller dishes or lower OPEX through increased channel capacity for equivalent power to traditional DVB-S.

Also, DVB-S2 goes much further in its support for varied content types. It recognises that not all content will be multimedia streams and includes a variety of features for generic data transport, such as small block sizes to enable low latency.

All DVB standards have the benefit of being open standards, published by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute, encouraging interoperability between equipment from different suppliers. Advantech believes this to be very important as it both encourages competition and provides security of supply for users. We have undertaken many technical comparisons with prospective customers to prove both our commitment to and success in interoperability. This has usually resulted in Advantech becoming first choice supplier with premium customers such as Arqiva and Services Sound & Vision Corporation (SSVC).

Advantech offers mature DVB-S/S2 solutions, with advanced capabilities, making it possible to cost effectively distribute both video and data streams over satellite. Solutions range from advanced DVB-S/S2 modulators with integral 4 port ASI interfaces and 10/100/1000BaseT Ethernet capability, to DVB-S/S2 demodulator solutions supporting the same interfaces. Additional value added capabilities include Variable Coding Modulator (VCM), high order modulations (from QPSK to 32APSK), ISI broadband multiplexing, ISSY time stamping, and BISS encryption.

An overview of the use of DVB-S2 for distributing content to digital terrestrial television transmission sites can be found in our application note ‘Advantech AMT – your partner for DTT content distribution’ and a more detailed discussion of the use of DVB-S2 for data transmission can be found in our white paper ‘Implementation Challenges and Synergistic Benefits of DVB-S2 and DVB-RCS’