Digital terrestrial television - Principles

In this first article, we analyze the different processes used to encode a color television image and transpose it onto a waveform, showing the transition from analog to digital.

We will review the principles behind existing standards such as NTSC, SECAM and PAL, and modulation processes such as M and L.

We'll review the work that made digital television possible, such as MPEG 2 video compression, 8-VSB and COFDM modulation, and look at the particularities of the transmission channel.

In a second article , we will analyze the ATSC system and 8-VSB modulation.

In a third article , we will describe the equipment and deployment of digital terrestrial television.