DVB-S2 vs DVB-S2X

DVB-S2 i.e the 2nd generation of the Digital Video Broadcasting Satellite was established in 2005, is a physical (PHY) layer standard that has been designed to support high data rate satellite communication enabling digital television services in the presence of RF distortions or impairments occurring in space. It provides specifications for signal processing and how the data needs to be prepared to be sent to the ground stations and other devices such as mobile phones, TV, and other DVB systems. The specifications include data framing structure, modulation systems and techniques, channel coding, compression, spectrum efficiency followed by other technologies. It presents a significant upgrade to its predecessor, the first generation Digital Video Broadcasting Satellite (DVB-S) standard for various applications such as broadcasting, Direct-to-Home (DTH), enterprise VSAT, trunking, mobility, cellular backhaul, large-scale data content distribution, and electronic news gathering.

DVB-S2 Advantages over DVB-S:

1. 30% higher TV satellite spectral efficiency
2. Increased data throughput or bit rate for a given bandwidth, and
3. 2-2.5 dB higher signal strength due to improved Forward Error Correction (FEC) code adopted in DVB-S2.

Overall, DVB-S2 achieves a significantly superior performance than the first version of this technology. Furthermore, this standard is also backwards-compatible with DVB-S and DVB-DSNG standards, allowing DVB systems to also use legacy specifications for intended applications, whenever required.

DVB-S2X

The Digital Video Broadcasting Satellite Second Generation Extended, or DVB-S2X, was launched in 2014, is a physical layer standard designed to enhance the support provided for DVB-S2 applications and when adopted, improves overall performance of satellite communication links. It is considered as an extension to the DVB-S2 standard. The primary difference between DVB-S2 and DVB-S2X is that the DVB-S2X adds more features and capabilities in signal processing, thereby resulting in higher efficiency and better receiver performance and enabling high throughput satellite (HTS) applications.

DVB-S2X advantages over DVB-S2:

1. 51% higher satellite link spectral efficiency
2. Improved filtering, making it possible to use smaller carrier spacing, and
3. Smaller filter roll-off factors of 5%, 10%, and 15%. Roll-off-factor is a measure of the excess bandwidth of the filter used by the DVB system. The smaller the roll-off factor, the sharper the filtered signal and, the better the filter performance.
4. More data scrambling options available to mitigate co-channel interference, and
5. New constellation points for both linear and non-linear channels, resulting in higher data throughput capacity.

DVB-S2 vs. DVB-S2X