LG Electronics has demonstrated a unique new wireless network antenna designed to receive and process ATSC 3.0 next-generation television broadcast signals and redistribute them via WiFi to devices inside the home - Smart TVs, tablets, laptops, computers and smartphones.
The ATSC 3.0 smart antenna has been under development for over two years and was first demonstrated at the 2016 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention. This is a unique product that combines next-generation broadcasting with widely deployed home Wi-Fi networks and is the kind of offering that can help broadcasters bring their new ATSC 3.0 signals to a range of consumer devices in a seamless manner. Innovations like this will play an important role in accelerating the consumer adoption of ATSC 3.0 by enabling existing devices in the home and reducing the need for multiple converter boxes.
This ATSC 3.0 wireless network antenna is based on an LG-developed uni-directional antenna array with unique electronic steering logic designed to optimize indoor reception. LG is integrating a chip-based ATSC 3.0 tuner-demodulator with the antenna, which can be placed virtually anywhere in the home – in the attic, in a window, in a closet – wherever reception is best.
This steerable network antenna is coupled with a network interface to communicate with the in-home WiFi router to allow connected devices to blend ATSC 3.0 signals and services with over-the-top Internet-delivered content. This Antenna is designed to receive current “ATSC 1.0” DTV transmissions and similarly route them to an array of consumer devices.
Development of this ATSC 3.0 wireless network antenna, which began in 2014, is a joint effort between LG’s Zenith R&D Lab in Lincolnshire, IL, USA, and the office of the Chief Technology Officer, LG Electronics, in Seoul, Korea.
Expected to redefine TV broadcasting for decades to come, this next-generation ATSC 3.0 broadcast television system is being designed to deliver 4K UHD services, robust reception on mobile devices and improved spectrum efficiency. LG and Zenith are key contributors to ATSC standards activities, including development of core technologies in the majority of the ATSC 3.0 Physical Layer transmission system.
