MDTV Review

Would the FCC Broadband Plan prevent over-the-air broadcaster’s from deploying Mobile DTV (MDTV)?  Not so, says FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski.

“Under the incentive auction plan, broadcasters will be able to provide mobile DTV, both licensees that choose to retain all 6 Megahertz, and those that choose to share,”

Genachowski addressed many concerns by broadcasters last month at the 2010 National Association of Broadcasters Show; including the “voluntary” spectrum auction in which broadcasters could participate in by “choice”.

The auction is part of a five-year plan for spectrum reclamation and allocation to wireless companies, so that they may continue to offer wireless services for mobile users with products such as smart phones, netbooks, and laptops.  The FCC believes that this action (along with others involved with the Broadband Plan), would help resolve the looming crisis for wireless companies.

As Mobile DTV testing begins in select markets, users of those devices have already begun uploading videos to YouTube.

Here we see a mobile dtv tester with a MDTV dongle plugged into a netbook while driving around in Orlando, Florida.  Note the consistently clear reception while driving around in a rain storm.

Datacasting is the broadcasting of data over Mobile DTV signals which can be presented as live data and/or graphics content and received on a device outfitted with a MDTV tuner.
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With the new ATSC-M/H Mobile DTV standard, broadcasters will have the option to transmit Live Audio to consumers which is an audio only service.  Such broadcasts can be used to provide consumers with news and sports broadcasts, weather updates, music, and emergency information.
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Last Updated: 3-1-10

March 1st, 2010
FCC thinks broadcast spectrum has, “a massive amount of unlocked value” for wireless spectrum
Source: BroadcastEngineering.com
FCC chairman, Julius Genachowski, Julius Genachowski, recently commented on why some of the  TV broadcast spectrum should be considered for use by the wireless spectrum.

“a massive amount of unlocked value”

“About 300MHz of spectrum have been set aside for broadcast TV,”

“In markets with less than 1 million people, only 36MHz are typically used for broadcasting. In cities with more than 1 million people, on average about 100MHz are used. Even in our very largest cities, at most only about 150MHz out of 300MHz are used.”

The FCC recently proposed a voluntary plan for broadcasters to  give up some of their spectrum with the benefit of receiving compensation, but the National Association of Broadcasters have claimed that the recent rollout of mobile digital television, MDTV, will utilize some of the unused spectrum.

Last Updated: 2-23-10

On Feb 14, Eric Taub from The New York times penned a smashing piece on Mobile DTV titled, “Local TV for Devices on the Move”.

Notable quotes,

….30 stations in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle and Washington have installed the necessary equipment, at a cost of $75,000 to $150,000.

In reference to costs for each station to add Mobile DTV broadcast technology to their existing TV towers.

Seems like a small invesment for broadcasters with a big payoff potential, and this comes at a time when local stations are losing out on content distribution rights to Internet TV (ie: Hulu).

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Welcome to our official Mobile DTV Guide.

With “MDTV” being a key component this year at the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, we felt it was necessary to compare it to other mobile TV technologies already available to the public.

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Yes according to a recent blog post by Jamie Berke’s deafness blog at about.com but not without caveat.  She cites a recently published document, “OMVC Mobile TV Use Cases” by the Open Mobile Video Coalition, and questions whether or not Closed Captioning will be utilized by manufactures of MDTV sets and broadcasters.

Our question at MDTV Review is: Will Government Legislators regulate this new broadcast technology for deaf viewers or will it be left up for business to decide?

Product Summary

Positive: Input for Audio and Video, great pricing at less than $80, includes AC adapter and car adapter, built-in rechargeable battery.

Negative: Cannot receive signals while in a car (or in motion: more info), no removable battery makes the Axion AXN-8701 a tough choice for extreme weather or emergency use conditions.

Overall:  Great value and sure to satisfy needs for a small portable television.

Price: $79.99 @ Amazon

Reviewed On: 2/15/10
Last Updated: 2/15/10

MDTV Review

The Axion AXN-8701 is one of many new handheld televisions currently available to consumers looking for a small portable television with a built-in digital tuner.  It’s (W x D x H):  7.3 inches x 5.8 inches x 1.3 inches chassis is wrapped in black plastic with small grey plastic buttons for power, volume, channel, settings, and input selection.
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What’s new in the world of Mobile DTV? Lots. For starers, FLO TV (mobile TV pay service), scored mega buzz with their Super Bowl commercials last Sunday. One starring CBS sportscaster Jim Nants who gives an injury report on a man shopping with his wife,

and the other featuring historical events caught on live TV with a small cameo from Will.I.Am,

Both commercials were hot topics on for days on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and the blogoshpere.

FCC to pay broadcasters for networks?

Newsweek mentioned yesterday that the FCC is considering paying broadcasters to take some of the valuable TV broadcast spectrum to satisfy the growing needs of cell phone providers.  continue reading…