MDTV Review » MDTV FAQs

Datacasting for Mobile DTV (MDTV)

Jason F — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:08:42 +0000

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.

It should also be noted that Datacasting information can be completely unrelated to programming it is carried with, much like PSIP information broadcasted over DTV airwaves for electronic programs guides.

Datacasting can be used for transmitting data such as live local traffic, up-to-the-minute detailed weather maps, sports scores, and stock or financial information.

Last Updated: 3-8-2010
Source: Open Mobile Video Coalition

What is Live Audio for Mobile DTV (MDTV)?

What is Live Audio for Mobile DTV (MDTV)?

Jason F — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:27:46 +0000

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.

Use of Live Audio services will provide content to consumers while using less spectrum compared to a full mobile dtv broadcast with picture and sound.

Advanced: Data streams for Live Audio are expected to range between 48kps and 100kps.

Last Updated: 3-8-2010
Source: Open Mobile Video Coalition

Guide to Mobile DTV

Jason F — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 07:33:33 +0000

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.

	ATSC Mobile TV(Mobile TV w/ digital tuner)	MDTV(Mobile DTV, ATSC M/H)	FLO TV(MediaFLO)	MobiTV
Free or Pay?	Free	Free	Pay, subscriptions to FLO TV range from $9 to $15 /month depending on the	Pay, starting at $9.99
About	Expected Arrival: Available nowCapable of the highest viewing resolution. With an ATSC handheld device, you can watch the same over-the-air programming that’s broadcasted to your home television set.Drawbacks: With an ATSC Mobile TV device, you will not be able to receive television signals when traveling above 5 miles per hour. ATSC handhelds with built-in antennas may suffer from poor reception if device is further than 15 miles from broadcast towers. Battery Life: Most ATSC handheld TV with built-in rechargeable batteries are rated between 90 minutes and 150 minutes worth of television viewing time.	Expected Arrival: 2nd Quarter 2010MDTV allows you to receive digital broadcast signals while travelling faster than 5 miles per hour. Some devices are actually capable of receive broadcasts at up to 180 mph.Drawbacks: Too soon to tell. MDTV cell phones and handhelds will probably come with a small built-in antenna which may not be large enough for consumers who live further than 15 miles from broadcast towers. More: Open Mobile Video Coalition	Drawbacks: Only offered through AT&T and Verizon cell networks. Limited selection of FLO TV enabled devices. AT&T currently shows 2.Expected Arrival: Available nowBattery life: rated at 5 hours while watching TV or 300 hours of standby.	MobiTV is an application which can be downloaded to cell phones on Alltel, Cingular, Sprint carriers.It receives streaming television programming via 3G internet service.Resolution has been reported as less than satisfactory and 3G speeds aren’t exactly fast enough to support higher resolutions in the future.
Devices	Handheld TVs, USB Device for Computer	Cell Phone, Handheld TVs, USB Device for Computer, Navigation Units	Handheld TVs, More products coming soon	Cell Phones
Coverage	Great coverage.ATSC Mobile DTV devices receive the same over-the-air signal that your home television set uses. If you use a small indoor antenna for your TV at home, chances are you will be able to receive signals on the small built-in antenna on your ATSC Mobile device.	Limited coverage More: When information becomes available, MDTV Review will update.	Limited coverage. See the map below and input your home address to see if FLO TV service is available in your area.More:FLO TV Coverage Map	Great Coverage based on your cellular data reception.
How many channles	ATSC TVs should in theory receive the same amount of channels that your home television set receives over-the-air.	Too soon too tell.	19 Channels.Current list of networks on FLO TV include: 2 FLO, ABC Mobile, Adult Swim, CBS Mobile, CNBC, CNN Live Mobile, Comedy Central, Crackle, Disney Channel, ESPN Mobile TV, Food Network, Fox Mobile, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, MTV, MTV TR3s, NBC 2Go, Nickelodeon, and TLC.More: FLO TV Program Guide FLO TV Channel Lineup	Comedy Central \| MTV Mobile \| Nickelodeon \| SpikeTV \| TeenNick \| MTV Tr3s \| CMT \| Atom Films \| VH1 Mobile \| Logo \| GameTrailers \| Animal Planet \| Anim8 \| ATAKU \| BFF \| Bombones \| Chaos Extreme \| CNBC \| Comedy Time \| Discovery \| Double Z Country \| Entertainment Tonight \| ESPN Mobile TV \| FOX Business \| MSNBC \| Oxygen (Oh!) \| Pachanga Urbana \| R&B Jamz \| Ritmo Caliente \| Shake it \| The Mic Hip Hop \| The Weather Channel \| TLC \| ToonWorld TV Classics \| Top Ten \| Totally 80s-90s \| V40 Top Hits \| Full List of MobiTV Channels at MobiTV Website.

What is MDTV?

What’s the difference between a handheld TV labled as an “MDTV” and a handheld with an ATSC tuner?

Jason F — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:51:19 +0000

Summary

There is a distinct difference between the two types of tuners that handheld and mobile television sets are built with. This is in reference to mobile devices that receive free, over-the-air television signals.

MDTV

Mobile or handheld television sets labled with an “MDTV” logo (as pictured to the right) are capable of receiving digital broadcast signals while travelling at speeds of 100+ Miles Per Hour. (See: What is MDTV for more info)

Handheld TVs w/ an ATSC Tuner

Handheld TV sets with a built-in (digital) ATSC tuner are capable of receiving digital television signals, but are unable to receive digital signals while travelling at a speed greater than 5 Miles Per Hour.

What is MDTV?

Jason F — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:46:20 +0000

Mobile Digital Television (MDTV), is the new for 2010 broadcast standard for delivering mobile digital television signals to consumers in the US. “MDTV” may also be referenced as, A/153 ATSC Mobile DTV Standard, ATSC-M/H, and Mobile DTV.

Products labled with the “MDTV” stamp (as seen to the left) are able to receive free local digital broadcasts in markets where the signal is broadcasted.

Click on the map below to view the Open Mobile Video Coalition’s forecasted cities for “MDTV” availability,

Products with MDTV tuners are predicted to range from mobile phones to portable media players, laptop computers, and select navigation devices.

Video quality – MDTV has an H.264 base profile video encoding now, but the Open Mobile Video Video Coalition reports that MDTV products will have a viewing resolution of up to 480p in the future.

Why use “MDTV” and not the standard ATSC signal used for DTV and HDTV?

Devices with a built-in ATSC tuner or external digital-to-analog converter box are unable to receive signals while traveling faster than 5+ Miles Per Hour. MDTV broadcasts which are transmitted from the same broadcast towers as ATSC signals can be received while travelling 100+ Miles Per Hour.