Simulcast: the EUTELSAT proposal for a smooth transition from analogue to digital TV

This paper provides technical guidelines for the design of a Simulcast transmission system based on EUTELSAT´s practical experience in implementing the Simulcast technique. The authors show that, with careful design of the system parameters, one digital TV carrier and one FM TV carrier can be transmitted in the same 36 MHz transponder. With transmission of the same programme in both analogue and digital formats, this offers the possibility for a smooth transition from analogue to digital operation at low cost. Other applications, such as digital satellite news gathering, are also possible but must be designed appropriately with care, possibly with the re-optimisation of the symbol and code rates using the flexibility offered by the majority of DVB receivers