On the Design of a Single Frequency Network Modulator for DTMB

In August 2006, the Chinese digital terrestrial television broadcasting (DTTB) standard named "Frame structure, channel coding and modulation for digital television terrestrial broadcasting system" (referred to as DTMB) was published. This work presents a design of modulator for DTMB standard. In this modulator, all patterns of the DTMB standard are implemented and the Single Frequency Network (SFN) can also be supported. The design of the modulator also meets the Chinese exciter standard and SFN standard. Through the laboratory test, it is shown that the modulator\´s signal output is in conformance with the DTMB standard and synchronization of multiple modulators is achieved in SFN working mode. The design of modulator bases on function blocks are made by existing mature chips and modules. So the feasibility is increased and meanwhile the costs are reduced. The structure of the modulator is scalable and can be developed into a variety of digital TV standards signal sources.