Title: On the performance of densified DVB-H single frequency networks

Authors: Chunhui Zhang, Thomas John Owens, Yong-Hua Song

Addresses: School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK. ' School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK. ' School of Engineering and Design, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK

Abstract: The broadcasting of TV programmes to mobile phones can be enabled by the newly developed technology called Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H). Because of the scarcity and cost of frequency resources, frequency reuse needs to be considered when rolling out DVB-H networks. By simulcasting the same content from several transmitters, a Single Frequency Network (SFN) can provide good coverage and good frequency efficiency. In this paper, the performance of densified DVB-H SFN networks is analysed in terms of the coverage probability under different coverage requirements with and without frequency reuse. A dichotomy searching approach is used to determine the optimal cell radius for a cell in a densified DVB-H SFN for a given network topology. Based on the optimal cell radius map and a SFN gain map generated from the simulation results, guidelines are proposed on how to avoid the potential pitfalls in configuring the parameters of a densified DVB-H SFN network and optimise its parameters in terms of minimising the cost of the network for a range of predefined network parameters.

Keywords: frequency reuse; OFDM; digital video broadcasting-handheld; DVB-H; single frequency networks; SFN; dichotomy searching; dimensioning; mobile phones; wireless networks; TV broadcasting; television broadcasting; simulation; mobile networks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMNDI.2006.012092

International Journal of Mobile Network Design and Innovation, 2006 Vol.1 No.3/4, pp.224 - 233

Published online: 20 Jan 2007 *

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