ABSTRACT
The distributed antenna system (DAS) is a transport infrastructure that distributes wireless signals to remote locations from a central point. Digital video broadcasting (DVB) is the emerging broadcast technology. When mobile TV becomes reality, the technology supporting it, DVB for handheld (DVB-H), becomes a focus. The use of repeaters in DVB-H networks is a typical application example of a DAS. This chapter first provides the state-of-the-art introduction of DAS in DVB-H networks, including the application of DAS in DVB-H networks, repeaters, which includes both passive and active repeaters. To examine the application and performance of the DAS system in DVB-H networks, a handover algorithm, called RA handover, is introduced as a case study to show the application of the DAS in DVB-H. RA handover is designed to aid the handover process using DAS, namely, repeaters. Simulation and analysis are presented. It is shown that the repeaters in DVB-H networks not only provide better radio signal coverage to the “dead spot” in the DVB-H radio coverage area, but also provide other functions like better quality of service with the virtual cell concept, and provide soft handover support in multifrequency DVB-H networks. Furthermore, the strengths and weaknesses of the DAS for handover in DVB-H networks are discussed. This chapter is concluded by summarizing the current research status and identifying some open research issues on DAS applications in DVB-H networks and a short conclusion.1
