The Radio Broadcast Systems and Transmission group (RBSC) conducts research in new and advanced systems for terrestrial and satellite sound broadcasting to fixed, portable and vehicular receivers. The group also conducts research and development (R&D) in advanced transmission technologies related to the introduction of digital radio broadcasting (DRB, DAB®) and enhancements to existing radio broadcast (AM/FM) systems.

The technical information produced by the group is used by the government of Canada and the Canadian industry to continuously deliver the best possible radio broadcast services in Canada. The expertise and innovation of the RBSC group has also led it to be recognized worldwide for its industry leadership in the field of Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRB) and consequently, to position Canada as a global authority in this field.

More specifically, the group conducts R&D in the following areas:

• Advanced digital radio broadcast system concepts for improved audio quality and enhanced service availability
• Innovative concepts and techniques (e.g. on-channel repeaters) for improved spectrum and power efficiency
• Software such as CRC-COVLAB®, a GIS based RF coverage prediction software that is licensed to government laboratories and engineering firms worldwide and CRC-COVLITE, a sophisticated path loss estimation tool with a library of propagation models
• New low cost, multimedia-rich broadcast services to mobile devices such as car receivers, cellular phones and personal digital assistants
• Field measurements and validation of radio broadcast channel characteristics: fading, interference, multipath, Doppler, etc.
• Channel modeling and simulation techniques for laboratory testing of radio broadcast systems and components under mobile reception conditions
• Development of test procedures for characterizing the performance of radio broadcast equipment subject to impairments such as multipath, interference, and nonlinear distortion, and studies leading to performance improvements

To carry out these research activities, the group uses the following facilities:

• CRC-COVLAB®, CRC-COVLITE, CRC-PREDICT® and other in-house software for the design and optimization of terrestrial RF coverage for single or multiple on-channel transmitters
• A Multimedia Broadcasting laboratory
• Specialized workstations for the development of simulation software, for parametric and coverage studies, for data analysis and for channel model development
• An experimental DRB transmitter network and two mobile test vans
• A laboratory with a DRB (Eureka 147 standard) transmission chain for technology evaluation and equipment performance testing
• A variety of test and measurement equipment, for synthesis of interfering signals, measurement of phase noise characteristics, generation of highly stable frequency references, and spectral and power analysis
• Laboratory testbed with complete FM broadcast transmission chain, including data subcarrier transmission systems
• A mobile channel simulator
• Several workstations for data analysis and channel model development

In addition to the focus on R&D, the RBSC group is also responsible for the delivery of technical presentations, tutorials and seminars. As well, the group acts as a major contributor to standardization and spectrum planning activities on DRB with organizations such as Industry Canada, WorldDAB, the ITU-R and NRSC. Moreover, through the establishment of industry relationships, the group is able to present and demonstrate new services such as enhanced digital radio programs with text and pictures, news on demand, Web-like browsing, mobile TV, electronic traffic maps and much more.

The group also has collected a large amount of L-Band (1.5 GHz) channel characterization data in various locations in Canada (Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, Trois-Rivières, and Vancouver). The data have been analyzed to extract impulse responses, Doppler spectra, and other characteristics. Channel models based on these data have been developed to test DRB equipment such as receivers, and for system simulations performed by the Advanced Audio Systems group.

For additional information please contact:

René Voyer
Manager, Radio Broadcast Systems and Transmission
Communications Research Centre Canada
3701 Carling Avenue, Box 11490, Station H
Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA K2H 8S2

Tel: (613) 998 4407
Fax: (613) 993 9950
Email: rene.voyer@crc.gc.ca