CEA-909
Encyclopedia
CEA-909 is the ANSI standard for 8VSB/ATSC smart antenna
s. The basic concept is that the smart antenna either physically rotates toward the signal, or is stationary, but has elements pointed in different directions and uses only those elements pointed toward the signal. This is accomplished by feedback from the control device, such as a digital-to-analog converter box, telling the smart antenna when the signal is stronger or weaker.
Analog television
s generally give instant feedback as the signal gets better or worse as you move the antenna. Digital television
antennas can be difficult to aim correctly because of the cliff effect
and because of delays in decoding and displaying the signal. Smart antennas remove the burden of positioning the antenna for digital TVs and can make the tuning process easier than it was with analog television.
data stream is sent to the antenna and if the antenna is mode B a 10-bit data stream is sent back. The timeout period for a response from a mode B antenna is 100 ms. The system uses a single wire for communication, possibly similar to I²C
.
The 10 bits sent back from the antenna are largely unused. Only the first two bits are used with at least one of those being used for a transmission error flag; the remaining 8 bits are reserved. The contents of the 14 bits sent to the antenna are not revealed.
R4 Video Systems Committee on 6 June 2007 and ANSI public review closed on 1 October 2007.
After editorial review, it was published in December 2007.
The 14-bit data breaks down sequentially as follows:
Two bits for coarse direction or switching control, MSB sent first.
Two bits for fine direction control, MSB sent first.
One bit for polarization control
Two bits for preamp gain. The state 1,1 shall be maximum gain, state 0,0 minimum gain, and remaining states progressing monotonically.
7 bits for RF channel number (per CEA-542-B http://theoldcatvequipmentmuseum.org/300/304/CATV_Channels/index.html), MSB sent first. (Note: this could allow for channel assignment from 0 to 127, but it is artificially limited to the range 2–69 and the post-transition channel range will be 2–51)
After the data is sent the system should send V_Low for 1 period and wait until next RF channel change (with a minimum of 10 ms between data streams to allow for the antenna controller logic to reset).
This means channels should be able to change and reset as fast as every ≈12.5 ms (≈80 Hz) or every channel in 0.85 seconds and with 16 'virtual' antennas (32 with two polarization states).
leading up to the deployment of ATSC Digital television
in the United States on June 11, 2009, two smart antenna models were brought to market:
And two models are causing consumer confusion:
The United States National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) ran a coupon-eligible converter box
(CECB) subsidy program for the ATSC conversion, but did not subsidize the purchase of a smart antenna
to mitigate the cliff effect
of digital television, and most CECBs do not support smart antennas.
Smart antenna
Smart antennas are antenna arrays with smart signal processing algorithms used to identify spatial signal signature such as the direction of arrival of the signal, and use it to calculate beamforming vectors, to track and locate the antenna beam on the mobile/target...
s. The basic concept is that the smart antenna either physically rotates toward the signal, or is stationary, but has elements pointed in different directions and uses only those elements pointed toward the signal. This is accomplished by feedback from the control device, such as a digital-to-analog converter box, telling the smart antenna when the signal is stronger or weaker.
Analog television
Analog television
Analog television is the analog transmission that involves the broadcasting of encoded analog audio and analog video signal: one in which the message conveyed by the broadcast signal is a function of deliberate variations in the amplitude and/or frequency of the signal...
s generally give instant feedback as the signal gets better or worse as you move the antenna. Digital television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
antennas can be difficult to aim correctly because of the cliff effect
Cliff effect
In telecommunications, the cliff effect or brickwall effect describes the sudden loss of digital signal reception. Unlike analog signals, which gradually fade when signal strength decreases or electromagnetic interference or multipath increases, a digital signal provides data which is either...
and because of delays in decoding and displaying the signal. Smart antennas remove the burden of positioning the antenna for digital TVs and can make the tuning process easier than it was with analog television.
Information from TVP9900 document
There are two basic modes of operation for a CEA-909 antenna, mode A and mode B. Mode A allows for communication only from the tuner to the antenna and Mode B allows for bidirectional communication. A 14-bit pulse-width modulationPulse-width modulation
Pulse-width modulation , or pulse-duration modulation , is a commonly used technique for controlling power to inertial electrical devices, made practical by modern electronic power switches....
data stream is sent to the antenna and if the antenna is mode B a 10-bit data stream is sent back. The timeout period for a response from a mode B antenna is 100 ms. The system uses a single wire for communication, possibly similar to I²C
I²C
I²C is a multi-master serial single-ended computer bus invented by Philips that is used to attach low-speed peripherals to a motherboard, embedded system, cellphone, or other electronic device. Since the mid 1990s, several competitors I²C ("i-squared cee" or "i-two cee"; Inter-Integrated Circuit;...
.
The 10 bits sent back from the antenna are largely unused. Only the first two bits are used with at least one of those being used for a transmission error flag; the remaining 8 bits are reserved. The contents of the 14 bits sent to the antenna are not revealed.
Revision CEA-909-A
CEA-909-A is an update to CEA-909 that enables a single coaxial cable to connect smart antennas to smart antenna-capable DTV sets. A weakness of CEA-909 was that it required another control cable in addition to the coaxial cable. This revision was first approved by the Consumer Electronics AssociationConsumer Electronics Association
The Consumer Electronics Association is a standards and trade organization for the consumer electronics industry in the United States. The Consumer Electronics Association is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $173 billion U.S...
R4 Video Systems Committee on 6 June 2007 and ANSI public review closed on 1 October 2007.
After editorial review, it was published in December 2007.
Revision CEA-909-B
The CEA R4 Video Systems Committee published this update in September 2010. Purchase price for the full publication is $81.CEA-909A data timing specification Mode A
The data timing of the specification is divided into 125 μs symbol periods between 5 VDC for V_Hi and 0 V for V_Low. The PWM Logic 0 is V_Hi for the first 41.7 μs followed by V_Low for the rest of the symbol period while Logic 1 is V_Hi for the first 81.3 μs (V_Low for the rest). The preamble should send V-Hi for three periods then V_Low for one period then a logic 1 start bit.The 14-bit data breaks down sequentially as follows:
Two bits for coarse direction or switching control, MSB sent first.
Two bits for fine direction control, MSB sent first.
One bit for polarization control
Two bits for preamp gain. The state 1,1 shall be maximum gain, state 0,0 minimum gain, and remaining states progressing monotonically.
7 bits for RF channel number (per CEA-542-B http://theoldcatvequipmentmuseum.org/300/304/CATV_Channels/index.html), MSB sent first. (Note: this could allow for channel assignment from 0 to 127, but it is artificially limited to the range 2–69 and the post-transition channel range will be 2–51)
After the data is sent the system should send V_Low for 1 period and wait until next RF channel change (with a minimum of 10 ms between data streams to allow for the antenna controller logic to reset).
This means channels should be able to change and reset as fast as every ≈12.5 ms (≈80 Hz) or every channel in 0.85 seconds and with 16 'virtual' antennas (32 with two polarization states).
Limited Choice of EIA/CEA-909A Smart Antennas in the Marketplace
After the above rigorous, seven year standardization process by the Consumer Electronics AssociationConsumer Electronics Association
The Consumer Electronics Association is a standards and trade organization for the consumer electronics industry in the United States. The Consumer Electronics Association is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $173 billion U.S...
leading up to the deployment of ATSC Digital television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
in the United States on June 11, 2009, two smart antenna models were brought to market:
- RCA ANT2000 -- no longer available from retailers
- DTA-5000 -- sometimes associated with the Sylvania brand name; no longer available from retailers
And two models are causing consumer confusion:
- Although the Apex SM550 is capable of connecting to a CEA-909 port for the purpose of drawing electrical power, it is not a true smart antenna.http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=16553780
- The unfortunately-named Channel Master 3000A SMARTenna is a conventional antenna, not a smart antenna.http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:AuWXatS9qWUJ:www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp%3Fp%3Danc3000+%22does+not+have+SMART+ANTENNA+Technology%22&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
The United States National Telecommunications and Information Administration
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce that serves as the President's principal adviser on telecommunications policies pertaining to the United States' economic and technological advancement and to regulation of the...
(NTIA) ran a coupon-eligible converter box
Coupon-eligible converter box
A coupon-eligible converter box was a digital television adapter that met eligibility specifications for subsidy "coupons" from the United States government...
(CECB) subsidy program for the ATSC conversion, but did not subsidize the purchase of a smart antenna
Smart antenna
Smart antennas are antenna arrays with smart signal processing algorithms used to identify spatial signal signature such as the direction of arrival of the signal, and use it to calculate beamforming vectors, to track and locate the antenna beam on the mobile/target...
to mitigate the cliff effect
Cliff effect
In telecommunications, the cliff effect or brickwall effect describes the sudden loss of digital signal reception. Unlike analog signals, which gradually fade when signal strength decreases or electromagnetic interference or multipath increases, a digital signal provides data which is either...
of digital television, and most CECBs do not support smart antennas.
Official specs
The official specifications are available for purchase from Global Engineering Documents.See also
- DiSEqCDiSEqCDiSEqC , pronounced "Die-Sec", is a special communication protocol for use between a satellite receiver and a device such as a multi-dish switch or a small dish antenna rotor...
and USALS, existing standards allowing control of satellite televisionSatellite televisionSatellite television is television programming delivered by the means of communications satellite and received by an outdoor antenna, usually a parabolic mirror generally referred to as a satellite dish, and as far as household usage is concerned, a satellite receiver either in the form of an...
rotors and switches via the same cable as the main signal.