The Rohde & Schwarz SFQ is a modular TV test transmitter for validating digital and analog television links and receivers across development, manufacturing, and service environments. It generates high-quality signals with excellent spectral purity and amplitude accuracy, supporting multiple international broadcast standards in a single instrument. The SFQ accepts MPEG transport streams via ASI, SPI, and SMPTE310M interfaces, processing them for terrestrial and satellite transmission with integrated forward error correction, energy dispersal control, and SYNC BYTE management.
Technical Specifications
Frequency Range: 0.3 MHz to 3300 MHz (3.3 GHz)
Output Level: −99.9 dBm to +13 dBm
Digital TV Standards: DVB-T (2K/8K COFDM, 6/7/8 MHz bandwidth, hierarchical coding), DVB-S/DSNG (QPSK, 8PSK, 16QAM, turbo coding), DVB-C (16/32/64/128/256 QAM), ITU-T/J.83B, ATSC/8VSB, ISDB-T (ARIB STD-B31, modes 1/2/3, up to 3 layers, 13 OFDM segments)
Analog Standards: PAL, SECAM, NTSC (FM satellite)
Sound Signals: Analog FM subcarriers, digital ADR sound subcarriers (0.1 MHz to 9 MHz with MUSICAM), dual FM subcarriers (5 MHz to 9 MHz)
Transport Streams: 188 or 204 byte MPEG packets; selectable data and symbol rates for DVB-C/S/DSNG
– Key Features
• Variable roll-off factor (root cosine) for DVB-S, DVB-DSNG, DVB-C
• Selective carrier control—disable modulation, individual carriers, or carrier groups for specialized measurements
• Full-range RF sweep capability
• Internal noise generator for precise C/N control
• Fading simulator with 6 or 12 propagation paths; predefined and custom profiles
• Native BER measurement across all digital modulation modes
• Reed-Solomon (204,188) FEC coder with switchable energy dispersal
• External I/Q signal input/output
– Typical Applications
• Receiver and module characterization across terrestrial, cable, and satellite platforms
• Link validation under controlled fading and noise conditions
• Production testing with multi-standard capability
• Service and field verification
– Compatibility & Integration
Accepts MPEG transport streams and unpacketed data; supports I/Q external signal processing and 8VSB I/Q coding.
