By Fanny Mlinarsky
In the early days of broadcast TV, the world was analog and spectrum was plentiful. Spectrum sharing was unnecessary and, indeed, hadn't even been invented. Dedicated spectrum was allocated to each TV channel and later, 202 wireless microphones were permitted to operate in unused channels (FCC part 74).
Conventional TV stations use 6-MHz channels, numbered 2 to 69 in the VHF and UHF spectrum (54 to 72 MHz, 76 to 88 MHz, 174 to 216 MHz and 470 to 806 MHz). The 2009 transition from analog to digital TV, expected to free up channels 52 through 69 due to DTV's higher spectral efficiency, has prompted the FCC to update its regulations, allowing more efficient use of the spectrum, now possible with modern technology.
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| A hidden-node example signal from a TV station reaches WSD through a building or other obstructions and may be undetectable due to propagation losses. A TV antenna on the roof receives the same signal at a power level sufficient for viewing. WSD, not having detected the signal, may transmit and cause interference at the TV tuner. |
The new regulations (FCC Dockets 04-186, 02-380) may allow unused portions of the TV spectrum to support wireless broadband services. They require the use of cognitive radios able to determine whether a channel is available prior to transmitting.
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