DVB-S2: Advantages and Disadvantages

This page covers the advantages and disadvantages of DVB-S2, along with a basic introduction to the standard. It outlines the benefits and drawbacks of DVB-S2 technology.

What is DVB-S2?

Introduction: DVB-S2 is a digital television broadcast standard that succeeds the DVB-S standard.

DVB-S2 stands for Digital Video Broadcasting – Satellite – Second Generation. It was initially developed in 2003 by the DVB project, and later ratified by ETSI in 2005, documented in EN 302307.

DVB-S Evolution Timeline

DVB-S2 includes the following new features, which help it to replace DVB-S and DVB-DSNG technologies:

• Powerful FEC (Forward Error Correction) based on LDPC codes
• Support for a wide range of coding rates, from 1/4 up to 9/10
• New modulation schemes offering 2-5 bits/second/Hz spectrum efficiency
• Support for three spectrum shapes using different roll-off factors: 0.2, 0.25, 0.35
• Support for flexible stream adaptation, suitable for operating with single and multiple TS (Transport Stream) on the same carrier with different modulation/FEC.
• VCM (Variable Coding & Modulation) / ACM (Adaptive Coding & Modulation) allows optimization of coding/modulation on a frame-by-frame basis.

Common applications of DVB-S2 include broadcasting services (TV, HDTV, FSS, BSS), digital TV contribution & satellite news gathering, VSATs, interactive data services including internet access, and data content distribution/trunking.

Benefits or Advantages of DVB-S2

The following are the benefits and advantages of DVB-S2:

• It offers better forward error correction (FEC) performance, about 2-2.5 dB higher than DVB-S, making it more robust.
• It offers higher spectral efficiency, approximately 30% better than DVB-S, using less satellite capacity and consequently saving money.
• It provides increased data throughput in a given bandwidth (e.g., 36 MHz) compared to DVB-S.
• It supports an increased number of channels.
• It supports an increased coverage area.
• It allows the use of smaller dish antennas.
• The use of ACM in DVB-S2 offers rain fade counter measures on the forward link and allows optimum matching of the transmitter waveform to the channel conditions.
• The extension of DVB-S2, called DVB-S2X, offers very low C/N and many new features.

Drawbacks or Disadvantages of DVB-S2

The following are the drawbacks or disadvantages of DVB-S2:

• The implementation complexity is very high compared to DVB-S.
• DVB-S2 is still evolving with constantly changing technologies.
• Millions of DVB-S devices have been deployed worldwide, making it challenging to upgrade all of these devices with DVB-S2.
• The upgrade process from DVB-S to DVB-S2 requires replacing set-top boxes and TVs with integrated DVB-S2 tuners.