I have analog TV and cable test meters. I can tell the signal strength of channel 4.
I do not have a way to measure the signal strength of digital TV. Do you know of a low-cost way to measure the signal strength of Digital TV?

 

I have analog TV and cable test meters. I can tell the signal strength of channel 4.
I do not have a way to measure the signal strength of digital TV. Do you know of a low-cost way to measure the signal strength of Digital TV?

A cheap SDR will work for pure RF to get a idea of relative dBm but the signal strength on a typical digital TV is the MER(modulation error ratio)/SNR.

 

I do not have a way to measure the signal strength of digital TV

The "digital" TV signal can be measured with the same meter that can measure the analog TV signal on the same channel.

 

I do not have a way to measure the signal strength of digital TV. Do you know of a low-cost way to measure the signal strength of Digital TV?

The "digital" TV signal can be measured with the same meter that can measure the analog TV signal on the same channel.

That covers it. The digital signal like the old NTSC analog signal rides on a RF carrier and it's the RF carrier you want to measure the signal level of.

Ron

 

There is a frequency consideration, because the frequency is not the same, and also the modulation is digital. So for an accurate reading a recalibration will be required.

 

There is a frequency consideration, because the frequency is not the same, and also the modulation is digital. So for an accurate reading a recalibration will be required.

Why do you think the frequency is different?
It uses most of the same channel frequencies and bandwidth of the old analog channels.

I don't see how the signal strength measurement is significantly affected by the modulation.

 

Why do you think the frequency is different?
It uses most of the same channel frequencies and bandwidth of the old analog channels.

I don't see how the signal strength measurement is significantly affected by the modulation.

Well, sort of. The digital modulation RF energy is 'random' across the bandwidth so the the energy must be integrated (added up) across the correct bandwidth. So a broadband, full-wave rectifier, true average power reading indicator is needed for accurate signal strength readings.

 

Consider that multiple signals are now transmitted in the same assigned bandwidth So if you want to measure the strength of one of those signals you will need to not measure the others at the same time.

 

Digitial TV sends out data at 19.39 Mbps. The broadcaster can send many different formats of TV. Example, they could send out 4 streams of 4.85 Mbps TV. Chanels 31.1, 31.2, 31.3 and 31.4. In my area usually x.1 is high definition and rest of the channel is low definition.
options = 1920x1080 x 60hz, 1920x1080 x 30hz, 1280x720 x 60hz, 704x480 x 60hx, 704x480 x 30hz.
You can send two channels of 704x480 x 30hz in the same space as one 704x480 x 60hz.
A signal strength meter will measure channel 31 and not know there are subchannels. All the data has the same signal strength.

My old TV meter measured up to channel 12 and included FM and aircraft bands. It has a 6mhz wide window of measurement. It included an AM receiver for video and FM receiver for sound.

 

Probably the existing signal strength meter will be good for aiming the antenna, and servicing a system, but not so very accurate for measuring exact signal strength. At least that is what I see.