Television Systems Course

Lesson 1 • Overview of a Complete TV System

Maps the end-to-end signal chain from camera capture to viewer display. Prepares students to study each subsystem in depth in subsequent chapters.

Lesson 2 • History and Evolution of Television

Traces mechanical and electronic TV development through analog, digital, and HDTV eras. Provides context for understanding why modern standards exist.

Lesson 3 • Audio in Television Systems

Introduces mono, stereo, and multichannel audio as carried within TV signals. Links audio quality and synchronization to overall viewer experience.

Lesson 4 • The Electromagnetic Spectrum and RF Basics

Explains frequency bands, wavelength, and propagation relevant to TV transmission. Connects spectrum allocation to channel planning and interference management.

Lesson 1 • Scanning Standards and Frame Rates

Defines interlaced and progressive scanning, lines per frame, and field rates. Establishes the raster structure that underpins all subsequent video formats.

Lesson 2 • Analog Transmitter Architecture

Describes exciter, power amplifier, and combining stages in an analog TV transmitter. Connects transmitter design to coverage area and regulatory power limits.

Lesson 3 • Amplitude and Frequency Modulation for TV

Covers AM vestigial sideband for video and FM for audio carriers in analog broadcasting. Links modulation choices to bandwidth efficiency and noise performance.

Lesson 4 • Color Encoding Systems

Compares NTSC, PAL, and SECAM color encoding approaches and their trade-offs. Explains subcarrier frequency, phase, and color burst for each system.

Lesson 1 • MPEG Standards for Television

Details MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 AVC profiles used in broadcast and cable TV systems. Explains profile, level, and bitrate selection for different service tiers.

Lesson 2 • MPEG-2 Transport Stream Structure

Explains packetization, program-specific information tables, and multiplexing in the transport stream. Provides the packet-level knowledge needed for signal analysis.

Lesson 3 • Sampling and Quantization of Video

Covers Nyquist sampling theory applied to video, bit depth, and quantization error. Establishes the digital signal foundation needed for compression study.

Lesson 4 • Digital Audio Coding for TV

Covers AC-3, AAC, and HE-AAC audio coding used in digital TV services. Links codec selection to channel capacity and surround sound capability.

Lesson 1 • DVB-T and DVB-T2 Standards

Compares DVB-T and DVB-T2 modulation, coding, and capacity improvements. Highlights T2 features such as LDPC coding and multiple PLPs.

Lesson 2 • ATSC Standards for Terrestrial DTV

Covers ATSC 1.0 8-VSB modulation and the ATSC 3.0 next-generation standard. Compares ATSC and DVB approaches to channel coding and service delivery.

Lesson 3 • Single-Frequency Network Planning

Explains how SFN transmitters synchronize to extend coverage without additional spectrum. Covers echo delay budgets and network timing requirements.

Lesson 4 • OFDM Modulation Principles

Explains multicarrier OFDM, subcarrier spacing, and guard interval operation. Connects OFDM robustness to multipath environments typical in terrestrial broadcasting.

Lesson 1 • QAM Modulation for Cable Systems

Covers 64-QAM and 256-QAM constellation mapping, spectral efficiency, and noise margin. Connects modulation order selection to cable plant quality requirements.

Lesson 2 • Conditional Access and Content Protection

Introduces encryption, entitlement management, and smart card systems used in pay TV. Links conditional access architecture to subscriber management and piracy prevention.

Lesson 3 • Satellite Orbit Types and Link Budgets

Compares GEO, MEO, and LEO orbits for TV distribution and calculates link budget parameters. Provides the foundation for dish sizing and uplink power planning.

Lesson 4 • Cable TV Network Architecture

Describes hybrid fiber-coax topology, headend functions, and node segmentation. Establishes the physical infrastructure context for cable signal delivery.

Lesson 1 • IP Networking Fundamentals for Video

Reviews multicast, unicast, and QoS mechanisms relevant to video transport over IP. Connects network layer behavior to video quality and latency outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Adaptive Bitrate Streaming Protocols

Covers HLS, MPEG-DASH, and smooth streaming ABR mechanisms for OTT delivery. Explains segment-based delivery, manifest files, and bitrate ladder design.

Lesson 3 • Quality of Experience Measurement

Introduces QoE metrics including rebuffering ratio, startup time, and VMAF scoring. Connects objective measurements to viewer satisfaction and churn reduction.

Lesson 4 • IPTV System Architecture

Describes headend, middleware, CDN, and set-top box roles in a managed IPTV system. Establishes the end-to-end service delivery model for subsequent protocol study.

Lesson 1 • Studio Audio Systems

Covers mixing console design, microphone types, and intercom systems for broadcast studios. Connects audio infrastructure to program quality and crew communication.

Lesson 2 • Production Switcher and Vision Mixing

Describes M/E bus architecture, keying types, and transition effects in production switchers. Links switcher operation to live program assembly and director workflow.

Lesson 3 • Broadcast Camera Technology

Covers CCD and CMOS sensor design, optical formats, and camera chain components. Establishes the image capture foundation for studio and field production.

Lesson 4 • Synchronization and Reference Signals

Explains black burst, tri-level sync, and PTP-based timing for studio synchronization. Ensures students can maintain timing integrity across all studio equipment.

Lesson 1 • Immersive and Object-Based Audio

Covers Dolby Atmos, MPEG-H, and AC-4 object-based audio for broadcast and streaming. Explains audio object rendering and personalization for immersive experiences.

Lesson 2 • High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamut

Explains PQ and HLG transfer functions, BT.2020 color space, and HDR metadata. Links HDR and WCG to display capability and backward-compatible broadcast workflows.

Lesson 3 • IP-Based Studio Infrastructure

Details SMPTE ST 2110 essence transport, NMOS control, and software-defined production. Connects IP infrastructure to facility agility and remote production capability.

Lesson 4 • Emerging Display Technologies

Surveys OLED, MicroLED, and quantum dot display technologies and their TV performance metrics. Prepares students to evaluate display specifications against broadcast signal capabilities.