Introduction
The FCC has mandated a period during which ATSC
and NTSC signals will be simulcast. After the transition
period, the NTSC signal will be discontinued. In some
cases, at the end of the transition period, the ATSC
signal will move to the NTSC channel. Transmission
equipment that is suitable for both NTSC and ATSC
broadcasts will provide the greatest degree of flexibility
for the broadcaster.
When designing hardware to produce ATSC signals, a
little extra thought, and a little extra hardware will allow
use of the same platform to produce both ATSC and
NTSC signals. Novel combinations of modern Field-
Programmable Gate Arrays, (FPGAs), general purpose
digital signal processors, and programmable digital filter
parts make possible the development of a flexible signal
generation system that can produce either analog or
digital TV IF signals.