Viewing All Bootstrap and Preamble Information for ATSC 3.0

[WNYOTA]

To date, there is not a single consumer device that can output complete bootstrap and preamble data from an ATSC 3.0 broadcast.

I am willing to develop an app in Swift that could utilize this information from the HDHomeRun FLEX 4K dev model. However, this data doesn't seem to be exposed in the HDHomeRun API.

If there is no way to have third party development with this functionality, I am wondering if SiliconDust could add more information to the Config GUI. Obviously there is already some data being extracted in order to show mod cod configurations, time interleaving, etc. It would be nice to see a complete data set of everything being sent, and being able to see this at the SNR thresholds needed to receive them (this is especially important, as this isn't the case currently).

Example: You are receiving an ATSC 3.0 signal on RF channel 28 at a -8 dB SNR. The broadcaster is sending the L1 Basic data with an SNR threshold of -9.2 dB. Using the HDHomeRun FLEX 4K, you are able to tune into RF channel 28 and see all information from the bootstrap, and all information from the L1 Basic portion of the Preamble.

I understand there seems to be some technical hurdles with the Sony LSI that is used in the HDHomeRun models in regards to displaying negative SNRs. However, the HDHomeRun FLEX 4K should be able to output this information as this is fundamental to A/321, A/322, and A/327.

Utilizing this data may not seem all that important, but I have a background installing TV antennas and a technical engineering background that I have been developing. Information from the bootstrap and preamble is highly valuable, especially when provided at receive SNRs that are below that of what's required from the main PLP payload. Anyone fine tuning an antenna setup can use this information to better understand the conditions around them to enhance the placement of their antenna, it can be used to discover stations possibly many markets away, and it can be used to understand the full, basic technical parameters of a given broadcast.

Since this is functionality that has no relevancy to the A3SA, I would imagine that there would be motivation to work on this at SiliconDust. In fact, if DRM is fully utilized in the future and there isn't a path forward for the HDHomeRun, utilizing more intricate data like this would be a way to maintain a solid use case for the hardware. I am willing to spend some time collaborating on this with you guys if possible.

[nickk]

We have the L1basic and L1detail information but it isn't exposed... need to decide on an http or similar API to access it.

[WNYOTA]

That would be great! Is there any way to add the 24 bootstrap bits as well?

If/when you update the API I’ll start working on an app, unless this is something you want to implement with the Config GUI.