This document describes the measurement configurations and procedures for DAB receiver testing using National Instruments PXI Vector Signal Generators and MaxEye DAB/DABPlus/T-DMB Signal Generation software.

1. DAB/DAB+/DMB Receiver Test Solution
Application Note
Using National Instruments PXI Vector Signal Generators, Vector Signal
Transceivers and MaxEye DAB/DAB+/T-DMB Signal Generation Software

2. 2
Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 3
2. Test System Hardware and Software Requirements ............................................................... 3
2.1. Test Setup......................................................................................................................... 4
3. DAB/DAB+/T-DMB Signal Generation Software.................................................................. 5
3.1. Set up MaxEye DAB Signal Generation Software .......................................................... 6
4. Receiver Test Procedure........................................................................................................ 10
4.1. Receiver Performance Tests........................................................................................... 10
4.1.1 Sensitivity and Maximum Input Power Level Tests .................................................... 10
4.1.2 Receiver Performance in Multipath Fading Channel ................................................... 11
4.1.3 Receiver Selectivity Tests ............................................................................................ 15
4.1.4 Receiver Reacquisition Time........................................................................................ 16
4.2. Receiver Functionality Tests.......................................................................................... 17
5. MaxEye DAB/DAB+/DMB Toolkit API.............................................................................. 18

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1. Introduction
Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is a digital radio technology for broadcasting radio stations,
used in several countries, particularly in Europe. The DAB family of standards includes DAB,
DAB+ for digital radio and DMB for mobile TV. They are flexible, global and open standards
and are a means for transmission of terrestrial digital radio signals.
When the original DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) was first developed in the late 1980s, it
was based on MPEG Audio Layer II coding, which is still commonly used in broadcasting today.
The integration of AAC into DAB allowed higher efficiency, meaning the same audio quality at
lower bitrates - hence the birth of DAB+. Another important innovation was the addition of
video/multimedia capabilities to Digital Audio Broadcasting, allowing DAB to become a digital
mobile television platform DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) as well as a multimedia
digital radio platform. Both for DMB and DAB+ the technical basis remains DAB.
This document describes the measurement configurations and procedures for DAB receiver
testing using National Instruments PXI Vector Signal Generators and MaxEye
DAB/DABPlus/T-DMB Signal Generation software.
2. Test System Hardware and Software Requirements
The following are the hardware and software requirements for the test setup.
Table 1 DAB, DAB+ and DMB Test Configuration
Product Name Model Number Options
NI PXI Chassis
8-Slot 3U PXI Express Chassis
NI PXIe-1082 -
NI PXI Controller
2.3 GHz Quad-Core PXI Express
Controller
NI PXIe-8135 4 GB Upgrade/Replacement RAM
for PXIe-8135
NI Vector Signal Generator NI PXIe-5671
NI PXIe-5672
NI PXIe-5673/5673E
NI PXIe-5644R/5645R/5646R
With 512MB RAM
NI RFSG driver version 1.7 or later
MaxEye DAB Signal Generation
Software
MAXEYE-MET-
DABTDMB_V001
-
NI LabVIEW 2011, 2012 and 2013
NI Modulation Toolkit Version 4.3 or later

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The MaxEye DAB Signal Generation software is available for free 30-days evaluation in
LabVIEW Tools Network. For more information about free evaluation of the MaxEye toolkit
please write to info@maxeyetech.com.
Download the software now from NI LabVIEW Tools Network and evaluate the software before
you purchase.
2.1.Test Setup
The diagram below shows the test setup using the hardware and software listed above. In the
diagram NI PXIe-5673E is used as a Vector Signal Generator. Please see the table above to see
the list of the other supported hardware.

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3. DAB/DAB+/T-DMB Signal Generation Software
The MaxEye DAB signal generation toolkit extends LabVIEW tools and functions with National
Instruments Vector Signal Generator to generate DAB/DAB+/DMB test signals that confirm to
the ETSI standard specifications for various standards. Table 2 gives the details of the standard
specifications for each of the supported standard.
The toolkit coding, modulation and other parameters can be easily configured using the
LabVIEW API VIs to generate custom waveform for specific test requirements.
NI PXIe-5673E
DAB/DAB+/DMB
Receiver
BER
Receiver
Sensitivity
Channel Search
(Manual/Auto)
Search Results
Analysis
Channel
Up/down time
(Mute detection)
Audio/Video
Quality Analysis
TS Packet Analysis
EPG, Subtitles and
other Receiver
Functionality Tests
DAB Signal Generation
Figure 1 Test Setup for Receiver Performance and Functionality Tests

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Table 2 DAB/DAB+/DMB Standard Specifications
Sl.no Standard Name Specifications
1 DAB/DAB+/DMB ETSI EN 300 401 V1.4.1 (2006-06) - Radio Broadcasting
Systems; Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) to mobile,
portable and fixed receivers
ETSI TS 102 427 V1.1.1 (2005-07) - Digital Audio
Broadcasting (DAB); Data Broadcasting - MPEG-2 TS
streaming
ETSI TS 102 428 V1.1.1 (2005-06) - Digital Audio
Broadcasting (DAB); DMB video service; User Application
Specification
One of the significant feature of the toolkit is it allows storing the generated waveform in file and
then playing the waveform in realtime using NI RFSG Streaming mode. This feature enables
the testing of the received video/audio signals continuously for hours. The duration of the
generated waveform in this mode is limited only by the available disk memory.
The MaxEye Digital Video toolkit software provides support for MPEG 2 Transport streams as a
one of the payload option with complete channel coding and modulation to support the specific
needs of the design and verification of the digital video receivers, digital video transmitters and
their components. The software also supports other payload options like Test Patterns, User
Defined Bits, Binary file and PN Sequence. The toolkit coding, modulation and other parameters
can be easily configured using the Labview API Vis to generate custom waveform for specific
test requirements. The toolkit also supports adding impairments like AWGN, IQ impairments,
frequency and clock offsets to stress the receivers under real world conditions.
3.1.Set up MaxEye DAB Signal Generation Software
The following step by step procedure explains how to configure the signal generation software to
generate DAB/DAB+ and DMB signals.

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Steps Operations User Configuration and Software
Functionality
Open the
DAB Signal
Generation
Example
Open LabVIEW 2011 or higher version
Click Start > All Programs > MaxEye > Digital
Video Toolkits > DAB_TDMB > Generation
and open MaxEye DAB TDMB RFSG Signal
Generation.vi
Opens the front panel of the DAB signal
generation example
Configure
the
Hardware
Settings
Select Hardware Configuration Tab and configure
the following properties
Use the RFSG resource name
configured in the NI MAX software for
the VSG.
Configure Carrier Frequency, Power
Level, External Attenuation if used,
Headroom and Arbitrary waveform
generator pre-filter gain.
Configure the Headroom value
equivalent to the maximum expected
PAPR value of the signal. The default
value is 12dB
Configure
the DAB
Standard
specific
Global
Settings
Select Global Configuration Tab and configure the
following properties
DAB has a number of country specific
transmission modes (I, II, III and IV)
based on the frequency band. Select the
transmission mode.
Configure Number of Transmission
Frames to generate, this determines the
duration of the selected waveform
Select the Input mode, if the Input Mode
is ETI File the Service and Subchannel
configurations are read from the file. No
other user configuration is required.

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WorldDMB forum provides ETI Library
for the receiver testing.
WorldDMB ETI Library assists receiver
manufacturers in testing their products
ensuring they include the minimum set
of function requirements set out in the
WorldDMB Receiver Profiles, making
them compatible on a pan-European and
worldwide basis
If the Input Mode is user configuration
configure the Number of Services and
Subchannels and for each Subchannel
configure the Protection Mode,
Protection Level, Subchannel ID, UEP
Table Index and EEP n value.
Note: Standard uses two protection
methods, UEP – Unequal Error
Protection and EEP – Equal Error
Protection
Note: For BER measurements as per BS
EN 50248 specification, BER should e
measured in MSC using Equal Error
Protection with code rate of ½. For this
Protection Mode should be set to Long
Form and Protection Level should be
EEP-3A.
Configure
DAB
Service
Configurati
on Settings
Select the Service Configuration Tab and configure
the following properties. If the Input Mode is ETI
File skip this step.
Set Service Level configurations like
Service Reference number, Service
Label and Number of Service
components in each service.
For each service component configure
Transport Mechanism Id for DAB and
DAB+ select MSC-Stream Mode
(audio) for T-DMB select MSC-Stream
Mode (Data).
Select DABPlus as Audio Service

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Component Type for DABPlus mode.
Select the subchannel identifier of the
service component. Each subchannel
carries one service component.
For T-DMB mode set Data Service
Component Type as T-DMB.
Configure the Service component
Identifier and label.
Select the payload mode for DAB audio
test choose MPEG Layer II audio and
for DAB+ select MPEG4 HE AAC
Version 2.
For T-DMB testing select MPEG2TS
file. The other supported payload modes
are PN Sequence, User Defined Bits and
Test Pattern. Configure the remaining
properties based on the selected payload
mode and leave all other configurations
to default values.
Configure
Impairment
s
Select the Impairments Tab and configure the
following properties. If you are not adding
impairments in the signal skip this step.
Set Impairments Enabled? Property
value to True to enable adding
impairments in the signal.
Set AWGN Enabled Property to True to
enable adding simulated AWGN noise
to the signal. This is required for
receiver sensitivity measurements.
Configure the following properties
depending on the test requirement.
Carrier to Noise Ratio, Frequency
Offset, Clock Offset, I DC Offset, Q DC
Offset, IQ Gain Imbalance and
Quadrature Skew.
Note: For BER measurements as per BS
EN 50248 specification, BER should e

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measured in MSC using Equal Error
Protection with code rate of ½.
Configure
Multipath
fading
Select the Multipath Fading Tab and configure the
following properties. If you are not adding multipath
fading to the signal skip this step.
Configure the multipath properties
depending on the test requirement.
Run the
LabVIEW
example VI
The toolkit now generates the waveform if there is
no error in the user configuration. The errors
reported to the user for selecting the correct
configuration
4. Receiver Test Procedure
4.1.Receiver Performance Tests
4.1.1 Sensitivity and Maximum Input Power Level Tests
Sensitivity and Maximum input power level tests are two important BER tests used for testing
the minimum and maximum power level requirements of a DAB receiver.
As per the standard BS EN 62104:2007 Characteristics of DAB Receivers, the minimum
requirement is -81 dBm and the BER value should be less than or equal to 10-4
for both VHF and
L Band. The requirement for maximum input power is -10dBm, -15dBm, -20dBm respectively
for mobile, stationary and portable receivers in the VHF band. In the L-Band the maximum
power requirement is -25dBm.

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In some commercial receivers, there is no direct method of measuring the BER in this case we
need to use external BER measurement device. The test setup is shown in Figure 1 and suitable
attenuator can be used after the VSG to reduce the power for the sensitivity tests.
Test Procedure
1. Generate and save the waveform as per the steps given in section 3.1 of this document.
The recommended configuration for the BER test is
a. Protection Mode - Long Form
b. Protection Level - EEP-3A
c. Number of Subchannels – 1
d. Number of Services – 1
e. Number of service components in service - 1
2. Play the saved waveform using RFSG Play Waveform from file example.
3. Configure the carrier frequency and power level. Note: the sensitivity tests need to be
done on both VHF and L Band.
4. Generate the waveform and reduce the power level at the antenna input of the DAB
receiver by adding the external attenuator.
5. Reduce the power level till the BER reaches the value of 10-4
. Note down the power
level. Cable loss needs to be adjusted while computing the power level. Before the tests
calibrate the cable used for connecting the VSG and DAB receiver.
6. For maximum input power level test increase the power level till the BER reaches the
value of 10-4
. Note down this power level after adjusting for the cable loss.
4.1.2 Receiver Performance in Multipath Fading Channel
DAB receivers are designed to work in a mobile environment and there are three types of
channel profiles defined in BS EN 50248 standard for testing the receiver performance in a
Rayleigh channel. The channel profiles are defined for rural areas, urban areas and
SFN networks.
The test procedure is similar to the receiver sensitivity tests expect that we need to add multipath
channel fading as per the Table 2, 3 and 4 for the respective tests.

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Test Procedure
1. The recommended configuration for the BER test is
a. Protection Mode - Long Form
b. Protection Level - EEP-3A
c. Number of Subchannels – 1
d. Number of Services – 1
e. Number of service components in service – 1
2. Configure the multipath signal parameters as per the channel profile in Table 3, 4 and 5.
3. Generate and save the waveform in file.
4. Play the saved waveform using RFSG Play Waveform from file example.
5. Configure the carrier frequency and power level. Note: this tests need to be done on both
VHF and L Band.
6. Generate the waveform and reduce the power level at the antenna input of the DAB
receiver by adding the external attenuator.
7. Reduce the power level till the BER reaches the value of 10-4
. Note down the power
level. Cable loss needs to be adjusted while computing the power level. Before the tests
calibrate the cable used for connecting the VSG and DAB receiver.

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8. If the recorded power level is lesser than -75dBm than the DAB receiver passes the test
for this channel profile, carrier frequency and transmission mode.
Table 3 Typical Rural – Channel Profile
Path Number Path Gain (dB) Path Delay (us) Fading Type
4 Paths
1 0 0 Rician
2 -2 0.2 Rayleigh
3 -10 0.4 Rayleigh
4 -20 0.6 Rayleigh
6 Paths
1 0 0 Rician
2 -4 0.1 Rayleigh
3 -8 0.2 Rayleigh
4 -12 0.3 Rayleigh
5 -16 0.4 Rayleigh
6 -20 0.5 Rayleigh
Table 4 Typical Urban - Channel Profile
Path Number Path Gain (dB) Path Delay (us) Fading Type
6 Paths
1 -3 0 Rayleigh
2 0 0.2 Rayleigh
3 -2 0.5 Rayleigh
4 -6 1.6 Rayleigh

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5 -8 2.3 Rayleigh
6 -10 5.0 Rayleigh
12 Paths
1 -4 0 Rayleigh
2 -3 0.1 Rayleigh
3 0 0.3 Rayleigh
4 -2.6 0.5 Rayleigh
5 -3 0.8 Rayleigh
6 -5 1.1 Rayleigh
7 -7 1.3 Rayleigh
8 -5 1.7 Rayleigh
9 -6.5 2.3 Rayleigh
10 -8.6 3.1 Rayleigh
11 -11 3.2 Rayleigh
12 -10 5.0 Rayleigh
Table 5 SFN Networks - Channel Profile for VHF Band
Path Number Path Gain (dB) Path Delay (us) Fading Type
1 0 0 Rayleigh
2 -13 100 Rayleigh
3 -18 220 Rayleigh
4 -22 290 Rayleigh
5 -26 385 Rayleigh
6 -31 480 Rayleigh
7 -32 600 Rayleigh

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4.1.3 Receiver Selectivity Tests
Receiver Selectivity determines the ability of a receiver to receive a wanted signal when strong
unwanted signal is present in the channel adjacent to the wanted frequency.
EN 62104:2007 presents two types of selectivity measurements, adjacent channel selectivity and
Far-off channel selectivity. The difference between the test procedures for the two tests is for the
adjacent channel selectivity DAB signal is used as interferer and for Far-off selectivity test FM
modulated signal is used as interferer.
For the adjacent channel measurement both the wanted and unwanted signals are DAB signals
separated by 1.712 MHz and for the far-off selectivity measurement the unwanted signal is FM
NI VSG 5673E
NI VSG 5673E
DAB/DAB+/DMB
Receiver
DAB Signal Generation
DAB Signal Generation
Figure 2 Test Setup for Selectivity Measurement

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modulated signal with center frequency equal to or higher than 5 MHz from the center frequency
of the wanted DAB signal.
The selectivity of the DAB receiver is measured as
Selectivity = Punwanted - Pwanted
Test Procedure
1. Generate and save the waveforms in file for both wanted and unwanted DAB signals.
2. Play the DAB waveform files in both the Vector Signal Generators for adjacent channel
selectivity test and for far-off selectivity test in the second Vector Signal Generator
generate FM modulated waveform.
3. Configure the frequency of the wanted and unwanted signals center frequency in VSG1
and VSG2 respectively.
4. Configure the power level of the wanted signal as -70dB and increase the power level of
the unwanted signal till the measure BER value is higher than 10-4
.
5. Note down this value as Punwanted.
6. Compute the Selectivity of the receiver as per the equation (Selectivity = Punwanted -
Pwanted). Note: Pwanted is -70dB.
7. If the computed value is greater than or equal to 30dB for Adjacent channel selectivity
and greater than or equal to 40dB for the far-off selectivity then the DAB receiver passed
the selectivity test.
8. This test has to be done for both VHF and L Band.
4.1.4 Receiver Reacquisition Time
The test setup for this test is same as the selectivity test, as per the BS EN 50248, the
reacquisition time should be less than 3 seconds. It is defined as “the time of audio mute between
switching off the received ensemble and re-synchronizing to the same ensemble at an offset
frequency”.
Two VSGs are used to generate the same DAB waveform with the frequency difference between
them is half the subcarrier spacing. The subcarrier spacing depends on the transmission mode.
For Mode I, II, III and IV it is 500 Hz, 2000 Hz, 4000 Hz and 1000Hz respectively. This test

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needs to be done separately for each mode. The DAB receiver output audio level is monitored
using the audio level analyzer or mute detection device.
Test Procedure
1. Play the same DAB waveform file in both the Vector Signal Generators.
2. Configure the frequency the two VSGs and the frequency difference should be half the
subcarrier spacing. For Mode 1 it is 500 Hz.
3. Configure the power level of both the VSGs to the same level.
4. Generate the RF signal from both the Vector Signal Generators.
5. Turn off the VSG2. Now the DAB receiver gets signal only from VSG1.
6. Turn off VSG1 and wait for 10 seconds and turn on VSG2
7. Measure the time taken for the DAB receiver to resynchronize to the DAB signal with
audio output level measurement or mute detection device.
8. Repeat the steps 5,6 and 7 for 5 times and average the measurement.
9. Repeat the measurement for all four transmission modes.
10. If the measured reacquisition time is less than 3 seconds for all the modes then the DAB
receiver passed this test.
4.2. Receiver Functionality Tests
The objective of this test procedure is to test the DAB receiver for the basic required receiver
functionalities such as Channel Search, Manual/Auto Tuning, Channel Up/Down, Audio and
Video quality measurements, EPG and to test other broadcast messages are properly handled in
the receiver.
The test setup for this test is similar to the setup shown in Figure 1.
Test Procedure
1. Configure the MaxEye DAB Signal Generation software with multiple subchannels and
service components or use the DAB ETI file that contains multiple Audio/Video channels
with other features such as EPG and other broadcast messages.
2. Generate the waveform and store it in file. Note: Generate longer duration waveform by
configuring the correct value for Number of Transmission Frames property in the
example frontpanel

18. 18
3. Configure the frequency and power level of the Vector Signal Generator.
4. Turn on the DAB receiver and perform the channel search and other tests.
5. Record the test results and the time taken for each of the tests.
6. Repeat the above tests for other receiver functionality tests. Use proper ETI file for each
test.
5. MaxEye DAB/DAB+/DMB Toolkit API
The MaxEye Digital Audio Broadcasting Signal generation toolkit allows user to completely
configure the DAB settings using LabVIEW API VIs. The diagram below shows how the API
VIs are used for configuring the signal settings. Each of the Labview programming API VI has
documentation support to the users to give more details about the functionality of the API VI and
its input and output.
The toolkit API VIs helps the users to create the custom automated test code to generate the
standard complaint signals to meet the specific test requirements.

19. 19
www.maxeyetech.com
For more information about this product and to get the evaluation copy of the latest version of
the MaxEye DAB/DAB+/TDMB Signal generation software, please contact MaxEye
Technologies
Contact Information
info@maxeyetech.com
ramesh@maxeyetech.com
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