What is the TV Explorer?

The TV EXPLORER is a specially designed instrument to aide the installation, maintenance and surveillance of terrestrial, satellite and cable TV systems.

The main difference between this instrument and all instruments available before is that the TV Explorer is easier to use. It can detect the type of signal, standard, modulation type, symbol rate and just display the results. In other words, it does not require any preliminary information about the signals to be analyzed.

The TV EXPLORER has set new standards in the way installers make and understand measurements. It includes an impressive new range of functions developed to easy measurements and to detect impairments in both digital and analog systems. With the TV EXPLORER 2's increased storage capacity, it is possible to take measurements automatically, to store the results and print reports.

A New and improved Display.

It's compact and rugged construction and its large color, 6.5", 16:9 aspect ratio transflective LCD makes it ideal for field use. The new transflective technology combines the advantages of the transmissive and reflective displays. With the transmissive pixels illuminating from behind the screen and the reflective pixels use the reflection of the external light behind the display, the result is an stunning vision in darkness and by the direct sunlight.<

Smaller is better.

The TV EXPLORER has changed the concept for this type of product. It is easier to use, has advanced functions and it is small.

It has an amazing shape factor, making compatible a very large display area with a really small size, fitting on the palm of your hands. The TV EXPLORER is been designed for outside use. With it's classic PROMAX strong aluminum construction, specially designed front panel flat keys that avoid accidental water ingress, and an original anti-shock rubber cover ensures highest protection to your investment. Depending on the model, it weights 2 - 2.2 kg (5 lbs).

Included with the instrument is a strap to hang it to the neck or to fasten it around the waist, which allows both hands to be free to take the measurements, make adjustments, etc. The carrying bag can also be used to protect the instrument from the weather conditions. A transparent plastic cover allows the operation of the keyboard even under the light rain.

The TV EXPLORER 2 (Prodig-6A and Prodig-6B) and TV EXPLORER 2 plus (Prodig-7A) are delivered with a heavy duty transport case.

Auto-Identification: The Magic Key!

The TV EXPLORER has been specially designed to satisfy the measurement needs in terrestrial, satellite and cable TV during the transition period to the analog switch off. For this reason it is equipped with functions to measure both analog and digital signals.

When one presses the"explorer" key briefly, it identifies the signal under test. First it recognizes whether the channel is analog or digital. If the channel is analog, it determines the television standard of the signal (PAL/SECAM/NTSC). If the signal is digital, it analyses the modulation type: QAM / QPSK / 8PSK (*) / COFDM (European Zone models) and all the associated parameters such as the system, the symbol rate, the code rate, etc and it tries to lock the signal.

In this way, the TV EXPLORER becomes a fully automatic and agile instrument, able to detect and to identify all of the channels in a television system. When the conditions of the signal to be identified are too poor, the equipment allows to use the manual configuration.

(*) Depending on model

Explorer: One Key and Go!

When the "explorer" key is pressed for a few seconds, a new spectrum exploration session begins. The TV EXPLORER makes a dynamic exploration of the spectrum, detecting all the channels in the swept band and identifying all its parameters to lock the signal.

This new measurement concept sets a radical change in the way to understand and to use the meter. The analyzer is no longer a passive unit, that only measures the channels. It is the analyzer on its own that begins by locating all the channels available in the band.

The TV EXPLORER detects all the channels in the band with no need for any previous details such as, the number of channels available, the type of signals transmitted or their characteristics. The TV EXPLORER is then able to determinate the nature of the signal (analog or digital) and the channel bandwidth. It can also automatically identify channel shifts that the instrument will automatically detect.

With the data collected after each exploration, it creates a register that contains tables of channels that can be independent for each area or system. Each of these tables can be saved with a different name. At any time, the stored sessions can be retrieved and the pattern used for a new sweep. This is specially useful in countries with MFN Digital Terrestrial Television networks where the design of channel plans can be complex. This feature can help to reduce measuring times dramatically.

Measurements: All in one screen

On the TV EXPLORER all the measurements are displayed simultaneously on the same screen. Whenever the Measurement function is selected the instrument shows the different parameters that define the quality of the signal under test.

Spectrum analyser automatic scale search:

TV EXPLORER users have considered that the control of the spectrum analyser based in the four arrow keys is a very valuable innovative function. The goal was to add as much automation as possible in the meter's user interface to make technicians job faster.

Continuing on with this philosophy PROMAX wanted to offer more in the TV EXPLORER II and TV EXPLORER II+. The reference level in the spectrum analyser function is initially set automatically to the best value based on the power of the signal shown.

The reference level is instantly adjusted by the TV EXPLORER II / II+ as we enter the spectrum analyser function. The graphic shown is then ready to be anlaysed with all its ups and downs with no additional key strokes.

Channel MER measurement for COFDM: Discover invisible signals

We can confirm that this is the source of the problem just by comparing the graphic with the spectrum analyser display of an Analog channel MER measurement of a COFDM multiplex has been considered until now as the average of the individual MER measurements for each of the carriers (about 8000 in a 8k system for instance) in the tuned channel. Sometimes reception quality is degraded by interfering signals that can not be detected unless we have very special analysis tools.

The MER by Carrier function uses a new extremely advanced algorithm that in a matter of seconds analyses the MER for each of the carriers forming the selected channel and displays it continuously in a graphic form. It is a measurement exclusive to the TV EXPLORER II+ that will turn out to be very useful during the transition to digital TV where we often find cases that are difficult to troubleshoot in which signals of different types and sources interfere among them.

An example where we use channel MER to analyse an 8K COFDM multiplex is shown on the left. We notice that there are 3 areas in the graphic where MER is degraded which tell us that an Analog channel may be present underneath.

If we compare this graphic with the spectrum analyser display of an Analog channel we realise that in effect the video, audio and colour carriers affect more intensively the MER of those digital multiplex carriers located at the same frequencies.

Fortunately the COFDM channel in this case is strong enough to be affected by this interference.

It is interesting to point out that this interference could not be detected in any other way for it can't be seen on the spectrum analyser and it is not strong enough to degrade the average MER, CBER or VBER readings substantially.

Screen capture: Watch on the meter and download to PC

The TV EXPLORER II+ comes with 1 GB of internal memory that is exclusively available for user data. The TV EXPLORER II+ offers beside the video stream recording feature the possibility to take screen shots of the following functions:

Spectrum analyser

MER by carrier

Constellation diagram

It is very easy to use. Users only need to select this option and the file with the screen capture will be saved in the TV EXPLORER II+ internal memory. The file can be retrieved and shown on the meter's display or can be saved to a PC to be included in measurement reports or to be processed using software applications, etc.

PROMAX is a leading company in the area of testing and measurement with a focus on information technologies and telecommunications. The product line includes instruments to install, certify, and maintain fiber optic networks, as well as baseband services such as MPEG2, and broadband services such as Cable TV, satellite, and digital terrestrial television. The company was founded in Barcelona in 1963 and at present has a wide sales network with calibration services in several countries.