Marcel Tölkemeier: “This network comprises 167 transmitter sites, each carrying four DVB-T2 multiplexes”
TVBEurope 21 The Workflow
with power ratings of between 1kW and 5kW at 159 of the broadcasting sites. The sizes range between 1150mm up to 5750mm “Kathrein has a wide range of
broadcast antenna products,” states Sergey Yelov, director of Selteq, Kathrein’s sales partner in Ukraine. “Our pipe plug and play antennas are easy to plan and install. Further, the panel antenna systems are very flexible to cover specific needs, meaning we can cover all the precise design consideration with our standard products.” He says that the biggest challenge for this project was the timescales. All equipment had to be supplied within five months, a deadline that was achieved.
Compact combination Combiners for the network originated with Munich-based Spinner. “The majority of the five-way combiners were supplied in low and medium power specifications, as the coverage areas were relatively small,” says Martin Herrmann, manager, Sales and Marketing, Broadcast, at the company. “Apart from the technical aspects, these units provide a cost-effective and economical solution.” He points out that another benefit of the Spinner solution is that each station is supplied as a complete unit so that no assembly and integration work is required on site. “This is helped by the stable Compact Combining and Switching System that we employ. This is a standardised modular system of combiners and patch panels that means that a footprint of just half-a-square-metre per channel [high power] or one five-way low power combiner is sufficient to achieve the combination, mask filtering and many other switching functions. All the slide- in units are integrated so that it is possible to transport the entire system in all positions — horizontally as well as vertically.” Herrmann adds that the
installation of the interconnection lines to the transmitters and the antenna is simple because all RF ports are readily accessible. This means one vertical piece of rigid line is sufficient per port. “Even complicated combiner systems can be installed within one day.” According to Prokopenko, the
close working relationship of a number of departments was necessary in order to set up 664 high-powered digital transmitters all over Ukraine without interrupting the work of analogue networks.
“The short term development
of one of the largest TV networks in Europe wouldn’t be possible without clear state strategy and close cooperation with the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council, the
National Commission for the State Regulation of Communications and Informatisation, and the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It also wouldn’t be implemented without support of the President’s
Administration and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine as well as continual cooperation with the Broadcasting, Radiocommunications & Television Concern and the Ukrainian State Centre of