The method to utilizing a digital EBS/ITFS signal is to employ a digital demodulator and modulator in series. An agile device that can be set up to receive a digital EBS/ITFS channel input signal from an EBS/ITFS down converter. Its function is to extract the audio and video information from the digital carrier and provide separate analog audio and video output signals. These separate audio and video feeds, also called baseband audio and video, are then applied to an analog modulator. It is the job of the modulator to take the audio and video and make them in to a NTSC cable TV channel that can be viewed by the existing analog televisions.

This channel can then be combined with other channels that have been created at the property. It is common practice to re-modulate onto unused VHF or CATV channels to minimize distribution losses and make it easier to construct and manage the system. When the new channel is combined with other channels in the facility it must be done at the correct level so that the signals do not interfere with each other.

The keys to success in this system are making sure that the demodulators have enough input signal to function correctly and making sure that the modulator is adjusted correctly for proper output level.

Any facility that wants to utilize a digital EBS/ITFS feed as a source for their analog televisions will need to convert the digital signals back to analog for the analog televisions. This system will allow you to receive the digital EBS/ITFS (QAM) channel transmission and distribute it to the conventional analog televisions in the facility. The output signal can be delivered via a traditional coaxial or HFC distribution network. This application assumes that all the TV’s in the system are analog and therefore cannot receive the digital channel directly.