What type of system does ATSC A/53 Part 2 define for terrestrial broadcasts?

ATSC A/53 Part 2 specifically defines the 8-VSB (8-level Vestigial Sideband) modulation technique used for terrestrial broadcasting of digital television. This modulation method allows for the transmission of digital signals over the radio frequency spectrum, optimizing bandwidth usage while maintaining resistance to multipath interference, which is common in terrestrial broadcasting environments.

The 8-VSB system can effectively transmit compressed video, audio, and data, making it suitable for high-definition television content. The designation "8-level" refers to the fact that the modulation scheme can convey three bits of information per symbol, increasing the efficiency of data transmission.

This standard is crucial for ensuring compatibility and performance of terrestrial digital television services in North America, and it played a significant role in the transition from analog to digital broadcasting. Other modulation and encoding techniques mentioned, such as QPSK or OFDM, are used in different contexts, such as satellite or cable transmission, and are not the focus of ATSC A/53 Part 2.