Optimization of Guard Intervals in OFDM-Based DVB-T2 Networks to Reduce Bit Error Rate and Improve Urban Coverage

DVB-T2 systems deployed in urban areas are significantly susceptible to multipath propagation and intersymbol interference. This article examines the possibility of optimizing guard interval settings for DVB-T2 systems supporting orthogonal frequency division multiplexing to minimize the bit error rate and improve signal transmission efficiency in urban environments. Using MATLAB simulations, four different guard intervals (1/4, 1/8, 1/16, and 1/32) were analyzed, taking into account channel variations. The results showed that the optimal guard interval setting was 1/8, which reduced the bit error rate from 10−3 to 10−5 at an SNR of 18 dB, and increased signal coverage efficiency by 22 %.