TV Transmission

At NAB 2013, AmberFin and New Delhi-based Venera Technologies announced a co-operative development project that will extend the reach of AmberFin’s Unified Quality Control (UQC) platform. The co-operative project will see the integration of Venera Technologies’ Pulsar automated QC system within the AmberFin’s iCR Unified Quality Control platform for content ingest and transcoding operations.

First launched two years ago, UQC still represents a unique approach to file-based media quality control since it combines multiple tools for baseband checks during tape ingest, file-based QC after ingest, and overall operator-controlled QC, including annotation and mark-up. Already incorporating most of the market’s established third-party QC solutions, the addition of Pulsar is strategically important since it completes the set of major QC analysis tool vendors.

“The media industry has accepted the need to automate workflows to keep pace with changing technologies and user behaviour, and QC operations remain a crucial part of broadcast workflows,” commented Vikas Singhal, Co-founder and Executive Director – Business Development at Venera Technologies. “The movement towards file-based workflows and requirement for multi-screen delivery has added complexity to workflows for content providers. It is now necessary for them to adopt QC tools that can detect the issues within their content in an automated manner.

“Pulsar is a leading Automated QC solution and is used by companies such as Encompass Digital Media, Disney, Adstream, ESPN, MLB Networks, Telecom Italia and MPC. Some customers have expressed a desire to use Pulsar from within AmberFin’s UQC environment. We believe the partnership will be beneficial for both our and AmberFin’s customers in allowing them a seamless and rich experience” Singhal continued.

For AmberFin, this project is strategically important since it further extends the versatility of this system and provides a vendor agnostic QC platform that is well suited to digital file-based workflows and multi-platform media enterprise operations.

“The future integration of Venera’s Pulsar will add significantly to UQC’s flexibility and versatility,” commented Jeremy Deaner, Chief Executive Officer at AmberFin. “Whatever the size and scale of your enterprise operations, and whatever major QC system you have used previously, AmberFin UQC will create new efficiencies and enhance media quality throughout your operation. We look forward to continuing working together closely with the Venera team making this goal come to fruition.”

Visit http://www.amberfin.com and http://www.veneratech.com

Radiated emissions from the cable TV infrastructure can cause interference in cellular LTE networks. The R&S EFL110 and R&S EFL210 cable TV analyser and leakage detectors detect these electromagnetic emissions quickly, accurately and cost-effectively.

Using the R&S EFL110 and R&S EFL210 portable TV test receivers, cable TV network operators can locate the loose connections or damaged shielding that can generate unwanted emissions in the UHF frequency range. If left unaddressed, these emissions can cause interference in the LTE network. The receivers are lightweight, robust and easy to operate, and the lithium-ion battery supplies power for more than four hours of operation.

The new test receivers use FFT analysis to monitor the spectrum. The spectrogram display detects even sporadic interferences. And, the test receivers can also be operated as spectrum analysers.

Another advantage of the R&S EFL110/210 cable TV analyser and leakage detector is sensitivity. It is even possible to verify compliance with the strict limits defined by the US FCC regulatory authority. The new test receivers are capable of finding weak sporadic interference. For evaluating faults in the US cable TV network, the R&S EFL210 has been equipped with an additional test receiver that supports the J.83/B and NTSC cable TV standards. The user can immediately determine whether a cable TV signal is the source of interference.

Visit http://www.rohde-schwarz.com.au

Ericsson has launched a new high performance compression platform which the company says raises the bar for efficiency and flexibility in the delivery of TV services over all networks. The AVP 4000, powered by Ericsson’s first-ever in-house developed programmable video processing chip, is a unique single platform addressing multiple applications, regardless of codec, resolution or network.
“The AVP 4000 is the most powerful compression platform of its kind and offers a truly multi-platform solution without compromise on picture quality or development flexibility. Core to this step change in performance is our own professional video chip. This programmable chip gives us the performance and the control necessary to develop and implement the algorithms required to achieve the highest bandwidth efficiency across all delivery networks,” said Dr. Giles Wilson, Head of TV Compression Business, Ericsson.
“For the past twenty years we have developed and driven the best and most advanced compression and video processing algorithms and always invested in the best technology to support them. Developing our own chip is the next logical step and came as a result of technology advances that allow us to package our algorithms into silicon and the opportunity we have to leverage Ericsson’s deep experience of chip development.”
With the need to balance consumer demand for new services and costly upgrades of existing delivery infrastructures, Ericsson’s customers will benefit from the highest performance available to maximize the efficiency of any current and new platform. Built on Ericsson’s own technology, the AVP 4000 ensures operators can remain innovative and responsive by leveraging leading technology and a professional relationship.
Canadian pay TV operator TELUS will introduce the new platform to further enhance viewers’ quality of experience.
Ibrahim Gedeon, TELUS’ Chief Technology Officer says: “TELUS is continuing its long-standing relationship with Ericsson and already trialing the new AVP 4000. The performance of new encoder will enable us to build a TV platform for the future and further enhance our customers’ experience, with better picture quality and improved services.”
By addressing all applications, codecs, resolutions and profiles, Ericsson’s AVP single platform eases integration, expansion, re-purposing, training, repair and upgrades, considerably lowering the overall cost of ownership. It offers the highest performance and broadest capability in the industry on a single platform across all applications, from SD to HD, 1080p50/60, 3DTV and Ultra High Definition TV (UHDTV), and all codecs, including MPEG-2, MPEG-4 AVC and JPEG2000, with 4:2:0 and 4:2:2, 8-bit and 10-bit all supported.
Ericsson predicts that by 2020, there will be 50 billion connected devices, 15 billion of which will be video enabled. To meet the changing consumer demand, operators must deploy new services within the often-tough constraints of bandwidth, spectrum and legacy networks.
“Our knowledge of the consumer landscape ensures that we are firmly positioned to see what the current trends are, and what the demands of tomorrow will be,” said Ove Anebygd, Vice President and Head of TV, Ericsson. “We know that convenience and high quality are hugely important to consumers, and as a result we understand that video performance and network efficiency are crucial to broadcasters, TV service providers, and operators. Ericsson has been developing chips for a long time in mobile devices and networks, and as a result we are perfectly positioned to build upon this expertise to support our customers with the real-time video processing and compression solutions they require today.”
The product is built on Ericsson’s 20 years of compression heritage. The compression team has been instrumental in developments that helped trigger the transformation of the TV landscape and has been recognised with multiple Emmy awards – including one in 2008 for pioneering development and deployment of MPEG-4 AVC systems for high-definition television.
Visit http://www.ericsson.com

Matrox Graphics Inc. has announced Matrox Avio F125, a fibre-optic KVM extender which separates dual HD video, keyboard, mouse, stereo analogue audio and USB 2.0 devices from a workstation.

Avio F125 features flexible connectivity options. Its transmitter/receiver pair extends two single-link DVI (2x1920x1200) or one dual-link DVI (2560×1600 or 4096×2160) video, and multiple high-speed USB 2.0 compliant devices from the host computer by up to 400 m (1312 ft) over multimode cable and 4 km (2.5 mi) over single-mode cable.

Avio F125 stands out for its ability to transmit all signals with zero compression and zero latency on a single duplex LC-LC fibre-optic cable. Designed for high-performance environments, Avio F125 delivers fluid graphics and video playback making it ideal for broadcast, post production, Pro A/V, industrial process control, oil and gas, 3D design and visualisation, and military environments.

Visit http://www.matrox.com/graphics

Apantac, a provider of multi-viewers, video walls, extenders, and signal processing solutions, is debuting an extender/receiver set for EVS’ XT3 video production server at NAB 2013 (Booth N4613).

The new MT HOOD EVS XT extender/receiver set (models: EVS-1-E / EVS-1-R) is a convenient and cost-effective method to extend control of the EVS XT3 server.

Using the Apantac EVS-1-E/R extender/receiver set with a single CAT 5e/6 cable, the operator and the EVS XT or XS server range can be up to 600 feet away from each other. A VGA console, PS2 keyboard, and up to two RS-422 controllers are all supported via the single CAT 5e/6x cable and a USB port is reserved for future interface support. With the use of an RJ45 patch panel, the CAT 5e/6 cable can be patched to freely assign the operator positions with the EVS XT3 production servers.

“Our new EVS-1-E/R solution for extending the control of the EVS XT3 server over long distances is a perfect example of how we are leveraging our knowledge of AV extenders and our many years of broadcast experience,” comments Thomas Tang, Apantac president. “This product is an ideal solution for solving the challenges of real-world sports production.”

The EVS XT3 platform is an advanced live production server designed to record, control, and play live video content. It offers up to 8 channels for SD/HD and 6 channels for 3D/1080p (3G or dual link) and enables operations like replays, slow motion, non-linear editing or streaming while recording.

Visit http://www.apantac.com

Cobham, an RF specialist company that uses communications technologies to empower broadcast users, has presented a new HD MPEG4 IP Encoder at CABSAT 2013 that features IP connectivity via 3G, 4G and LAN. Specifically engineered for broadcast applications, the high capacity, 3G capabilities included in the IP encoder ensure access to super-fast wireless 3G internet connections from even the most remote locations.

Cobham’s Broadcast Systems Director, Stuart Brown, said, “Our IP encoder provides even more bit rate efficiency with the added benefit of the ability to operate in standard, low and ultra-low latency modes. And with power consumption rated at a very low 7-9 watts, this encoder is ready for extended periods of deployment in virtually any environment.”

Easily connected to any camera, the IP encoder features connectivity for composite, SDI, HD-SDI and HDMI video inputs, and audio input options that include balanced analogue audio running on 48V phantom power.

Broadcast-standard IFB talkback is available as an option to all models. This option takes advantage of Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity for complete wireless connectivity between presenter, camera and the newsroom, including access to IT facilities, email and the Internet that can be shared by the entire location crew.

The IP encoder also includes a USB port for high speed file uploads or for use with a 3G/4G dongle. The encoder is available in three forms, a small “brick”, camera back or rack mount.

Visit http://www.cobham.com

Leading British-based global designer and manufacturer of RF distribution equipment, ETL Systems, is continuing to grow its range of products by launching its latest V-series RF Matrix at SATELLITE 2013. This comes amid news that ETL has expanded with the launch of its North American headquarters in Washington DC to cope with a surge in demand.

ETL hass launched its new addition to the V-series at SATELLITE and was demonstrated on the booth for the first time. The family, designed and built at ETL’s base in the UK, includes the 128×128 Vulcan Matrix Router, the 64×64 Vortex Matrix Router, the new 16×32 Valiant Matrix and the 16×16 Victor Matrix. All are capable of remote control via serial or Ethernet port with a SNMP and web browser interface.

With almost two thirds of sales coming from US-based customers, ETL Systems has opened a regional headquarters in Washington DC. ETL has appointed former Intelsat and Harris Caprock satcom specialist, Susan Saadat as Vice President to lead the office. The expansion will support ETL’s already strong presence in the US market which accounts for more than 60 percent of its total annualised broadcast, satellite communication, system integration and government orders.

Visit http://www.etlsystems.com

In broadcast TV, system stability can make or break the critical flow of data. And for a station’s engineer, monitoring system stability is key to reducing maintenance costs and lowering response time. Molden Media’s Viz Secure is specifically designed for the mission-critical demands of broadcast TV – elements that are typically overlooked by most standard IT monitoring solutions – enabling system administrators to identify potential problems before they occur.

Viz Secure monitors each individual machine’s hardware and software system status, including the complete Vizrt infrastructure. Real time monitoring of CPU, memory and hard disk performance are just the beginning – Viz Secure’s deep integration with Vizrt products delivers continuous updates on application-specific information like frame rate, sync status, and metadata. Alarms can be individually configured to alert users to problems, and even suggest pre-emptive fixes and remedies, via on-screen warnings, emails, SMS, or even GPI triggers.

Viz Secure’s parameters allow for every system or work group to be assigned its own unique alarm. For example, master control room status can be assigned a higher sensitivity than the graphics department. This means fewer false or low-level alarms, allowing users to focus on the most critical applications.

A range of logging and analytical tools enable you to analyse potential infrastructure problems. Standard system presets help to reduce setup time, enabling immediate system monitoring. Automatic reports can be scheduled, keeping tabs on hardware issues and pending maintenance. System tasks like software updates, file transfers and backups, and controlled re-starts can be performed via a single user interface, reducing expensive on-site visits and enabling faster response times.

Viz Secure manages all critical modules, including Viz Graphics Hub, Viz Media Engine, and any installed Oracle databases, whether single or redundant.

Visit http://www.molden.de and http://www.vizrt.com

From now on, DEV Systemtechnik’s redundancy switches optionally offer the new TRAC function. It enables the switch to detect SNMP alarm messages received via Ethernet from devices such as modulators, and to realise the appropriate switching. The approach especially addresses cost-sensitive applications, making them independent from proprietary network management systems (NMS) not needed in this configuration.

TRAC (Trap Receiver Action Controller) is easy to implement via SNMP without special knowledge of this protocol. It provides a complete redundancy system for a small budget without the integration into a network management system. TRAC is DEV’s answer to the market trend that more and more vendors deliver devices without alarm contacts but rely on SNMP over Ethernet instead. TRAC uses this to decode failure messages e.g. from modulators and to act according to rules pre-defined by the user. The function is programmed in the user-friendly graphical configuration menu which is part of the standard web interface delivered with the switch.

TRAC is available not only for the worldwide deployed compact 1RU one and two channel switches DEV 1951, it is additionally provided for the 3RU multi-channel ASI redundancy switch DEV 1820 with up to 12 modules able to switch all common video signals and for the DEV 1911 Multi-channel On/Off Switch.

Visit http://www.dev-systemtechnik.com

At the 2013 NAB Show, Sencore will be showing off their new MRD 5800 receiver/decoder, the MRD 4400 receiver/decoder, TXS 8600 transcoder, SMD 989 DVB-S/S2 modulator, and the VB330 10G core monitoring blade.

Sencore’s new MRD 5800 advanced modular receiver/decoder supports the highest quality contribution video feeds and provides H.264, MPEG-2, 4:2:2, 4:2:0, 10-bit, and 8-bit decoding with effortless automatic detection and configuration. Field-upgradable software licensing enables a pay-as-you-grow approach to better video quality, and with full HD decoding and output up to and including 1080p60 and 3G SDI outputs, the operator can be confident that the system is truly “future-proof.” The MRD 5800 offers up to eight PIDs of audio decoding to deal with the multi-channel, multi-lingual environment of live-event coverage. The 5800 provides ASI, satellite, RF, and IP input options, and supports full use of SMPTE 2022 (CoP3) forward-error correction.

The new MRD 4400 is a cost-effective SD decoder capable of being upgraded to HD via a software license. It supports decoding of H.264 and MPEG-2 video to broadcast-quality outputs via SDI and composite interfaces. With up to four audio services, distributors can meet upcoming descriptive video requirements while still supporting surround or alternate language services. Multiple input options such as satellite, ASI, IP, and 8VSB ensure the 4400 will interface into any monitoring and/or operational video distribution application.

Also on display at the 2013 NAB Show will be the TXS 8600, which offers high-density, multi-profile encoding and transcoding for real-time adaptive bit rate video-streaming. The TXS 8600 supports all the popular codecs, containers, and adaptive bit rate protocols needed to move content to any display device, including Microsoft Smooth Streaming, Apple HLS, Adobe HDS, MPEG-2, H.264, MPEG-DASH, and more. The TXS 8600 is part of Sencore’s line of streaming products that includes a multi-unit management system (TXS 8000), a file-to-file encoder/transcoder (TXS 8400), and a dedicated stream segmentation processor (TXS 8200).

The SMD 989 DVB-S/S2 modulator offers efficiency, flexibility, and reliability for all types of satellite digital video delivery applications. The modulator’s intuitive user and remote interfaces ensure fast setup and effortless system integration, as well as quick field operation when time is most critical. Supporting ASI and IP inputs, the latest software release also adds TR 101 290 analysis and programmable fail-over capabilities for high-confidence integration into an always-on head-end environment. The SMD 989 platform supports six-input VCM multistream without the need for external stream “aggregators,” and it offers advanced S2 modes such as 8PSK, 16APSK, and 32APSK that optimise transponder use and minimise operating expense.

The VB330 probe is the flagship of Sencore’s VideoBRIDGE monitoring product line. Recent advancements in network technology and increased use of IP technology have made the VB330 an essential tool for monitoring 10GB media ports and quickly identifying issues throughout the network. The system can be equipped with up to two 10GB Ethernet inputs, providing the capability to monitor thousands of IP streams in central head-ends and network backbone architectures. Recently added features include the ability to monitor hundreds of streams for ETR 101 290 compliance, as well as hundreds of OTT streams to ensure seamless delivery. The VB330 can be controlled directly via HTTP using a standard Web browser, or it can be part of a VideoBRIDGE controller system that includes other VideoBRIDGE devices.

Visit http://www.sencore.com