DIPOL Weekly Review - TV and SAT TV, CCTV, WLAN

SatKrak exhibition and trade fair - October 15 to 17, 2009 - the time for change.

The exhibition comes at an interesting time of technology replacement in television. New methods of transmitting signals have reached market maturity. DVB-T or DVB-T2? IPTV versus CATV. Will digital terrestrial platforms compete with satellite broadcasters? Confrontations between transmission platforms include qualitative change in video resolution - HDTV.
During the SatKrak fair, the exhibitors will show offers for the coming season. The presented devices will allow to learn the latest trends. Particularly well-represented group will be manufacturers of DVB receivers (ADB, Humax, Globo, Ferguson, Technisat). Interesting offers will be also presented by satellite operators (e.g. n platform) and equipment distribution companies (DIPOL, Ostrowski, Hirschmann).
Every year, the exhibition and conferences are increasingly popular among exhibitors and visitors. SatKrak 2008 exhibition was attended by three times more visitors than the year before. A similar situation is with the exhibitors, who are increasingly eager to declare their participation. The purpose of the fair is the integration of television broadcasters, digital platform operators, satellite operators and, above all, importers and manufacturers of the receiving and professional equipment for digital satellite and terrestrial television.
Similarly to the previous years, the organizers are Hollstar company and SAT KURIER magazine.
This year DIPOL company will present a complete range of products for SMATV antenna systems (the headend, and TERRA multiswitches nominated for the award for best product). The wide range of traditional equipment for transmission based on coaxial cables will be extended by fiber optic transmission means.
Our company will present two new sections, for which, during the fair, we will be looking for regional representatives: GSM repeaters and LCD/plasma mounts. Companies interested in distributing the equipment may discuss the details at the fair (please contact us before on the phone number +4812 644 57 18).

Polish speakers can take part in a number of courses organized by our company during the event (the list is available on the Polish site).

On the Silk Road - where is the tower?

The tower visible in the photo below was built in the capital of one of the states lying on the ancient Silk Road route. More than 1000 years BC there was Bactria state there. In terms of height the tower is the tenth largest in the world and the highest one in Central Asia.
In which city is the tower? You can check your answer at the end of this issue.

Ferguson Ariva HDcombo - reception of digital terrestrial and satellite television.

The HD A99381 receiver enables the user to get access to terrestrial programs in DVB-T/MPEG-4 standard and DVB-S/S2 satellite broadcasts.
The receiver has a card reader for pay TV and two CI slots (Common Interface) for CAM modules, which offers great flexibility in configuring various packages on satellite TV (e.g. in Poland: Cyfra+, Cyfrowy Polsat, TNK). The receiver fully supports subtitles. USB interface and PVR function allow to record any programs, including HD broadcasts (manually, with timer or EPG) on external storage device, e.g. High Speed USB flash drive (FAT32 file system).

One of the major features of the receiver is Ethernet interface. Currently it allows to update the software from the manufacturer's FTP server. The manufacturer declares that in the near future new software will allow lawful distribution of subscription rights within LAN network (Home Sharing).

ULTIMODE optical converters.

In CCTV systems, fiber optic video converters are mainly used in the cases where the signals are transmitted over long distances or in harsh environments. Optical fibers ensure full electrical isolation and resistance to electromagnetic interferences that may occur on the transmission route.
DIPOL introduces video converters of ULTIMODE 20x series (the x figure indicates the number of video channels) allowing to transmit video and audio, as well as alarm and control signals.

Below there is an example of application of ULTIMODE V-204DAO L2423 which converts into optical signals 4 video channels, 1 data channel, 1 audio channel, and alarm signal. The information can be transmitted via single optical fiber over distances up to 20 km.

Cooperation of ULTIMAX DVRs with alarm systems.

A typical alarm system consists of the central panel, keypad/keyboard, motion detectors, and alarm sirens. A basic CCTV system consists of ULTIMAX DVR and the connected video cameras, placed inside and outside the building. For cooperation between the two systems it is required to connect the outputs of the central panel of the alarm system with the alarm inputs of the DVR.
In the sample configuration, at the moment of a burglary or robbery (the alarm has been triggered), the images from all CCTV cameras can be recorded on a continuous basis. In addition, the DVR can send e-mail with a warning and some attached picture/s from one or more cameras.
There are many possible configurations of ULTIMAX DVRs for cooperation with alarm control panels, in which the designer can determine how the DVR and alarm system should respond to the input signals (alarms).

IP-based surveillance solution in an Austrian casino.

Casinos are the places where video surveillance is a must. However, the basic problem is the quality of the recorded material - in the case of casinos the image quality is a priority. Therefore, one of the Austrian casinos decided to replace the analog system with a new installation based on IP technology.
The new system allows to employ 1.3 Mpx cameras ACM5601 K1513 from ACTi. For comparison, standard definition cameras have approximately 0.4 Mpix. Another advantage of IP systems is possibility of powering the devices via twisted-pair cables, which significantly lowers the costs and simplifies the installation.
ACTi K1513 cameras enable recording of all important events, even in low-light conditions. High resolution allows to effectively use digital zoom, both of live images and those from the archive. NVR software supplied with the cameras provides the system management functions.

DSSS - a few words on WiFi - part 4.

Another physical layer of IEEE 802.11 standard is DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum). It is a modulation technique using spread spectrum, in which the transmission bandwidth is much wider than in other types of modulation. Because the signal energy is dissipated in the broad band, the modulation is characterized by low power density in any part of the spectrum. Noise-like signal of low power density does not interfere much with other systems operating in the same band.
The second very advantageous feature is redundancy. The information can be sent simultaneously on different frequencies and reconstructed despite the presence of interference in the frequency range used. The systems first spread the spectrum, then code the information.

In DSSS systems the carrier wave frequency is constant. Each information bit is replaced by a sequence of message bits created by its summing modulo 2 (XOR) with bits of spreading sequence. This technique is called chipping. The consequence of this is replacement of each input bit "0" with the dissipating string and input bit "1" with the reverse sequence. A single bit of the spreading sequence is called a "chip", and transmission speed of the spreading signal is measured in chips per second. Chip duration is much shorter than the duration of the data bit. Redundancy is the effect that every information bit is encoded in many bits of the spreading code. This facilitates error detection and correction while minimizing the number of retransmissions. After chipping the signal is then modulated with phase shift keying.

According to the 802.11 standard, using DSSS the 2.4 GHz band is divided into 14 channels with a width of 22 MHz each. Adjacent channels overlap partially, so that only three channels do not share frequency spectrum (are totally isolated).
The frequency of carrier waves is given by the formula F=2407 + n*5 [MHz], where n is the channel number. When at the same time more than three channels are used for data transmission, the devices operating in different channels may mutually interfere. For this reason, the recommended channels in Europe are 1, 7, 13 (isolated) or optionally: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 (overlapping), and in the U.S. 1, 6, 11 (isolated) or optionally: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 (overlapping).
In the case of DSSS, the 802.11 standard supports two transmission speeds: 1 Mb/s and 2 Mb/s. The 1 Mbps option applies DBPSK (Differential Binary Phase Shift Keying), whereas the the 2 Mb/s version - DQPSK (Differential Quadrature Phase Shift Keying). At these data rates the input signal is scattered with a sequence of 11 chips - so-called Barker code (+1 -1 +1 +1 -1 +1 +1 +1 -1 -1 -1) - and the speed of the spreading signal is 11 Mchip/s.

802.11b physical layer is backward compatible with the physical layer of 802.11, and in the case of DSSS it additionally enables transmission rates of 5.5 Mb/s and 11 Mb/s. To achieve higher throughput, the Barker code has been replaced by more efficient coding technique - Complementary Code Keying (CCK). The standard also introduces a new mechanism (Dynamic Rate Shifting), which allows to dynamically adjust transmission rate depending on the characteristics of the channel at any given time. Under ideal conditions, 802.11b standard ensures data transmission rate of 11 Mb/s, and with increasing distance and/or interference, the DRS mechanism reduces the speed to 5.5 Mb/s, 2 Mbps or 1 Mb/s. If the conditions are improving, the higher rates are automatically restored.

GSM repeaters - a new revenue source for installation companies.

Wireless signals play an increasingly important role in telecommunications, and problems with their quality are becoming increasingly acute. Chalets, office blocks of steel and metalized glass, underground parking lots, restaurants etc. are just a few examples.
The problems occur in both urban and rural areas. The market potential is huge, especially if we take into account other available wireless technologies which also may need signal repeaters, such as DCS (1800 MHz), CDMA and WCDMA (3G).
Installing a GSM repeater to improve the signal, one requires the same skills that are needed in the case of TV antenna systems - mounting the antennas, repeaters, and connecting the cables. Therefore, antenna installers are best prepared and equipped to perform these installations.

Stylish and modern Monako mounts.

Monako series is a wide range of brackets for mounting LCD monitors and plasma TVs on a wall or ceiling.
Monako brackets solve the problem of mounting a TV, projector or monitor on the ceiling or wall and allow to adjust its position to the needs of the user/s.
Each kit contains a full set of screws, nuts, washers, and spacers for easy installation of the mount.

All brackets are compliant with the VESA standard.

Tashkent - the capital of Uzbekistan.

The 375 m high tower was opened in 1985, after seven years of construction work. It is the tallest building in Central Asia and the tenth among the highest towers in the world. The structure is built mainly of steel. The tower is used to transmit radio and television programs and as a hydro-meteorological station. The observation deck is situated at 97 m.
Below - some snapshots from Uzbekistan (by M. Blackwood).

We have written about:

Safe cables. Safety regulations for public buildings that house many people (hospitals, schools, theaters) require that during a fire the cabling cannot pose an additional threat to the life or health of the people. The cables have to be halogen free (HF) - they cannot give off toxic gases. When burned, the cables also cannot feed the fire, emit thick or corrosive fumes...
- archive DWR of March 2, 2009

ULTIMAX - recording of city council meetings and video monitoring of the city hall in Sandomierz. The investor is interested in solution that allows to record video and sound from city council meetings, as well as can protect the building. The system should provide high quality video and audio, all for a reasonable price...
- archive DWR of Dec. 8, 2008

Two ways of using TP-LINK TL-WR543G. TP-LINK TL-WR543G N2955 can be used both for wired and wireless access to the Internet.
The TL-WR543G Wireless AP Client Router (N2955) integrates broadband router (for xDSL service or cable modem), 4-port FastEthernet switch, and Access Point...
- archive DWR of June 22, 2009

Index of published issues