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

No. 32/2011 (Oct. 10, 2011)

The next generation of home networking systems - 50 Gbps POF.

The POF-PLUS project aimed at development of new components and transmission technologies for large core (1 mm) plastic optical fiber (POF) in order to implement (mullti) gigabit transmission over this medium has been completed. Launched in 2008 and sponsored by the EU, the three-year project integrated the largest European telecom operators and research centers, such as Eindhoven University of Technology, Firecomms, France Telecom, Telecom Italia, Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits, POF Application Center (POFAC), Luceat SpA.
The completion of the project resulted in the presentation of three options for transmitting signals over plastic optical fibers (POF):
  • signal transmission at speeds up to 1 Gbps at a distance of 90 m,
  • signal transmission at speeds 6-10 Gbps at a distance of 50 m,
  • signal transmission at speeds 20-50 Gbps at a distance of 90 m using multi-core and ribbon cables.
The results were made possible by optimizing the optical elements to work with high throughput. One of the major achievements of the project was development of two (2QW) and four (4QW) quantum well RC-LEDs and a suitable electronic driver allowing for 1 Gbps throughput. There were also developed photodetectors with a new multilayer structure consisting of an appropriate amount of Si, Ge and C crystals. The modulation scheme was set to discrete multi-tone with 64-QAM mapping.
Gigabit POF module presented by Firecomms
All items were selected to minimize future costs of implementation, making POF optical networks to be available to each subscriber. In addition, POF home installations are much more user friendly than the traditional glass optical fibers, or even standard solutions based on copper cabling (UTP, coaxial, etc.). All that thanks to simplicity of connections between devices and a small diameter of the single POF cable - 2.2 mm.

Over the next 5 years we may expect remarkable expansion of home broadband services such as IPTV (including HD broadcasts), video conferencing, etc. The increase of the bandwidth for flawless home networking is a must (through FTTH, VDSL, or wireless WiMax connection). In this light, the new possibilities of POF networks seem to be very competitive.
POF is a polymer fiber transmission medium in which the modulated signal beam is transmitted in multimode, usually at a wavelength of 650 nm (visible red light)

Digital MMH-3000 headend in a chain of fitness clubs.

Pure Life is a thriving network of modern health clubs, covering more and more cities in Poland. So far, the locations have been equipped with television networks based on headends with sets of QPSK CI receivers (QPSK/PAL transmodulators RDC-313 R81710). However, the newly opened club in Kielce will use the second generation MMH+ headend distributing digital DVB-T signals. The programming includes seven channels. As it turns out, the digital solution is even cheaper than the previous analog one, due to a smaller number of devices.
The installation and configuration of the headend was commissioned to Innex company from Wroclaw, having years of experience in designing and implementing television and computer systems.
View of the headend mounted in a RACK cabinet
The headend consists of the following items:
  • base unit UC-380 R81700 - due to the fact that it can accommodate 8 modules, it is possible to add more programming in the future, even up to 8 digital channels,
  • 3x QPSK CI Receiver RDC-313 R81710 - to receive chosen transponders and decode selected channels,
  • DVB-T modulator (COFDM) TRX-360 R81709 - to encode selected channels to DVB-T multiplex on a free RF channel.
The connections between the antenna array and the headend as well as within the RF distribution network have been made with the use of Triset E1015-113 cable and compression F connectors Platinum E80274.
The most important benefits of digital headends include:
  • identical, very good signal quality throughout the whole system,
  • ability to distribute HD programs,
  • possibility of providing Electronic Program Guide (EPG),
  • often lower installation costs (depending on the distribution of channels on transponders).

Signal DVR protects housing development - residential video surveillance.

The heart of any monitoring system is a standalone DVR or special server running dedicated software. Housing cooperatives which have installed video monitoring systems often allow the residents to watch the surveillance video. However, DVRs have limits on the maximum number of simultaneous network connections. An improper hierarchy of access rights can make the monitoring system useless. The priority for each surveillance system is its reliability, i.e. stable operation.
Professional CCTV Monitor: SAMSUNG SMT-1922P (19Web Smart Switch: TP-LINK TL-SL2452WEB 48+4G 2xSFP RACKCCTV Network DVR: SIGNAL DL-8316 (H.264, 16ch-4CIF-25fps, HDMI)Compact Outdoor Camera: n-cam 610 (600 TVL, Sony Super HAD II CCD, 0.01 lx, 4-9mm, IR up to 40m, OSD) High Speed Dome Camera: PH-33 (3.5-111.5 mm, 540 TVL, Sony Super Had CCD, 0.7 lx)
The architecture of residential video surveillance system based on SIGNAL DVR
SIGNAL DVRs allow for optimal assignment of access levels for up to 63 predefined accounts. It is possible to limit the number of simultaneous connections in the range of 1-10 users. The residents of one staircase may have identical access level with specific set of available channels (cameras) and control functions - generally it is not advisable that residents have access to all cameras (elimination of inquisitive onlookers). The access to the DVR can be limited to specific MAC and IP addresses.
Signal DVRs of DL-83xx seies are modern high-end DVRs. Their performance and features place them at the forefront of solutions offered on the market. Thanks to many innovative solutions, the DVRs can be used in any modern analog CCTV system.

How to connect two fiber optic cables? - Quick assembly connectors.

Modern and low-cost method of terminating/connecting optical cables and patch cords is application of optical quick assembly connectors. Such connector is mounted on a fiber end without time-consuming gluing and polishing. The procedure does no require "sterile" conditions, because the end face of the built-in fiber fragment has been glued and polished by the manufacturer. The low loss at the level of 0.25 dB is obtained thanks to advanced positioning of the inserted fiber end by V-shaped grooves. The optical gel that is also used in the connector reduces the effects of an imprecise cleaving and a possible gap between the end faces of the fibers.

This solution is ideal for building FTTD networks (fiber to the desk), especially for installing the subscribers' lines and termination outlets. It can also be used in the case of small building systems - the installers don't need to prepare the workplace. For the same reason, the connectors are ideal for repair work, replacement, maintenance, and reconfiguring associated with adding or moving the fiber optic cables.
Quick Assembly Connector: ULTIMODE FAST-05SC/APC
Quick assembly connector ULTIMODE FAST-05SC/APC L5712

Intelligent IR illuminators in Sunell cameras.

Compact cameras are often equipped with high-power IR illuminators to ensure maximum range. This solution, however, has a major drawback: if the observed object approaches the camera, it is overexposed and becomes unrecognizable.
The cameras Sunell SN-IRC4920AJ M11245 and SN-IRC5920AHLDN M11280 have function of intelligent IR lighting (Smart IR). The signal processor continuously analyzes the image and in the case of areas with excessive brightness it lowers the output power of the IR illuminator. In this way the images of the people or vehicles approaching the camera are recognizable. Such functionality is particularly useful in the case of monitoring entrances and all the places where the observed objects approach the camera.
An image from a typical camera with IR illuminator contains overexposed areas representing close objects
The image from Sunell SN-IRC4920AJ M11245 camera with SMART IR adjusting the power of IR illuminator
Cameras with Smart IR function:
Compact Outdoor Camera: Sunell SN-IRC4920AJ (day/night, D-WDR, 500 TVL, Sony Effio-E, 0.05 lx, 3.6mm, OSD, IR 30m)
Compact Outdoor Camera: Sunell SN-IRC4920AJ (day/night, D-WDR, 600 TVL, Sony Effio-E, 0.08 lx, 2.8-10mm, OSD, IR up to 40m)
Sunell SN-IRC4920AJ
IR range up to30 m M11245
Sunell SN-IRC5920AHLDN
IR range up to 40 m M11280

IP CCTV system in the "Rynek 16" hotel in Sandomierz, Poland.

The hotel located in a historic house has been equipped with professional IP CCTV system based on advanced NUUO K3104 software and 2MP Pixord cameras. The dome cameras K1550 powered ove Ethernet (PoE) have been installed in staircases, whereas the compact camera K1533 has been placed outdoors, for the observation of the hotel parking lot.
The hotel video surveillance system based on NUUO software and Pixord cameras
The upper and lower screenshots show enlarged fragments of one of the 2MP images
Thanks to high resolution of the images the hotel staff is able to recognize a lot of details, such as the faces of people entering, license plates etc. They can identify strangers and vehicles not belonging to guests. There is no problem with acts of vandalism now.
The structural cabling is based on high quality NetSet cable E1408 and TP-LINK TL-SF1008P PoE switches N29930. The NUUO software has been installed on a PC mounted in 19" RACK R912021. The peripheral PCs connect with the server using client software. The owner of the system has possibility of remote connection to the server from any place via the Internet (through a PC or smartphone), including live monitoring and reviewing the archives.

Office WiFi network in 802.11n standard.

Lack of access to the Internet greatly reduces the functionality of buildings and premises. Wired LAN can be built on the occasion of major refurbishment of an existing facility or construction of a new one. However, it is impossible to completely predict the needs of the future users (the layout of the hardware). Fast, cheap and effective way to solve this problem is to install wireless network. The diagram below shows an example of an extensive office network.
Example architecture of office WiFi 802.11n network
  • Device no. 1 - the device with access to the Internet, responsible for its distribution to multiple computers within the local network:
    • N3252 - access point TP-LINK TL-WR740N with built-in router, 150 Mb/s 802.11n,
    • N3254 - access point TP-LINK TL-WR741N with built-in router, 150 Mb/s 802.11n,
    • N2958 - 3G wireless router TP-LINK TL-MR3220, 802.11n 150 Mb/s, UMTS/HSPA,
    • N2957 - 3G wireless router TP-LINK TL-MR3420, 802.11n 300 Mb/s, UMTS/HSPA,
    • N3250 - access point TP-LINK TL-WR841ND 802.11n 300 Mb/s with built-in router and 4p switch,
    • N3251 - access point TP-LINK TL-WR941ND 802.11n 300 Mb/s with built-in router and 4p switch,
    • N3253 - access point TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND 802.11n 300 Mb/s with built-in router, GbE switch, USB.
  • Device no. 2 - for wireless access to the network from a desktop or mobile PC:
    • Wireless USB adapters with option for connecting an external antenna:
      • N2922 - 802.11n USB adapter TP-LINK TL-WN722N, 150 Mb/s with external 4 dBi antenna,
      • N2925 - 802.11n USB adapter TP-LINK TL-WN7200ND, 150 Mb/s High Power (500 mW);
    • PCI wireless adapters for desktop PCs with option for connecting an external antenna:
      • N2972 - PCI card TP-LINK TL-WN951N 300 Mb/s,
      • N2974 - PCI Express card TP-LINK TL-WN781N 802.11n 150 Mb/s,
      • N3271 - PCI card TP-LinkTL-WN851N 802.11n 300 Mb/s.
  • Device no.3 - antenna strengthening the signal in the case of more distant locations in the building(s):
    • A72713 - indoor omnidirectional antenna TP-LINK TL-ANT2405C 5 dBi 2.4 GHz,
    • A72714 - indoor omnidirectional antenna TP-LINK TL-ANT2408C 8 dBi 2.4 GHz.
  • Device no. 4 - WiFi repeater:
    • N2942 - access point TP-Link TL-WA701ND 2.4 GHz, 150 Mb/s 802.11n,
    • N2944 - access point TP-Link TL-WA901ND 2.4 GHz, 300 Mb/s 802.11n.
New products offered by DIPOL:
Vandal Proof Camera: v-cam 500 (D-WDR, 650 TVL, Sony Effio-E, 0.15 lx)
Wireless Transmitter/Receiver Set: Signal TR-3000 (AV+IR@5.8GHz)
Wireless Remote Control Extender Signal DIR-300 (FSK)
Day/Night Box Camera: u-cam 630 (D-WDR, 650 TVL, Sony Effio-E, ICR, 0.03 lx)
v-cam 500
M10772
D-WDR 650TVL Effio-E
Signal TR-3000
R94110
AV+IR transm. 5.8GHz
DIR-300
R94120
RC extender
BOX u-cam 630
M11192
650TVL Effio-E, ICR
Worth reading:
Service Information (SI) in DVB systems. Since the vast majority of DTT receivers have the ability to sort channels according to a number of different parameters, such as ONID or LCN, it is important to know the meaning of these and other abbreviations...
DVB streams have individual identifiers to ensure the correct operation of receivers and notification about changes in programming, without a need for users to perform a regular search...
Sorting the list of channels according to LCN in the Signal HD-507 A99250 DVB-T receiver
Cottage CCTV network. Protection of cottages is generally a serious problem. The diagram below shows a cost-efficient solution based on TREND 250x04 M72504 DVR.
DVRs do not directly support USB UMTS / HSPA modems, so it is necessary to to use a 3G router, e.g. TP-LINK N2957 TL-MR3420 3G/3.75G. Communication with the Internet via a 3G network is done through the USB interface, which has to be connected to the suitable 3G modem...
A cost-efficient solution for protection of a cottage,
based on TREND 250x04 DVR, TP-LINK router, and a USB HSPA/UMTS modem
Aspherical lenses. An aspherical lens used with a camera is a lens assembly that includes aspherical elements (optical lenses with profiles that are not portions of a sphere, they usually have the shape of a hyperbola). Non-spherical shape of the optical lenses results in a larger effective diameter of the entrance, providing a larger aperture and greater light transmittance. These lenses with a different profile compensate aberrations at the edges. The light that is normally lost by a standard lens, is received by the aspherical lens and transmitted to the image sensor...
The spherical lens (on the left) has focusing problems
Ready for DVB-T - DIPOL at SatKrak 2011