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

What you like is on Horizon TV.

Since the beginning of September, all Dutch subscribers of UPC triple play services (TV, Internet, telephone) have been given the opportunity to take advantage of Horizon - a new generation television.
The new TV is a practical continuation of the idea which laid foundations for the success of tablets. The designers of tablets knew that the average laptop user employed the device for simple tasks: browsing the Web, using email, Facebook, YouTube and viewing pictures. It turned out that a large group of customers did not use sophisticated software, so a high computing power was not as important as a quick start and functions such as camera, phone, e-book reader. This way tablets - modified and slimmed down laptops - have become a market hit.

The new TV offered by UPC is founded on the same principle, being a mixture of "normal" television and simplified Internet services. It utilizes servers and infrastructure of the cable TV operator, so all the services are based on advanced capabilities of IP technology. The services include simple and frequently used functions of the Internet, giving users access to them while watching TV. In addition, the users can watch content and play games bought in online store directly from the operator's library, as well as get access to the resources (and also to "normal" TV channels) via their home computers, tablets and smartphones (and vice versa, the materials from these devices can be displayed on big TV screens).

The use of Horizon TV is simple - while watching a TV channel the subscriber has immediate access to the most popular Internet services (email, Facebook, YouTube) and can navigate them using remote control. The Horizon STB from Samsung is also capable of simultaneous recording of up to 4 TV channels.
In the near future Horizon TV is to be implemented in Switzerland, Germany and Ireland. Potential users are encouraged by the slogan "Everything you like on TV always within reach ..."

Horizon from UPC (Liberty Global) - TV meets the Internet

"Engagingly about Antennas" - 11th edition.

This edition will continue until September 30.
The rules of the competition and the pictures sent so far
We invite everyone to participate!

Ethernet media converters in CCTV systems.

The task of a CCTV installer was to build video surveillance system at a supermarket parking lot, capable of recording the video coverage at least in HD resolution. The requirement imposed the use of IP cameras.
The biggest problem was to carry out the transmission from the camera points to the monitoring center. The distances from the poles to the building were greater than 100 meters.

The problem has been solved by the application of fiber-optic technology. The transmission line from each camera point has been equipped with Ultimode M-207M L11521 Ethernet media converter set. The universal optical cable ULTIMODE UNI-4SM L7644 with four single-mode fibers has been inserted into power conduits that supply the lamps on the lampposts, together with the electrical cables. As the cameras were mounted on the same posts, it was easy to power them and the cooperating media converters from the AC power network.

The illustration of the solution based on media converters and optical transmission
for one point with an IP camera

In the building, the "near" media converters have been connected via network switch to the NVR. The application of fiber optic technology eliminated a very difficult problem of signal regeneration (due to power supply problems along the way exceeding the 100-meter limit for one Ethernet cable segment). Additionally, optical fibers are fully resistant to electromagnetic interference from the power system so they can use the same conduits, and do not transfer lightning surges.

Antenna and CCTV system in a single-family home with 4 TV/SAT outlets and security camera.

Radial Signal multiswitches provide economical, fully professional solutions for small SMATV systems in one-family homes, little apartment houses etc. The cable segments can reach 60-70 meters, which is usually sufficient in such houses, with several to up to 16 outlets. The output levels are 101 dBμV (SAT TV) and 85 dBμV (terrestrial TV).

Signal MP-0504 R6944504 multiswitch
dedicated for small antenna systems

By centralizing the distribution of the signals and using star topology of the system, it is very easy to inject signals from other sources, such as analog CCTV cameras, receivers, DVD players. A proposal is shown below.

Simple satellite and CCTV system in a one-family house
(a PVR receiver in the living room can use two independent sat signals)

The MP-0504 R6944504 ​​multiswitch is used to distribute signals from one satellite and terrestrial TV antenna to 4 outlets. In the case of twin-tuner receivers, currently offered by the majority of pay-TV satellite platforms, the number of outlets has to be reduced (one receiver needs two independent satellite signals). In the diagram above there are 3 outlets, one of them is dedicated for a twin-tuner receiver. By using an RF modulator, the owner can connect to the system a CCTV camera. This solution allows the residents to monitor the video from the camera (directed e.g. on the gate, backyard garden etc.) on any television in the home.

DIPOL offers Signal multiswitches with 4, 8, 12, or 16 independent outputs, for one or two satellites, each with terrestrial TV path.

Recognition of license plates at night.

n-cam 700 M11290 compact camera has been designed for systems enabling recognition of license plate numbers, for monitoring of entrances, parking lots etc. where lighting conditions are usually poor.

IR illuminators in conventional CCTV cameras cause overexposure that does not allow for any recognition of license plate numbers. White, usually fluorescent background of the numbers/letters reflects back the IR light which floods the black/color signs. The location of the license plate on a car, typically between the headlights, also makes it difficult to read the signs - the very bright points in the image are compensated by a general darkening of the rest.

Images from a conventional CCTV camera (left) and from n-cam 700 ANPR M11290 (right)

n-cam 700 M11290 has been specially designed for operation in those conditions. It is equipped with special polarizing filters and specific DSP to ensure good visibility of the markings both in daylight and in IR light. Additionally, its external twilight sensor has been placed in the rear part of the camera body, which eliminates momentary switching into color mode that could be caused by the lights of approaching vehicles at night.

Monitoring the construction of a housing development.

In order to increase safety on the construction site through remote video surveillance, the investor decided to employ two IP PTZ cameras and NVR.

The requirements for the system were as follows:

A screenshot from the NVR

Due to the fact that the construction site does not provide the necessary conditions for placing the NVR, the cameras have been connected to the network using a router integrated with ADSL modem, so the video streams are transmitted to the remote monitoring center via the Internet. This way the NVR can be used for recording video surveillance data from a number of construction sites. Both the live monitoring and video archiving is performed by Signal K4416 NVR that can handle up to 16 full HD cameras.

The patrol routes of the PTZ cameras have been programmed to monitor important parts of the construction site. In the case of any unexpected event (e.g. appearance of a stranger), the PTZ control can be taken over by the system operator. If needed, the NVR can export selected video files to an external hard disk or flash drive to transfer them to the police.

A takeaway router.

Built-in rechargeable battery, compatibility with N Lite 150 Mbps standard, support for 3G/3.75G modems, small size and weight - are the main advantages of the TL-MR3040 N2960 mobile router. The latest router has been designed for active people who travel frequently and require seamless connectivity with the Internet. TL-MR3040 N2960 is an extension of the product line supporting 3.5/3.75G modems. Compared to its predecessors, this model has autonomic power supply providing the freedom to use the Internet regardless of the situation. The built-in 2000 mAh rechargeable battery ensures up to 4-hour operation without external power source. The router is compatible with over 120 popular 3G modems worldwide.

Mobile 3G TP-LINK router TL-MR3040 N2960

The mobile TP-LINK router can operate in several modes - 3G router (sharing 3G/3.75G internet connection), wireless router (sharing access to the network connected by cable), access point (to create a wireless network), and WISP router. Thanks to support for WEP (64/128 bits) and WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK encryption protocols and MAC address filtering, the TL-MR3040 router can provide the highest security levels available for wireless connections.

Mobile 3G TP-LINK router TL-MR3040 N2960 - mobility in any environment

A useful and unique feature of the TL-MR3040 router is the possibility to charge mobile phones (including iPhone) from its USB port.

How to connect several TVs to a digital cable STB? Subscribers of digital cable television often face the problem of bringing the signal to TVs located in other rooms. When the signal is not encoded, they may purchase and use additional DVB-C receivers. However, in most cases it is not possible - they would have to pay additional subscription fee(s) to decode the channel(s) on the additional STB(s). Both these solutions would allow for independent selection of the received channel, but for a considerable cost, especially in the latter case.
Below we present three simple ways of transmitting the decoded channel from a DVB-C STB (decoder) to other rooms. The solutions assume that all televisions get the same channel (currently selected on the decoder)... more

Three ways of transmitting the decoded channel from a DVB-C STB to other rooms.
Each TV receives the same channel, selected on the STB.

Optical fibers - fusion or mechanical splicing? Optical fibers can be connected ​​by fusion splicing, with the use of a fusion splicing machine, or by employing mechanical means, e.g. ULTIMODE mechanical splices.
The great advantage of ULTIMODE L5550 mechanical splices over traditional fusion splicing is low initial cost. In order to implement properly the ULTIMODE FAST-MS1 L5550 mechanical splice, the installer needs only CLAUSS L5903 stripper, precision fiber cleaver L5801, and cleaning accessories.
In the case of fusion splicing the required initial investment (buying a fusion splicing machine) is many times higher...more

Choice of equipment in order to meet EIRP compliance. Are we allowed to use antenna with extremely high gain, not breaking the law? It should be stressed that there are no rules on limiting the gain. So, why one obeys regulations having an antenna with 15 dBi gain, while another one breaks them using a 10 dBi antenna?
The answer to the questions follows directly from regulations concerning maximum level of Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP). Without a special license, in many countries the maximum EIRP = 100 mW, i.e. 20 dBm in 2.4 GHz band, and 1 W (30 dBm) in 5.47-5.725 GHz band. The same level of EIRP may be accomplished by many means... more

WLAN Wi-Fi Antenna ATK-16/2.4GHz (14.5 dB, N-socket)
A7124

DIPOL na Sat DIGI-TV - see our exposition

Preview of new products in DIPOL's fall offer