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

No. 33/2012 (Oct. 8, 2012)

Contactless payments also with mobile phones!

Samsung Galaxy S III is the first mobile phone running Android OS which supports Barclaycard contactless mobile payments with Quick Tap from Orange. So far, the services are available in Great Britain only.
Each owner of any UK Visa or Mastercard debit or credit card and Samsung Galaxy S III from Orange is given a contactless way to pay for purchases 20 GPB and under. By activating the Barclaycard payment app by October 5, 2012, the users got 50 GPB rewards.
The unprecedented growth in sales of smartphones has created a unique opportunity to use their capabilities in the field of non-cash transactions. So the largest software companies are making efforts to support implementations of software solutions in this application segment.
Google has come up with a solution called Google Wallet, which is a typical application for Android system. The users can make payments using virtual versions of their payment, discount, and gift cards. They can also use additional Google Offers at the same time.
The card and transaction information stored on the phone is isolated from potential malware. The payments in shops accepting Google Wallet are made immediately after the phone is moved close to the reader at the point of sale. They use Near Field Communication (NFC) technology - high frequency communication standard for wireless exchange of data over distances up to 20 centimeters.
According to Gartner, the world's leading information technology research and advisory company, we will see rapid development of "mobile" payments. Currently this market is worth $172 billion, but by 2016 it should exceed $600 billion.
In mid-2012, there were 34 million NFC-enabled phones. According to the company estimates, by 2015 every other phone will be equipped with components supporting this technology. Currently, the leading provider of NFC solutions is NXP Semiconductors. NXP chips are installed e.g. in Nexus S supporting Google Wallet, in tablets running Windows 8, and in Sony smartphones.
Mobile payments are made by bringing the phone to readers embedded in POS terminals
NFC is a radio technology that enables data exchange with bit rates 106 kbps to 848 kbps, using the carrier frequency of 13.56 MHz. It is based on inductive coupling, where loosely coupled inductive circuits share power and data over a distance of a few centimeters, typically up to 10 cm.
The NFC technology allows two communication modes: active and passive. In active mode both devices participating in the exchange of data emit electromagnetic fields. In passive mode, one device generates electromagnetic field to power the second device (passive), enabling the exchange of information. Examples of passive devices are RFID tags, poster tags, contactless smart cards.

Fiber splicing.

Some installation companies still avoid fiber optic solutions due to concerns about implementation problems connected with fiber splicing. Despite the possibility of buying ready-made fiber optic cables terminated with connectors, the deployment of the cables can be problematic, mainly because of difficulties in precise measurements of the lengths needed to be laid.
Optical fiber connection technology has undergone many changes. The basic ways of connecting optical fibers include fusion splicing (thermal welding), adhesive bonding, mechanical splicing.
Fusion splicing requires a relatively expensive specialized instrument, adhesive bonding is difficult and time-consuming. Mechanical splices solve these problems - they are cheap, can be done quickly and practically in any place, also in field conditions.
Fiber Optic Box (19
Fiber Optic Box (19
Fiber Optic Box (19
Mechanical Splice
ULTIMODE FAST-MS1 L5550
Precision Fiber Cleaver
F1-6000 L5801
Quick Assembly Connector
ULTIMODE FAST-05SC/APC L5712
Mechanical splices are suitable for all types of optical fibers. A properly made mechanical splice features parameters comparable with those of a fusion splice. The mechanical splice usually connects two sections of fiber or a fiber and with a pigtail. An alternative to this method of fiber termination is the application of ULTIMODE FAST quick assembly connectors.

Professionally without... tools.

The need for buying expensive crimping tool is often an obstacle for the application of professional compression connectors in ​​DIY antenna installations. High quality of such occasionally made antenna systems can be ensured by the use of Cabelcon compression connectors based on "Self-Install" concept.
F-plug: Cabelcon (for RG-6/Triset-113,
"Self-Install" F connector - Cabelcon E80410
The installation of these connectors does not require any compressing tools. Properly mounted on the cable, they are extremely stable and protect antenna systems against the most common problem, i.e. deterioration of electrical contacts.
The connector installed properly is fully integrated with the cable,
the self-compression process takes place after inserting the cable into the rear part of the connector

Compensation of voltage drops on power supply cables to CCTV cameras.

For proper operation, a CCTV camera needs stable and efficient power supply. The tolerance for a voltage fall usually does not exceed 1...2 V, so, in the case of a longer low-voltage DC power line, it is necessary to compensate for an excessive voltage drop.
A good way to solve this problem is to use power supplies allowing adjustment of the output voltage. There are two basic groups of the devices:
  • for cameras located in similar distances from the power supply - the example is ZSIT-62-8 M18281 allowing simultaneous adjustment of the output voltage at its 8 outputs (each of 0.65 A capacity) within the range 12.0...15 V.
  • for cameras located at different distances from the power supply - ZSI-90-KZ M18283 equipped with 6 outputs, each of 1 A capacity. The outputs are divided into three sections, each supplied with an independent stabilizer with adjustable voltage in 12.0...15.0 V. Cameras located in similar distances from the power supply should be properly grouped and connected to the adequate outputs with appropriately adjusted voltage levels.
Compact Outdoor Camera: n-cam 720 (day/night, D-WDR, 650TVL, Sony Effio-E, 0.03 lx, 6mm, OSD, IR up to 25m)Compact Outdoor Camera: n-cam 270 (day/night, D-WDR, 650TVL, Sony Effio-E, ICR, 0.03 lx, 4-9mm, OSD, IR 25m)Compact Outdoor Camera: n-cam 250 (600 TVL, Sony Super HAD II CCD, 0.01 lx, 3.6mm, IR up to 40m, OSD)Stabilized Power Supply: ZSI-90-KZ (230VAC/12-15VDC with 3 channels, 6x1A)
The application of the ZSI-90-KZ M18283 power supply allows for compensation of voltage drops
on power supply cables with different lengths

How to set up video streams of IP cameras?

All Sunell IP cameras enable the user to define two independent H.264 video channels. This feature allows for creating high quality stream for video recording and lower quality stream for monitoring over the Internet, e.g. on mobile devices.
Depending on the purpose, the menu of the cameras provides several levels of video compression (Video Encode Type):
  • Base Profile - for low-cost applications that require additional data loss robustness like in mobile environments.
  • Main Profile - used for standard-definition imaging, e.g. on tablets, netbooks etc.
  • High Profile - dedicated for monitoring in local networks and for high-definition video recording. The compression is more effective than in the case of Main Profile (file size ca. 10% smaller for the same quality), but it requires the highest processing power.
Depending on the number of cameras and link/network capacity, the user should select:
  • required image Resolution (1920x1080/1280x720/640x360);
  • Frame Rate (1...25 fps);
  • I Frame Interval (the interval between reference pictures that represent fixed images independent of other picture types). If a camera monitors an area with low traffic, higher values will save the band without noticeable deterioration in image quality;
  • Bit Rate type and value (VBR - variable bit rate which cannot exceed the maximum value defined below by the user, dedicated for monitoring low-traffic areas, or CBR - constant bit rate, also defined by the user, dedicated for monitoring more dynamic envirinments);
  • Quality level, within the 1 (minimum) to 9 (maximum) range.
Stream parameters must be chosen with care and tested in practice - too high settings will result in ​​unnecessary load on the network and the NVR's CPU, too low values will degrade the image quality.

Long-range HDMI splitter.

HDMI Splitter-Extender Signal-HD 1x8 H3607 enables the user to connect up to 8 modern TV sets equipped with HDMI inputs to one source of high-definition signal. The amplified output HDMI signal can be transmitted via HDMI 1.3b cable over distance up to 15 m. The seven RJ45 outputs allow for signal transmission over distances up to 50 m (using a CAT6 cable). The package contains the set of RJ-45 to HDMI adapters and power supplies. The features of the product make it ideal for demonstration of HD televisions and other equipment in stores, for offer presentation in HD quality in superstores, for distribution of video content (such as transmissions of football matches) in clubs and pubs etc.
Signal-HD HDMI Switcher 2x1
HDMI Splitter-Extender Signal-HD 1x8 (7xRJ45, 1xHDMI) H3607
Application diagram
Video report from Sat-Digi-TV 2012 trade fair in Warsaw
Video report from Sat-Digi-TV 2012
New products offered by DIPOL
Broadband TV Antenna: ASP-8W LUX A (with LNA-177 amplifier)
PCMCIA / PCI 16/32-bit Adapter
Signal-HD HDMI Switcher 2x1
DAB Antenna
DIPOL-1/DAB
A0110
8-p Rack Mount PoE Adapter
(with load monitoring)
N9207
Signal-HD HDMI Splitter
1x4 v1.4
H3216
Worth reading:
How to find European DVB-T transmitters and properly align antennas. The European service dvbtmap.eu allows users to locate DVB-T transmitters, together with their contents (multiplexes), and suggests how to precisely align their antennas by setting the azimuth and displaying the profile of the terrain towards the transmitters... more
It's time for optical solutions. Until recently, due to the high cost of FTTH system components for television distribution, long-distance transmission lines were based on thick and expensive coaxial cables and cascades of RF amplifiers. Today, it is neither modern nor cost-effective solution... more
How to easily convert DVB-T signals into PAL channels? Many hotels, motels, boarding houses etc. are equipped with televisions not capable of receiving DVB-T MPEG-4 broadcasts. After analog switch-off the owners of the businesses have to exchange the TV sets (which is expensive), buy external DVB-T receivers - STBs (which may be troublesome - additional devices and remote controls), or solve the problem elegantly and economically by application of a headend converting signals within the antenna system... more