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

No. 11/2014 (March 17, 2014)

YouTube enters IPTV ... through the back door.

During this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, ​​Francisco Varela, global director of platform partnerships at YouTube, informed about the possibility of extending EPG services in IPTV channels with YouTube channels. The subscribers of Youtube channels will be able to access them through the traditional program guides. This service can be implemented by all operators who declare their willingness to cooperate in this field.
This seemingly innocent option may be the next step in the popularization of TV formula in which the users decide on the programming content. It would seem that YouTube, offering mainly materials uploaded by its users, does not quite match up with this idea, but the service also provides very interesting channels, including live transmissions of concerts, special events like Red Bull Stratos etc. It is the reason why the users spend more and more time watching the online content at the expense of traditional television. Will YouTube, in conjunction with services such as Roku, Hulu, or Netflix in Europe, kill the traditional TV? There are many indications that it may happen...

DIPOL - the opening of the branch in Kielce.

On March 17, 2014 DIPOL is opening its branch in Kielce, a city between Krakow and Warsaw. The region of Poland is developing fast and the customers will have better access to our offer. The location of the facility near busy road will further increase the accessibility of the branch for everyone. The staff of the DIPOL Branch in Kielce will provide professional support to our customers.
DIPOL Branch in Kielce, Zrodlowa 2 street

In the new office DIPOL will also organize training courses for installers.

Attenuation limits the transmission capacity of optical links.

Attenuation directly affects the quality of data transmission over optical networks. The attenuation of an optical path depends on several factors, some of them are out of control of the installer (mainly physical properties of the materials used at the current stage of the technology). However, skilful installers can minimize other factors.
Attenuation is a natural phenomenon of the loss of signal energy along the transmission path, in the case of optical links measured in dB/km. Knowing the operating wavelength, the installer can minimize it by selecting the type of fiber that is characterized by lowest attenuation in this transmission window. However, in most systems the attenuation of the optical cable is negligible compared to that caused by other elements of the optical path.
Factory made connectors have attenuation levels close to the minimum attainable for a specific type. If the installer has the freedom to choose the kind of connectors, the best parameters are ensured by the stepped end style APC ferrules (8 degrees), used e.g. in SC/APC connectors. They are characterized by low attenuation and back reflection (reflectance).
It is important to keep ferrules clean, any pollutions at the ends of connectors cause increased signal loss, comparable to an additional attenuation of a damaged cable (e.g. when the minimum bending radius has not been observed).
Precision Fiber Cleaver F1-6000
The F1-600 L5801 cleaver is designed for quick and accurate cutting of fibers
with a cladding diameter of 125 µm and 250/900 µm buffer coating diameters
The biggest impact on the attenuation of an optical path have fiber splices. The loss of a splice depends on its precision. The main tool used for the preparation of the fiber ends is a cleaver. Imprecisely cleft fiber cannot be properly spliced. In addition to appropriate tools, a very important factor is a comfortable, dry and clean workplace. Maintaining basic principles of working with fibers, the installer will be able to achieve low attenuation and ensure reliable operation of the network for many years.

Multi-band amplifiers in shared antenna systems.

The main task of multi-input multi-band RF amplifiers is to boost the signals received in the bands to levels suitable for their distribution in antenna systems. They are used in medium-size networks with up to 50 outlets. The band inputs allow for the adjustment of gain, but the amplifiers are usually not equipped with cable attenuation compensation.
In addition to the needed band inputs, the selected amplifier should also ensure appropriate parameters such as gain and maximum output levels, gain control range. The following table lists the most popular multi-input amplifiers designed for shared antenna systems.
 
Name MA-014 MA-024 MA-025 MA-203
Code R82310 R821101 R821201 R82323
Bands (inputs)
FM+VHFI/VHFIII/
UHFIV/UHFV/UHF
FM+VHFI/VHFIII/UHFx2 FM+VHFI/VHFIII/UHF FM+VHFI/VHFIII/UHFx3
Max. output level [dBuV] 115 115 115 121
Max gain [dB] 40/40/44/44/44 30 30 40/40/47/47/47
Noise figure [dB] 5/7 5/7 5/7 5/4
The most advanced amplifier from this group is Terra MA-203 R82323. It has 5 band inputs: 1 x FM/VHF I, 1 x VHF III, and 3 x UHF. Each input has separate gain adjustment, additionally after combining signals of FM/VHF I + VHF III and those from three UHF inputs it is possible to suppress them in selected path by using 10 dB attenuator. The amplifier can provide very high output levels, up to 118 dBuV (VHF) and 121 dBuV (UHF).

Powering of IP cameras - part 1: 48 VDC.

Transmission of DC power over long distances is connected with noticeable voltage drop and decrease of efficiency due to power loss in the cable. In the case of a given length and parameters of the line, the voltage drop depends on the current flowing through the cable. The same power can be provided with different parameters, so the current can be lowered with the increase of the voltage. This method has been adopted in the case of PoE technology, where the rated value of the supplying voltage is 48 VDC, instead of 12 VDC used by many CCTV cameras. The PoE technology also employs the unused pairs of UTP/FTP cables that transmit data in 10/100 Mbps Ethernet networks. IP cameras complaint with IEEE 802.3af type B standard can be powered with 48 VDC transmitted via UTP/FTP cables of minimum cat. 3, via the wires 4/5 (+) and 7/8 (-).
PoE power supply in a CCTV system

Examples of 48 VDC power supply circuits for IP CCTV systems:

  • PoE adapter and an external power supply
  • A typical 48 VDC power supply and a PoE adapter, e.g. PSD 48VDC/1.25A M1894 and PoE M1611 (installed in a RACK cabinet) with its dedicated power supply (the use of two power supplies allows for powering a greater number of PoE cameras).
16-port Passive PoE Panel: POEP1611B (with 48V/120W power supply)
16-port PoE adapter
M1611
  • PoE Switching Power Supply POE084832 M18278.
  • It has 8 outputs protected with fuses or PTCs (selectable). The output voltage can be adjusted within 45.6V...52.8 VDC range.
(Impulse Type) Regulated DC Power Supply Adapter ZL 12V/3A for CCTV cameras
PoE Switching Power Supply POE084832
M18278
  • PoE Buffer Power Supply POE084824B M1858.
  • It has 8 outputs protected with fuses or PTCs (selectable). In the case of a power network outage, the cameras are opowered from four 12 VDC rechargeable batteries (to be bought separately).
PoE Buffer Power Supply POE084824B (54VDC, 8x0.3A)
Draft of the power supply with four rechargeable batteries

User rights in IP cameras.

Sunell IP cameras have the ability to create user profiles with defined rights. Depending on the position of the user in the hierarchy, it is possible to customize the access rights to specific functions of each camera, grouped under the following headings:
  • Privilege Manager
  • System Maintenance
  • Parameter Configure
  • Record Operation
  • Video Control
  • Live Video
The specific functions for each group ale listed in the screenshot below (click on to enlarge):
User account configuration window
For each user, the system administrator creates individual username and password to a camera. After logging in, the user can perform only the specified actions. Anyone can test the functionality by logging into the K1637 camera available online on the Internet. The address of the camera and logging data are available here.

Extension of Wi-Fi network.

The lack of access to the Internet greatly reduces the functionality of buildings and premises. Fast, cheap and effective way to solve this problem is to install or extend wireless network. The diagram below shows an example of extensive office network.

  • Device no. 1 - a device with access to the Internet, responsible for its distribution to multiple computers within the local network:
    • N3252 - access point (802.11n 150 Mb/s) TP-LINK TL-WR740N with built-in router,
    • N3254 - access point (802.11n 150 Mb/s) TP-LINK TL-WR741N with built-in router,
    • N2958 - 3G (UMTS/HSPA) wireless router TP-LINK TL-MR3220 (802.11n 150 Mb/s),
    • N2957 - 3G (UMTS/HSPA) wireless router TP-LINK TL-MR3420 (802.11n 300 Mb/s),
    • N3250 - access point (802.11n 300 Mb/s) TP-LINK TL-WR841ND with built-in router and 4-port switch,
    • N3253 - access point (802.11n 300 Mb/s) TP-LINK TL-WR1043ND with built-in router, 4-port GbE switch, and USB port,
    • N3260 - access point TP-LINK TL-WDR4300 802.11n (2.4 & 5 GHz).
  • Device no. 2 - for wireless access to the network from a desktop or mobile PC:
    • N2922 - 802.11n USB adapter TP-LINK TL-WN722N, 150 Mb/s with external 4 dBi antenna
  • Device no. 3 - an appropriate antenna:
    • A72713 - indoor omnidirectional antenna TP-Link TL-ANT2405C (2.4GHz, 5dBi)
    • A72714 - indoor omnidirectional antenna TP-LINK TL-ANT2408C (2.4GHz, 8dBi),
    • A72715 - indoor omnidirectional antenna TP-LINK TL-ANT2408CL (2.4GHz, 8dBi).
  • Device no.4 - a WiFi range extender:
    • N2942 - access point TP-Link TL-WA701ND 2.4GHz, 150 Mb/s 802.11n,
    • N2944 - access point TP-Link TL-WA901ND 2.4GHz, 300 Mb/s 802.11n,
    • N2946 - WiFi range extender TP-LINK TL-WA850RE 300 Mb/s.

New products offered by DIPOL

Single-mode Patch Cord PC-522S2 (SC/APC-SC/APC, simplex G.657.A2, 1.5m)
Single-mode Patch Cord PC-522S2 L32222 is a section of fiber optic cable (G.657A2) with a length of 1.5 meter, terminated on both ends with SC/APC connectors.

19
19" RACK Cabinet (9U 450mm) R9120227 is a double-section hanging cabinet mounted on walls, providing access to devices placed inside both from the front and rear. Both the first and second section can be opened to the left or right side. The devices placed inside can be cooled by dedicated fans. The cabinets are suitable for mounting equipment compliant with 19" rack standard. It is ideal solution for the installation of telephone exchanges, network devices, components of CCTV and SMATV systems.
PoE Switching Power Supply POE084832 (45.6...52.8VDC, 8x0.4A)
PoE Switching Power Supply POE084832 (45.6...52.8VDC, 8x0.4A) M18278 is intended for IP cameras compliant with PoE IEEE-802.3af (48 VDC). It has 8 outputs protected with fuses or PTCs (selectable). The output voltage can be adjusted within 45.6V...52.8 VDC range.

The latest

March 3, 2014 – modification of product tree in e-Store. Now the product tree combines two sections, CCTV and IP CCTV, into one CCTV section. At the current stage of the development of video monitoring technology and integration of systems there is no reason to keep such a division. Another change is the separation of RACK cabinets as one of nine sections of our product range. This is due to the large assortment and strong demand. Signal RACK cabinets have found a permanent place in our offer.

Worth reading

50-meter long USB connection. The maximum length of USB cable is 3 or 5 meters, depending on the version. For some applications, the distances may be too short. The USB RJ45 extension adapter M1680 allows for distances up to 50 m. The estimated data transfer rate over the maximum distance is 1 MB/s (8 Mbps)... more
The USB extension adapter is ideal for installations that require long, wired connections with webcams,
printers, pads, mouses, keyboards, USB flash drives etc. The device is compatible with USB 2.0.
First prize in the competition under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy
for the most innovative product or technology