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

The first 5G modem chip!

While China has been testing 5G technology in nearly 100 cities for over a year, Qualcomm has unveiled its first 5G modem chip, which will soon be available for manufacturers of smartphones.

The fifth generation of cellular networks does not yet exist, but promises faster data rates and greater bandwidth to carry more network traffic in the future. Qualcomm has successfully tested the first 5G Snapdragon X50 modem chip supporting 28 GHz band and reaching speed over 1 Gbps. Such speeds will allow users to download e.g. an hour-long HDTV program in a fraction of a minute.

The first 5G modem chip manufactured by Qualcomm

Prof. William Webb, an independent consultant and the author of "The 5G Myth: When vision decoupled from reality" book, is skeptical to this test. He claims that 5G standard is not yet clearly defined and speeds over 1 Gbps have already been achieved in 4G networks. For example, the Huawei Kirin 970 chipset offers mobile speeds up to 1.2 Gbps if used with compatible network devices.

According to Qualcomm, the first-announced successful demonstration of a 5G data connection on a single-chip 5G modem is only the first step of the development of the Snapdragon X50 5G platform. When completed, the chip will be ready to be shipped to smartphone manufacturers, delivering speeds of up to 5Gbps, not accessible for any 4G LTE chip.

Hotel SMATV system with optical and copper IPTV distribution network.

IPTV distribution networks in hotels providing DVB-T and satellite TV broadcasts can be a perfect supplement or alternative to RF or CATV solutions. The use of IPTV technology has many advantages, both technical and economical. The cabling in a building can be limited only to one (data + IPTV) or two (separate for data and for IPTV) UTP/FTP cable(s), or made in the form of fiber-optic links. In addition to low cost of such cabling, the users can get access to additional interactive features, and the programming can be adapted to their specific requirements. Below we present a solution based on TERRA equipment, implemented by Inet Centrum company.

OR501MW QUATRO A9877 optical receiver converts optical signal coming via passive optical network from the OT501W A9872 transmitter into electrical signals. These are SAT IF signals and terrestrial DVB-T, DAB and FM broadcasts. The device has 5 outputs, 4 of them providing the four pairs (VL–HL–VH–HH) of SAT IF signals (like typical QUATRO LNB) and terrestrial broadcasts.

Transmission of HDMI signal in LAN.

Signal-HD H3606 HDMI to IP converter enables the user to connect remote (up to 100 m) source of HD content to HD-enabled television/monitor, using one CAT5e/6 cable. The set includes transmitter and receiver units, as well as remote control extender for a Blu-ray/DVD player, STB etc. The IP signal coming from the transmitter may be applied to an Ethernet switch to split it among multiple receivers. The additional receivers necessary for decoding the signal can be bought separately ( H3607, with RC extender, or H3605 - without support for remote control). The bit rate of the compressed signal at the output of the transmitter is about 30 Mbps.

An application of the H3606 HDMI > IP converter/extender set, N29915 switch and additional H3607 receivers
(point-to-multipoint distribution of HDMI signal via UTP cabling with remote control extension)

Why is the calibration of fiber optic splicers important?

The calibration of a fiber optic fusion splicer consists in adjusting the power and temperature of the electric arc to the prevailing environmental conditions. Properly adjusted arc parameters guarantee high quality of the splices, - both in terms of optical attenuation and mechanical strength. Therefore, the calibration should always be performed before splicing operations - at the beginning of work or in the case of changing the environment (e.g. from indoor to outdoor part of a system, especially when the difference in temperature between the locations is high).

The most expensive models of fusion splicers are equipped with pressure and temperature sensors that allow for automatic calibration in real time. Most popular devices require manual calibration taking several minutes. Omission of calibration will not always mean bad splices. However, there is a risk that some of them, even those indicating low attenuation, will be very weak and unstable mechanically (e.g. in the case of too low welding temperature they can sometimes crack after an hour).

Signal Fire AI-7 L5880 fusion splicer uses popular calibration method - the fibers located in the splicing chamber are subjected to a number of electric arcs. The fibers are melted and the software of the splicer measures and analyzes the distance at which the fiber faces move backward. On the basis of the measurements, the splicer determines the appropriate parameters of the electric arc.

The calibration of Signal Fire is done by selecting "Arc Calibration" option in the management application. When the fibers are inserted into the splicing chamber and the cover is closed, the calibration process starts automatically. When finished, the splicer switches to normal mode, i.e. is prepared for regular splicing operations.

In the forthcoming winter period, installers should pay particular attention to the proper preparation of the splicing equipment before commencing work. A splicer that has spent the night in a car parked outside and brought to a room with room temperature, is not suitable for immediate operation: the fogged camera lens may result in erroneous fiber positioning and auto-focus problems. To avoid such problems, installers should store and transport the precise devices in proper conditions.

Signal Fire AI-7 L5880 fusion splicer

Email notifications in Hikvision IP CCTV systems.

Hikvision NVRs and IP cameras can be configured so that to immediately notify users on system events. Such notifications can be sent in the form of emails.

After detection of an event such as:

the devices can initiate the process of sending messages with attached images connected with the specific events. The function can be independently configured for each of these events and for each channel. The network connection must provide access to SMTP mail server, so the network has to be connected to the Internet, and the administrator also must specify a DNS server.

New connection interface in Hikvision cameras.

EasyIP 3.0 cameras with varifocal lenses such as DS-2CD2725FWD-IZS K17371 or DS-2CD2685FWD-IZS K17727 have been equipped with a new connection interface. The connections placed in the base of the cameras are protected by an integrated cover that creates a kind of cable box. Inside the box there are the following connectors: RJ45 network socket (PoE), audio input and output (3.5 mm jacks), terminal block with alarm inputs/outputs (in cameras marked with S in type designation) and 12 VDC connection block. Such a solution eliminates the bundle of cables protruding from the cameras, especially in the case of making use of all functions of the advanced models of the series. Generally, the series of the cameras is characterized by a robust construction with IK10 rating, which means very high degree of protection against vandalism. The cameras also guarantee excellent protection against atmospheric influences (IP67).

Capacity of a rechargeable battery. The main parameters of each rechargeable battery are the rated voltage and capacity. Due to the fact that the capacity of a battery depends on the discharge conditions, the value is normally given for a 10-hour full discharge current. For example, if the battery has a capacity of 20 Ah, it means that the load can take 2 A for ten hours. To determine how long the battery can supply a real system, one should know the actual current consumption and compare it with the characteristics of the battery for a similar discharge current. >>>more

Discharge time vs. discharge current - Securbat CB 7-12 SB M1883