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

No. 38/2018 (Nov. 26, 2018)

Sensors that do not require battery power getting closer.

Researchers at the University of Waterloo have made tremendous progress towards creating small devices that do not require external or battery power supply. Professor Omid Abari, Ju Wang scholarship holder, and Professor Srinivasan Keshav from Waterloo's Cheriton School of Computer Science modified an RFID tag, the same that is used, for example, to open door locks. They removed the plastic casing, cut a small part of the tag antenna, and closed the gap in the circuit by placing a photo-transistor, i.e. a sensor reacting to different levels of light. By exposing the photo-transistor to light, they were changing the characteristics of the RFID antenna, which in turn caused a change in the signal reaching the reader. Then they developed a reader-side algorithm monitoring the changes in the signal and thus detecting different levels of light. One of the simplest modifications can be placing a switch instead of the photo-transistor so that the RFID tag can operate e.g. as a touch sensitive key.
The RFID tag has been modified by cutting out a small part of its dipole antenna and placing a small photo-transistor or temperature-sensitive resistor (thermistor)
Such solutions may mean a huge advance on the way of developing the Internet of Things (IoT) and creating devices with interfaces enabling communication over the IP network. The operation without an additional power source brings many benefits, including, among others, lower maintenance costs and the ability to work in places outside the access to the power network. The devices can be equipped with sensors enabling detection of various parameters in a given environment, such as ambient temperature, light intensity, sound or movement. However, the most important challenge that has to be solved is to ensure high reliability and trouble-free operation of such sensor tags.

Mounting devices on rails in 19" RACK cabinets.

The use of universal rails in RACK cabinets is a popular solution for placing devices in SMATV systems. Below we present examples of mounting devices intended for "hanging" in a RACK cabinet. We are not convincing anyone to a particular solution. In each case, it should depend on the system and device requirements, compliance with standards and convenience of assembly.
RACK board ZMC-1 - Front Assembly Component EURO TH35 380mm
The ZMC-1 R77210 component is a EURO TH35 rail with a length of 380 mm, receding by 100 mm in relation to the front of the RACK cabinet. The element is made of hard aluminum (PA11) sheet with 2 mm thickness. The maximum allowable load, with evenly distributed devices, is 12 kg. The kit includes four caged nuts for mounting the element in the cabinet.
The ZMC-1 R77210 component is dedicated for mounting devices on EURO TH35 rail. Some examples: TERRA channel aplifiers, transmodulators, channel converters, thermostats.
RACK board ZMC-2 - Front Assembly Component with EURO TH35 Rail and 2xKeystone Panel
The ZMC-2 R77220 component is used in a situation where, next to a few devices (length of the TH35 rail is 190 mm) mounted on the EURO rail, other devices should be mounted vertically. The component has a width of 180 mm and a height of 170 mm. It is made of hard PA11 aluminum sheet with a thickness of 1.5 mm. Thanks to this, it has sufficient stiffness and at the same time the material allows for easy drilling of the necessary assembly holes. The vertical panel of the ZMC-2 assembly has two holes for keystone modules. ZMC-2 can be loaded with evenly distributed devices with a total weight of 12 kg. The kit includes four caged nuts for mounting the component in the cabinet.
Example application of the ZMC-2 component of the RACK board system: installation of two Optical Receivers TERRA OR501W (QUATRO + DVB-T/DAB/FM) A9877 mounted on the vertical plate and connected with patch cords via keystone adapters, Channel Amplifier at440 R82511, Broadband Amplifier ma400 R82520, and Power Supply UP413 R82533.

Switch ideal for offices.

TP-LINK T1600G-28TS (TL-SG2424) gigabit switch has 24 GE ports and 4 SFP slots. It features advanced security functions, QoS, and multiple second layer management tools. The N29948 switch is an economical solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It has useful security features and supports SNMP and RMON management. QoS (Quality of Service) for layers 2, 3 and 4 provides enhanced capabilities to optimize data traffic. The switch can be easily managed via a web browser or command line interface.
In order to increase the number of possible applications of TL-SG2424 switches, the traffic management functions in the second layer include: support for VLAN 802.1Q, port isolation, port mirroring, STP/RSTP/MSTP, port aggregation, 802.3x Flow Control. Additionally, the switch is equipped with a number of maintenance functions, such as detection of loop back connections, cable diagnostics, and IGMP snooping. The IGMP snooping function allows intelligent management of multicast traffic by making it available only for some subscribers, together with IGMP throttling and IGMP filtering features that effectively block access to the multicast traffic for unauthorized users
Web Smart Switch: TP-LINK T1600G-28TS (TL-SG2424) 24xGE 4xSFP RACK
Web Smart Switch TP-LINK T1600G-28TS (TL-SG2424) 24xGE 4xSFP RACK N29948

What information is hidden in Hikvision CCTV device logs?

System logs allow administrators to get a lot of diagnostic information about the device. It is possible to check the register using local and remote access, and the data can be displayed or exported (e.g. to a USB flash drive). The logs are stored in the mass memory of the device, i.e. on the hard disk of a DVR/NVR or on the memory card of an IP camera. Each log contains the date and time of each event, the channel number, and, in the case of remote access, the logon user name and IP address. Looking at the registry is the initial diagnostic step in the case of hardware problems.
Some important information that can be found in the logs:
  • operational information (switching ON/OFF power, configuration changes: adding/removing cameras, logon operations, switching ON/OFF recording and playback functions),
  • exceptions (disk/card error or disk/card overflow error, logon error, hardware error, connection loss, resolution discrepancy),
  • information on the start and end moments of alarm events.

How to differentiate Hikvision IP cameras from the economy line.

Hikvision IP cameras are divided into series with some characteristic features, such as video content analytics (VCA), H.265+ video compression, compact housings with IK10 rating (vandal-proof) etc. Knowledge of the characteristics of a given line along with the relevant symbols allow for quick selection of camera models suitable for a given installation. Currently, the economy line consists of three series: EasyIP Lite, EasyIP 2.0 plus (instead of EasyIP 2.0) and EasyIP 3.0. Shortly, there will be another series, EasyIP 4.0.
The DS-2CD segment in the name of a camera from these series is the same (the DS-2CE is an exception for PTZ cameras, not discussed here). The series and features of a camera are coded in the first and last digits of the type/name, which have been bolded in the following list:
Type Series Additional description
DS-2CD1XX1 EasyIP Lite H.264+, H.264
DS-2CD1XX3 EasyIP Lite H265+, H.265, H.264+, H.264
DS-2CD2XX2WD/FWD EasyIP 2.0 H.264+, H.264
DS-2CD2XX3 EasyIP 2.0 plus H265+, H.265, H.264+, H.264
DS-2CD2XX5 EasyIP 3.0 H265+, H.265, H.264+, H.264,
Darkfighter (currently some models, finally all models)
DS-2CD2XX6
DS-2CD2XX7
EasyIP 4.0 H265+, H.265, H.264+, H.264,
Darkfighter, AcuSence, ClorVu,

Transmission of DVB-T signals via optical fibers.

Most systems transmitting DVB-T signal via optical fibers use traditional optical transmitters and nodes, e.g. the mo418 R82522 transmitter and OD-005P R81760 receiver. The networks are composed of single-mode cables and passive optical splitters that enable distribution of the signal to different locations.
An alternative solution is based on the conversion of the DVB-T signal (from a master antenna or headend) to IP stream that is distributed via typical fiber optic network (active Ethernet network), and then converted back into DVB-T. The equipment used for the conversions:
  • IPTV Streamer TERRA sti-440 (DVB-T/T2/C to IP) R81606 that allows for selection of four DVB-T/T2 multiplexes,
  • IP to 4x DVB-T (COFDM) Transmodulator TERRA mix-440 R81611 that converts IP stream to DVB-T COFDM standard.
The IP stream can be transmitted by optical fibers linking any Ethernet devices - media converters, switches with SFP modules, etc. The advantage of this solution is the possibility of transmission within both single-mode and multimode networks. The signal is split by traditional switches, so in most cases it is not necessary to modify the existing network.
Professional VHF and UHF DVB-T Antenna Set (H/V): DIPOL 28/5-12/21-60DIN Rail Power Supply DR-60-12 (12VDC/4.5A, for Terra at/mt/ma modules)IPTV Streamer: TERRA sti-440 (DVB-T/T2/C to IP, USB port)Ethernet Media Converter M-203G (for two single-mode fibers up to 20km)Ethernet Media Converter M-203G (for two single-mode fibers up to 20km)IP to 4x DVB-T (COFDM) Transmodulator: TERRA mix-440 (100/1000Mbps, USB port)DIN Rail Power Supply DR-60-12 (12VDC/4.5A, for Terra at/mt/ma modules)
Example of an MATV system (DVB-T) with fiber-optic transmission medium
(transmission of four digital multiplexes via optical link up to 20 km)

New products offered by DIPOL

Multi-system Ceiling Camera: Hikvision DS-2CE56D0T-IRMMF (HD-TVI/AHD/HD-CVI/CVBS, 1080p, 3.6mm, 0.01 lx, IR up to 20m)
Multi-system Ceiling Camera Hikvision DS-2CE56D0T-IRMMFM75281can be used in video surveillance systems based on various types of DVRs. The user can select the required video standard from among HD-TVI, HD-CVI, AHD, or the legacy CVBS (ANALOG). The choice of the standard is made by an appropriate setting of the switches located on the additional cable. The enhanced video systems allow for using the 1080p option that utilizes the 2 MP image resolution of the camera. Thanks to high sensitivity of the image sensor (0.01 lx) and built-in IR illuminator with range up to 20 m, the camera provides high quality video coverage even in difficult lighting conditions.
SIGNAL RAL7035 19
SIGNAL RAL7035 19" Rack Cabinet (6U 450 mm, hanging) R912018W suitable for mounting all sorts of devices in standard 19" rack housings, as well as some devices not compliant with this standard. Ideal for installing headends, for various kinds of equipment, also in home systems. The rack cabinet has many openings ensuring adequate air circulation. Additionally, it is possible to install fans to increase the ventilation.
Multi-system Compact Camera: Hikvision DS-2CE16H0T-IT3ZF (5MP, 2.7-13.5mm, 0.01 lx, IR up to 40m, HD-TVI, AHD, HD-CVI, CVBS)
Multi-system Compact Camera: Hikvision DS-2CE16H0T-IT3ZF M75690 can be used in video surveillance systems based on various types of DVRs. The user can select the required video standard from among HD-TVI, HD-CVI, AHD, or the legacy CVBS (ANALOG). The choice of the standard is made by the micro-switch located on the additional cable. The enhanced video systems allow for using the 5 MP resolution of the camera (there are 4 MP and 2 MP options as well).

Worth reading

Implementation of emergency power supply in a PoC system. Power over Coax (PoC) is a new system allowing for transmission of power supply via the video coaxial cable. As the cabling carries power along with the video signals, the installation of the system is considerably simpler - each camera is connected with the system via a single coax or a twisted pair of wires from a minimum cat. 5e cable... >>>more
CCTV system with PoC power supply supported by a UPS
Vertical mounting system in 19" RACK cabinets