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

Augmented reality in Google Maps.

At the last I/O conference, navigating with data of augmented reality aroused a great interest. Google continues its leading role - Google Maps have been enriched with new functionality that uses augmented reality technology. The map on the screen is enriched with the live image from the smartphone camera. The navigation becomes more accurate because it recognizes buildings based on GPS and Street View data along with the live camera view. The actual picture is completed with street names, house numbers and arrows that show where to turn. This makes it easier for the user to navigate, for example, at complex intersections or densely built-up places. The image can also be marked with service points such as restaurants, cafes, and stores, along with their assessments made by customers. This will allow people who do not know the area to quickly choose a place that can meet their expectations.

The combination of reality with virtual objects is called Augmented Reality (AR). Most often it is carried out using special glasses. Looking through them, we see virtual objects superimposed on the real world. Market tycoons invest in the development of AR, because this technology can shape the future path of the communication systems development. As an example, the sensors of Microsoft's HoloLens can recognize gestures of the user to manipulate virtual objects. Microsoft also invests in a communication system called "holoportation", allowing two-way communication with imaging in the form of three-dimensional holograms.

Signal MRP multiswitches - the terrestrial path.

Signal MRP multiswitches have been equipped with a passive terrestrial path. So, especially in low-signal areas, it is necessary to employ an antenna preamplifier or line amplifier that will compensate the attenuation of the path (12 dB) and other passive elements in the distribution network (cables, connectors, outlets). When selecting the pre/amplifier, the installer should take into account signal levels from the local terrestrial TV, DAB, FM transmitters (depending on their power, distance, obstacles, antenna(s) gain).

Each multiswitch of this series has 12 VDC switch in the terrestrial path. When a pre/amplifier is to be powered via the signal cable, the switch has to be set to "12 V ON" position. Otherwise (in the case of a passive antenna or an amplifier with independent power supply e.g. AWS 1/1 F B1216), it must be set to "12 V OFF" position.

The supply voltage in the terrestrial antenna path is switched on by moving the switch up

The both voltage indicators, in the power supply unit (PSU) and in the multiswitch, should continuously shine. If, after connecting a terrestrial antenna and switching on the power supply, the LEDs in the power supply and the multiswitch blink, it indicates that there is a short circuit in the terrestrial antenna path. This can happen when the antenna is without an amplifier (DC-shorted by a balun) or the antenna cable is incorrectly installed (a short circuit between the central conductor and the braid). Then, it is necessary to disconnect the PSU unit immediately and eliminate this condition (by switching off the 12 VDC in the case of the passive antenna, or mending the cable connections).

The flashing of the power LEDs is due to an excessive current in the terrestrial antenna path.
It is necessary to disconnect the power supply unit immediately and eliminate this condition
(switch off the 12 VDC in the case of a passive antenna, or mend the cable connections).

How to connect a microphone to video monitoring devices?

In most CCTV systems it is possible to record video and sound. In an HD-TVI system, the audio module is to be connected to the "AUDIO IN" input of the DVR. In an IP CCTV system, it is connected to the required camera. The diagram below shows the connection between a Hikvision IP camera and the DS-2FP2020 M1918 audio module.

Connection of the M1918 microphone module with an IP camera

The Hikvision DS-2FP2020 condenser microphone with built-in preamplifier has connection cable with three wires: audio - white, power (+12 VDC) - red, ground - black. The white wire has to be connected to the AUDIO IN terminal of the IP camera, the black to the ground, and the the red to a 12 VDC supply voltage (when the camera is powered from a 12 VDC source, it can be the same, otherwise (in a PoE system) it must be provided additionally).

Hikvision Disk Calculator - calculation of the data retention time.

The Hikvision Disk Calculator v4.0.0.3 allows for estimation of the video data retention time for a given capacity of the HDD(s) installed in an NVR. Inversely, the user can calculate the required capacity of the HDD(s) for the planned data retention time.

The application is easy and intuitive to use. The "Channel Number" field must be filled up with the number of cameras connected to the NVR. The choice for the "Device Type" should be "IPC" (IP camera). The "Resolution" field is designed to select the actual image resolution, from QCIF (176 x 144) to 12 MP (4000 x 3000). The "Frame Rate" parameter can be chosen within the 1/16 - 50 fps range. The "Encoding" field is used for selection of the compression used by the camera and NVR (H.264, H.264+ or H.265).

The H.265 compression method is two times more efficient than H.264, preserving the same image quality. It has been taken into account in the application - the recommended bit rate is half that of H.264 and the same disk capacity allows for doubling the data retention time. With 8 cameras in the system, 4 TB disk space, and 24/24 recording, the time periods will be 11 and 22 days, respectively.

Does it make sense to save on buying a good optical cleaver?

More and more often one can encounter fiber-optic installations with mechanical splices in which installers, wanting to save on the purchase of tools, use common knives or scissors to cut the fibers. This unprofessional and reprehensible approach may lead to a number of operational problems in the future. Even if the installation works at the beginning, it may turn out after some time that the parameters of the splices degrade and the network stops working. Proper cleaning and cutting of fibers before joining them is extremely important both in the implementation of mechanical and thermally spliced connections. The following two photos show the emission of visible light from a fiber cut with a stripper tip (left), and cleft with a dedicated fiber cleaver F1-6000 L5801 (on the right).

Proper cleaving of optical fibers reduces the leakage of light in undesirable directions - the light is more focused. Connections of poorly cut fibers are characterized by high attenuation, and with an extreme lack of care for this operation, they may simply not pass the signal. Fusion splicers allow extremely precise (with an accuracy of 0.1 degree) determination of the cleaving angle of the fiber, especially the deviation from the right angle. Installers using mechanical splices may use the technique presented above, i.e. apply the L5935 visual fault locator, which allows only a very general check of the cleaving quality.

CE for RACK cabinets.

Hanging RACK cabinets have been certified for the compliance with general safety requirements contained in Chapter II of the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) of 3rd December 2001 and in the guidelines of the EN 60950-1:2007 international standard.

The Laboratory of Applied Tests of the KOMAG Institute of Mining Technology ensures independent, impartial and reliable tests, due to implemented management systems, which are in accordance with the requirements of the following Standards: EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and EN ISO 9001:2009.

Document confirming the compliance of the cabinet with general safety requirements contained in Chapter II of the General Product Safety Directive (2001/95/EC) of 3 December 2001 and in the guidelines of the EN 60950-1:2007 international standard, issued by KOMAG INSTITUTE OF MINING TECHNOLOGY

The certificate is valid from February 29, 2016 to February 28, 2021 and applies to the following models:

• R912017 SIGNAL 19" Rack Cabinet (6U 600mm, hanging)
• R912018 SIGNAL 19" Rack Cabinet (6U 450mm, hanging)
• R912019 SIGNAL 19" Rack Cabinet (9U 600mm, hanging)
• R912020 SIGNAL 19" Rack Cabinet (9U 450mm, hanging)
• R912021 SIGNAL 19" Rack Cabinet (12U 450mm, hanging)
• R912022 SIGNAL 19" Rack Cabinet (12U 600mm, hanging)
• R9120222 SIGNAL 19" Rack Cabinet (15U 600mm, hanging)
• R9120223 SIGNAL 19" Rack Cabinet (18U 600mm, hanging)

Transmission of HD-TVI/AHD signals over optical fiber. Modern analog CCTV standards allow for transmission of video signals from 1080p cameras over distances up to 300 meters, using high-quality coaxial cables. In the case of longer distances between cameras and the DVR (e.g. video surveillance systems in large warehouses, factories, big office buildings etc.) the transmission has to be done with other means... >>>more

Typical application of ULTIMODE L2030 fiber-optic video converter

TERRA class-A multiswitches with 4-year warranty