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

No more IP addresses!

ON 25 November, RIPE NCC (Ripe Network Coordination Center) published the latest statistics on the use of the IPv4 address pool. It turns out it will no longer be able to allocate new addresses to European service providers. However, the IPv4 run out does not mean that they will not be allocated in the future, as RIPE NCC will continue to recover unused IP addresses.

Implemented in 1983 by ARPANET, the fourth version of the IP communication protocol is the most popular network standard. Most network connections are still based on IPv4, despite the growing popularity of the IPv6 protocol. IPv4 relies on 32-bit numbers used to identify devices connected to the Internet. There are 2³² (4.2 billion) of these in the world today.

On 25 November, RIPE NCC (Ripe Network Coordination Center)
published the latest statistics on the use of the IPv4 address pool

Today, nearly all devices are connected to the web, often via their own public network addresses. The advent of smart devices, such as household appliances, cars and smartphones required a new solution based on a protocol with a much greater address pool. This is why IPv4 is being gradually replaced by IPv6, which uses 128-bit numbers, giving a total address pool of 2¹²⁸ (340 undecillion). The problem is that the IPv6 protocol has only been deployed on a small scale thus far, with as little as 24% of Internet traffic relying on the new system.

Signal amplifiers in dSCR/Unicable systems.

DIPOL has introduced a new amplifier model, MSA100 R80515, dedicated for dSCR/Unicable SMATV systems. MSA100 R80515 is designed to amplify signals in the 47-862 MHz and the 950-2400 MHz bands. The model is recommended for use in multiswitch installations, where large distances and passive satellite splitters cause signal power to drop below the tuner's sensitivity threshold. The built-in cable attenuation compensation equalizes the frequency characteristics at higher frequencies, while dedicated switches ensure gain and slope adjustment.

An example of a multiswitch installation using the MSA-100 R80515 amplifier.
The device amplifies the dSCR/Unicable output signal in the SMATV system.

The best meters for fiber-optic systems.

DIPOL has recently introduced two new models of optical power meters designed for use in fiber-optic systems: TM103N L5815 and TM503N L5816. What they both have in common is the high sensitivity of the input detector (able to measure signals in the -50...+26 dBm range). They also allow to test absolute power and reference levels for 6 different wavelengths.

The table below shows the most important features of the two devices.

Remote control with a mobile DVR.

Mobile DVRs are often installed in hidden-away, inaccessible places. When choosing the right spot, users should consider safety issues (difficult access) and practicality (easy handling). Mobile DVRs are often found in the car trunk. The problem is how to control them and monitor their operation. The PROTECT LED KL-1 M80103 control panel allows to monitor the DVR operating status and serves as an IR extender. It has 6 LED indicators:

The panel should be connected to the DVR with a 4 m cable. To do so, users should cut off theoriginal plug and connect the individual wires to the appropriate DVR ports according to the following table:

View of the PROTECT LED KL-1 control panel
with the correct cables and connectors to hook up to the DVR

An example image from a Hikvision bispectral camera.

DS-2TD2617-3/V1 is a bispectral IP camera produced by Hikvision, which combines the advantages of traditional surveillance and thermal imaging. It is equipped with two image sensors, one designed for visible light (1920 x 1080 P CMOS), and another, with a resolution of 160 x 120 P, for thermal imaging. The camera permits to fuse the visible and thermal images into single high-quality thermographic imaging. Below, you can see screenshots taken in the "image in image" mode, where the "Image Fusion Ratio" was set at 80 and the "Border Fusion Ratio" at 73. In addition, "White Hot" and "Fusion 1" palettes were selected from the "Display settings" tab.

Bispectral cameras are an excellent complement to video surveillance equipment working in the visible and reflected infrared spectrum. Analog or IP cameras used in video monitoring correctly identify and recognize people during the day and, with the use of an IR illuminator, also at night. A thermal imaging camera does not require any lighting to work properly. Its operating principle is completely different than that of traditional cameras. All bodies with a temperature above absolute zero (0 K= −273.15°C) emit infrared radiation. Thanks to the relationship that exists between temperature and radiation intensity, a thermal imaging camera is able to receive the infrared waves and calculate temperature values based on their wavelengths. Combining visual and thermal imaging in a single camera allows to fuse input footage and obtain a single thermographic image of much better quality.

A RACK cabinet configuration tool.

Aesthetic and functional RACK cabinets are used to mount devices in a 19" (482.6 mm) rack housing. The height of RACK cabinet devices is standardized as a multiplie of one rack unit ("U" = 1.75" = 44.45 mm). Their capacity depends on height and is also given in "U" units. Another parameter important in RACK cabinets is depth (external dimension), expressed in millimeters, e.g. 450, 600, 800 mm. The parameter is essential, e.g. for computers and DVRs on account of their varying depths. To choose a cabinet, it is important to know whether the device will fit in and whether there is enough space for cabling. When choosing accessories, it is also crucial to check their compatibility with specific cabinet models. Sometimes, an element dedicated for one will not fit another, e.g. because of its greater depth or the way in which the element is fixed (e.g. cooling fans).

DIPOL e-Store offers a simple mechanism that provides a list of compatible accessories for selected RACK cabinets. To access the configuration tool, go to the lower part of the catalog page of the RACK cabinet in question and click this button:

The new window will display the list of compatible accessories.

A page with a list of accessories

Optical/copper SMATV systems. The advantage of using fiber-optic cables in SMATV systems is their ability to transmit television signals over considerable distances without the need for signal regeneration (depending on network topology and employed devices). In the case of a fiber-optic trunk, the size of the facilities in which the signal is to be distributed does not matter. The signal does not have be regenerated even when transmitted over hundreds of meters or tens of kilometers...>>>more

RACK cabinets - full range of products