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No. 7/2020 (Feb. 17, 2020)
Solar panels that work round the clock.
Engineers from the University of California, Davis, are currently working on anti-solar cells designed to complement the already well-known photovoltaic panels. The scientists decided it was possible to produce panels that would also work at night, generating up to a quarter of the power normally generated during a sunny day.Power generation relies on the flow of energy between the emitter and the absorber. During the day, heat is emitted by the Sun; after sunset, however, the surface of the Earth continues to radiate energy in the form of infrared rays out into the cold, night sky - outer space.
Anti-solar panels, or an "alternative" to solar energy
In new panels, silicon cells would be replaced with thermoradiative mercury alloys to intercept infrared radiation. The scientists emphasize that their thermoradiative module could achieve 1/4 of the productivity of photovoltaic panels. At present, the project is still in the concept phase and a functioning device has yet to be built. However, the UC Davis team have suggested an important way to harness the large amounts of solar energy that currently go to waste.
The best antenna for DVB-T/T2?
Great Britain is the first country in Europe to have launched official DVB-T2 broadcasts. A TV transmitter trial was conducted by BBC Research & Development in June 2008. Today, work is underway to introduce DVB-T2 digital terrestrial television throughout the continent. In the EU, DVB-T2 signals are already broadcast in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Romania, and France. DVB-T is to be discontinued in 2024. TV broadcasts in both standards, DVB-T and DVB-T2, are currently transmitted in Great Britain, Italy, and the Scandinavia. No deadline has been set yet for the swich-off of DVB-T signals in these countries. In Poland, the transition from DVB-T to DVB-T2 is scheduled to be complete by 30 June 2022.Advantages of DVB-T2 systems include better bandwidth use (greater multiplex capacity) and a more efficient data compression standard, i.e. HEVC (High Efficiency Video Codec)/H.265. DVB-T enables transmission with a speed of c. 24.88 Mbps in a single 8 MHz channel, as compared to 40 Mbps in the case of DVB-T2. For consumers, the greatest drawback of the DVB-T standard is that it does not support terrestrial TV channels with resolutions greater than HD (720p) and Full HD (1080p). Using a more efficient compression method will allow to pack a greater number of TV channels into a single multiplex, as well as enable the terrestrial transmission of 4K/Ultra HD broadcasts.
Yagi-Uda, also known as a Yagi antenna, is one of the most popular antennas designed for the reception of DVB-T/T2 signals, characterized by a relatively simple construction and a high gain. Antennas of this type are used in systems working on the HF to UHF bands, i.e. from c. 3 MHz to c. 3 GHz. A single antenna can support a relatively narrow bandwidth. The parameters are selected in such a way as to maintain a good balance between gain and bandwidth.
Dipol's professional VHF and UHF DVB-T Antenna Sets (H/V), A2810 and A2850, have been designed for the reception of TV broadcasts in the VHF (174-230 MHz) and the UHF (470-790 MHz) bands. Thanks to their universal construction, the VHF and UHF antenna segments can be set to the vertical (V) or horizontal (H) polarization of the received signals in order to provide an effective solution for the reception of DVB-T broadcasts with various combinations of polarizations in the VHF and UHF bands.
Energy-saving UPS.
CyberPower is a world-renowned brand offering environmentally friendly UPS systems. In response to the rapid rise in energy prices, as well as the increased corporate awareness of environmental issues, the company has patented a new energy-saving technology, GreenPower UPS, to address the problem of power loss (that causes devices to heat up). The new electrical circuits have been designed in such a way as to circumvent systems that cause power loss, e.g. automatic voltage regulators (AVR) or transformers, when operating in a normal mode. Doing so can reduce power usage by c. 75%.
A study conducted by CyberPower demonstrated that at data centers, UPS systems will use up to 18% of power when operating in a normal mode, which represents 88% of the total work time. Thanks to the new GreenPower Technology, CyberPower's UPS systems use minimal amounts of power, without compromising the security of connected devices. Independent tests conducted at the SGS lab have confirmed that their power usage can be up to five times lower than that of competing solutions.
Hourly power consumption by UPS brands (prepared by the independent SGS lab)
A twisted-pair cable for professionals.
DIPOL has expanded its portfolio to include a new cable: CAT 7 NETSET S/FTP (E1626). Compliant with the EN50575 standard, the new cable features improved fire resistance (Cca class), and has undergone additional testing in terms of smoke emission (s), droplets (d), and acidity (a). The complete classification of the cable is thus the following: Cca s1a d1 a1. Compared to cat. 6A cables, the product enables transmission over frequencies up to 600 MHz.The CAT 7 NETSET S/FTP shielded cable is a high-quality cable designed for professional indoor data transmission systems. Made of braid and foil, the shielding allows to minimize crosstalk and interference with the external environment.
Key features of the CAT 7 NETSET S/FTP (E1626):
- highest-quality materials, strict technological discipline confirmed by a 15-year quality guarantee,
- parameters far exceeding the requirements for Category 7 twisted pair cables,
- preliminary quality control of raw materials and thorough tests of the final product,
- meter markers,
- solid wires, 0.56 mm in diameter (23 AWG),
- insulated wires, twisted in pairs, each pair with a separate aluminum foil screen,
- wire insulation made of skin-foam-skin PE; colors: white-green/green, white-orange/orange, white-brown/brown, white-blue/blue,
- screen made of aluminum foil,
- sheath made of LSZH, 7.6 mm external diameter,
![CAT 7 S/FTP Shielded Cable: NETSET BOX S/FTP CAT 7 [500m] (indoor, Cca s1a d1 a1)](https://static.dipol.com.pl/images/en/pict/e1626_500++.jpg)
Close-up of the cable
Playback of Hikvision IP camera footage saved on a microSD card.
Hikvision's IP cameras with a microSD slot can record footage directly onto the card or use the slot for the purposes of ANR in the event of a communication failure; in this case, footage is saved on the card and then, once the connection has stabilized, synchronized with the NVR to guarantee continuity. If footage is recorded directly onto a microSD card, users can download and play it by logging in to the camera or using a client software. However, sometimes there is a need to build a simple system with one recording camera to play footage on a PC directly from the microSD card. For Windows to correctly detect the card and read its content, the card needs to be formatted to support FAT32 files. The files can then be opened with a popular software like VLC or Hikvision's dedicated VSPlayer.
MicroSD card formatting window in an IP camera
How to safely open fiber-optic tubes.
Many fiber-optic cables have a single central tube, a structure that makes them easy to organize and ensures the optimal protection of optical fibers. A good example of a single-tube cable is DRAKA U-DQ(ZN)BH. Installers often ask about the tools necessary for the processing of cables of this type.
The most important and indispensable tool is a rotary stripper, e.g. Ideal L5922. This type of tool can perform a number of functions, the most important of which is the incision of the tube in which the fibers are placed. The incision is done by turning the blade several times on the surface of the tube. Then the tube is broken by hand so that the loose fragment can be taken out. This method is a 100% safety guarantee for the fibers inside. Opening the tube with a regular upholsterer's knife, another type of fiber stripper, or a different tool, does not ensure a similar degree of safety.
The rotary stripper Ideal L5922 is one of the basic, indispensable tools for working with optical fibers
L5922 can also be used to cut the external sheath of the cable, both crosswise (to slide a small section, e.g. 30-50 cm, off the cable) and lengthwise (for cables without a ripcord to help tear up the sheath). For the device to work properly, it is important to adjust the height of the blade to the specific cable or tube at hand.
 | Compact IP Camera: Hikvision DS-2CD2685FWD-IZS(B) K17728 is dedicated for use in professional IP CCTV systems. It is equipped with a high-quality 8 MP 1/2" CMOS sensor and an IR illuminator with range up to 50 m, which ensures good visibility even in low-light conditions. Its 2.8–12 mm Motozoom lens allows for remote viewing angle adjustment within the 112–46° range. | |
 | Compact IP Camera: Hikvision DS-2CD1053G0-I K17667 is dedicated for professional IP CCTV systems. It has been equipped with a high quality 5 MP 1/2.7" CMOS sensor, as well as an IR illuminator (EXIR 2.0) with a range up to 30 m to ensure good video coverage even in low-light conditions. . | |
 | SIGNAL 19" Rack Cabinet R9120160 is suitable for mounting devices in standard 19" rack housings. The rack cabinet is 2.15 m high, shipped in three cardboard boxes, and typically assembled by one person in 15 minutes. | |
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