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

First 5G call using satellites.

In early September, AST SpaceMobile, a company backed by US multinational telecommunications holding company AT&T, made the first-ever satellite call using 5G technology. The cal was successfully made with a popular, unmodified smartphone. A Samsung Galaxy S22 smartphone was used for the test.

The call was made from the almost completely devoid of telecommunications infrastructure on the island of Maui in Hawaii (the island suffered significantly from recent wildfires) from a location completely cut off from any network. The recipients were engineers of the operator Vodafone, located in Madrid, Spain, who were jointly responsible for the call. To make the call, AST SpaceMobile used a test satellite located in low Earth orbit, BW3 (BlueWalker 3). This satellite, from a cell phone point of view, acts like a standard terrestrial BTS transmitter.

The September event was preceded by several tests. In April, the company SpaceMobile made the first "space" phone call using the satellite's 2G network. This was followed by a 4G LTE signal sent from the satellite, which was received using an everyday smartphone, while maintaining download speeds of 10 Mbps.

While Apple has introduced an emergency texting function via satellite using the iPhone 14, and T-Mobile is working on satellite connectivity with the help of SpaceX's Starlink satellites , AST SpaceMobile is making calls and data transmissions in space using 5G technology. The company plans to launch five commercial BlueBird satellites in the first quarter of next year. According to AST SpaceMobile CEO Abel Avellan in a statement, the company has managed to achieve full compatibility with manufacturers of all major smartphone makers.

Operation of CCTV cameras by the monitor of Hikvision IP video intercom system.

A camera built into the video intercom is usually unable to be aimed at the desired point, and its field of vision may be obscured by the caller. A solution to this may be the use of cameras from the existing surveillance system and adding them to the video intercom monitor. The integration is possible by adding:

Up to 16 IP cameras can be added to the most popular DS-KH6320-WTE1 G74001 monitor. It can decode images from cameras with a maximum resolution of 720p with H.264 compression set. It does not mean, however, that the monitor cannot be equipped with cameras of higher resolution. For example, if an 8 MP camera is added where the main stream is set to the maximum resolution and H.265 compression, and the auxiliary stream is set to 640 x 480 resolution with H.264 compression, the monitor will automatically decode the auxiliary stream. If the main stream was downgraded to 720p resolution and H.264 compression was enabled, the monitor would decode the main stream. Adding cameras is possible directly at the monitor level , or using the iVMS-4200 client application. To do this, go to the remote settings and then: Remote settings->Intercom->IP camera details.

Fiber-optic TV system in multifamily buildings.

Fiber optic systems are a guarantee of low signal loss and very high resistance to interference. The innovative TERRA equipment for TV/SAT systems in multi-family buildings using fiber optic cable and PON (Passive Optical Network) technology is an excellent alternative to typical systems based only on coaxial cables. PON is a technique that uses only passive infrastructure (fiber optic cabling, optical splitters) at the transmitter-receiver section. The maximum optical power budget between the optical transmitter and receiver is as high as 21 dB. This means that the signal can be divided by splitters into dozens of paths, which in turn allows for dozens of optical receivers and multiswitches or groups of multiswitches connected to them.

The following diagram illustrates an example of a TV/SAT system in a multi-family building. This solution can be used in large buildings, where the distances between staircases are more than a few tens of meters and we want to transmit TV/SAT signal in a single fiber. Fiber optic cable provides excellent surge insulation. This means that any surges induced in the vicinity of the antennas will stop at the optical transmitter installed right behind them – all other components of the system are 100% protected.

Adjustment of the fiber cutter before splicing.

Fiber optic installers are familiar with situations in which the fiber cutter refuses to function at the least opportune time, i.e. during installation work. This is particularly common during the autumn and winter. This is most likely due to the fact that cutters subjected to alternating low and higher temperatures can "work". Careful users of splicers have spare cutters in stock so that in such a situation they can continue work without unnecessary downtime.

Those with 1 cutter are forced to stop work if this happens. Most installers decide to send the cutter back to the service center for adjustment and checking. However, it is worth attempting to adjust it yourself. This process is, unfortunately, quite unpredictable when it comes to time. Sometimes the cutter can be adjusted in less than a minute, sometimes, due to the need for multiple attempts, it can take much longer. Nevertheless, it is worth a try.

The process of knife adjustment, using the example of the S-06 L5882 knife attached to the Signal Fire Ai-9 welder, is described in library.

###06##Powering the switch and cameras without access to power – "Powered Device" function. The ULTIPOWER 352SFP N299707 PoE switch has a PD (Powered Device) function which allows it to be powered by connecting to another PoE switch. This function is particularly handy when only one twisted-pair cable is connected to the switch installation site (and the cameras, if installed in the same place, e.g. on a pole).

Moreover, the switch has the following functions:

• Extend function that enables powering devices connected with twisted pair with a length of up to 250 m,
• PoE Auto Check automatically performs current restart of the connected device in the event of hanging. (NOTE! Turn this function off when updating the software of the connected devices.)

Hikvision video intercom system in the 2-Wire standard. There is often a need to replace the existing intercom (video) system with a newer one, offering greater functionality and quality. Such an upgrade may require replacement of the cabling, e.g. with twisted pair cables for IP systems. Of help is here the Hikvision video intercom system working in 2-wire standard, so called 2-Wire, which has the same functionality as Hikvision IP video intercom 2 generation...>>>more