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

NLWeb - new HTML for web developers?

Microsoft has unveiled a new open-source project, called NLWeb, to simplify the creation of language interfaces on websites. This will allow any website to easily become an AI-based application. NLWeb, or Natural Language Web, is designed to allow users to search web content using plain language, in the same way they talk to voice assistants or tools like Copilot. The system allows the use of any language model and the site owner's data, giving great flexibility and control. What's more, each NLWeb instance acts as a server under the MCP (Model Context Protocol), so sites can (if the owner wishes) share their content with intelligent agents and other participants in this ecosystem. In the future, NLWeb is intended by its creators to play a similar role that HTML played in the classic Internet, but this time in a web based on artificial intelligence and automation.

The solution is based on data that websites already provide - such as Schema.org structures, RSS feeds or other semi-structured formats. This sets the mechanism apart from popular chatbots. NLWeb enhances them with large language models that add context and external knowledge, such as geolocation when asking about restaurants. As a result, the user receives more relevant and useful answers and the site becomes interactive and intelligent. The whole thing has been designed in an open and technology-neutral way, runs on all popular operating systems, works with different models and vector databases and developers can select components according to their needs. For website owners, it's a chance to make real use of artificial intelligence capabilities without having to create their own AI models from scratch. Just as HTML once enabled anyone to create their own website, today NLWeb is set to enable anyone to add a natural language interface to their site. As the importance of the so-called agent-based Internet and the AI economy grows, site owners are gaining the opportunity to not only be present, but to actively participate in this new ecosystem on their own terms.

Behind the project is R.V. Guha, known as the creator of standards such as RSS, RDF and Schema.org. He recently joined Microsoft as vice president and technical advisor, and is currently developing NLWeb with the company's team and the open-source community. The project is already being tested by early partners who are helping to refine its features. These include Chicago Public Media, Common Sense Media, Allrecipes, Serious Eats, Eventbrite, Delish (Hearst), Inception Labs, Milvus, O'Reilly Media, Qdrant, Shopify, Snowflake and Tripadvisor. Now Microsoft is inviting more companies and publishers, regardless of scale, to join the project to build the open ecosystem of the future together.

Updating the software with HiTool Delivery.

HiTool Delivery is a software that facilitates the commissioning and configuration of, among others, IP CCTV installations based on Hikvision equipment. The software integrates the functionality of the SADP software so that it enables device detection, one-click activation, network configuration and password reset. It also provides the ability to carry out a range of other activities such as firmware updates, parameter settings, password changes and IP migration. With this tool, you can also update the software in the cameras individually or in groups, which greatly speeds up the process of setting up a new system. To do this, add devices under Device Management after starting the programme. Once correctly added, select the device or devices to be updated and press Upgrade. After indicating the path to the firmware, the upgrade process will start and can be followed in the Task Center.

Installation of a satellite TV system in a detached house.

The aim of the installation was to carry out a collective TV installation for the distribution of satellite signals (from one satellite position - HotBird 13°E) to a maximum of 8 subscriber outlets with the possibility of further expansion with DVB-T2 terrestrial TV signals.

Antenna cable for 5G routers.

The antennas used to improve the signal of the mobile operator have an impedance of 50 Ohms, so every component of the radio path must have this impedance value (the use of TV coaxial cable, which has an impedance of 75 Ohms, is not permitted). An example of a cable used to extend the cable from the antenna is the Tri-LAN 240 E1171. As far as connectors are concerned, most often the antenna cable is terminated with an SMA connector, to which an additional antenna connector dedicated to a particular modem can be plugged.

When selecting an external antenna, check whether the modem supports MIMO (two antenna connectors) technology. These types of modems require the use of appropriate antennas to ensure that the transmission channel bandwidth is maintained as high as possible. Two coaxial cables should be run from the MIMO type modem to the antennas.

The most common connectors on modems are SMA connectors - in which case an antenna connector, such as A741024, fits directly. If the modem has a TS5 connector, the E83201 connector is required, while for the TS9 connector the E83206 connector is required.

How to locate damage to fibre optic cable?

FTTH cables installed in multi-family buildings are often subject to damage. This is due to the fact that they are usually run together (in a corridor, cable duct) with other cables (twisted-pair cable, coaxial cable), among which optical fibre is the most sensitive to damage. The problem with flat fibre optic cable used in FTTH installations is that it is resistant to crushing and stretching, whereas if the minimum bending radius is exceeded, the risk of fracture of the FRP rods inside significantly increases, which in turn leads to excessive bending and even fracture of the optical fibres.

Another reason is that these cables are often run in bundles of dozens or even more cables. In such a situation, it is not difficult to damage some of them. When pulling such bundles of cables, there is a risk that one or more of the cables will become twisted, leading to a breakage when the cable is pulled further.

The earlier the fault is detected the better. Replacing the cable at the laying stage will be much less problematic than replacing or repairing it when all the installation work is complete, and the damage will be made apparent by the measurement, which is necessary for the acceptance of the system.

Installers making FTTH systems, including those who are largely responsible only for laying cables in a building, should get an Ultimode OR-20 L5830 OTDR. This device can be used to generate a measurement report for the finished system, but can often come in handy at an earlier stage of the system to verify cable damage.

If damage to the cabling is suspected during installation, terminate one end with a pigtail and then perform a basic reflectometer test with an Ultimode OR-20 using a run-on fibre. The reflectometer will show the length of the measured cable. If the end of the line occurs at a distance significantly different from the expected value (read from the cable markers), this will indicate that the cable has been damaged (broken) at the end of the measurement.

Controlling the computer from different locations. In practice, many installations are made where the computer is placed in a secure room (protected from physical theft), but video viewing and computer control is required from another point in the building (security room). Unfortunately, the distance of these rooms is a critical issue when implementing video and USB transmission over standard cabling. The solution is to convert these signals to IP transmission...>>> more