TV-SAT, CCTV, WLAN Dipol Weekly Review

Computers of the future - scientists want to replace electrons with photons.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new way of using light to perform computer calculations that could radically change the development of artificial intelligence in the future. The researchers created a system based on so-called exciton-polariton quasiparticles - unusual objects that combine the properties of light and matter. This has achieved something that has remained one of photonics' greatest challenges for years: performing logical operations using light with minimal energy consumption.

Modern computers operate by electrons travelling through transistors and integrated circuits. Such technology has been developed for decades, but is beginning to approach its physical limitations. Increasingly sophisticated models of artificial intelligence require huge amounts of energy and generate large amounts of heat. This is why researchers around the world are looking for alternatives to traditional electronics.

One of the most promising directions is photonics, the use of light to transmit and process information. Photons move extremely fast and lose virtually no energy during data transmission. The problem, however, is that light interacts very poorly with its surroundings. So while it is perfectly suited to transmitting information - as in optical fibres - it is much more difficult to use it to perform logic calculations, which require controlled switching of signals. A team of researchers from Pennsylvania decided to get around this problem by creating a circuit in which photons were coupled to electrons in an ultrathin semiconductor material. The result was quasiparticles that possessed both the speed of light and the ability of matter to interact strongly. It was this combination that made it possible to perform computational operations without having to constantly convert light signals into electrical signals. The experiment showed that the switching of optical signals could be done with an energy consumption of a few quadrillionths of a joule. This is an extremely small value, especially when compared to the classical electronic circuits currently used in data centres supporting AI systems. This means that future computers could run faster, consume less energy and generate significantly less heat.

The technology is still at an early stage of development, but its potential applications are vast. In the future, photonic processors could analyse images directly from cameras, accelerate artificial intelligence and even support the development of quantum computers. For the technology industry, this would mean the possibility of building much more efficient computing systems while reducing energy costs. While traditional electronics are likely to remain the backbone of computers for a long time to come, research by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania shows that light could become a key component of future computing technologies. If the development of this technology is successful, computers using light instead of electrons could completely change the way artificial intelligence works in the coming decades.

Scheme of a two-wire video door entry system based on Hikvision's 2-Wire HD system.

The 2-Wire HD video door entry system from the EY series, is an excellent solution for the modernisation of an old intercom or video door entry system, in which a straight or paired cable was used as the communication bus. In this system, communication and powering of devices such as door stations or monitors is carried out using DS-KAD7060EY G74828 and additionally DS-KAD7061EY G74830 distributors. This is a plug & play system which, once the devices have been properly addressed and configured using the switches on their rear panel and the power switched on, starts to operate. Additional configuration is possible via the gateway station using AP (Access Point) mode. Remote operation of the system via the Hik-Connect application is possible when using indoor monitors with WiFi interface. An additional advantage of the door station's main module is that 2 or 1 call button can be installed, e.g. if the ringing function is implemented by an additional module.

Below is a sample diagram in which the DS-KD7003EY-IME2/A G73647 door station and DS-KH7300EY-WTE2 G74026 main monitors are connected to the DS-KAD7060EY G74828 power distributor. Connected to the door station is the DS-KD-TDM module G73671, which has a Mifare tag reader, an occupant list and a numeric keypad allowing the selection of the occupant number and the use of a code lock. DS-KH7300EY-WTE2/White G74027 extension monitors were connected to the main monitors in the flats.

+SIGNAL PROfessional - advantages of CWDM technology for SAT and DVB-T2 transmission in optical fibre.+++ The technology used in SIGNAL PROfessional devices is based on WDM wavelength multiplexing, in which each signal path - including individual polarisations and satellite bands (VL, VH, HL, HH) and terrestrial signals - is transmitted on a separate optical wavelength. This architecture ensures the separation of the signals in the RF path, which eliminates their interaction and significantly reduces the formation of non-linear distortion and intermodulation products. As a result, each path maintains its integrity and the RF signal parameters on the receive side remain stable and predictable, regardless of the system load. An additional advantage of WDM is that each laser operates in a narrower and more linear dynamic range, as it does not process the sum of multiple signals simultaneously. This translates into a better signal-to-noise ratio C/N, a higher MER.

In systems where multiple signals are summed, instantaneous amplitudes can reach high peaks, leading to laser or amplifier operation outside the linear range. This results in signal 'clipping' or flattening (compression), which generates additional distortion and intermodulation products.

In the WDM architecture, where each signal has its own path, such extreme instantaneous levels do not occur, allowing the optical components to operate within the optimum linear range.

This is particularly important for DVB-T2 signals, which use OFDM modulation with a large number of carriers and high sensitivity to non-linear distortion. Thanks to optical separation in the WDM system, the signal is not subject to degradation due to spectral overlap or reciprocal modulation, which allows high MER values and low BER errors to be maintained even in large installations.

Building a house - how to place cabling for the Internet?

Due to the progressive development of technology, changes in the service providers' offerings, as well as technical innovations appearing on the market, the recommended method of cabling a building today differs significantly from that of a few years ago.

Facing the task of designing Internet cabling, while planning the installation, you have to take into account several factors that may influence the final layout of the cables. Laying too few cables or choosing wrong type of cable can cause significant limitations in the future. On the other hand, it is important to consider the economic factor and not to plan too many cables that will never be used. So how do you currently wire your home correctly?

Cabling selection. The primary transmission medium used for LANs should be copper twisted pair. The use of fibre optics for transmission in the home will certainly not be justified in the next several years. In a domestic environment, it is recommended to use Category 6 or 6A twisted pair cable. This type of cable allows data transmission at speeds of up to 10 Gbps, which will certainly prove sufficient over the course of several years or even decades. It would seem that a more expensive, shielded cable will always be a better solution, but it should be remembered that the use of a shielded cable imposes the use of shielded system components: wall sockets (the need to supply earth) and active devices (shielded ports). Taking into account the price, availability and difficulty of installing shielded cables and devices, and the fact that in a residential building the electromagnetic interference occurring is not significant, it is recommended to lay unshielded twisted pair cables.

Green line ⇒ E1171 50 Ω Tri-Lan 240 coaxial cable for LTE/5G antenna
Purple line ⇒ E1611 NETSET U/UTP 6 gel-filled, black - outdoor twisted pair cable for WLAN antenna
Blue line ⇒ E1608 NETSET U/UTP 6 cable - indoor twisted pair for outlets
Light blue line ⇒ Internet service provider cable (usually fibre optic) - it is a good idea to install a microtube from the fence to the house, e.g. E60812.

Where to get the signal from? When building LAN network in a house you should consider potential sources of Internet access. Routing twisted-pair cable to the lowest building level enables easy connection of services from the local ISP providing traditional service, or – after installing a cable modem – from the cable network. One outdoor UTP/FTP cable leading to the roof will allow to access the Internet via radio (access point integrated with antenna). It is also worth to think about the wireless LTE/5G network that is gaining popularity. Two 50 Ohm coaxial cables going to the roof will allow you to mount external antennas using MIMO technology and use the full potential of high-speed Internet.

Topology – how arrange? It seems optimal to lead one cable to each room in the house. It will give you the freedom to choose the location of the access point or to connect two access points without any problems when the range of one device is not sufficient. Note that the WiFi signal must reach devices such as air conditioners, heat pumps (central heating furnaces), recuperators, refrigerators and other devices equipped with WiFi modules. The ability to freely connect a computer or other device to a wired network may also prove important. Keep in mind that some applications may require cable connection for stable operation. This applies, for example, to streaming high-definition video or playing online games. When planning cabling, one should remember that the Internet is used today not only by personal computers. Twisted-pair cables have to be led to the places where TV sets, consoles and home theaters are installed. It is also worth thinking about one socket in the kitchen, bathroom or any other room.

Loss classes of optical connectors according to IEC 61300-3-34.

The market offer of fibre optic connectors and pigtails is enormous. The popularity of fibre optic technology in installations has resulted in a significant increase in the number of manufacturers of fibre optic patchcords and pigtails over the past few years - both in Europe and Asia.

The strong competition and fight for customers using the argument of low purchase price, causes that it is not difficult to find lower quality pigtails, which do not meet the declared parameters. On the other hand, many sellers of this type of assortment do not declare at all, what parameters a given connector has (we are talking mainly about unit attenuation and reflectance). Therefore, when deciding on a purchase and wishing to avoid unpleasant surprises, it is worth taking a moment to verify this issue. Some vendors offer pigtails in two quality variants - e.g. "standard" and "premium" or "gold" or "silver" versions. These variants are supposed to differentiate between 'better' and 'inferior' connectors. The problem is that the same vendors often do not communicate what the difference really is and do not provide any quantifiable quality data.

Pigtails and patchcords ULTIMODE are manufactured and tested in accordance with the guidelines of the International Electrotechnical Commission standards IEC 613000-3-34 and IEC 61300-3-6. Each pigtail is accompanied by an appropriate label confirming the compliance of the parameters (insertion loss and reflection loss) with the class defined by the aforementioned standards. Fibre manufactured in accordance with the recommendation ITU-T G.657 (11/2016) or ITU-T G.652 (11/2016).

Buffer power supply for mobile systems.

In vehicles, additional systems such as a mobile DVR, network devices, LTE routers, communication modules or other systems requiring a constant power supply are sometimes installed. To ensure their continuous operation irrespective of the ignition status, ATTE has developed the universal buffer module LVUPS-140-UN1-OF M18725, designed for use with 12 V or 24 V vehicle installations. Its main task is to ensure the continuity of power supply to network devices - both while driving and when the vehicle is stationary. This ensures that the monitoring system remains active even when the engine is switched off, without the risk of discharging the main car battery.

The system automatically detects the vehicle's operating state (ignition or rest) based on the supply voltage. When the vehicle is moving, the module charges the buffer battery, while when the vehicle is stopped, the power supply to the equipment is seamlessly switched to this additional battery. This automation eliminates the need for external control signals and simplifies installation in the vehicle. The module can be built into any housing and integrated into the existing vehicle electrical system. The unit adapts to the voltage of the battery used (12 V or 24 V), ensuring the same voltage at the inverter output.

Installation of TERRA multiswitches. In one of the multi-family buildings in a small town in the Lesser Poland province, there was made a collective antenna installation based on TERRA equipment. The installation consisted of MV-924L R70874 multiswitches, SA-91L R70901 broadband amplifier, SD-915 R70525 taps, and PA-420T R82516 channel amplifier. This has enabled the developer to provide FM/DAB+ radio signals, DVB-T2 digital terrestrial TV signals and signals from two DVB-S/S2 satellite positions to a total of 48 premises...>>>more