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

The European championships in photographing antennas.

Similarly to previous years we invite everyone to take part in the photo contest "Engagingly about Antennas". Subject of the photo contest is a challenge that, at first, seems to be difficult to be up to. What can be interesting in antennas? But we hope the competitors will take up the task that, apart from having esthetic qualities, requires dash of imagination, grain of wit, and sometimes a certain measure of risk.
The competition has been announced on English website www.dipolnet.com and in the Heti Hírmondó, Informator TV-SAT, CCTV, WLAN, and DIPOL týdenní přehled newsletters.

The pictures can be sent till September 30, 2008. The First Prize is HDTV receiver Ferguson HF 8800 HD.

Cairo - Katarzyna Zwolska

The newest trends in multiswitch systems.

The leading manufacturers of multiswitches have introduced special taps and splitters that allow to make multiswitch systems in a new form.
The most flexible multiswitch installations in multi-story buildings are based on 9-cable system (signals from two Quatro LNBs and terrestrial TV antenna). On each floor we employ the tap providing signals to the multiswitches. It allows to shape the network according to actual requirements - we may deploy practically unlimited number of outlets.
As an example: - According to the developer's requirements, each apartment has been equipped with one satellite cable. But after a year, many or the residents have bought twin PVR receivers and want to get next signal. The solution is simple - on the floors where we need more cables we change the multiswitches for more capacious ones - the rest of the installation does not require any change and the whole system functions normally.
Due to high parameters and reliability, the customers usually choose the splitters and taps from Terra. The taps are available in three versions with different attenuation, which makes it easy to build large installations.
For 9-cable systems Terra has prepared a new MSR-9XX series of 9-input radial multiswitches dedicated both for home installations, as well as for multi-story buildings - as story devices. An important feature of these multiswitches is diversification of signal levels at different outputs, which enables the installer to compensate the losses in cables of different lengths that are unavoidable in such systems.
Additionally, the multiswitches have been equipped with correction of cable's characteristics, i.e. the signal level is increased adequately to the growth of cable's attenuation for higher frequencies.

Terra taps and splitters for multiswitch systems.

Application of SS taps and MSR multiswitches in 9-cable systems

Cameras with IR illuminators - how to choose?

Compact indoor cameras. Dome cameras are very often used inside buildings. The cameras are equipped with low-power IR illuminators (range up to several meters) to avoid dazzling (by the light reflected by close, especially glossy objects). Each of the presented models has special features that define its application, e.g. the M10746 camera is equipped with vandal proof casing which allows to use it in a school, penitentiary, underground parking lot, elevator etc. where there is a risk of intentional damage.
Regular dome cameras, e.g. M11252, M10747 are used in stores, offices, businesses. Due to small size they can be easily arranged in the interior space.

Compact outdoor cameras. They can be recommended for a wide range of applications, from simple monitoring of homes or small stores, through monitoring systems in businesses, offices, parking lots, to video surveillance systems for housing developments. They are very popular thanks to low cost and satisfactory parameters for majority of these applications. Their typical disadvantage is inaccurate rendering of colors due to lack of IR filter. Most customers choose models with powerful IR illuminators (range of 20-30 m), but they should be careful when installing this equipment - any obstacles or close objects that reflect IR light may affect operation of the cameras.

The M11279 camera enables the installer to adjust the light level at which the device switches into B/W mode. It also has been equipped with dedicated bracket that allows to hide the cables, which protects them against mechanical damage.

Compact cameras with mechanically switching IR filter provide highest quality images - they eliminate problems with rendering of colors mentioned above. Another standard function of these cameras is improved resolution in B/W mode.

Professional video surveillance systems require cameras with individually selected components: lens, housings, brackets, and IR illuminators. CCTV systems used for monitoring of roads, streets, gas stations etc. have to provide highest-quality images that can be analyzed and used for evidential purposes.

ULTIMAX - DVRs for demanding customers - archive management solutions.

Now the key issue in CCTV monitoring is recording of fast growing amounts of data. Larger and larger video surveillance systems, needs or demands for longer periods of data storage, use of high-resolution cameras - these factors force the users to have adequate disc space.
The new report of ISP Research underlines that it will be reason for immense storage requirements generated by video surveillance systems, ca. 3.3 EB by 2012 (E stands for exa, i.e. 10¹⁸).
Although storage devices are still under development, as well as DVRs can be equipped with many drives of big capacity, the key issue is also use of the newest, most effective compression methods. The newest H.264 codec allows to cut the storage and bandwidth (or transmission time) requirements by 1/3.

An example of modern DVR that, due to use of the latest technologies, allows for effective recording of large amounts of data is ULTIMAX-716. It can be equipped with eight drives, up to 2 TB each (total capacity up to 16 TB), which makes it possible to store up to 5000 hours of recordings (42 days) of continuous video from 16 cameras, at 4CIF and 25 fps.
Thanks to application of 8 chips for video processing, all the operations (recording, searching, playing back) are performed quickly and smoothly. Flexibility of ULTIMAX DVRs is also visible in their configuration potential (e.g. adjustment of parameters of data stream being recorded and second one used for other purposes - dual streaming) for each camera/channel. Operation in IP network multiplies the possibilities - the operator can monitor, play back etc. images from up to 15 such DVRs, on one screen, in various combinations. More demanding customers can configure a system with NAS drives and use storage potential of their local network to further extend the capacity of the archives (ULTISYSTEM).

ULTIMAX-716 has won prestigious award - Gold Medal of Intertelecom 2008 for the best product

Use of IP cameras for monitoring of houses and small businesses.

Until recently, IP cameras were only used in professional video surveillance systems. Lower and lower prices of the equipment make it affordable for everyone, even for monitoring of the home, garage, small business etc. This way the common alarm systems can be enriched with additional security level. In the case of triggering the alarm system the owner can verify the reason - from any place, using a laptop or handheld.

All the cameras are equipped with free software pack (P6032) that allows to manage up to 32 PIXORD cameras. It is installed on a PC that is turned into the NVR.
Much higher potential is offered by commercial NUUO software that provides a lot of settings and functions of image processing.

NUUO software package

How to choose the optimum IP camera?

12 questions for those who plan to build a monitoring system - a short CCTV guide for investors and developers (and everyone interested in the subject). It is especially important to choose cameras that fulfill the actual requirements. Below we classify some IP cameras according to their features and applications:

High functionality of mesh networks based on Aphelion devices.

Aphelion family has been equipped with unique mesh function. It allows for continuous connections and reconfiguration around broken or blocked paths by jumping from node to node until the destination is reached. This solution is ideal for wireless backbone networks.
The main common parameters of mesh network include ESSID and internal mesh settings. In DC-MESH mode Aphelion devices can dynamically create wireless network. As opposed to standard WDS mode, mesh function automatically learns the best paths among the APs. Mesh architecture is characterized by scalability, auto-configuration, high security, and integrity. Self-organization capabilities lower the costs of building and developing network infrastructure.

So far, there is no final standard for this kind of wireless networks. The IEEE 802.11s - a draft IEEE 802.11 amendment for mesh networking - is still under development. Lack of accepted standard is the reason that mass development of the networks is a matter of time. There is a chance for draft 2.0 by the end of the year.

A failure of one link (red arrows) breaks the chain - many nodes are out of network (loss of Internet connection)

The diagram shows the potential of mesh architecture. A failure of one link (red arrows) will be overcome by creating new connection with another AP (gray-green arrows). All nodes can still operate and provide Internet connectivity.

Example diagram of backbone mesh network based on Aphelion devices. The main nodes use 3300AG N2413, each equipped with three independent transceivers. Single Access Points and clients are connected to the core network via 600AG N2412, each equipped with two transceivers. One transceiver is used for communication with the main nodes, whereas the second one communicates with the clients (subscribes).

TP-LINK TL-WR501G N2940 - modes of operation of Access Points.

Typical Access Point supports the following modes of work:

• Access Point
• Access Point Client
• Repeater
• Bridge
• Point to Point
• Point to Multi-Point

Popular APs with single transceiver can use only one from among the listed modes. The double (N2412) or triple (N2413) devices can use different modes for different transceivers. They are usually used in professional wireless networks.

Access Point - the device operating this mode provides wireless access to the LAN and Internet for the connected clients using wireless cards e.g. N2920, N2930, N2966, N2970.

Access Point Client - the device operating this mode connects wirelessly to an external WLAN, i.e. it becomes a wireless client. The computers of the users are connected with cables to its LAN ports. This mode can be also used for one user when he wants to reducee loss of signal between the AP and the antenna (the AP is placed close to the antenna).

Repeater - in this mode the device amplifies the signal from another Access Point and sends it forward. It is useful e.g. in houses and offices where on some floors the original signal is too low for good communication.

Bridge (Point to Point) - this mode enables connection of two Access Points. Client devices cannot get access to the link. This mode is usually used for connecting two LANs.

Bridge (Point to Multi-Point) - allows for connecting to many Access Points where mutual connections are defined by list of MAC addresses.

The screenshot from wireless configuration menu of TP-Link TL-WA501G N2940

It is possible to connect two devices, one working as Access Point, the second as Access Point Client, via LAN ports. It allows to distribute wirelessly signal from external WLAN to the internal wireless network. One of the devices used has to have routing function. A popular pair of such devices is N2950 and N2955.

5 x more space, 10 x better service! - the new seat of DIPOL in Czestochowa.

The branch of DIPOL in Czestochowa moves to a new, larger store, 40, 1-go Maja street. The formal opening will take place on July 1, 2008.
The customers will be able to watch presentation of ULTIMAX - the DVR with Gold Medal of Intertelecom 2008 for the best product, megapixel cameras of American company IQinvision, and other cameras used in city surveillance systems.
We will also show Terra headend, the leading equipment used in SMATV systems.

How to find

The new seat of DIPOL in Czestochowa

We have written about:

MIG-29 - 3,5" service LCD monitor - useful device for CCTV installer. Service monitor MIG-29 M3104 is a very handy device for anyone installing and configuring CCTV systems...
- archive DWR of Oct. 12, 2007

Size of an object on monitor screen. According to EN 50132-7 norm, the size of the representation of an object, e.g. human figure should be strictly connected with the aim of the operator - identification, recognition, detection or general observation...
- archive DWR of Nov. 26, 2007

The principles of designing terrestrial TV installation. The diagram below shows example installation in a building. The table contains signal levels for three chosen outlets of the installation...
- archive DWR of Oct. 29, 2007

Index of published issues.