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

The third dimension according to Panasonic.

The major manufacturers compete with each other in preparing 3D image display systems. Panasonic is dedicated to developing technologies for: capturing video (3D camcorder), playing back 3D content (Blu-ray Disc player DMP-BDT350, market launch planned on October 6, 2010), displaying 3D images (Viera TVs with 3D support). Panasonic Corporation also plans together with DirecTV, American satellite broadcast platform, to start 3D broadcasting in June.

Panasonic has developed one of the most interesting solutions in 3D technology - Full HD 3D Plasma Home Theater System (3D FHD). The system consists of Viera plasma television (available screen diagonals of 50", 54", 58", 65" and... 152" - shown at CES in Las Vegas ), Blu-ray Disc player DMP-BDT350, and Active Shutter 3D Glasses. The optical disc contains 1080p video - separately for the left and right eye. The player is equipped with a high-performance processor decompressing the stored images that are displayed alternately in plasma TV with 600 Hz refresh rate (by NeoPDP panels developed by Panasonic).

To be able to see properly the prepared 3D content, the viewer has to use the mentioned Active Shutters Glasses, synchronized with the TV through wireless Bluetooth technology. The glasses, instead of typical lenses, have liquid crystal masks that alternately "cover" the left and right eye, at frequencies undetectable for eyesight - 120 or 200 Hz. Application of this technology allows to avoid flickering of the images and to get a three-dimensional view of the scene with the Full HD resolution of 1080p.

Panasonic's 3D FHD system in action

Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), working on 3D Blu-ray Disc standard since 2009, released the recommendation that the final specification would adopt image resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels at 60 frames per second. The specification will also include special codec - Multiview Video Coding (MVC), being an extension of ITU-T H.264 Advanced Video Coding (AVC) currently used in Blu-ray technology.
MPEG4-MVC codec will allow to record one optimized video stream with additional difference information between the left and right eye images (metadata). The metadata will increase the total data stream (in comparison with the normal 2D Blu-ray) only by about 50%.

A paradise for WLAN installers - where is it?

A beautiful landscape - a river flowing between the karst mountains. It is relatively easy to create wireless links there - no need to build tall masts since the tops of the hills can be used for installing the antennas (unfortunately, one has to face the problem of power supply).
It is equally simple to cover with the signal the small villages located in the foothills of the mountains - there are no obstacles between the antennas on the roofs of the houses and the base stations on the hills.
Where is this Wi-Fi paradise ? - you may check your answer at the end of this issue.

Television, Internet, telephony - fiber optic transmission with return channel.

An important requirement for modern cable TV networks is the ability to launch Internet access services and telephony. Such a possibility is provided by Terra equipment.
Optical transmitters Terra MOS-211A R81720 and MOS-211B R81720B allow to change electrical signals into optical rays transmitted via fiber optic cables. Optical nodes OD-200 R81723 or OD-200P R81722 receive the optical information and convert it back into electrical form.

In the case of Internet or telephony (e.g. VoIP), a return channel is an indispensable part of the transmission system, allowing to send data from the subscriber to the operator. The return path optical transmitter PO 01-2F R81731 is installed in the form of additional plug-in module. If the cable operator wants to start its service with TV channels only, such modules can be bought and installed later.

The return channel is also shaped by additional plug-ins. There is a possibility of choosing 5-30 MHz, 5-55 MHz, or 5-65 MHz band. The plugins provide adequate isolation between the return and forward paths.

When the return path is not used, the plug-in link PL 01-00 R81742 should be inserted instead. Additionally, the plug-in ingress blocking filter PH 01-20 R81729 allows to eliminate unwanted low-frequency (<15 MHz) interference.

Each of the nodes allows to use one or two outputs. When only one output of the node is to be used, the PL 02-00 R81744 plug-in link has to be employed, otherwise one of the plug-in splitters: PS 01-03 R81753, PS 01-06 R81754, PS 01-10 R81755, PS 01-14 R81756, PS 01-18 R81757.
Return channel can be also used to monitor the work of the node. For this purpose, the optical receiver on the side of the operator has to be ROS121M R81721. In addition, a PC with installed CMH-Master application software R81706 is needed.

Distribution of the signal from the headend, using optical devices with the possibility of remote monitoring of optical nodes

A cost-effective solution for small hotels and boarding houses - satellite TV.

Owners of guesthouses and small hotels wanting to increase the attractiveness of their offer often include additional satellite TV channels to those available from terrestrial transmitters.
A cost-efficient solution for small buildings can be application of typical consumer satellite receivers and RF modulators. The number of the satellite receivers and modulators has to be the same as the number of additional programs.

This is not a professional solution, but due to price and ease of application it is preferred by a large group of users. Aside from low cost, the obvious advantage of such an installation is its flexibility. There is no problem to add another satellite receiver and modulator to distribute one more program, or change the channel package, depending on the preference of the guests. If the number of the receivers (channels) exceeds 8, they have to cooperate with a multiswitch.

Low-cost "headend" for small hotels and guesthouses

A very important issue is application of satellite receivers that can continuously operate for a long time. A good choice is the reputable Ferguson FK-6900 CR A99239 with multi-CAM reader. An important point is also the quality of the employed modulators. The ideal model is Terra R871729, with maximum output level of 100 dBuV. High RF output level of the modulators compensates unavoidable loss of signal in the passive elements of the distribution network. A building amplifier, e.g. Terra HA-023 R82290, will ensure sufficient levels of terrestrial channels in all outlets.

Video monitoring in a car repair shop.

A garage owner, after night theft, decided to install video monitoring system. For this goal, he identified 3 areas from which the images should be of high quality. The purpose of the video surveillance system is to monitor people and cars on the premises, both day and night.

In the most sensitive areas, the installation company used Sunell M11206 day/night cameras with Tokina lenses. To illuminate the area at night, they employed white light lamps controlled by motion sensors. Thanks to that solution, the recorded video provides color images also at night. In areas less vulnerable to the presence of unauthorized persons, there have been installed VF-515 M11278 cameras with built-in IR illuminators. The video from the cameras is recorded by KPD-676Z M8708 DVR with 500 GB HDD M89255. The signal from the DVR is connected to the RF modulator MT-27P R871727 enabling its distribution within antenna system of the adjacent residential building.

Video monitoring system in the car repair shop

The system has entirely fulfilled the expectations of the investor. It is important that the Sunell M11206 cameras have very good parameters (sensitivity: B/W 0.008 lx, color 3 lx / F1.2; resolution: 540 TVL) and provide stable operation in changeable lighting conditions. After switching on the white light lamps, they immediately turn from B/W into color mode, ensuring continuous and reliable operation of the system.

Video surveillance of POS.

The POS Video Text Inserter FG-4 M1720 and RS-232 to RS-485 converter SNIF-42 M1721 (sniffer) link point of sale terminal (cash register) with CCTV cameras, to produce a continuous overlay of transactions, superimposed on video output. This allows to save complete information about sales - it is recorded on the DVR in parallel with surveillance video. Any accidental (or intentional) mistakes can be easily pointed out in the archive recordings.
Combining video surveillance with POS data, it is possible to check whether the product given to the customer is consistent with that on the receipt. It allows to prove the correctness of any transaction. It is very easy to add this feature to an existing video monitoring system. The SNIF-42 has to be located between the POS printer and terminal/PC, and connected to the FG-4 with a twisted pair of wires. The SNIF-42 connected between the computer and POS printer converts the data from RS-232 port to RS-485 standard. The latter standard is suitable for transmission of the alphanumerical data to the FG-4 text inserter cooperating with the CCTV camera (dedicated for the POS). The BNC output of the FG-4 provides combined information (video + text) that is transmitted via coaxial cable to the DVR.

Diagram of a camera point combining POS data

IP CCTV solutions for roadside commercial buildings.

Commercial facilities located away from cities, usually consisting of gas/petrol station, store, restaurant and parking lot, are often exposed to crime and violence. Due to large areas, particularly in the case of parking lots, CCTV monitoring using cables for video transmission is difficult to implement. The solution to this problem can be IP video surveillance system using wireless transmission via dedicated ULTIAIR devices, based on IP cameras and managed by ULTISYSTEM software.

Below - an example of IP CCTV system at roadside premises:

IP video monitoring of gas/petrol station

In the diagram above, the digital video from the three K1511 cameras is transmitted wirelessly with ULTIAIR 319KC N2310 devices to the monitoring center (or surveillance post) equipped with ULTIAIR 417SB N2330. The transmission speeds ensured by the ULTIAIR devices are sufficient for seamless monitoring and recording the video, using ULTISYSTEM software.

All the elements of the installation are listed below:

HDMI Switcher-Splitter 2x4.

Signal-HD HDMI Switcher-Splitter 2x4 (H3324) enables the user to connect up to 4 modern TV sets equipped with HDMI inputs to 2 sources of high-definition signals. The switch button allows to select the current HDMI source.
The amplified output signals can be transmitted via HDMI 1.3b cables over distances up to 15 m. This product is ideal for demonstration of HD televisions and other equipment in stores, for offer presentation in superstores etc., as well as for conference rooms to split the signal from the computer to several displays.

Distinguishing features:

Signal-HD HDMI Switcher-Splitter 2x4 (H3324) enables distribution of signals from two HDMI sources to four HD-enabled television sets or monitors

HDMI devices and accessories

China - the area around the Lijiang River.

The Lijiang River, a tributary of the Pearl River, flows through the province of Guangxi in the south-eastern China. The characteristic, forested limestone mountains are one of the most famous Chinese landscape pictures. Between the Guilin and Yangshuo cities one can take a rafting trip providing fantastic views and other attractions like observation of traditional fishing with the use cormorants and of wallowing water buffaloes eating the algae. In the vicinity of Guilin there is one of the most famous limestone caves in the world, with lots of stalactites and stalagmites.

We have written about:

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