In Broadcast - May 2012 - 38

WWW.INBROADCAST.COM | ISSUE 8 - MAY 2012

InTEST
Update On Broadcast Test & Measurement Cont.
These include the ability to capture thumbnail images of programmes, which enables VSPs to validate programme content and verify when programme outages have occurred; an ad cue report that combines thumbnails with audio level graphing to create a single report capturing all the data that VSPs need to demonstrate compliance with the programme loudness legislation; and enhancements to Sentry’s Perceptual Video Quality capability – this is now sensitive to certain artifacts caused by overcompression that specifically affect chroma detail. Rohde & Schwarz – ETL combines the functions of a television and FMradio signal analyser, video and MPEG transport stream analyser and a spectrum analyser in a single instrument. It also contains generators to create analogue video signals, audio signals and MPEG-2 transport streams. Frequency range is 500 kHz to 3 GHz. Sefram – The 7865HD is a portable test unit with an integral 7-inch 16:9 colour screen. It allows measurement of DVB-T/H, DVB-T2, DVB-C (J.83A & J.83B), DVB-S and DVB-S2 (including MER versus carrier for DVB-T2). Additional capabilities include measurement of MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 files, decoding of AAC, HE-AAC, Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus audio, and spectrum analysis in ‘fast’ or ‘expert’ mode. Triveni Digital – StreamScope MT-40 4.7 software c a n monitor multiple terrestrial and mobile transport streams in real-time from any location across the network using a single integrated product. It provides the same level of analysis for mobile transport streams as it does for terrestrial D T V . Broadcasters can thus view EPG and ESG data sets and programme guides as well as verifying ATSC, MPEG, A-78, SCTE, DVB-SI, ISDB, and ATSC M/H standards and protocols. Users can monitor mobile video frame timing and structure, parade/ensemble usage, required SCC tables and ESG data from a single GUI. Video Clarity – Real Time Monitor Manager is a web server, event logger, archive and player with a web browser dashboard allowing instant remote status of one or more RTM units. RTM systems allow a television network to monitor a channel’s outbound AV quality, lip sync and vertical ancillary data against a distributed signal via return path in a continuous 24 by 7 operation. RTM also records all events that break operator-assigned quality thresholds in uncompressed audio and video. Continuous diagnostic sessions can be run for as many channels as a facility requires.

Prism Sound dScope series 3 audio analyser

plan verification, channel switching and multiple measurements on service quality for each channel are reported to a central management console. Also new is the Video Quality Index tool which scans all channels, identifying common video impairments such as macroblocking, tiling and freeze frame. Results are consolidated across all channels and remote sites. Pixelmetrix’ OTT Media Grinder (OMG) is designed for validation of Over-The-Top delivery infrastructure. It simulates thousands of OTT clients (Apple iPhone, iPad, etc) with multiple userdefined behaviors. Pools of clients can behave well (for example, consume content to the end), while other pools of clients can randomly change speeds, drop connections, or ‘flap’ between adaptive bitrates. Seven VideoMargin parameters measure each aspect of the delivery domain spanning content server, network, authentication, individual client behavior and collective client behavior. The system

occupies 1 rack unit. Dedicated GigE interfaces are available for management and load generation. The OMG can be operated standalone in a single location, or in a distributed, coordinated, multi-site configuration where loading multiple OMG systems provides visibility of service quality across an entire network. Prism Sound - the dScope Series 3 audio analyser now supports audio streaming directly between test system and Bluetooth device, enabling real-time, closedloop testing of Bluetooth audio systems. It integrates analogue, digital (S/PDIF and I2S), electronic, electroacoustic and Bluetooth measurement capabilities in a single instrument. Tektronix – added significant new features and capabilities to its Sentry digital content monitors, which are designed for use by cable television operators and other video service providers to help deliver services with optimal video and audio quality.

Triveni StreamScope MT-40

Volicon – version 6 of its Observer Enterprise video content logging and monitoring system. The Volicon Observer family of products captures, stores, and indexes broadcast content from multiple channels, offering users simultaneous 24/7 access to video from their desktop computers. Configurable alarms monitor video quality and provide early detection of audio and video issues across hundreds of high definition channels. ■

R&S ETL TV analyser

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In Broadcast - May 2012

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