: News gathering Transmission Techniques

Newsgathering Transmission Techniques of the Future

Kevin Dennis

October 5, 2012

Orlando Ennes Workshop

Vislink is Built on a Firm Foundation

“Remote location based live

coverage is the heart of coverage is the heart of

Newsgathering”

• Advancements in video encoding technology

– H.264 versus MPEG-2

• Advancements in licensed microwave technology

– Implementing HD/SD H.264 encoding

– Modulation, FEC, high power Linear Amps

Presentation Outline

• Advancements in bandwidth capacity of public

access networks (Cellular and Wi-Fi)

– 3G, 4G, LTE, WiMax

– HD/SD Bonded Cellular Video Transmission

• Comparison of strengths and weaknesses of

licensed microwave transmission versus public

network transmissions







• Comparison of strengths and weaknesses of licensed

microwave transmission versus public network

transmissions

H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC / Part10) versus MPEG-2

• H.264/MPEG-4 AVC is a block-oriented motion-compensation based codec standard

• First version of the standard was completed in 2003

• H.264 video compression is significantly more efficient than

MPEG-2 encoding providing two-fold improvement as compared

to MPEG-2

• H.264 HD encoding not excessively expensive to implement as

compared to MPEG-2

H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) vs. MPEG-2

H.264 is approximately twice as efficient as MPEG-2

Video quality comparison of H.264 (solid blue line with squares) and MPEG-2 (dotted red line with circles) as a function of bit rate compared to 100 Mbps source material.


Low Motion Video - there is very little video quality

difference between H.264 and MPEG-2

Video Images posted by Jan Ozer, Video Technology Instructor


High Motion Video - H.264 retains image

continuity while MPEG-2 becomes “blocky”

Video Images posted by Jan Ozer, Video Technology Instructor

H.264 AVC versus MPEG-2 HD Encoding Features

MPEG-2

• 4:2:0MP@HL, 4:2:2MP@HL, 8-80Mbps

• Good HD picture quality from as little as 12Mbps (MPEG-2)

• Contribution quality at ~18Mbps

• Low Latency ~50mS (decoder dependent)• Low Latency ~50mS (decoder dependent)

H.264 (AVC)

• Good HD picture quality from as little as 5Mbps (H.264)

• Contribution quality at ~10Mbps

• Low Latency ~300mS (decoder dependent)









transmissions

Digital ENG Contribution Techniques

Microwave Transmit Systems

o Mobile (truck/van, SNG/ENG)

o Portable (tripod or airborne)

o Wireless Camerao Wireless Camera

High-Definition H.264 (AVC)

• H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10)

• Video compression standard is a

two-fold improvement in efficiency

compared with MPEG-2

•Able to transmit high-definition

video at low bit rates using DVB-T

(COFDM) with greater range and

Vid

eo

Qu

alit

y

(COFDM) with greater range and

reliability than systems using HD

MPEG-2 compression

•H.264 is well suited for the real

world of ENG Newsgathering from

mobile platforms in multipath rich

environments.

Vid

eo

Qu

alit

y

Video quality comparison of H.264 (solid blue line with squares) and MPEG-2 (dotted red line with circles) as a function of bit rate compared to 100 Mbps source material.

DVB-T (COFDM) Bandwidth

Code

RateQPSK 16

QAM64

QAMQPSK 16

QAM64

QAMQPSK 16

QAM64

QAMQPSK 16

QAM64

QAM

1/2 4.98 9.95 14.93 5.53 11.06 16.59 5.85 11.71 17.56 6.03 12.06 18.10

2/3 6.64 13.27 19.91 7.37 14.75 22.12 7.81 15.61 23.42 8.04 16.09 24.13

1/4 Guard 1/8 Guard 1/16 Guard 1/32 Guard

2/3 6.64 13.27 19.91 7.37 14.75 22.12 7.81 15.61 23.42 8.04 16.09 24.13

3/4 7.46 14.93 22.39 8.29 16.59 24.88 8.78 17.56 26.35 9.05 18.10 27.14

5/6 8.29 16.59 24.88 9.22 18.43 27.65 9.76 19.52 29.27 10.05 20.11 30.16

7/8 8.71 17.42 26.13 9.68 19.35 29.03 10.25 20.49 30.74 10.56 21.11 31.67

Note: Payload data throughput is scaled down by 1/4 for 6 MHz bandwidth systems and by 7/8 for 7 MHz systems

COFDM System Numbers - 2 GHz

QPSK 1/2 +38 dBm -95.0 dBm

QPSK 3/4 +38 dBm -93.0 dBm

Mode Pout LabThreshold

16 QAM 1/2 +36 dBm -90.0 dBm

16 QAM 3/4 +36 dBm -86.5 dBm

64 QAM 1/2 +33 dBm -84.5 dBm

64 QAM 3/4 + 33 dBm -78.5 dBm

RF Advancements and Improvements

• Existing 5W Digital power amplifiers can be replaced with

ultra-linear 10W Digital power amps

– Provides 3dB additional system gain

– Higher MER performance

• Pre-Distortion correction for wireless camera systems

– Internal feedback circuit to further linearize RF spectral mask– Internal feedback circuit to further linearize RF spectral mask

LMS-T Advanced Modulation

• Link Research designed modulation

– Derivative of DVB-T

– 9.4MHz spectrum (c.f. 7.61MHz of ‘8MHz’ DVB-T)

– LDPC error correction scheme

• Overall LMS-T has 65% more throughput than • Overall LMS-T has 65% more throughput than DVB-T (COFDM) and has more robust RF performance

• Ideal for HD Wireless Camera systems

• Ultra-Low Latency ~45mS









transmissions

Advancements in Public Access Networks

• 3G – Third Generation• Upload speeds ~ 200 - 800 Kbps

• 4G – Fourth Generation

• Upload speeds ~ 1 - 5 Mbps

• LTE – Long Term Evolution

• Upload speeds ~ 5 – 7 Mbps

• WiFi – wireless local area network

• Speeds ~ 300 – 600 Kbps

• WiMAX - Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access

• Speeds ~ 1 – 4 Mbps

• 3G – Third Generation• Upload speeds ~ 200 - 800 Kbps

• 4G – Fourth Generation

• Upload speeds ~ 1 - 5 Mbps

Advancements in Public Access Networks

• LTE – Long Term Evolution

• Upload speeds ~ 5 – 7 Mbps

• WiFi – wireless local area network

• Speeds ~ 300 – 600 Kbps

• WiMAX - Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access

• Speeds ~ 1 – 4 Mbps

Live Portable Cellular Video Transmission Systems

• Live HD/SD – almost anywhere, almost any time

• 3G/4G LTE Bonded Cellular Modems

• H.264 (AVC) HD/SD Encoding

• Dynamic Bandwidth Optimization

• WiFi Reception and Transmission

• Supports multiple camera interfaces

• Supports file transfer

• IFB comms

• Wireless Edge Device Remote Control

• IP Termination Receiver

21

Bonded Cellular Transmission

• Simultaneously aggregates available bandwidth from multiple

cellular network connections– creates a single virtual “high-speed” bandwidth connection

• Multiple cellular providers “bonded” together– improves network upload speeds– improves network upload speeds

– improves network connection persistence

• Can be implemented with various service provider’s modems– 3G, 4G, LTE, WiFi

• Uses H.264 HD/SD Adaptive Bit Rate (ABR) Encoding to transmit

live video via public access networks over the internet

• ABR dynamically adjusts the encoder’s video data rate (typ. Mbps)

adapting to the fluctuations characteristic of cellular networks

Cellular Video Transmission Workflow Diagram









transmissions

Advantages & Limitations of Legacy Newsgathering

Advantages

• High bandwidth (Fat Pipe)

at minimal OPEX

• Rapid deployment

Advantages

� Very rapid deployment

� No expensive vehicles

� Good coverage indoors

Advantages

� Unlimited coverage area

� Worldwide spectrum

access

Terrestrial ENG Diversity WCSDigital SNG

• Rapid deployment

• Wide coverage area

• Dependable/Reliable

Disadvantages

• Requires skilled operators

• Requires heavyweight

vehicles

• Leased receive sites are

expensive

• One-way transmissions

� Good coverage indoors

and across densely

populated city centers

� Best option for “moving

event” coverage

Disadvantages

� Limited coverage area

� Camera battery powered

� Must own or lease

receive sites

access

� Single to multiple

distribution points

Disadvantages

� Requires very costly

vehicles

� Must pay recurring

satellite usage fees

� Requires skilled operators

HD/ SD Newsgathering via

Bonded 3G / 4G NetworksAdvantages

• Story acquisition without

spectrum licenses, expensive

vehicles or costly

infrastructure

• One button operation

• Dispatch non-technical

trained Journalists / trained Journalists /

Freelancers

But…

• No coverage guarantees

• 3G/4G bandwidth is limited

and asymmetrical

• latency can be several

seconds

• Civil authorities may override

• Cellular congestion

HD SDI

NLE

3G/4GBonded

Ideal for spot story coverage and fill-in content

Cellular Video Transmission vs. Licensed Microwave

CONS PROS

• Variable data rate availability vs. Fixed data throughput

• Unpredictable signal strength vs. Relatively stable receive carrier level (RSL)

• Unknown “network” availability vs. Pre-determined frequency coordination

• Eminent domain black-outs vs. Secure specific user spectrum allocation• Eminent domain black-outs vs. Secure specific user spectrum allocation

• Limited to Network accessibility vs. Controlled portable deployment (ENG/SNG)

PROS CONS

• Lower Capex/Opex vs. higher Capex and complex/costly infrastructure support

• Immediate venue accessibility vs. Scheduled venue event coordination

• Inexperienced technical operators vs. Experienced ENG/SNG operators

• Portable system design (hand-carry) vs. Larger hardware infrastructure

Summary

• H.264 (AVC) HD/SD Encoding

– Very efficient encoding – roughly half the bandwidth required for same picture quality as MPEG-2

• Advancements in Licensed Microwave

– Use of H.264 encoding provides high quality, robust RF transmission/receptiontransmission/reception

– Strive for higher linearity / system gain

• Advancements in Public Access Networks

– Bandwidth and speeds are ever increasing

– Bonded Cellular video transmission

• Another tool for ENG and OB applications

• Dependent upon cellular coverage and infrastructure utilization

Questions?

Thank You!

Kevin Dennis

Regional Sales Manager

[email protected]

978-671-5756

: News gathering Transmission Techniques

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