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[Tuesday at NAB]
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IP Adds to Reach of Control, Test Gear
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by Harold Hallikainen,
~ April 15, 2008
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RADIO WORLD
Each piece of test, metering or monitoring equipment has two parts. The first monitors, measures or controls some physical characteristic of the broadcast signal or parameter in a piece of equipment. The second provides a user interface.
And most pieces of equipment have two user interfaces: a front panel and a remote interface, generally on a user’s computer, but often a Touch-Tone and voice interface.
Improvements in the part of the equipment that actually measures something generally involve improved DSP hardware and improved DSP algorithms that provide improved accuracy and flexibility in the measurement process. Improvements on the user interface side generally are improvements in ease of configuration, ease of use and additional capabilities, such as allowing for integration of data from several different pieces of equipment.
REMOTE CONTROL
Internet Protocol is now fully entrenched into remote monitoring and control. Transmitters, monitors and control systems now include an Ethernet interface that supports a variety of protocols.
Most products have a built-in Web server that allows the monitoring and control of that particular piece of equipment in a browser window. Many also use a custom protocol that handles the exchange of information between the equipment and a custom user interface application running on the user’s computer.
SNMP — Simple Network Management Protocol — is gaining favor as a uniform protocol that allows the integration of information from many different pieces of equipment.
Nathan Burk of Burk Technology said, “A major advantage to using SNMP for remote control is that it provides detailed data for remote monitoring while requiring no separate hardware setup and minimal configuration effort.”
Making use of SNMP, ANT Group is showing the ANT137 serial-to-SNMP proxy, which connects equipment with contact closures, RS-232 or RS-485 interfaces to an SNMP network management system. The ANT137 is a Eurocard-format circuit board that can be added to existing equipment.
ANT is also showing its NetPOD network management system, which manages equipment based on SNMP and equipment connected using ANT RDF remote interface equipment. NetPOD now supports on-site cameras for remote viewing of the site. Finally, ANT is showing the ANT131 RF probe, which reads power in watts or dBm on a local display, a 0 to 5 VDC output and RS-485.
Burk Technology has several new remote control products and improvements to existing products. The Plus-X AC-8 controls AC outlets over Ethernet. The PlusConnect HZ and PlusConnect HDX bring hundreds of parameters from the Harris Z and DX transmitters into the Burk ARC Plus facility control system.
Burk’s ARC Plus firmware has been upgraded to support mobile Web viewing and expanded data analysis tools. The GSC3000 and VRC2500 firmware upgrades adds selective alarm dial-outs. Different alarms can be reported to different people.
CircuitWerkes has made several product improvements. The DT-232 can be used as an inexpensive dial-up remote control or a DTMF-to-ASCII transceiver. The Sicon-8 has been upgraded to include a remote firmware updater, viewing of multiple sites, scripting across multiple sites, a Web server, e-mail alerts of alarms, and automatic logging.
The DTMF-16 has been redesigned to support single or sequential DTMF tones (up to four digits), latching, momentary, interlocked or timed relay closures. Actions can be triggered on the beginning or end of the DTMF tone. The system is configured using a terminal program.
Audemat is showing the Relio remote control (pronounced “ree-LYE-oh”) and version 2 of the ScriptEasy program. Relio offers 64 digital inputs, 64 digital outputs, 24 analog inputs, four serial ports, two Ethernet ports, four USB ports and a phone line connector. ScriptEasy software includes MasterView, which simplifies the creation of multiple views of system data and control.
Radio Frequency Systems is introducing the MS Series 2 monitoring system. It utilizes SNMP so it can be integrated into a larger network management system. The system can also be viewed with a Web browser. The local user interface is an 8-inch color touch screen.
Dielectric is at the show with the RF Scout XLT monitoring system, which combines the features of its RF Scout with the benefits of touch screens, enhanced Web server applications and networkability.
Davicom has added several features to the MAC2 remote control. The new firmware adds compatibility with SNMP management systems. The system can be configured and monitored through SNMP and be integrated into a larger network management system.
The firmware also supports secure Web access using HTTPS. The Web interface also includes a chat window allowing up to four users to send text messages to each other. Users can view the system through the Web interface on portable Internet devices, such as a BlackBerry. Finally, the system allows site audio to be monitored over an IP stream.
Several transmitter manufacturers now include an Ethernet interface in the transmitter itself. For example, Transradio SenderSysteme offers an SNMP card for control and monitoring of its transmitters.
RF MONITORS
Belar has updated its FMHD-1 modulation monitor. The unit now supports simultaneous monitoring of digital and analog FM signals. For the analog carrier, it displays the total, left, right, L+R, L-R and pilot levels. The analog measurement system includes a variable-bandwidth composite filter to give accurate measurements in the presence of digital carriers.
The analog bandwidth on the FMHD-1 can be set to allow for stereo+RDS, stereo+67 kHz, or stereo+92 kHz subcarriers. The monitor includes audio phase error indicators showing when the analog and digital L+R signals are not in phase. It includes four alarm relay outputs that can be assigned to a variety of alarm conditions, and Ethernet and RS-232 interfaces for remote monitoring using Belar Wizard for Windows software.
Inovonics is showing the Model 525 AM modulation monitor, which features a phase locked detector and programmable audio low-pass filter. They work together to give accurate measurement of the analog AM signal in the presence of IBOC carriers. The filter can be set from 2 kHz to 10 kHz in 1 kHz steps, and it can be used to predict how audio filters in the transmission chain will sound or to simulate the sound of consumer receivers.
DaySequerra is at the show with the M2A-AM and M2A-FM analog AM and FM modulation monitors. They feature high-level and antenna inputs, 20 station presets, LED bar-graph displays of modulation and carrier level, alarms for audio level, audio peak and RF level. The monitors also have analog and AES/EBU audio outputs; an Ethernet option is available, too, allowing DaySequerra remote control software to control the monitor, log data and send email alerts.
CircuitWerkes is exhibiting the TeleRadio II, a dial-up DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency, or Touch-Tone) controlled radio. This is a replacement for the original TeleRadio, discontinued in 2000. The new system has an improved AM/FM tuner, balanced stereo audio outputs, a balanced line input with DTMF control allowing the unit to be used as a phone coupler, 30 memory random presets and direct frequency entry.
AUDIO MONITORS
It seems that most of the time, radio stations want to be as loud as possible. However, there are situations where it is desirable to measure perceived loudness. Television has dealt with complaints about loud commercials for many years, and DK-Technologies is showing the MSD100C loudness monitor, which has applications for both audio and video.
DK is also highlighting the PTO760 HD/SD waveform monitor and audio meter with auto sensing inputs, audio de-embedding and metering for up to 32 channels, DK 5.1 Starfish display and loudness metering.
RTW offers its overhauled SurroundControl family of eight-channel audio analyzers. The SurroundControl 31900 is designed for audio studios and fits in a 19-inch, 1-RU case, while the SurroundControl 31960 is sized as a half 19-inch, 3-RU module.
The RTW Surround-Monitor 11900 is used to analyze both digital and analog multichannel and 3.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 surround sound. RTW surround analyzers employ the company’s “house”-shaped display for a visual representation of the surround sound soundfield and includes loudness and sound pressure level, phase correlation and level differences among channels.
Sonifex Ltd. has launched the Reference Monitor range of 1-RU rack-mount audio monitors. These include the RM-2S4 reference monitor with two LED meters and four stereo channel inputs; RM-2S10 reference monitor with two LED meters and 10 stereo input channels; and RM-4C8 reference monitor with four LED meters and eight audio input channels. Sources may be in any mixture of analog and AES/EBU digital formats, with sample rates up to 192 kHz. The units also include a five-band parametric EQ.
TSL is in Las Vegas with several new audio monitors, including its new Monitor Plus family of rack-mount confidence monitors with passive, active, analog and AES digital options.
TSL will also show the AMU2-8HD Dolby eight-channel HD/SDI and Dolby decoding rack audio monitor that features high-resolution bar graph displays, AES and analog audio inputs.
Wohler is demonstrating its Wohler Plus line of audio products for processing and monitoring, providing a variety of DSP options so that each unit can be configured for the specific functions required by a facility.
The modular system features flexible inputs (16 channels or eight AES pairs) and outputs, alarms, monitoring and metering, along with multiple channel synchronizing and shuffling of channels for 5.1 or 7.1 signal confidence. Optional inputs include AES and multirate serial digital embedded audio with Dolby encoding. The 2 RU Wohler Plus features a high-resolution TFT screen and on-board menu system for control, as well as Ethernet, RS-232 and GPIO interfaces.
AUDIO TEST
Audio Precision is showing the latest version of the High Speed Tester application for its 2700 Series and ATS-2 audio analyzers. HST makes a complete test of the audio chain in 1.5 seconds. The test measures DC offset, output level, frequency response, interchannel phase, distortion, noise and crosstalk.
ATI Audio Technologies Inc. is showing the Model DM500 AES test set and A/D converter. The DM500 can monitor an AES3 line, reporting the sample rate, data validity and digital errors. Decoded audio is available on balanced stereo analog outputs and a headphone output. Portable, desktop and rack-mount versions are available.
Rohde & Schwarz is exhibiting the R&S SFE, a multistandard broadcast signal generator that supports all common TV standards and a number of sound broadcasting standards. Whether analog or digital terrestrial TV, cable, satellite, mobile TV, or digital sound broadcasting, all these signals can be modulated in real time. For this purpose, the R&S SFE combines a high-quality RF modulator, a universal real-time coder and baseband signal sources in one instrument.
The SFE100 is being shown as a single standard test transmitter with real-time coding for broadcast signals. The SFE100 is a compact instrument that can be equipped with a power amplifier, and also used as a simple signal generator and for special applications as a second RF channel for the R&S SFU analyzer.
ETHERNET EVERYWHERE
Kintronic Labs is active in the directional AM world for its phasors, antenna coupling networks and related products. These systems generally include lots of large RF contactors scattered amongst the various tower bases and the transmitter building.
Directional antenna control systems have typically included front-panel LEDs showing the position of these RF contactors. Kintronic Labs has added a Web interface to its directional antenna control systems. The KTL-WAC/PLC/24VDC uses Programmable Logic Controllers to control and interlock the RF contactors. A Web interface presents a graphical view of the system, showing the current setting of each RF contactor. The system also reports alarm conditions via e-mail.
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