Newsgathering Transmission Techniques of the Future

Orlando Ennes Workshop

Kevin Dennis
October 5, 2012

Vislink is Built on a Firm Foundation

Remote location based live coverage is the heart of Newsgathering

Presentation Outline

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

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

Newsgathering Transmission Techniques of the Future

Advancements in video encoding technology Advancements in licensed microwave technology Advancements in bandwidth capacity of public access networks (Cellular and Wi-Fi) 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.

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

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

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

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) H.264 (AVC) Good HD picture quality from as little as 5Mbps (H.264) Contribution quality at ~10Mbps Low Latency ~300mS (decoder dependent)

Newsgathering Transmission Techniques of the Future

Advancements in video encoding technology Advancements in licensed microwave technology Advancements in bandwidth capacity of public access networks (Cellular and Wi-Fi) Comparison of strengths and weaknesses of licensed microwave transmission versus public network transmissions

Digital ENG Contribution Techniques

Microwave Transmit Systems o Mobile (truck/van, SNG/ENG) o Portable (tripod or airborne) o 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 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.

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.

Video Quality

DVB-T (COFDM) Bandwidth

1/4 Guard
C ode R ate
QS PK 16 QM A 64 QM A

1/8 Guard
QS PK 16 QM A 64 QM A

1/16 Guard
QS PK 16 QM A 64 QM A

1/32 Guard
QS PK 16 QM A 64 QM A

1/2 2/3 3/4 5/6 7/8

4.98 9.95 14.93 5.53 11.06 16.59 5.85 11.71 17.56 6.03 12.06 18.10 6.64 13.27 19.91 7.37 14.75 22.12 7.81 15.61 23.42 8.04 16.09 24.13 7.46 14.93 22.39 8.29 16.59 24.88 8.78 17.56 26.35 9.05 18.10 27.14 8.29 16.59 24.88 9.22 18.43 27.65 9.76 19.52 29.27 10.05 20.11 30.16 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

Mode
QPSK 1/2 QPSK 3/4 16 QAM 1/2 16 QAM 3/4 64 QAM 1/2 64 QAM 3/4

Pout
+38 dBm +38 dBm +36 dBm +36 dBm +33 dBm + 33 dBm

LabThreshold
-95.0 dBm -93.0 dBm -90.0 dBm -86.5 dBm -84.5 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

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 DVB-T (COFDM) and has more robust RF performance Ideal for HD Wireless Camera systems Ultra-Low Latency ~45mS

Newsgathering Transmission Techniques of the Future Advancements in video encoding technology Advancements in licensed microwave technology Advancements in bandwidth capacity of public access networks (Cellular and Wi-Fi) Comparison of strengths and weaknesses of licensed microwave transmission versus public network 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

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

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 connection persistence

Can be implemented with various service providers 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 encoders video data rate (typ. Mbps) adapting to the fluctuations characteristic of cellular networks

Cellular Video Transmission Workflow Diagram

Newsgathering Transmission Techniques of the Future Advancements in video encoding technology Advancements in licensed microwave technology Advancements in bandwidth capacity of public access networks (Cellular and Wi-Fi) Comparison of strengths and weaknesses of licensed microwave transmission versus public network transmissions

Advantages & Limitations of Legacy Newsgathering

Terrestrial ENG Digital SNG Diversity WCS

Advantages
High bandwidth (Fat Pipe) at minimal OPEX Rapid deployment Wide coverage area Dependable/Reliable

Advantages
Unlimited coverage area Worldwide spectrum access Single to multiple distribution points

Advantages
Very rapid deployment No expensive vehicles Good coverage indoors and across densely populated city centers Best option for moving event coverage

Disadvantages
Requires skilled operators Requires heavyweight vehicles Leased receive sites are expensive One-way transmissions

Disadvantages
Requires very costly vehicles Must pay recurring satellite usage fees Requires skilled operators

Disadvantages
Limited coverage area Camera battery powered Must own or lease receive sites

HD/ SD Newsgathering via Bonded 3G / 4G Networks

Advantages Story acquisition without spectrum licenses, expensive vehicles or costly infrastructure One button operation Dispatch non-technical trained Journalists / Freelancers No coverage guarantees 3G/4G bandwidth is limited and asymmetrical latency can be several seconds Civil authorities may override Cellular congestion

NLE 3G/4G Bonded HD SDI

But

Ideal for spot story coverage and fill-in content

Cellular Video Transmission vs. Licensed Microwave

CONS Variable data rate availability Unpredictable signal strength vs. vs. PROS Fixed data throughput Relatively stable receive carrier level (RSL) Pre-determined frequency coordination Secure specific user spectrum allocation

Unknown network availability vs. Eminent domain black-outs vs.

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/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 Kevin.Dennis@Vislink.com 978-671-5756