Envivo , a leading provider of MPEG-4 broadcast and streaming solutions, and New Delhi Television, are launching the world’s first digital satellite news gathering network based entirely on MPEG-4 encoding. Others may follow.
NDTV’s MPEG-4 news gathering network is based around Envivio’s 4Caster, a real-time, full D1 resolution MPEG-4 encoder and a matching 4View real-time MPEG-4 decoder. Envivio’s H.264 compression, currently on trial by other satellite operators and major broadcasters, can save 50 percent on satellite bandwidth costs.
“NDTV uses MPEG-4 over satellite for live links back to the studio,” said Rahul Deshpande, Systems Manager at NDTV. The cost savings in satellite bandwidth should cover capital costs within the first 18 months of deployment.” NDTV uses 15 satellite trucks. The network, RF, truck, and related designs and integration were done in-house at NDTV, using other best-in-class components, including Swe-Dish Driveaway Antennae and Paradise Satellite Modems.
LSI’s real-time H.264 encoder chipset can deliver sub 1 Mbps video with DVD quality. H.264 MPEG-4, now called the Advanced Video Coding (AVC) standard, is expected to have a patent agreement in a few months. As H.264 chips become embedded into PC cards and cameras, MPEG-4 streaming costs will likely drop and applications explode.
Windows Media 9 has also been submitted by Microsoft to SMPTE to become a standard. Instead of HDTV at 19 Mbps and standard definition video at 4 Mbps, both of the new coding methods seem to provide good HDTV picture quality at around 5 Mbps, and SDTV around 1 Mbps.
U.S. broadcasters (and cable operators) may soon combine MPEG-4/WM9 with 802.16a (for local relays) or spot beam satellites (for distant shots). They can save big bucks - even lives in public service applications. Broadcast quality video at 1 Mbps is possible with H.264. Wi-Max can deliver it - even without line of sight. Spotbeam satellites in the Ka band promise faster and cheaper 2-way transmissions. MPEG-4 everywhere.
Portland broadcasters have reportedly reduced DTV transmitter power to around 200 watts (to save money on power). That makes DTV reception - which already requires a rooftop antenna - impossible for most everyone. Broadcasters are left with a plummeting 5%-7% of (analog) TV homes watching off air. The broadcast television infrastructure is underutilized and will become more so.
Cable is king. In the UK, where COFDM was used for DTV, 30 terrestrial DTV channels can be received free. No satellite. No cable required.
Spot Beam satellites, Wi-Max and H.264, could create a new media revolution.
Applications like telemedicine, desktop video conferencing and interactive distance learning are practical with a $4,000 2-way MotoSat system. Add a $1000 Helius Satellite Router and a $1000 Nomadix Wi-Fi Gateway for remote uplinks.
Envivo’s Realtime MPEG-4 encoder (above) handles realtime H.264 compression for broadcast-quality output at 1 Mbps. You won’t get that speed with “3G” or satellites. You’ll need Wi-Max. Loose the expensive ENG van and MPEG-2 broadcast gear. Who needs it? Consumer DV camcorders and 802.16a could make broadcast video and microwave gear obsolete, cumbersome and impractical.
RealNetworks’ mobile products include Helix Universal Server-Mobile, Helix Universal Gateway-Mobile, Helix Producer and the RealOne Mobile Player. They deliver live, streaming audio and video to handhelds and desktops.
Stash a few Media PC laptops in a van along with a couple of $250 D-Link Videophones, Wireless Netcams and Wireless Pocket PCs and you should be good to go for about $25K. Park a Segway at any hot spot and do man on the street interviews. Live. On cable.
The wearable Xybernaut ServicePoint can act as a wireless repeater or direct information to the belt-mounted pack. The $1,995 device includes a PC Card, USB, FireWire, Compact Flash and Ethernet. A weather-proof case contains a 500MHz Intel Mobile Celeron, a hard drive, 256MB RAM and Redhat.
The Blog is alive!
Daily Wireless has more on Sharing a satellite van, College WiFi Van, Nomadix + Hughes Direcway, On The Bus, MPEG-4 On the Move, MPEG-4 chips, Wi-Fi Ferry, MotoSat Lowers Cost, Satellite Wi-Fi, Sharing Community Satellite Networks , Spot Beams, Satellite Deals and Accessories.
.gif)
