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GatesAir Strengthens IP Data Protection, Bandwidth Efficiency for Radio Broadcasters at IBC2017
Latest advances to Intraplex® IPConnect software, IP Link MPXp codecs further boost reliability and robustness of Intraplex intelligent networking solutions
Cincinnati, OH, August 01, 2017
GatesAir, a global leader in wireless, over-the-air content delivery solutions for radio and TV broadcasters, will unveil new enhancements to two recently-introduced Intraplex® intelligent networking solutions at IBC2017 that will advance the possibilities of IP-based signal transport for radio broadcasters. The two products, Intraplex IPConnect software and the IP Link MPXp codec, will receive their international debuts at the show, taking place September 15-19 at the RAI Conference and Exhibition Centre in Amsterdam. GatesAir exhibits at Stand 8.C30.
Intraplex IPConnect is a new software application designed to fortify data transport across IP networks. Available as an option in most Intraplex IP Link codecs, IPConnect solves the problem of reliable transport across complex networks that traditionally suffer data loss through dropped packets.
New for IBC2017, GatesAir will demonstrate how IPConnect provides an added layer of reliability for DAB/DAB+ and DRM IP streams by employing a combination of packet protection schemes with network/time diversity and packet-level forward error correction. Additionally, IPConnect can now bridge local area network (LAN) segments across wide-area networks with seamless tunneling to enhance reliability of program and signal transport across very large geographical regions with multiple receiving and transmitting sites—an especially attractive benefit for national DAB/DAB+ broadcasters and network operators.
“Digital radio streams are particularly vulnerable to packet loss, given the large amount of data moving over many paths and across very long distances,” Keyur Parikh, director, GatesAir Intraplex Business Unit. “IPConnect plays an important role in minimizing susceptibility to packet loss, ensuring that valuable on-air content and control-based commands are not lost along the way. Reliability is further improved through the ability to tunnel all IP data between one or more sites, without concern of outside interference.”
IPConnect’s software data gateway provides extra protection through packet encapsulation, which encloses the external IP data packets in a GatesAir protocol wrapper as it moves across IP networks. Unlike many similar applications, IPConnect provides this protection for studio-generated data, as well as IP data from external sources. While the former might include RDS data or SNMP control signals to trigger a command at the transmitter site, the latter may incorporate program or control data coming from a network operations center, satellite feed or advertising service.
As the next-generation GatesAir Intraplex IP Link codec, the award-winning Intraplex IP Link MPXp leverages the strengths of previous IP Link codecs—including GatesAir’s unique Dynamic Stream Splicing technology to mitigate IP packet loss and eliminate off-air time, forward error correction, and a trio of network interfaces for optimal stream reliability—while empowering broadcasters with more signal transport options from a single box at historically low bitrates. While the initial release in April cut the industry-standard bandwidth consumption for uncompressed AES 192 digital composite signal transport in half, the latest release further reduces those bitrates from the already industry-low 1.8Mb/s to an even more efficient 1.65Mb/s. This exceptional bandwidth efficiency opens more headroom for increased packet protection, as well as additional audio and data services.
The Intraplex IP Link MPXp is the first FM MPX IP codec to support—separately or together—AES 192 digital and analog composite signals over a secure and reliable digital IP path from a single codec. Its flexible dual-domain capability allows the broadcaster to install a newer audio processor supporting AES 192 and have it interoperate with an exciter supporting only analog composite signal interface today. This not only provides a transitional path for a future digital exciter upgrade, but also enhances signal quality by keeping it in the digital domain across the IP path.
Like previous-generation IP Link codecs, the Intraplex IP Link MPXp codec also simplifies network architectures and maintenance to reduce capital and operational expense. As wide-area network pipes grow larger, the Intraplex IP Link MPXp codec enables broadcasters to aggregate all FM processing equipment at the headend. Advanced security measures ensure rock-solid signal protection thanks to the codec’s integrated firewall.
About GatesAir
GatesAir, Inc. provides complete solutions for over-the-air radio and television broadcasting, leveraging wireless spectrum to maximize performance for multichannel, mission-critical services. Powering over-the-air networks worldwide with unparalleled reliability for nearly 100 years, GatesAir’s turnkey solutions enable broadcasters to create, transport and transmit radio and TV content. With customers in more than 185 countries, the company leads the industry in innovation and design breakthroughs, improving efficiency and reducing total cost of ownership. Visit www.gatesair.com for more information, and follow us on Twitter at @GatesAir.
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