AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - Nucomm, part of The Vitec Group's RF Extreme business unit, and a leading provider of digital and analog microwave systems to international broadcast, government and military markets, is showcasing its ProQ Digital IFB (Interruptible Feedback) System at IBC 2009 (Stand 1.B31).
The ProQ Digital IFB system is comprised of the ProQ DTV IFB Receiver and ProQ Low Latency Audio Multiplexer (LLAM). The system is ideal to provide a low latency IFB audio path to the ENG/OB users. The system provides additional features such as field tally indication and truck remote controls. Once received, the DTV signal can be monitored through a DVB-ASI output or streamed over an IP connection to a laptop or other IP-enabled device for analysis or confidence monitoring. The system allows users to send audio cueing over the DTV signal and features a dual diversity UHF/VHF receiver utilizing that latest sixth generation VSB demodulators. Following on from the success of the VSB-based solution in trials in the domestic USA, Nucomm has recently announced plans to investigate options for DVB-T, DMB-T and DAB demodulators, thus allowing versions of the ProQ system to be used by customers with access to an appropriate digital broadcasting platform in many international markets.
"Nucomm is always developing products to help bring more efficiency to broadcast production," says RF Extreme President Stephen Shpock. "Through our new ProQ DTV IFB system, users in the field can monitor the quality of DTV transmission and receive cueing signals from the studio. It also affords broadcasters the benefits of streaming DTV video over IP, which is becoming a new standard within today's industry."
The ProQ DTV IFB receiver is ideal as an IFB solution for ENG users during DTV transmission, monitoring of DTV signals through a DVB-ASI output, and streaming video over an IP connection to a laptop or other IP-enabled device. It is highly compact, at 12.7 cm x 4.5 cm x 21.6 cm, and currently features dual UHF/VHF antennas, two advanced silicon tuners and sixth generation VSB demodulators.
The ProQ contains an MPEG Layer 1/Layer 2 audio decoder that is capable of decoding two independent sound programs, providing up to four audio channels and using bit rates as low as 32 kbps for each. Coupled with low-latency audio encoders and proper design of the DTV packet insertion, total audio latency can be less than 80 ms. Its audio signal outputs are outfitted on a 5-pin XLR connector.
Featuring the ability to multiplex as many as eight IFB channels while only occupying 200kbps of the ATSC signal, the ProQ LLAM single-rack-unit supports up to eight GPI signals to provide functions such as tally light control. The incoming audio is encoded by MPEG Layer 1/Layer 2 audio encoders, multiplexed with the GPI, Ethernet and RS232 signals, and then inserted into the transport stream. A break-out unit provides for the audio and GPI signals, connecting to the ProQ LLAM via a rear-panel 50-pin connector. The ProQ LLAM also features a full-color OLED panel for system monitoring and control.
