Digital TV Server Datasheet

• Fully contained IPTV server for delivering digital TV content over an IP network
• Integrated PVR and Video on Demand features
• PC, Macintosh and set-top box playback
• Best quality, minimal latency
• Flexible DVB-S/DVB-T/MPEG-2 card based system
• Web based management
• Built in DHCP server

Administration | Models Available | Input Cards | TV Server Output | Playback Options
Network PVR | Set-top Box Support | Key Features | Screenshots
System Requirements | Technical Specifications

Administration

• Manage all aspects of your TV Server system remotely with a web browser.
• No need to install additional software components.
• No specialist A/V knowledge required.
• Authorised users are able to set personal recording rules using a familiar 'Sky+ like' interface.

Models Available

† The number of channels is dependent on the selected transponders and your network.
†† Education and Business options vary. Please contact your reseller for details.

Input Cards

TV Server's flexible input card based system allows it to receive signals from a variety of sources simultaneously including digital satellite (DVB-S), digital terrestrial (DVB-T) and analogue (PAL/NTSC).

DVB-S and DVB-T cards have free-to-air tuners integrated, meaning you can connect the source feed directly to the TV Server appliance without the need for third party set-top boxes. Digital services such as DVB-S and DVB-T are made up of channel groups called transponders. These transponders contain between 6 and 14 individual channels.

For example, the 75 television and radio stations on Freeview are spread across six transponders. Because the 6-channel version of TV Server is able to tune to all six transponders simultaneously, it means that all 75 Freeview channels can be delivered to you network.

For encrypted channels such as CNBC, the signal needs to be received by a traditional set-top box (eg Sky digibox), with the decrypted signal connected to TV Server's analogue MPEG-2 card using a composite or S-Video cable.

• DVB-S Tuner: 10 TV channels typical, digital satellite (eg FreeSat)
• DVB-T Tuner: 6 TV channels typical, digital terrestrial (eg Freeview)
• Analogue MPEG-2 Encoder: 1 channel, PAL/NTSC composite or S-Video input, 1-4Mbit MPEG-2 (eg set-top box or DVD Player)

TV Server Output

TV Server allows administrators to choose one or more channels from each card to broadcast onto the network as multicast video streams. Because multicast acts as a connectionless transport for this data, any number of users can 'tune in' to the streams at the same time without impacting network performance. In other words, whether 10 or 10,000 people are watching, the bandwidth usage remains the same.

Playback Options

TV Server automatically generates user-specific channel listings. These listings include familiar information such as channel names, together with what programs are playing now+next.

TV Server will work with a number of different network users, and video can be watched inside a resizable window or full screen.

• Windows PCs (browser, Windows Media Player, and/or dedicated playback software)
• Apple Mac and Linux (browser)
• Plasma or LCD TV (set-top box with infra-red remote control)
• Digital signage system

The multicast video streams can be viewed by a number of different network devices at the same time. Each user is able to browse and watch channels without affecting what other people are seeing.

Network PVR

TV Server has a sophisticated PVR (Personal Video Recorder) system built in. This allows users to record programs remotely using their web browser.

An electronic program guide (EPG) allows users to record programs by name. They are also able to define powerful recording rules, such as selecting every forthcoming program with a title or description matching given keywords. For example, a school or university might set a rule defining "documentary" or "Napoleon", which would then trigger whenever a program is broadcast with those keywords in its title or description.

Programs are compressed to reduce disk and network usage and are optionally transferred to a Video Library system, where users are able to browse an on-demand catalogue of content at a later date.

Set-top Box Support

Multicast video streams can be watched in full digital quality on any existing plasma or LCD TV with the Encoded Media set-top box. This small, low power device is controlled with a standard infra-red remote control, and has a user interface similar to home systems such as Sky's digibox.

The interface includes program now+next, a complete channel list and channel thumbnails, plus the ability to display custom announcements and alerts.

Key Features

• Broadcast quality video
• Cost efficient and fully expandable hardware
• Choose up to 75 channels from the thousands available across all networks
• Set-top boxes are low-cost and feature small physical size reducing the cost of installing plasma screens
• One unified solution delivers channels to plasma screens and to PC desktops
• TV Server remote management software reduces administration overheads and allows easy selection of the channels to distribute
• Integrates with Encoded Media's enterprise management software to provide advanced access controls
• Different configurations are available for digital terrestrial (Freeview), free-to-air satellite channels from several europe-wide networks, and many premium satellite channels as well as legacy analogue sources
• Up to 6 receiver cards per TV Server chassis
• Optionally provide some channels in low-bandwidth format (may require extra server hardware)

Screenshots

System Requirements

Technical Specifications