Hardware Versus Software Streaming: Which Is Right for Your Facility?

One of the primary questions for broadcasters exploring a streaming solution early on, is: Do I go with a software-only product, a dedicated card, or a hardware appliance?

Dedicated Cards: No Way!

First off, I don't recommend dedicated cards. These are cards that you install in your PC and they provide some hardware-assisted audio processing or encoding. While they may serve a purpose for certain applications, they are often a hassle to maintain. As OS versions change, keeping drivers up to date can be a pain. And with fast multi-core CPUs found in modern PCs, dedicated cards are just not needed anymore. Enough said.

Topics: Streaming Audio

Good Things Come in 3.0

Since the introduction of Omnia.11 v 3.0 and G-Force at NAB 2016, there's been a lot of chatter - and a little confusion - in the industry as to the list of enhancements included in these packages. So perhaps we need to clarify what’s going on. For starters, it's that word - packages; Omnia.11 v 3.0 and G-Force are two distinct items. To help clear things up, we went right to the man behind both v 3.0 and G-Force, Telos Alliance Senior Algorithm Developer Cornelius Gould.

Topics: Omnia Audio

TWiRT 302 - Virtual Machine Tech and Radio

Virtual Machines have been used in computer data centers and corporate IT systems since the late 1990’s, with popularity skyrocketing in the past 5 to 8 years.  Today’s VM technology is allowing broadcasters to run several automation and production systems on virtual computers - on hardware that’s fully redundant.  Dave Turner from ENCO joins us to tell us how this all works.

Guest: Dave Turner, Executive Vice-President - ENCO Systems

Hosts: Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting

Links from the show:

What is a Virtual Machine?

What is Microsoft’s Hyper-V?

“Best Practices for Virtualization of Broadcast Automation” (ENCO white paper)

IP-Radios - The New Studio-Transmitter Link (STL)

Abstract

Radio broadcasters have traditionally used 950MHz analog or digital point-to-point radio systems to transport their audio programming from the studio to the transmitter site. Leased T1 or E1 digital land-based circuits have also been popular where a line-of-sight radio path cannot be established. Each system has strengths and shortcomings;  the radio STL is one-way only and has little room for ancillary data. The landline T1/E1 solution implies a monthly lease expense, as well as high capital costs for the endpoint equipment, and still not much extra data bandwidth once the program audio is transported. With multi-station shared transmitter sites, HD Radio, off-site automation backup, security cameras, remote control, and Internet access all becoming necessities, a reliable, high-bandwidth data transport scheme becomes  critical. Enter the modern 2-way IP-radio system. These carrier-grade links can transport several stereo audio channels with bit-for-bit clarity, plus provide for all the other data services just mentioned and have room for growth. This paper describes not only the STL needs and challenges facing broadcast engineers, but provides clear, workable solutions both in the abstract and specific solution cases.

Topics: IP Radios, STLs, IP Radio STLs

Air Staff Shines with VOCO 8

With six signals covering parts of Michigan, Illinois and Indiana, the Shine.FM network broadcasts with a Contemporary Christian format, and the slogan 'stronger families, stronger communities'. Shine.FM's Kankakee, Illinois location is just south of the Chicago metropolitan area. The station is not-for-profit, listener supported, and owned by Olivet Nazarene University from Bourbonnais, Illinois.

Topics: Omnia Audio

TWiRT 301 - IP Audio Impairment Mitigation with Keyur Parikh

IP Audio security is a hot topic. IP Audio reliability is a strong concern as well. Keyur Parikh from GatesAir is working with a team of IP media experts to mitigate impairments to IP transport, and tells us about technical defenses against IP Audio hacking.

Guest: Keyur Parikh from GatesAir

Host: Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, & South Seas Broadcasting

Links from the show:

Parikh-Kim-Network-Security.pdf
Parikh-K130115-Network-Modeling-Revised-02-05-2015.pdf

CEO Frank Foti on Disruptive Innovation at NAB 2016

Topics: NAB Las Vegas

TV at NAB: Telos Alliance NAB 2016 Wrap-up

This year at NAB, the Telos Alliance's TV Division was in the South hall alongside many of the other TV broadcasting companies. While we missed our radio friends, who we normally share a booth with, we had an incredible show. Since last year's NAB, we added Minnetonka, with Linear and Minnetonka sharing a booth that received a constant stream of interested folks. We had several new and innovative products on display both in the cloud and in the flesh. Here's our short recap from the TV side of the Telos Alliance.

Topics: NAB Las Vegas

Vintage Audio: 1920s Radio Workshop

As electronics technology has evolved over the years, so has the equipment used to service it. Today, electronics is largely a software game, where DSP chips take the place of tuned RF circuits, and even complete receivers. These devices operate with specs near theoretical perfection. As a result, the workbench is no longer the nerve center of an engineering shop in the way that it once was.

The electronics workbench had its origins around the same time as radio, in the mid-1920s. Those old TRF sets could be unreliable, and anyone who sold radios as a business also installed and serviced them. This installment of Found in the Attic is a bit different. We'll dig out several items that were essential for radio servicing in the 1920s, as we imagine what types of things were on the electronics workbench almost 100 years ago.

Topics: Vintage Radio Technology

Live from NAB 2016

The annual NAB Show attracts broadcasters from around the globe. We experience new technologies, shop for equipment, meet old friends, and make new acquaintances.  It’s the perfect setting for This Week in Radio Tech, as well! Chris Tobin and I had a blast meeting some great engineers, company reps, and station owners on this episode of TWiRT.

Topics: NAB Las Vegas