Thor Broadcast Logo
Log in
Cart (0)
  • es ES
  • Products
    • CATV Modulators
      • HDMI RF Modulators
      • HD-SDI converters
      • IP to CATV Edge Modulators
    • DVB Encoders
      • IPTV Video Encoders
      • Hdmi RTSP RTMP RTSP Encoders
      • Transcoders, MPEG Converters, IP ASI Gateways
    • Decoders (IRD's & STB's)
      • RF input - Video /Audio Ouput
      • IP Broadcast Decoders
      • RF CATV and IPTV OTT STB's
    • Satellite Modulators
      • DVB-S/S2 Satellite Modulators
    • Fiber Optic Transport
      • SDI Fiber Optic Extenders, Digital Audio Extenders
      • SDI SD/HD/3G with CWDM
      • Cable TV CATV RF 45-900Mhz
      • L-Band Satellite RF 45-3000Mhz
      • Data & Ethernet over fiber
    • HDMI SDI Switchers, LAN Extenders, and Wireless Video Transport
      • HD Video Switchers and Signal Format Converters for AV Pros
      • Wireless HD SD Video Data Equipment
      • Video Audio Extenders Over Ethernet LAN IP Network
    • DIscounted Inventory
      • Satellite and CATV Broadcast Equipment for Sale
      • Lab Used Broadcast Equipment on sale
      • Past Generation Equipment
    • SDI Monitors
    • Warehouse
  • About
  • Client Portfolio
  • Support
      • Support Center Support Center
      • User Manuals User
        Manuals
      • Request an RMA Request an
        RMA
  • ⬇Download
    • Manuals
    • Datasheets
    • Quick Guides
  • Case Studies
    • THOR Gym
    • THOR Stadium
    • THOR Hotel
    • THOR University
  • Videos
  • Contact
  • Become a Reseller

How to Convert UDP IPTV Streams into 32 or 64 QAM RF Channels

Convert UDP IPTV streams into 32 or 64 QAM RF channels for internal CATV distribution with Thor Broadcast gateway solutions.

How to Convert UDP IPTV Streams into 32 or 64 QAM RF Channels

Knowledge Base Article

THOR BROADCAST

How to Convert UDP IPTV Streams into 32 or 64 QAM RF Channels

Application example based on a real customer discussion about bringing IP video streams into an internal CATV RF system for enterprise, broadcast, hospitality, and campus distribution.

UDP Multicast to QAM IPTV Headend Clear QAM Distribution Thor Broadcast Solution
UDP IP Streams H-IPRF-32QAM IP to RF Gateway QAM RF Coax Output 32 QAM Channels Approx. 38 Mbps per RF carrier
At a glance
InputUDP Unicast / Multicast
OutputUp to 32 QAM Channels
Alternative64 QAM with Transcoding

Table of Contents

  • Introduction
  • The application challenge
  • Recommended Thor Broadcast solution
  • Product solutions
  • How the gateway works
  • Channel capacity example
  • When to use each solution
  • FAQ
  • SEO metadata

A customer asked whether there was one single box that could take multiple incoming IP video streams and modulate them directly into an in-house RF system. The answer depends on the transport protocol. If the source can be delivered as UDP unicast or UDP multicast, Thor Broadcast offers a much cleaner all-in-one gateway architecture than a separate decode-and-remodulate workflow.

 

The application challenge

Customer objective

  • Receive multiple real-time IP video streams
  • Convert them into internal RF television channels
  • Distribute the channels over an existing coax CATV network
  • Support future growth from 8 streams to larger channel counts

Why protocol matters

RTSP and SRT usually require a separate decode stage before RF modulation. UDP streams, by contrast, can go directly into an IPTV-to-QAM gateway, which simplifies the system and reduces the number of devices.

RTSP / SRT
→
Decoder
→
RF Modulator
 

Recommended Thor Broadcast solution

Best fit when the streams are UDP: use the H-IPRF-32QAM. This unit generates up to 32 QAM channels directly from UDP unicast or multicast streams and is ideal for headends, private TV systems, hotels, campuses, studios, and enterprise AV networks.

Primary Solution
H-IPRF-32QAM
UDP IPTV to 32 QAM RF Gateway

This unit can generate up to 32 QAM channels from any UDP unicast or multicast stream.

  • Direct IPTV to RF gateway architecture
  • Clean solution for internal CATV distribution
  • Excellent for multi-program channel mapping
View Product
Decoder Option
H-STB-QAM/ATSC
QAM / ATSC RF to HDMI Set-Top Box

Ideal when older TVs cannot decode newer video codecs directly from the QAM channel.

  • Receives QAM or ATSC RF channels
  • Outputs HDMI for local display use
  • Good fit for legacy television installations
View Product
High Capacity Option
H-HERMES-64
IP to 64 QAM Gateway with Transcoding

A larger headend solution with a transcoding option for projects that need more capacity or wider TV compatibility.

  • Up to 64 QAM channels
  • Optional transcoding support
  • Strong fit for healthcare, hospitality, and stadium systems
View Product
 

How the gateway works

Application flow
UDP Unicast / Multicast Streams
→
H-IPRF-32QAM
→
QAM RF Channels
→
Coax CATV Network
→
TVs / STBs

Channel capacity example

Each QAM channel carries roughly 38 Mbps. That means multiple compressed programs can be placed on one RF carrier, depending on the codec and bit rate.

~5 Mbps per program
→
About 6 programs
→
On one QAM carrier

With 16 or 32 carriers, the total available program count becomes substantial for internal TV distribution.

Important codec note

The H-IPRF-32QAM works as a gateway. If your incoming IPTV stream is encoded in H.264, the resulting RF QAM channel will also remain H.264. It does not automatically transcode to MPEG-2.

That matters because many older TVs in the U.S. still expect MPEG-2 on clear QAM systems. Newer televisions may decode H.264 directly, but older sets often require an external set-top box.

 

When to use each solution

Use H-IPRF-32QAM when

  • Your sources are available as UDP unicast or multicast
  • You want a direct IPTV-to-RF headend workflow
  • Your displays can decode the codec being passed through
  • You want an efficient all-in-one gateway approach

Use H-HERMES-64 when

  • You need a higher channel count
  • You need transcoding for compatibility reasons
  • You are designing a larger commercial headend
  • You want more flexibility for mixed TV generations
 

FAQ

Can RTSP or SRT go directly into the H-IPRF-32QAM?

For this application, the cleaner direct path is with UDP. RTSP or SRT usually need a separate decoding step before modulation into RF.

Will older TVs decode H.264 over QAM?

Not always. Many older televisions expect MPEG-2. In those cases, use an external decoder such as the H-STB-QAM/ATSC.

What if I need more channels and transcoding?

The H-HERMES-64 is the better fit for larger systems that need a higher QAM count and a transcoding option.

SEO keywords: UDP to QAM modulator, IPTV to QAM gateway, IP to RF modulator, UDP multicast to QAM, clear QAM IPTV modulator, H.264 to QAM, MPEG2 QAM headend, Thor Broadcast H-IPRF-32QAM, H-HERMES-64, QAM set-top box, CATV RF distribution.

Meta description: Learn how to convert UDP IPTV streams into QAM RF channels for internal CATV distribution using Thor Broadcast H-IPRF-32QAM, H-STB-QAM/ATSC, and H-HERMES-64 solutions.

Justin White
Justin White
Broadcast Engineer
Broadcast engineer specializing in turnkey CATV and fiber-transport solutions. Experienced in designing and deploying complete encoding/decoding workflows to move virtually any signal over IP, fiber, and RF. Focused on ultra-low-latency headend architectures and custom mux/demux builds, supporting demanding environments across telecom, sports, education, hospitality, studios, live events, and mission-critical institutions worldwide.
View author page
Contact us

Thor Broadcast Sales

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1(800)521-THOR (8467) Ext 1
FAX: 1(800)521-6384

Customer Service/ Support

Phone: 1-800 521-THOR(8467) Ext 2
Email: [email protected]

Case Studies

- Converting Clear QAM HDTV Channels to Analog RF NTSC for Multi-Site Distribution
- Stadium IPTV - Replay System
- Hotel HDMI-to-QAM TV Distribution
- University IPTV Lecture Systems

  • CATV Modulators:
    • HDMI RF Modulators
    • HD-SDI converters
    • IP to CATV Edge Modulators
  • DVB Encoders:
    • IPTV Video Encoders
    • Hdmi RTSP RTMP RTSP Encoders
    • Transcoders, MPEG Converters, IP ASI Gateways
  • Decoders (IRD's & STB's):
    • RF input - Video /Audio Ouput
    • IP Broadcast Decoders
    • RF CATV and IPTV OTT STB's
  • Satellite Modulators:
    • DVB-S/S2 Satellite Modulators
  • Fiber Optic Transport:
    • SDI Fiber Optic Extenders, Digital Audio Extenders
    • SDI SD/HD/3G with CWDM
    • Cable TV CATV RF 45-900Mhz
    • L-Band Satellite RF 45-3000Mhz
    • Data & Ethernet over fiber
    • Analog Audio Video
    • Fiber Amplifiers - EDFA
    • DVB - ASI
    • Fiber Jumpers, Cables, Attenuators,
    • Optic Splitters Couplers CWDM Muxes
    • Optical Meters, Test Equipment, Accesories
    • Analog Baseband Video Audio, RS485/422/232 Data, Contact Closure
  • HDMI SDI Switchers, LAN Extenders, and Wireless Video Transport:
    • HD Video Switchers and Signal Format Converters for AV Pros
    • Wireless HD SD Video Data Equipment
    • Video Audio Extenders Over Ethernet LAN IP Network
  • HD 4K Cameras, SDI - HDMI - IP Streaming - PTZ - Broadcast and Security:
    • PTZ Streaming Cameras Broadcast cameras with SDI ,HDMI CVBS USB
  • DIscounted Inventory:
    • Satellite and CATV Broadcast Equipment for Sale
    • Lab Used Broadcast Equipment on sale
    • Past Generation Equipment
  • SDI Monitors:
  • Warehouse:
Thor Broadcast Logo
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1(800) 521-8467 Ext 1
FAX: 1(800)521-6384
Information:
  • About us
  • Client Portfolio
  • Become a Reseller
  • Contact
  • Articles
  • Return Policy
  • Shipping Policy
  • International Order Policy
Popular:
  • RF Modulator
  • HDMI over COAX
  • HDMI over IP
  • COAX to HDMI
  • HDMI to SDI

Thor Broadcast
Torrance Business Park
2421 W 205th St
Torrance
CA 90501

© 2026 Thor Broadcast
Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe at any time
newsletter image