SDI or RF modulator - Thor Broadcast

2 Channel model description

2 Channel HD/SD 3G SDI Input Digital QAM Modulator + IPTV and ASI Output - PN: H-2SDI-QAM-IPLL

Description

1-4 SDI Inputs - Encode-Combine-Modulate: QAM & IP output in Perfect 1080p60

#1 Trusted SDI Encoder Modulator on the market, used by today's largest group of AV professionals & integrators

1 SDI input - PN: H-1SDI-QAM-IPLL

2 SDI inputs - PN: H-2SDI-QAM-IPLL

4 SDI inputs - PN: H-4SDI-QAM-IPLL

Broadcast live HD-SDI video & ASI as cable TV & IPTV channels.

Broadcast over your existing coaxial cabling to an unlimited number of televisions with FULL HD

Thor Broadcast SDI-QAM-IP & SDI-QAM-IPLL Product Lines

Thor Broadcast HD-SDI to QAM modulators are combination devices that bundle real-time HD hardware encoders with a managed program stream multiplexer and agile RF QAM modulator. Each chassis can encode up to 4 channels of HD-SDI video to MPEG-2 or H.264 and modulate the programs on up to 4 QAM carrier outputs. These are individual encoding channels that can be set up and operated with individual settings; inputs 1 & 2 can be set up in Mpeg2 and have 720i resolution, while inputs 3 & 4 can be set up in H.264 and output 1080p. In addition to the encoded programs, the unit can also modulate programs encoded externally via an ASI input. Most notably, Thor Broadcast utilizes some of the fastest encoding speeds in Mpeg2. When you're trying to broadcast SDI video over IP or RF, professionals from all backgrounds choose Thor for their paramount applications. Pro-DVB integration personnel's first choice in live video applications like the NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR circuits, and even F1 tracks around the globe all rely on Thor Broadcast's fastest encoding speeds to ensure their viewers and fans all see the race as close to the real thing as possible. Reliability is our foremost concern; these encoder/modulators have stood the test of time globally in performing arts centers, governments, military installations, and high-end security applications, meaning that you'll have an excellent product for years to come.

Our free tech support is backed by decades of experience from our lab in Los Angeles, CA. Professionals you can trust will guide, implement, support, and assist over the phone and IP to help your application succeed the first time. Top-tier integrators from around the world rely on Thor's expertise to ensure you get the help you need when you need it. This is further backed by the #1 warranty in the industry: 5 years.

QAM: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (ITU-T J.83)

Thor encoder modulators are available for all major world television systems. Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is commonly used in cable TV systems due to its high-bandwidth capabilities. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) defines the standards for QAM under the J.83 standard. Thor QAM-IP chassis support all three primary J.83 QAM standards; ITU-T J.83A, J.83B, and J.83C. Any QAM-IP chassis can be set to output RF carriers under any of these three standards without the need to change firmware. J.83A and J.83C are primarily used in European systems and are commonly known as DVB-C. US cable TV systems are based on J.83B, which in the United States is commonly referred to simply as "QAM". QAM-IP chassis are available from Thor with many different types of video input and encoder cards. These encoder modules are independent of the modulator chassis system.

SDI-QAM-IPLL: Modulator Chassis with up to 4 inputs @ 3G-SDI 1080p60

SDI uncompressed digital video is commonly used in broadcasting and professional AV systems due to its convenience. Serial digital video can be carried over single-conductor coax cables and typically employ common BNC connectors. HD-SDI carries the same digital video data as HDMI, but without all the complicated digital content protection (DCP) and HDCP trouble. Thor multichannel encoder modulator chassis systems support encoder card input configurations from 1 to 4 channels. These cards are now standard with Low Latency and Dolby Digital AC3.

QAM-IPLL: Low Latency Encoding Option

Thor's Low Latency encoding is now paramount in nearly every live sport on a global level; from the Olympics to race tracks, our all-inclusive feature reduces the time delay between video input and encoded program output by more than 10 times. Standard model encoder modulator chassis systems typically have an encoding latency of 300/700-1200 ms depending on encoding parameters and output configurations. For many applications, adding approximately 1 second of latency doesn't make a difference. For other applications, such as live events, 1 second of delay is very noticeable and prevents modulation from being used in distribution systems. Contact a Thor sales representative today for more information on encoding latency.

Encoder Card Compatibility between Modulator Chassis

Chassis systems with custom encoder card configurations are available for supporting multiple input video formats in a single chassis. Thor SDI-QAM-IP line of encoder modulators is designed for high-quality distribution of broadcast quality video over coax cable. These systems are available in many configurations for a wide range of applications. This page covers models for a specific input video type combined with a modulator chassis programmed for a specific output format. It is important to note that encoder card types can usually be combined with encoder cards for other video types. For custom model configurations, please contact Thor directly for pricing and availability. While most firmware for Thor modulator chassis is inter-compatible, not all hardware will work with all software. Thor representatives are available for free design and consultation services. If you have any questions or concerns about a Thor system, contact a representative directly at 1-800-521-8467.

Tags: SDI to COAX

Features

Any SDI input up to 3G-SDI @1080p60
ASI input SPTS or MPTS up to 120 Mbps
Fully network managed through browser
QAM-256/64 RF output up to 4 adjacent
IPTV output unicast or multicast IGMP UDP,RTP/RTSP
ASI output with multiplexer cherry picking
#1 Warranty on the market - 2 years all inclusive
Low latency available 300/500/800ms delay via different modes - IP will always be closer to 800ms due to the decoding (these values are end to end, not just the encoding speed)
Free live tech support from Los Angeles, CA

Drawings

Model Selection

H-1SDI-QAM-IP H-1SDI-QAM-IPLL	1x HD-SDI 1080p60	Low Latency available 300/500/800ms delay via different modes

H-2SDI-QAM-IP H-2SDI-QAM-IPLL	2x HD-SDI 1080p60	Low Latency available 300/500/800ms delay via different modes

H-4SDI-QAM-IP H-4SDI-QAM-IPLL	4x HD-SDI 1080p60	Low Latency available 300/500/800ms delay via different modes

Accessories & Upgrades

Specification

All Specifications* Subject to Change Without Notice ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case Study Example: Converting SD, HD, 3G SDI to CATV RF and IPTV in USA, Canada, and Mexico using Thor H-4SDI-QAM-IP SDI Modulator / IP encoder In a scenario where a customer aims to distribute content from SD, HD, and 3G SDI sources to 100 TVs across four different buildings using CATV RF and IPTV, certain challenges and solutions come into play. System Overview: Source Content: SD, HD, and 3G SDI signals. Distribution Targets: 100 TVs spread across four buildings. Modulation Standards: MPEG2 encoding with AC3 Audio for both Cable and Air modulation standards. Transmission Medium: Coaxial network for CATV RF, and IPTV multicast over the network. Challenges and Solutions: 1. Modulation Standards: Given the diverse geographic locations (USA, Canada, and Mexico), understanding and adhering to the specific modulation standards of each region is crucial. The system employs MPEG2 encoding with AC3 Audio to ensure compatibility with Cable and Air modulation standards prevalent in these countries. 2. Distribution Strategy: Utilizing a splitter and combiner setup, the customer effectively routes the modulated signals to 100 TVs in each building. This strategic distribution ensures optimal coverage and signal quality throughout the premises. 3. Coaxial Network Challenges: RF Losses: Coaxial networks can experience signal losses due to factors such as cable length, connectors, and splitters. Employing quality coaxial cables, minimizing cable lengths, and utilizing signal boosters where necessary help mitigate these losses. 4. IPTV Multicast: For IPTV distribution, UDP multicast is employed, ensuring efficient and scalable content delivery over the network. This allows simultaneous transmission to multiple TVs without compromising bandwidth or quality. Result: By implementing an integrated solution that converts SD, HD, and 3G SDI to CATV RF and IPTV, the customer successfully delivers content to 100 TVs in each of the four buildings. The strategic use of splitters and combiners, adherence to DVB-C Annex B for cable or ATSC fro AIR modulation standards, and addressing RF losses over the coaxial network contribute to a reliable and cost-effective distribution system.
Input	3G-SDI, HD-SDI: BNC- 75 Ohm
Supported Resolutions	1280x720P 60 / 59.94 / 50 Hz 1920x1080I 60 / 59.94 / 50 Hz 1920x1080P 60 / 59.94 / 50 Hz
Video Codecs	MPEG-2 SD / HD 1.5-19.5 Mbps and selectable H.264 HD 0.8-19.5 Mbps
Audio Codecs	Dolby AC3 MPEG-1 Layer II MPEG-2 AAC MPEG-4 AAC
Audio Sample Rate	48 kHz
Audio Bit Rates	64 kbps, 96 kbps, 128 kbps, 192 kbps, 256 kbps, 320 kbps
Modulation Standard	QAM - J.83A, J.83B, J.83C
RF Frequency Range	30-960 MHz 1 kHz Step
RF Power Level	15-43 dBmV Adjustable
DVB-ASI Output	BNC Connector: 1-60 Mbps
DVB-ASI Input	BNC Connector: 1-120 Mbps Programs Selected by PID Programs Muxed to all Outputs
IPTV Output	MPEG-TS MPTS over UDP,RTP/RTSP Unicast and Multicast Supported
Power Input	100-240 VAC Auto Switching ~ 20 W
Cables Included	1 to 4 HD-SDI BNC cables, power cords
Dimensions	19 x 12 x2 Inches
Weight	9 Pounds
Operating Temperature	32-110 °F

Question and Answers

Question:
Can you confirm that H-MPEG2-H264-E2 with closed captioning can be decoded over an IP connection with H-IRD-V3-IP and maintain captioning on the HD-SDI output? I have a client who is looking to maintain their closed captioning from the city council broadcast out to their PEG broadcaster via IP. They were using an outdated VBrick unit and want to move toward a current HD model. The signal will be provided in a standard SDI format now, but will move to HD as soon as their PEG provider supports it. The client says they have between 25 and 40 mbps available for the traversal. I would need both an encode node (from SD-SDI (future HD-SDI)) and a decode node (SDI) on the output.

Answer:
If the client has CC embed in the SD/HD signal, then we can help him. Encoding side H-1SDI-QAM-IPLL HD/SD-SDI with CC 480i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p to IP or H-MPEG-H264-E2 https://thorbroadcast.com/product/all-inputs-iptv-streaming-and-asi-hd-encoder-608-708-captioning-8230.html Decoding side H-IRD-V3 IP to HD/SD-SDI or HDMI output https://thorbroadcast.com/product/ird-satellite-or-atsc-decoder-to-sdi-ip-asi-8230.html/76

Question:
I could use some help with system design

Answer:
How can I help you? i am trying to design a system that can convert 1920x1080 SDI signal to be broadcast over an existing CATV distribution system in a school and possibly using the existing coax cable to upgrade an area to HD over coax to the TV's i need the signal at 2 different locations that we are planning to connect together with fiber basically we have a football stadium press box where we will have live cameras outputting the SDI signal and we want that signal to go back to the control room in another building via fiber These units would be good for doing SDI to RF https://thorbroadcast.com/product/1-4-sdi-to-qam-modulators-and-iptv-streaming-encoders.html/4 after it gets back to the control room we want to distribute it into the school and back to the press box for the replay TV's ok Well we can do the SDI over Fiber if you need that, https://thorbroadcast.com/products/sdi-1 once the signal is converted to CATV RF, it gets more complicated then just putting SDI on Fiber. i was afraid the distance to the press box would be too far to send a digital signal over coax the SDI modulators can convert the source to CATV channels, which then you'd need RF over Fiber gear like this https://thorbroadcast.com/products/cable-tv-catv-rf-45-900mhz Is your fiber multimode or singlemode? and what's the approximate distance? multimode and its around 700ft Well all of the SDI over Fiber gear is fine with that; those converters work to about a couple thousand feet on multimode, and about 20km on single mode; so you see the massive difference between the 2 kinds of fibers. RF can not go on Multimode, flat out won't work well, we haven't ran the fiber yet. So, we could go single mode if necessary is the fiber necessary at that distance? how far can digital TV signal run instead of RF? Yea, Multimode isn't useful in a lot of AV applications Digital TV is still RF whether its ATSC or QAM; still an RF wave so, we'll experience the same DB signal losses like RF? no RF is a completely different animal versus a digital video signal like an SDI camera sorry, i haven't done much of this before. I am very familiar with CATV distribution but not as far as digital goes I know the signal degrades quickly on an analog system. I don't know about the digital same difference when it's on fiber but analog is pretty much extinct for the most part, we only sell digital modulators these days Thats why we want to keep the signal RF in the main school because of the infrastructure the press box is small and we can just send a digital signal in there and we are planning on upgrading all of the TVs but the distance is a problem. I don't know if we get get a digital signal that far on a coax or if we need to use a fiber and send the SDI signal from the control room over to the press box and then use one of your converters in there to change it over to a digital TV signal So sending SDI over Fiber is pretty simple converting SDI to RF and then sending that over fiber gets a little tricky. How many SDI sources do you have? he wants to have up to 4 one or two could be HDMI signals from like a cable tv box so he can broadcast a TV channel i think they could technically do it with 1 SDI signal from their control room. We will have several cameras coming back to their control room that they already have equipment for that will output the SDI signal that we need to broadcast https://thorbroadcast.com/ is sharing a file with you. image.png - (Size:809.98 KB) We offer these in 1, 2, and 4 SDI inputs ---- they will take your SDI feed and convert to CATV If you already have pieces like this that convert SDI to RF, and you just want to send the RF from the booth back to the school, then you can just use a compact RF over Fiber kit. does it take anything special to split an SDI signal? I honestly don't know, people don't necessarily split those signals, usually, they use switchers, converters, encoders etc. I would think it would just need a splitter on the RG cable where is a good place to buy your equipment from? Do you sell direct or should i go through a distributor? We do sell direct, and also through countless resellers and distributors Anixter, Markertek, B&H, AMT, Toner Cable, HDTV supply etc i sent in a reseller request about a week ago but i haven't heard anything back. after we close down this Chat, I'll send you a copy of the transcript, and the Reseller Agreement. We'll get you signed up ok, thank you. one more question sure we have a single location that is in the visitor's concession stand that is about 1k ft away that has MM fiber to it and also an RG cable to it. We will need to get this digital TV signal over there. CATV can only go on Singlemode Fiber; so if you want to send the visitor's concession stand the same TV signal, you'll need to install single-mode fiber to there i was afraid you were going to say that haha Television, regardless of analog or digital, can NOT go on multimode fiber. no company in the world makes gear that will solve your issue; we get this a lot! can it run on the RG cable? we are using that now not in 1080 right now of course with proper amplification you could probably do that; but then you're going to need a power supply along the way. so if the conduit goes under the football field, then I bet it won't work right now we have it on like channel 14 being broadcast i'm not sure of the quality right now That information doesn't really help; it doesn't matter if its 720; 480 or 1080; getting the digital signal there on RG6 would be difficult, but maybe a couple of these https://thorbroadcast.com/product/distribution-amplifier-30db-54-1000mhz-coax-catv-qam-atsc-analog-rf.html what about IPTV streaming? could we send the signal over the network? do you sell components for that? sorry for all of the stupid questions ... Yes we do, a lot of our IPTV equipment is here https://thorbroadcast.com/products/pro-dvb-encoders I knew this was going to be a little complicated haha. I need to learn more so that i can convert more schools to digital away from the analog. Yeah its a small learning curve If you have a design drawing that would help; we can let you know exactly what you'd need to get the job done i don't ... but i could possibly make something. Yeah, I mean considering you want to send the signal from the booth to the school, then back to the booth, plus add in the visitor bench, I would encourage only singlemode fiber; then the components can inserted in between the fiber infrastructure I'll have cameras in the press box sending SDI signal back to the booth. They will then do whatever with the signal and send output of SDI to me for me to distribute in the school and back to the press box TV's and to the visitor concession TV they want me to run the fiber for their cameras and for my distribution system I'll look at some more of your components and try to learn some more and ask some more questions later. Thank you for your assistance today.

Question:
Would this unit, H-2SDI-QAM-IPLL, output 2 streams at the same time?

Answer:
So, for IPTV, the unit will encode two streams from the 2 SDI inputs; these outputs will come out of the data port on the front of the unit. You can create UDP or RTP streams in Unicast or Multicast and use whatever decoder you like to get those streams through a network switch. So, essentially, you can even use a PC and freeware like VLC, and you can type in the IP protocol you assigned those streams and grab them off the network.

Question:
I'm working on improving my base TV system. I'd like to be able to take a few laptops and display some PowerPoint slides. I'm looking at the H-4SDI-QAM-IPLL but don't know which one to go with: the ATSC, QAM, or DVB-T version. Can someone help me choose the correct one? We use a lot of the Blonder Tongue AMCM-860D's for our other channels.

Answer:
That is an excellent choice, and for the RF output option, you'd most likely go with QAM. DVB-T is a foreign standard. Since you mention you're in AZ, that won't work for you. ATSC is standard 8VSB off-air antenna; so modulators can be used in this standard if you have an antenna RF infrastructure and then would like to add some custom cable channels of your own. So QAM is your bet; my assumption is that is what your Blonder Tongue units are. Oddly enough, I researched that model and it is actually NTSC, which is the old analog variety of RF. So I'm not sure if you can purchase those in QAM or ATSC, or if they are only NTSC. The easy answer to find out is if you go to a TV on premise and do a channel scan to find channels on the coax plugged in the back, do you do Cable Scan or Off-Air Scan?

Question:
My workflow would be as follows. 1. One of my captioning partners will send their data feed via IP connection to our captioning encoders on static IP & public addresses. 2. The captioning encoders (primary & backup) would output Hi-Def on an HD-SDI output port. 3. I would take in that Hi-Def SDI feed and distribute that signal to multiple (2 to 50) live streaming webcast encoders to transmit RTMP and SRT signals to my live video CDN providers. Akamai, Limelight, IBM, Vimeo, YouTube, Twitter, etc. 4. We use a dozen or more different types of both software and hardware encoders for RTMP and SRT transmission to CDN. - XSplit - Wirecast - vMix - Epiphan (hardware) - Magewell (hardware) - Videon (hardware) - Datavideo (hardware) - AV Matrix (hardware) We have found that EEG's encoders don't play nicely with the current various hardware and software RTMP encoders we use in our operation. So I am back out in the market to shop for hardware solutions that will work for me. I realize that all the issues are more likely to be on my side of the operation. So I am looking for real-world advice while I shop the market for working solutions.

Answer:
If you could please describe your application with closed captions, because our encoders support CC, but the CC has to be embedded already in the SDI signal, or we can take it from line 21 from the CVBS input. What would be your main application?

Question:
Does the unit support 608, 708, or line 21 Closed Captioning?

Answer:

Yes, the SDI encoders or encoder modulators like H-4SDI-QAM-IPLL or H-4HD-EMS support CEA-608 and CEA-708.

The Closed Captioning standard used in analog NTSC broadcasts in the US is CEA-608. This standard functions on line 21 of standard definition NTSC broadcasts and does not allow for user customization of font size or color. CEA-608 is also commonly known as "Line 21" or "EIA-608".

For ATSC digital television worldwide, the Closed Captioning standard used is CEA-708. Unlike CEA-608, CEA-708 captions cannot be modulated in the vertical blanking interval (VBI) line 21 and are instead transmitted as digital data.

When it comes to HDMI, there is currently no recognized method for transmitting Closed Captions as metadata in an HDMI signal. This means that any Thor device that can receive SDI or HD-SDI Closed Captions is incapable of transmitting those Closed Captions through any HDMI port that may be present on the device.

Question:
Yes, this looks perfect. Just for reference, what is the maximum number of channels it would be capable of muxing?

Answer:
Well, the maximum number of inputs we offer for this line of encoder modulators is 4 SDI inputs. Realistically, you can daisy chain as many as you want. ASI is how cable companies transport entire channel TV lineups across long distances. So, realistically, you can send the entire QAM spectrum, which ends at Channel 135; I've attached the QAM chart which references each channel and its frequency. You can also fit multiple programs on one frequency. That doesn't necessarily have any relevance in your application since you're SDI to ASI; but theoretically, I don't think anyone would ever need hundreds and hundreds of channels. But daisy chaining 10, 20, 30 or even 50 units is possible when stacking them on ASI.

Question:
I need a solution to take either an HDMI or 3G-SDI signal and encode it into a coaxial output, either QAM or ATSC. This will be used for a live event, so low latency is very important.

Answer:
Q: How many channels do you need?

Adam: Just one channel.

Q: What input type do you prefer-HDMI or SDI?

Adam: SDI would be better since it eliminates the need for an adapter.

Q: What product was recommended?

Answer: The recommended unit is: H-1SDI-QAM-IPLL (A single-channel 3G-SDI to QAM/IP low-latency modulator)

Q: What is the latency of this unit?

Answer: The unit offers three selectable latency modes:

Normal mode: ~800 ms
Low-latency mode: ~500 ms
Ultra-low-latency mode: ~350 ms

The latency setting can be configured in the device menu or preconfigured before shipping upon request.

Q: Is this suitable for live event applications?

Answer: Yes. The unit is commonly used in live environments such as churches and event venues. At ~350 ms (about 1/3 of a second), the delay is minimal and typically not noticeable.

Q: How does this compare to your current system?

Adam: Our current setup has about a 2.5- to 3-second delay, which is too high, especially for applications like horse racing where timing is critical.

Answer: This unit will significantly reduce latency and provide a much better real-time viewing experience.

Q: Has this been used in similar applications before?

Answer: Yes. Similar systems (including multi-channel versions) are already deployed in horse racing tracks, including installations near San Diego, where low latency is essential.