This standard has been known around the world for many years and although it may seem that it has been somewhat forgotten, that’s not the case. ASI is still doing well and is commonly used among professionals (and not only). The tech geeks certainly know ASI streaming inside out. However, if you are just a beginner in the world of technology or in the broadcasting industry, you would probably want to learn fast as much as possible about streaming, available standards, and devices supporting these standards. Let's start with ASI streaming!
ASI stands for Asynchronous Serial Interface. Does it ring a bell in your mind? Probably not but don’t be upset - the average users of computers, TV or commercial cameras don’t deal with the ASI standard on a daily basis. This does not mean, however, that it is not worth getting interested in this method of MPEG Transport Stream (MPEG-2 or MPEG-4). You can never have enough knowledge so get ready and let’s roll! Like the SDI standard, ASI allows MPEG data to be transmitted at a constant rate of up to 270 megabits per second. There are two commonly used transmission formats for the ASI standard: 188-byte format (more common) and 204-byte format (less common).
The unmodulated ASI signal is transmitted from the studio over a coaxial cable to the end equipment, which then transmits the broadcast program to the people watching TV. If the ASI signal is sent over a coaxial cable, it is possible to provide compressed SD, HD and audio programs (one or multiple programs). It is now also possible to use an optical fiber to send the ASI signal but the most popular solution is still the traditional 75-ohm coaxial cable, terminated with BNC male connectors on each end. Moreover, it is also possible to send ASI data wireless. The ASI standard belongs to the group of standards known as DVB (Digital Video Broadcast). As you can see, the average viewer often deals with ASI streaming without even knowing about its existence.
• General Purpose Copper to Fiber Serial Converter
• Transport ASI over Fiber or SD SDI over Fiber
• 0.5 Mbps to 270 Mbps Bandwidth
• 1 - 8x Copper Port: BNC with Equalization
• 1 x Singlemode or Multimode Fiberoptic Port
• up to 110km Transmission Range (20km Standard)
• Single Fiber Transmission
• Plug-n-Play
• Bidirectional Transmission Available
• Both Compact and Rackmount Units Available
• Applications include extending video signals over fiber
• Common markets include broadband and broadcast industries
Despite the emergence of more and more modern solutions, ASI streaming data format is widely used in the broadcasting industry and is still very popular among professionals in this industry. In the television industry, the studio sends the ASI signal to transmission devices before sending data to viewers sitting in front of their TVs. Who else deals with ASI on a daily basis? Next to the broadcasting industry, the ASI standard is also commonly used in interfacility links and telephony communications.
Technological development and global Internet access have also affected the ASI. More and more TV stations, both local and nationwide, switch to the Internet and begin to broadcast some of their channels over the Internet. Broadcasting a live program online helps to reach a much larger audience than traditional television broadcasting. Moreover, it is also simply cheaper. However, many stations still have equipment that supports the ASI standard and coaxial cables. Can you still make use of them? Absolutely. All you need to do is get compatible devices, such as converters, that enable ASI signal transmission over the Internet. If you buy the right devices, the equipment supporting ASI can also be connected to modern HDMI cameras and other recording equipment.
The most important facts about ASI
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There has been a lively discussion among tech geeks about the future of ASI streaming in the face of the emergence of cheaper, more practical and more modern solutions. One would say that the cables are out of fashion. If you, however, take a look at the broadcasting industry, you can see that ASI streaming data format is still doing well and it is highly unlikely that it will disappear from the world of professional video equipment within the next few years.
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