GatesAir and Qligent Strengthen Maxiva™ StreamAssure as Spectrum Repack Advances
As broadcasters begin to relocate to their new channel assignments, the need for comprehensive, data-rich monitoring of signals into and out of the transmitter becomes vital. Powered by Qligent’s software-defined QoS/QoE monitoring and compliance verification platform, GatesAir’s Maxiva™ StreamAssure gives broadcasters end-to-end visibility of their transport streams and over-the-air signals from a single dashboard to better understand overall network performance.
Since launching StreamAssure 18 months ago, the GatesAir/Qligent partnership has met with continued growth and success. At the 2017 NAB Show, taking place from April 24-27, 2017 in Las Vegas, Qligent executives will be at the GatesAir booth (N2613) to unveil a variety of new features that enhance StreamAssure’s performance, and increase its value to broadcasters.
Improved Signal Monitoring
New StreamAssure features provide improved in-depth stream analysis, such as determining if the origination of macroblocking issues comes from the encoder, or is induced elsewhere in the signal path. New configuration, custom reporting and KPIs are built into the system to improve system management and performance monitoring.
StreamAssure also now supports MPEG Dash for ATSC 3.0 stream monitoring, and offers improved BLUR detection to more accurately monitor the performance of HEVC and high-resolution video.
“We’re extremely pleased with our mutually rewarding partnership with Qligent, and our cooperative efforts to further the Maxiva StreamAssure product,” said Rich Redmond, chief product officer at GatesAir. “Software-defined signal monitoring, data delivery analysis and compliance verification are vitally important to optimizing RF performance, and protecting broadcasters against off-air time and revenue loss. Given the many challenges and complexities that the spectrum repack will bring to broadcast operations, along with migration to ATSC 3.0, this technology has come to fruition to solve problems for our customers at the ideal time.”
Faster Troubleshooting
Working with GatesAir to evolve StreamAssure, Qligent has integrated and optimized its monitoring technology to process and analyze data collected from GatesAir’s latest high-efficiency Maxiva transmitters and exciters, including the ULXTE liquid-cooled UHF transmitter and VAXTE air-cooled VHF transmitter being introduced at NAB.
“While Maxiva transmitters offer their own built-in monitoring, analysis and troubleshooting capabilities, StreamAssure gives broadcasters a wider perspective of their operations,” said Ted Korte, Qligent’s COO. “StreamAssure does this by analyzing and identifying technical issues with the content and multi-layered streams coming into the transmitter, verifying RF signals leaving the transmitter, and monitoring the health of the transmitter and exciter. Accessing that information quickly can save RF engineers considerable time troubleshooting problems, visiting their transmitter sites, or wondering if the problem they are encountering is something new or a preexisting condition. Armed with this information, they can move faster to address the issues that might otherwise negatively impact the viewer experience.”
Rapid analysis and isolation of performance issues ensures quality control and optimizes the broadcast operation. Over time, StreamAssure builds a valuable performance database, ensures regulatory compliance, and protects against penalties and lost ad revenue due to transmitter downtime.
“We recommend that broadcasters install StreamAssure early in their channel relocation process so they can benchmark their signal performance early on, and see how their data is trending, before they start ‘turning the dials’ and making changes to their systems,” said Redmond.
StreamAssure is also ATSC 3.0-ready, including support for Mobile DTV. Broadcasters interested in migrating to the advanced DTV broadcast standard can purchase StreamAssure today for use in ATSC 1.0, and StreamAssure’s IP-based, software-driven architecture to upgrade to ATSC 3.0 in the field. To handle ATSC 3.0’s bigger payload, StreamAssure customers that want to lay the groundwork for ATSC 3.0 will need to invest up-front in more powerful off-the-shelf hardware.
About Qligent
Qligent architects complete monitoring and visualization solutions for broadcasters, content distributors, ad agencies, regulators and network operators. Based in Melbourne, Florida, Qligent’s software-defined approach provides an open, vendor-agnostic platform to monitor performance, integrity and compliance of multiple signals, streams and systems across enterprises of any size. Its solutions provide the same consistent quality of content and service across multiple delivery platforms simultaneously.
About GatesAir
GatesAir, Inc. provides complete solutions for over-the-air radio and television broadcasting, leveraging wireless spectrum to maximize performance for multichannel, mission-critical services. Powering over-the-air networks worldwide with unparalleled reliability for nearly 100 years, GatesAir’s turnkey solutions enable broadcasters to create, transport and transmit radio and TV content. With customers in more than 185 countries, the company leads the industry in innovation and design breakthroughs, improving efficiency and reducing total cost of ownership. Visit www.gatesair.com for more information, like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/gatesair, and follow us on Twitter at @GatesAir.
