Providing More Visibility Into IP Network Performance

As radio broadcasters transition to IP networks and add more services, new software and hardware solutions simplify matters from start to finish.

As more broadcasters shift from legacy TDM (E1/T1) connections to IP networks, broadcasters are seeking more efficient ways to manage bandwidth and analyze network performance. At the same time, cost reduction as it relates to engineering labor and maintenance remains a concern, while at the same time taking advantage of modern network architectures to introduce new on-air services.

GatesAir, a global leader in wireless, over-the-air content delivery solutions for radio and TV broadcasters, is helping customers better understand how their IP networks handle data traffic, especially as new services are added to the network. Intraplex LiveLook software was built specifically to solve this problem, giving users enhanced visibility into network performance through advanced network analytics, monitoring and troubleshooting capabilities.

Intraplex LiveLook is an off-board network analytics and monitoring software for IP Link codecs. It provides a graphical analysis of both real-time and historical network performance data as well as the monitoring of audio streams’ state changes and optional email notification capability. The LiveLook software provides a single management application to analyze and monitor all the audio streams of the network. In addition, the tool incorporates report generation capability which analyzes the selected network performance data and recommends the best error protection technique of the IP Link codec to use.

For example, LiveLook uses a burst packet loss model to evaluate IP traffic performance, and provides statistics around round-trip data packet delay. The information gathered from burst packet loss modeling suggests the best methods for fixing lost or missing packets.

Along with real-time graphing, past snapshots show how the stream behaved. If the codec was compromised within a certain defined window of time, the user can access that portion of the real-time graph to see if the IP network caused the issue. A summary details network packet statistics, with recommendations on how much forward error correction and time diversity is needed for the stream.

Key features and benefits include:
• Real-time and historical graphical analysis
• Rolling log files to store performance data and stream state change events
• Monitors streams ingress and egress performance
• Dashboard capability for status of all monitored streams
• Report generation tool and Email notifications

New Codec, New Opportunities
On the hardware side, GatesAir will introduce a new groundbreaking intelligent IP networking solution at the 2017 NAB Show that marks a convergence of traditional strengths from its range of Intraplex intelligent networking family, with new advanced innovations that address all of these concerns and opportunities when it comes to radio program transport over digital IP networks.

The new Intraplex IP Link MPXp codec leverages many of the renowned IP Link codec strengths – notably GatesAir's unique dynamic stream splicing technology to mitigate IP packet loss and eliminate off-air time – the Intraplex IP Link MPXp offers several industry firsts. Foremost, the Intraplex IP Link MPXp is the first FM MPX IP codec to support – separately or together – AES 192 digital and analog composite signals over a secure and reliable digital IP path.

With its unique built-in bandwidth reduction technology and signal parameter selection, broadcasters can transport uncompressed AES 192 signals as low as 1.8Mb/s – a more than 50 percent reduction in bandwidth utilization compared to most codecs on the market. This exceptional bandwidth efficiency opens more headroom for increased packet protection, as well as additional audio and data services.

The IP Link MPXp codec offers a strong value proposition as a feature-rich, futureproof codec to support analog composite transport today – and AES 192 composite transport when the broadcaster upgrades from an analog to a digital exciter. However, its flexible dual-domain capability allows the broadcaster to install a newer audio processor supporting AES 192 and have it interoperate with an exciter that supports only analog composite signal interface today. This not only provides a transitional path for a digital exciter upgrade, but also enhances signal quality by keeping it in the digital domain across the IP path.

Like previous-generation IP Link codecs, the Intraplex IP Link MPXp codec also simplifies network architectures and maintenance to reduce capital and operational expense. As wide-area network pipes grow larger, the Intraplex IP Link MPXp codec enables broadcasters to aggregate all FM processing equipment at the headend. Meanwhile, advanced security measures protect the broadcaster’s signal thanks to the codec's integrated firewall.

GatesAir will demonstrate the Intraplex IP Link MPXp and Intraplex LiveLook at the 2017 NAB Show, taking place April 24-27 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. GatesAir will exhibit at Booth N2613.

www.gatesair.com

This article is also available to read at BFV online here, page 53.

(JP)