Broadcast News from Maser Australia

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Winter 2007 (pdf file 1857 Kb)

Autumn 2007 (pdf file 1182 Kb)

Summer 2007 (pdf file 1274 Kb)

Spring 2006 (pdf file 1065 Kb)

Winter 2006 (pdf file 391 Kb)

Autumn 2006 (pdf file 424 Kb)

NEC 65 inch full HD panel, the largest size for business use     10 April 08

The latest 65 inch MultiSync commercial LCD panel from NEC is of expressive high quality, featuring full HD 1920 x 1080, high contrast ratio of 2000:1. Released earlier this year, this model is ideal for boardrooms, control centres, digital signage, touch screen applications and trade shows.

Some of the highlights include full RS232 control and support, tall matrix 5 x 5 screens, user friendly software, 3 year full warranty and onsite service. True LCD panels means these monitors are designed to run 24/7.

Maser is a distributor for NEC commercial range of LCD monitors. Contact us for competitive quotes or more information on any size NEC LCD monitor.

Spinner's new combiner generation called CCS-System    4 October 2007

Spinner has redesigned and improved the previous combiner solutions. The new combiner generation called CCS-System (Compact Combining and Switching) adds new features and further advantages including 50% foot print reduction, compatibility between combiner units of all power levels, frontal access to allow wall side installation and bypassing Patch Panels installed with the combiner in the same CCS – Module.

The Bypassing Patch Panels provide the combiner bypassing and re-routing of the transmitter to the wide band input or to test load.

Spinner’s customers have embraced the new CCS – System of Spinner totally. Already more than 37 sites built this year in Germany and also stations in Belgium, Netherlands, France, Slovenia and Ireland are delivered in this new design.

Liquid cooled DAB Filter by Spinner                                   22 August 2007

At SMPTE 2007, SPINNER showed its latest filter design with liquid cooling for high power DAB transmitters.

SPINNER has used the experience of water cooling in transmitters, transferred it to coaxial filters and developed a series of coaxial DAB filters for various DAB masks.

From the outset SPINNER selected the maximum resonator cross-section for a 19" rack in order to create the least possible loss. To ensure high operational reliability the cooling structure and the connection elements have been designed for preventing any ingress of coolant into the filter. In the unlikely event of a failure of the cooling system, the transmitter does not need to be switched off completely, because the filter can continue to work at a reduced power level.

Obviously the filter has temperature compensation and is infinitely tuneable in the range 170 to 240 MHz. The filter characteristics with high selectivity can be adjusted to varying customer needs.

Digital Video Image Evaluation & Video Synchronisation           2 May 2007

Following NAB, Maser has formed an agreement with K-WILL, known for their Video
Quality Evaluation and Monitoring Equipment. One of their feature products is the
QuMaX-2000 which is a video quality monitoring and audio quality monitoring device for High Definition and Standard definition that automatically detects video and audio errors in real time, including Lip Sync.

With the capability to monitor up to 12 channels in one box, it’s easy to automate the audio/video quality monitoring of live video services from the control room; and now, use the QuMax to check lip sync along the broadcast chain at the same time!  The QuMax-2000 extracts the essence of video ("Video DNA") and audio signals, detects errors and compares quality. Errors such as video blackouts, freezes, audio mutes are detected automatically, in real time, on a single stimulus frame-by-frame basis. Quality degradation such as compression strain and audio noise (including lip sync errors) are detected by a double stimulus process without potentially harmful markers.

Another interesting product in the range is the TS-7815 which is a portable TS (Transport Stream) analyser in accordance with MPEG-2 standard. Its applications include cable headends and all portable TS verification requirements.

The TS-7815 is user friendly and its light compact design (3U half rack), alarm function and flash memory are special added features that distinguishes it from other TS analysers. Measurement features include TS bit rate measurement, PID list display, program tree display, PCR jitter measurement, and PTS/DTS analysis (no PC required). Any basic element of the TS can be analysed in real time.

Download QuMaX-2000 specification sheet (pdf, 1.3Mb) Click here

Successful equipment trials of TV content to mobile handsets    April 2007  

Envivio and Maser Technology have been working closely with Australian carriers and telephone networks in deploying successful equipment trials of Television content to mobile handsets. 

The Envivio Mobile Video Series of products offer real time and offline MPEG-4 H.263/H.264 encoding for delivery to mobile television subscribers. MPEG-4 compression ensures the highest quality video at the lowest possible bit rates. Optimised processing produces video that is ideal for mobile operators wanting to enrich their services beyond voice to offer digital television and on-demand video and for broadcasters wanting to repurpose content to address these new markets.

These mobile products feature market leading video quality and low latency. Systems include extensive device support, including all of the most popular video handsets currently deployed in mobile networks, as tested and verified by Envivio customers and partners.  

To support network and device convergence the 4Caster M2 offers a highly advanced feature set. The system can deliver video to any network, including 2.5G, 3G, and 3.5G networks, mobile broadcast networks such as DVB-H, as well as next generation networks such as Wifi and Wimax. The system can output and manage up to eight subscriber profiles simultaneously, thereby significantly reducing total cost of ownership.

It is part of the Mobile Series of encoders from Envivo, which are deployed at over 100 Tier 1 and Tier 2 operators world wide.

Envivio is the leader in IP video convergence solutions using MPEG-4 technology to make IP video a reality over any type of network and to any multimedia device – from 3G to xDSL and from mobile TV to HDTV.

New Audio Production Console by Logitek                           30 October 2006

Logitek’s new Artisan digital console, an advanced control surface for the Audio Engine router, was designed for small to medium market television air studios, newsrooms of any size, or advanced radio production. The Artisan is available in a variety of frame sizes to accomodate systems ranging from 2 to 32 faders. It provides access to two Master mix busses, eight submix busses, 24 mix-minus busses, four auxiliary busses and three Monitor outputs. The Artisan offers multiple talkback destinations with conferencing capability; direct access to frequently used sources; flexible monitor controls and full color LCD screens on every module. An on-board five function dynamics processor and four band equalizer also provide flexibility in managing audio sources, with 5.1 Surround processing available on one Master mix, one Sub mix and one Monitor output.

Optional meter bridges each provide a 40 segment tri-color LED stereo bargraph and either two or six user-configurable LCD screens that can be used for timers, clocks, or auxiliary buss meters.

The Artisan is surprisingly affordable and is available now.

Download Artisan Data Spec Sheet (pdf file 632 Kb)

Exclusive distributor for www.e-mediavision.com products    29 May 2006

Maser has signed an exclusive distributorship agreement with www.e-mediavision.com for Australia and New Zealand.

e-mediavision.com, based in London, England, is a world leader in real time video graphic systems for the sports, news, weather and media markets, as well as multi-image display solutions with its X-View display processors and X-Com control and monitoring system.

Redefining the boundaries of visual monitoring, X-View multi-image display processors are the leading choice in broadcast, CCTV, A/V and IT multi-image display solutions. The superior processing technology ensures high resolution pictures with maximum features allowing the X-View range to be easily implemented in a variety of solutions, such as command and control monitoring centres.

Blazing a new trail in live TV illustration the company's latest range of POINT products has been developed in close collaboration with some of the world's leading sports broadcasters. POINT creates visually stunning graphics that create compelling viewing for the audiences, yet is simple to use for presenters.

X-Tools provides a catalogue of innovative interface and test solutions for Broadcast, Audio Visual,IT and CCTV applications. X-Tools enables engineers and technicians to realise cost effective solutions to their engineering requirements.

Troll Systems new Airborne Products.                                      16 May 2006

Troll Systems is a leading supplier of airborne microwave antenna and ground based control systems for the broadcast Electronic News Gathering (ENG) and Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE) industries.

SkyLink HD is a high performance two-axis steered antenna system designed for high-definition and other demanding transmission requirements. At the high bit rates required for HD transmission, multipath has a serious effect on signal performance.

Skylink HD's exclusive inertial measurement unit (IMU), heading sensor and two-axis steering not only point the antenna accurately to the receive sites' heading, but also compensate for the aircraft's pitch and roll. Additionally, Skylink HD accounts for the altitude of the receive site so the system can maintain the correct elevation angle at all times. This feature dramatically reduces the ground reflection multipath that is caused when the aircraft banks

The C100 is an airborne controller that operates SkyLink Antenna Systems and related equipment. The five-inch, panel-mounted unit has a built-in touchscreen monitor and a graphical user interface. In addition to operating the SkyLink Antenna Systems, it can also control microwave radios, video and audio equipment and provides power management.

All functions can be controlled and displayed on the C100, and a video overlay is not required. For greater ease of use, multiple C100 controllers can be installed in different locations allowing the crew to run the system from any station within the aircraft.

Compact Network Checker.                                                      16 May 2006

ShibaSoku demonstrated at the 2006 NAB the new PS11AX, a compact Network Checker popular with the Broadcast Professionals at the show.

Ideal for mobile broadcasting vehicles as well as in station use, the portable test signal generator presents both broadband relay and material transmission measurement in a single compact case.

The PS11AX supports HD and SD multi-format and can output colour bar signals, pathological signals and lip sync test signals. Equipped with the freeze check as well as audio check functions, the PS11AX ensures your broadcast transmission is at its very best. This broadcast network checker can also output sound channel information as electronic sounds, enabling both transmitting and receiving stations to easily check each sound channel, and the PS11AX also allows for superposition of characters (both logo and telop) indicating the call letters of the sending/receiving station or the name of the program material.

"Compact and lightweight for portable broadcasts, the PS11AX ensures that the video and sound quality from the remote vehicle is as good as the transmission from the station," said Noboru "Bobby" Note, vice president of ASACA/ShibaSoku. "To ensure 'broadcast anywhere' capability, the PS11AX can also be configured to support DC and battery drive system."

The PS11AX supports two system SDI output and up to eight channels of embedded audio. The PS11AX can also be used to output the sound channel ID via electronic sounds and can be configured to send signals according to a set sequence setting. As an option, PS11AX can also generate both monoscope pattern and natural drawing pictures.

For more information on ShibaSoku PS11 AX Broadcasting Network Checker click here

SMPTE Exhibition.                                                                          19 July 2005

Maser exhibited at SMPTE 19-22 July 2005 in Sydney. www.smpte.com.au

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