Sinclair Broadcast Group Taps T-VIPS for PSIP Re-branding, Monitoring
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Sinclair Broadcast Group has purchased and installed several T-VIPS products as part of a network that allows the broadcaster to transport, monitor, and process ASI and IP streams between its stations.
Included in Sinclair’s purchase were multiple T-VIPS CP505 ATSC Processors, TNS546 Transport Stream Monitors and TVG425 ASI/IP Gateways. Installed by TI Broadcast Solutions Group, an Atlanta-based systems integration firm, Sinclair is using the T-VIPS equipment to share programming among its central Florida stations.
“As we roll out our new technical operations facility in West Palm Beach, we were looking for a solution to transport and monitor ASI/IP streams to multiple locations,” said Don Roberts Director of Television Systems for Sinclair Broadcast Group. “We’re always looking for ways to make our operations more efficient without impacting on-air quality. We’ve used T-VIPS devices for many years and have been very happy with their performance, reliability and value. It was a natural choice for us to continue working with T-VIPS.”
Sinclair is using the T-VIPS CP505 processors to convert incoming programming via IP network to an ASI stream. The CP505 has two inputs with automatic error detection and switching. If the incoming signal loses its PSIP information, the CP505 will continue to carousel data to prevent the loss of PSIP data in its output stream.
The TNS546 Transport Stream monitors are used to monitor the integrity of the input programming data and generate alarms for system switch-over in the event of errors.
The TVG425 units enable Sinclair to easily convert between ASI and IP data streams.
Sinclair’s new T-VIPS gear is being installed and commissioned now, and will be online by early October of this year. Roberts is confident that T-VIPS will continue to meet Sinclair’s networking and reliability requirements.
“These products are robust, the failure rate is almost nonexistent, and they perform at the highest level of quality,” he said. “We always seek out the best options possible when building a new infrastructure, and T-VIPS certainly fits with that philosophy.”
