The Basic knowledge of CCTV CATV MATV IPTV and SMATV
1-CCTV
CCTV is the abbreviation of the sentence Close Circuit Television . It is called CLOSE as the signals here are not distributed/transmitted publically but are monitored and are available only to the authorized people to watch . The footage comes from the one or many cameras which are fixed at locations of the premises or property which has to be monitored . CCTV is generally used for the surveillance and security purpose .
A normal CCTV System comprises mainly four components of CCTV Cameras , Recorder , Storage device (or Cloud Storage Facility) and Screen/Monitor apart from the wires , connectors , power adapter etc.
Earlier we were able to watch CCTV footage only in the B&W format but with the advancement in the technology we are able to watch High Definition footage in Day Light or at night ( with the help of Visible Light or invisible Infrared light ) and also can watch and access the footage not only through the wire but wirelessly using Radio frequencies or Wi-Fi .
When we talk about the type of CCTV in broader perspective , there are mainly two type of technology Analogue and IP . In analogue cameras , the video footage recorded from the cameras are sent to the DVR in the same format ( analogue format ) where it is changed to the digital format by DVR , whether in IP cameras the video footage are changed to the digital format at the camera level and this digital format video is transmitted from camera to the NVR for storage and viewing purpose.
Analogue CCTV Cameras runs on Co-axial Cables and IP Cameras runs on Ethernet Cables .
There are special cameras now for specific purpose i.e PTZ Cameras , Motion Sensing Cameras , Fish Eye Cameras , Weather Proof Cameras , Infrared Cameras , Thermal Imaging Cameras , Nany Cams , two way communication cameras etc .
CCTV is commonly used for a variety of purposes, including:
- Maintaining perimeter security in medium- to high-secure areas and installations.
- Observing behavior of incarcerated inmates and potentially dangerous patients in medical facilities.
- Traffic monitoring.
- Overseeing locations that would be hazardous to a human, for example, highly radioactive or toxic industrial environments.
- Building and grounds security.
- Obtaining a visual record of activities in situations where it is necessary to maintain proper security or access controls (for example, in a diamond cutting or sorting operation; in banks, casinos, or airports).
New Developments in CCTV
Modern cameras comes in Color HD and almost all switch to infrared at night time when there is less or almost no light .The video footages we get from these cameras are so detailed now that you can know that which brand of watch the burglar was wearing. Night vision and simultaneous monitoring and recording of multiple video feed are the new technical advancements.Also , using the facility to see the video feeds wirelessly and over internet on our PC or smart phone gives us full control of our premises even when we are far away from it.
For more details on CCTVSystem and Security Cameras please click here.
2-CATV
CATV or Community Access Television is one of the most common method of transmitting television signals to a consumer’s home by means of shared coaxial cable network . It receives over-the-air signal and then transmitted it to many households by use of cables.
This cable network mimics the over-the-air radio frequency broadcast signals that would receive via a TV antennae , but they are carried on cable . CATV is a shared cable system that uses a tree-and-branch topology in which multiple households within a neighborhood share the same cable. In early time the CATV system was completely comprises of the Co-axial cables but now it can comprise of Fibre Cable and Coaxial cable (where typically the Fibre Optic Cable will be on provider’s end and Coaxial cable on the customer end ) and this type of dual cable is called a Hybrid Fibre coax ( HFC ) system . There are many advantages of using fibre cable in the system i.e.by using fibre cable we can get rid of attenuation of signals over long distances and also the problems related to the aging of the coaxial cables, using fibre cable provides more bandwidth for the future expansion.
At some places , the providers are installing Fibre Optics from end to end with no coaxial cables . This can come into the effort under FTTH ( Fibre to the Home ) .
Cable Internet Services
Internet service providers (ISPs) offer their customers cable Internet service together with television over the same CATV lines.Cable Internet customers must install a cable modem (typically, a DOCSIS modem) to hook their home broadband router or other devices to the Internet service. Home networks can also use cable gateway devices that combine the functionality of the cable modem and broadband router into a single device.
3-MATV
MATV is the short form of Master Antenna Television. Using this technology many apartment houses hotels, schools and other multi-unit buildings distribute TV and FM signals to a number of receivers. In order to accomplish this without a loss of signal quality, these systems must be carefully planned and engineered through the effective use of MATV equipment and techniques.
An MATV system is basically a network of cables and specially designed components that process and amplify TV and FM signals and distribute them from one central location to the many receiver points connected to the system . Consider the situation in which there is a tall apartment tower having 100 flats and hence 100+ TV sets , now it would be extremely expensive to Install and maintain l00 separate antennas one for each flat . This not only gives an ugly and cluttered look of the terrace but also cause interference problem to each other .
A modern MATV system can can carry analogue and digital television signals through an aerial, both free-to-view and subscription, FM radio and DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) but it cannot carry satellite signals. In a typical MATV system:
An MATV system can carry Analogue as well as Digital Signals (both type of Free to View or Subscription type ) , FM and DAB ( Digital Audio Broadcasting ) , but it has it limits of not carrying Satellite Signals .
How MATV Works?
MATV consists of one aerial which is a conventional UHF TV aerial which receives analogue and digital both type of signals .These signals are then processed in the system and delivered through the distribution network to a socket outlet on every home. From this socket we can connect TV and watch our favorites channel among the channels delivered to us .
Contact BrickwoooD to discuss the supply, installation and Maintenance of commercial MATV systems anywhere in Bangalore.
4-SMATV
SMATV stands for Satellite Master Antenna Television ( some people call it Single Master Antenna Television ) and refers to a system that uses multiple satellite and broadcast signals to create a single integrated cable signal for distribution to a cabling network. In other words, with an SMATV system, you can become your own in-house cable company.
The purpose of SMATV is for supplying and controlling the number and type of channels to multiple televisions, not only TV channels but FM channels as well. It provides Reception of DBS ( Direct Broadcast Satellite ) TV/FM channels for hotels, motels, dormitories, hospitals and commercial properties with multiple tenants, schools. Using a master antenna system video signals, audio signals and decoder signals can also be distributed.
A SMATV headend is used to receive and rebroadcast Satellite TV channels throughout a property from a single satellite feed.
How SMATV does it Work & Its Infrastructure ?
There is a single satellite dish and TV antennae which receives the program from satellite and local broadcast network. Now the signals are feed into several racks of electronic equipments which tune in the channels you choose for your cable lineup and combine them into a single cable signal . Again these feed can include local feed of in-house channels like Campus TV Station and Local Information Channel of a large gated community .
.Please let me know how many channels one can have in a SMATV headend system ?
You can distribute as many channels as you have modules in your head end system. Every TV or display in every room will receive all the channels.
Each standard definition (SD) SMATV headend rack can deliver 12-36 channels.
Each module in an HD headend system can deliver 12-24 channels.
5-IPTV
IPTV is the short form of the Internet Protocol Television and in easy terms it can be defined as secure and reliable delivery to subscribers of entertainment video and related services over the IP protocol network ( broadband or other internet connections ) which transport audio , video and control signals . These services may include, for example, Live TV, Video On Demand (VOD) and Interactive TV (iTV). It is different from the delivering videos on public internet , as with IPVT , network security and performance is tightly managed to provide a superior & safe entertainment which creates compelling business environment for content providers, advertisers and customers alike.
How IP TV is different from Normal TV
Also unlike standard cable or satellite connection, in IPTV multiple TV sets can use a single subscription within a home. IPTV gives advantage of watching a program whenever and wherever over PC , Smart TV or Smart Phone apart from tuning to any live TV shows & Sports which is aired currently . In IPTV , multiple TV sets in a home can use a single subscription , which is not the case with standard cable or satellite connection.
Lets have an example to clarify the difference between IP and Standard TV .
Cable TV or Satellite both transmit their signal to which a user can tune in . Here Cable TV is with wire and Satellite TV is wireless ( upto the point of reaching your dish) . You can watch any channel depending upon your choice and can watch the program transmitting at that time .
IPTV transmission is done by using Internet protocol (IP) based network to deliver TV channels to users’ set-top box. The internet netowork may be done by the way of cable or satellite and works on client-server model like in the case of emails , websites and other internet-based services . In cable and satellite TV the broadcast happens in real time and on transmit and forget model but in IPTV the consumer request for the real time as well as stored content and receives that via Internet Protocol network . In IPTV the content is stored at the transmitting end which can be requested and viewed at anytime by viewer,
So,how IPTV System Works ?
If we create fraternity among the IPTV , Cable & Satellite TV and Internet surfing , IPTV will be much near to the Internet Surfing than the Cable and Satellite TV .
The consumer requests and receives TV Shows and Video content is delivered to the viewer via Internet Protocol (IP) based networks instead of cable or satellite. Unlike cable or satellite where content is broadcast in real time, on a transmit and forget the model, IPTV has the ability to store the programming on servers at transmitting end, allowing users to request the content over the Internet at any time.
Classification of IPTV services- IPTV performs the following interactive services in addition to the regular telecast of the TV channels.
1) Video on Demand(VoD) : The viewers can watch any video , movie , game etc which is stored in the VoD’ server’s media library . Every user can watch individual program as per their wish from this library .
- 2) Near Video on Demand( nVoD):It is a pay-per-view video service intended for multiple users subscribed to nVoD service. The content broadcasting schedule is compiled beforehand and subscribers can look at the schedule and watch content according to their interest.
- 3) Time-shifted TV: We can watch any live broadcast later on our convenient time and we can set a time later to the time of original real time broadcast . If a soap opera comes live at 7 , but one reached home at 9 , he can set the time of that opera at 9 and can watch it . Also , one can rewind and forward a video . This is called Time –Shifted TV .
- 4) TV on Demand (TVoD): We can watch our selected TV Channels at anytime as the programs are stored at the transmitting end .
- 5) Live Television:.Live television channels which may be delivered with or without interactivity .