JACKSON COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD Marianna, Florida Down and Dirty IPTV
Topics of discussion: The goal of this presentation is to introduce you to Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and to show you how to use it effectively on a small budget. 1) What is IPTV? 2) Why do I need IPTV? 3) What s wrong with my existing Coax CCTV (Closed Circuit TV) System? 4) Is IPTV cost effective? 5) How can I implement IPTV on a small budget? 6) Can I Remote Broadcast from anywhere on campus or district-wide? 7) Can I have multiple IPTV video steams?
1) WHAT IS IPTV? Internet Protocol television (IPTV) is a system through which television services are delivered using the Internet protocol suite over a packet-switched network such as a LAN or the Internet, instead of being delivered through traditional terrestrial antenna, satellite signal, and cable television formats. Unlike downloaded media, IPTV offers the ability to stream the media in smaller batches, directly from the source. As a result, a client media player can begin playing the data (such as a movie) before the entire file has been transmitted. This is known as streaming media. IPTV is one form of multicast video streaming. Multicast streaming is a way to send one video stream to many locations simultaneously. Only the users who request the video stream through a media player actually receives the video stream but the stream is available to all users on the LAN or Vlan.
2) Why do I need IPTV? Plain and simple. IPTV is the future. IPTV provides HD TV to all users on the network. IPTV provides a snow free high definition video program (TV) to every computer regardless of how far away you are from the source program (usually the media center). It is easy to use. Just double-click on an icon. IPTV can be set up in a short amount of time. IPTV is virtually maintenance free.
3) What s wrong with my existing Coax CCTV System? Requires a lot of maintenance from a skilled technician. Signal loss. Depending on the type of coax used, there can be up to 6db of signal loss every 100 feet of cable. This is why your television signal gets worse the farther away you are from the source usually the media center. Coax CCTV requires many components to make it work: such as program sources (cable TV provider, satellite dish, cameras, etc.), tuners, modulators, combiners, splitters, taps, amplifiers, coax cable and connectors, TV F connector face plates, TV patch cords, and finally the television set. Adjustments on one modulated channel can affect the signal quality of adjacent channels. Easily damaged by lightning or physical damage by rodents. Time consuming to install and maintain.
4) Is IPTV cost effective? In my opinion, YES. Each district or school has to decide this for themselves. As for Jackson County School Board YES. The amount of money saved in labor and materials alone makes it cost effective. After the initial investment for a video encoder it is virtually maintenance free. IPTV can literally be up and running in a matter of minutes and available to everyone on campus in less than an hour. (This could be hundreds of users/computers)
When you compare the cost of running a coax drop to a location, installing power, installing a TV bracket and television set to pushing out a video player program and video steam shortcut icon to literally hundreds of computers, IPTV wins hands down. When installing a coax TV system, you need an engineer or a very skilled TV system technician to design it. A single coax TV drop can cost up to $1500 with no guaranty of a snow free picture.
When you install an IPTV video encoder, you are guaranteed a high definition video signal to users on your network regardless of how far away they are from the source program. It is delivered to each computer on the network as a video stream and accessed through a video player program. Multiple encoders will provide multiple streams (program channels). IPTV systems can provide video on demand (VOD) or stored content by adding additional equipment and video servers. You can start simple and easily add to and grow your system as your budget allows. Bottom line.. Yes, it is very cost effective.
5) How can I implement IPTV on a small budget? Jackson County Schools uses a VSI (Visionary Solutions Inc.) AVN-441-EDU video encoder purchased from Edco Education for $2395 each plus shipping. The AVN-441-EDU encoder will accept inputs from HDMI devices, component RGB devices or composite A/V devices (only one device at a time) and then outputs a multicast video stream to your network. The video stream is then viewed by a free video player such as VLC Player.
Encoder Inputs: The AVN-441-EDU video encoder accepts a variety of inputs: HDMI, component RGB video, or composite video. Audio can be connected using the RCA inputs or on the audio terminal block.
When possible, I use a DVD/VCR with a builtin turner as a video switch. This allows the option of having up to 5 different inputs to select from: play a DVD, play a VHS tape, select a TV program from Comcast via the tuner, a laptop via input AV1 or a camera via input AV2. You can only output one source at a time, but this configuration allows you to easily switch between inputs.
Add a computer for School Announcements: Use a VGA to composite video adapter to connect a laptop computer to an A/V input on the DVD/VHS unit. Use a PowerPoint presentation for school announcements.
When a DVD/VHS with built in tuner is not available you can use a inexpensive video switch.
Cottondale Elementary School This configuration uses an inexpensive video switch to select which input will be sent to the video encoder.
Add a Decoder to existing televisions: If you have areas that already have a television set, you can add a decoder at the TV to receive the IPTV signal. The decoder box requires an internet connection and connects to the TV with A/V cables.
6) Can I Remote Broadcast from anywhere on campus or district wide? Yes. You can purchase a mobile broadcaster which consist of a camera, tripod & dolly, and enclosed video encoder for around $8000 or you can build your own by adding an encoder to an existing school camera and tripod.
Graceville Elementary School remote broadcast camera: This unit was built using an existing camera and tripod. I mounted the video encoder to one leg of the tripod and attached a power cord and network cable. Just plug in the power and plug network cable into a live network jack and you are ready to broadcast.
Sneads High School Remote Broadcast Camera: This unit was built using the school s existing camera and tripod. This is broadcasting the 2015 Graduation in the Gym to the Auditorium on to a large projector screen.
7) Can I have multiple IPTV video streams? Yes. You will need one video encoder per video stream or channel. Just like a Coax CCTV system uses a modulator for each school channel, if you want multiple video streams or channels you will need one encoder for each stream. If you have multiple encoders (video streams) you can create multiple shortcut icons on your computer desktop for easy access to each video stream or channel.
Shortcut Icons for multiple Video Streams channels : If you have multiple video encoders you can create a shortcut for each video stream.
Each video encoder has a unique video stream address similar to a web address: Marianna High School UDP://@225.168.1.1:1234 Cottondale Elem School - UDP://@225.168.1.5:1234 Cottondale High School - UDP://@225.168.1.10:1234 The stream address is selected by the user from the standard multicast address range and can be any address between 224.0.0.0 thru 239.255.255.255. The port numbers range from 1 to 65535. Your video encoder sales representative and your IT/MIS department will help you select this address.
Set up and Configuration: Initial Setup and configuration is accomplished by connecting a laptop to the network input jack on the encoder with a cross-over cable and using a web browser. Then manage the encoder through a web browser when you need to make changes.
Useful links: www.edcoeducation.com www.vsicam.com www.safarimontage.com www.z-band.com www.iptvmiddleware.com www.teracue.com
Presentation by: AL Cherry Master Technician Jackson County School Board 850-482-1200 ext. 218 Cell 850-718-7196 Email al.cherry@jcsb.org