TEST REPORT IPTV Operator Software System Part 2 AmiNET130M IPTV receiver Thomas Haring The back panel sports an HDMI output, optical audio output and network interface as well as USB connection. The box comes complete with a sort of pedestal which you may use in case Now that we re through with the features and potential of the NetUP IPTV Combine 4x server it s time to have a closer look at one of the compatible IPTV boxes. We have selected the AmiNET 130M from manufacturer Ami. One of the most striking characteristics is its small size, which measures only 114x102x35 mm, and its solid build quality. The chassis is made of genuine aluminium, which suggests the box is built to last. The TELE-satellite website as presented via the Ami IPTV set-top box 0.52 All you can see on the front panel is a status LED indicating the current operating mode. 36 TELE-satellite Global Digital TV Magazine 02-03/2011 www.tele-satellite.com
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11 16 12 17 13 18 14 15 IPTV receiver OSD 1. Favourites list with EPG 2. EPG overview of all available channels 3. List with IPTV channels 4. Additional channels can be purchased and added by simply using the remote control 5. VOD content by genre 6. Access to personal user account 7. The current channel package can be changed directly on the set-top box using the remote control 8. Customer account overview (credits / debits) 9. A PIN code can be activated to avoid unauthorised access to the IPTV box 10. IP status information 11. Available OSD skins 12. The OSD can be translated into additional languages by the operator, if required 13. Marking an event in the EPG overview for automatic channel switching 14. Listing and editing timer entries 15. Keying in an address in the web browser 16. Favourites list of the web browser 17. Info bar with details about the current event 18. Language selection www.tele-satellite.com 02-03/2011 TELE-satellite Global Digital TV Magazine 39
19 20 21 22 23 you want or need to place the receiver in an upright position to save valuable space. Also included in the package are HDMI cable and remote control with a convenient design and nicely laid out buttons that provide just the feedback you require. At the time of our test the operating manual was available in Russian only, but even with additional languages provided in future chances are you will never need to open it. This is because contrary to a satellite receiver an IPTV box receives its entire OSD and control interfaces from the IPTV server and requires user input in this regard. Installation Before we even begin with the first step we have to discard conventional thinking stemming by and large from satellite receivers. Terrestrial, cable or satellite receivers come complete with pre-set software and all we need to do is hook up all required cables and press the ON button. It s a totally different story with an IPTV box, which runs via middleware and therefore has integrated default operating software. With the middleware structure an IPTV box connects to the IPTV server which then provides the user software. This is to make sure both IPTV server and IPTV box are perfectly compatible with each other, and it makes setting up a new box so much easier. After all, there s thing you can do wrong if the IPTV server takes over the task of setting up your box. All required settings and parameters are provided by the IPTV server, which means they will always be correct. While in theory this almost sounds to good to be true, in actual use the DHCP server of the IPTV Combine 4x must be activated so that each new IPTV box within the existing IPTV network is assigned an individual IP address immediately and automatically. This at the same time makes sure the box is able to receive IP data from the server and its DNS server. So we first have to activate all required functions via the web interface of the IPTV Combine 4x and define a range of IP addresses to be assigned to IPTV boxes. Only then can we connect the AmiNET130M to our flat screen TV via HDMI and to the IPTV network with an RJ45 cable. Finally, we connect the supplied power unit to the mains. The box powers up, immediately detects the IPTV Combine 4x server and downloads all software elements. One minute later this process is finished and we are asked to key in a valid activation key. Everyday use With regard to the IPTV Combine 4x we have mentioned before that the activation key is required to customise the IPTV box and to create a tailor-made channel list, channel availability and billing system for 19. Each channel can be stored with a short station description and channel logo (seen here: Das Erste HD from Germany) 20. Each channel can be stored with a short station description and channel logo (seen here: MBC 4 from Dubai) 21. Changing the rate plan 22. Radio stations can be transmitted as well via the IPTV network 23. Selecting VOD content from the dedicated menu item using the IPTV set-top box software 40 TELE-satellite Global Digital TV Magazine 02-03/2011 www.tele-satellite.com
each registered customer. As we have already created a specific customer account through the billing feature of the IPTV Combine 4x we can quickly key in the activation code generated by the system. The code consists of a total of six blocks with five digits each. We did t specifically define each and every option for our test environment, so the AmiNET130M first wants to kw our preferred skin and presents us with all available OSD languages. As soon as these basic settings are determined the IPTV box switches to the first available channel and TV viewing please is about to begin. With a touch of the MENU button the main menu pops up on screen and is divided into six sections with the skin we have chosen before: TV channels, Video-on-demand, Radio, Personal account, Settings and Extras. The TV channels section shows a list of all TV content available to the respective customer. If required, individual entries can be added to a favourites list for quick access. EPG data is available either for a single channel or as an overview so that it is easy to check at a glance what is currently shown on available channels. It is of course possible to call up EPG data for events on coming days, The Radio section is t shown right below the TV channels section, which presumably is for commercial reasons. We should still like to mention it at this stage, as it is organised just like the TV section. The second menu item deals with Video-ondemand content, which is organised according to name, group or genre. Every available film is shown on the upper area of the screen complete with its title. The screen section dedicated to EPG information in TV mode shows extended information about each video-on-demand (text, cover image, price, etc.). If you decide to buy content you only need to press the OK button, with the price of the film being deducted from your credit. Purchased on-demand content is shown in a dedicated sub-menu that lists all content you have purchased with your available credit. This is also the menu section you may use to select and activate near-vod content. Thanks to the sheer size of the IPTV server hard disk it is possible to make available quite an impressive range of on-demand content, and a virtual keyboard assists customers in looking for specific content. User-friendliness is the key to success, and with the solutions provided by NetUP chances are customers will use the on-demand feature more readily. The Personal account section provides access to user data, selected packages and account credit. Here, customers can also upgrade to an extended package or look at all past transactions (credit topup, used credit). With this feature in place customers can change packages, buy on-demand content and keep a check on purchases without requiring assistance from hotel staff (as in our test scenario). This gives customers full control while t wasting valuable staff resources. In the Settings menu it is possible to change OSD language and appearance, and for service technicians to call up information on IP data and other relevant network parameters. The range of features of the AmiNET130M is completed with the Extras section of the main menu. All timer entries can be listed here, and a rather basic but netheless very functional web browser is available for surfing the web. To that end a virtual keyboard is shown on screen, and frequently visited sites can even saved o n t o a favourites list for easy access at a later stage. During our test we ticed that NetUP has also thought about implementing basic functions in TV, radio and on-demand modes. For example, the colour-coded function keys can be used to change the language of the current event (in case more than one is available), and a smartly designed info bar is inserted in the lower section of the screen every time a new channel is selected. Apart from channel name this info bar also shows program information for the current channel. We were impressed at how quickly a new channels shows up on screen it only takes about one second, and together with very fast reaction to commands sent from the remote control zapping is real fun with the AmiNET130M. During playback of ondemand content it is of course possible to rewind and fast-forward (at different speeds) and pause. A PVR system at large, however, cant be implemented with the IPTV set-up tested by us. and timer entries can be created directly by marking an event so that the box will automatically switch to the corresponding channel before that event starts. The system we tested, however, does t support a PVR feature for selecting events to be recorded. 42 TELE-satellite Global Digital TV Magazine 02-03/2011 www.tele-satellite.com
As far as security and without default software, that comes with the IPTV and logical control of the access control are concerned either the entire IPTV box or only the purchasing function can be blocked by way of an access code. Conclusion The AmiNET130M IPTV box from Ami is a perfectly capable and wellbuilt IPTV box. Contrary to DVB-S, DVB-T and DVB-C which means our conclusion covers the Ami box as the hardware component on the one hand, and NetUP as software provider on the other hand. To put it short, the Ami hardware leaves thing to be desired. What s more, the build quality achieved by Ami surpasses that of many competitors and easily sets an example when it comes to workmanship. The same box. Apart from its highquality appearance it can also be used as a universal remote to control all currently available TV panels who could ask for more? Thanks to the fact that server and receiver are in perfect harmony the IPTV box is in a brilliant position for exploiting all features provided by the IPTV Combine 4x. In particular, box which should be selfexplanatory even to the techlogically challenged. If you add to that the complex control module of the IPTV server for business applications the two are a perfect match. With a whole range of customisable settings the IPTV Combine 4x together with the AmiNET130M should to the trick for almost any scope reception IPTV boxes come goes for the remote control we appreciated the simple of application. ENERGY DIAGRAM Apparent Power Mode Apparent Active Factor Reception 11.4 W 6 W 0.52 Active Power Active use with channel switching and watching live TV during the first 15 minutes, standby during the second 15 minutes. Manufacturer TECHNICAL DATA Ami Techlogies, Buckingway Business Park, Anderson Road, Swavesey, Cambridge CB24 4UQ, United Kingdom Fax +44 (0) 1954 234 101 Email Model Function HDMI connector Scart connector Audio/Video output analogue YUV output S-Video output Digital audio output Ehternet WLAN USB connector Codecs Video resolutions Input Voltage Dimensions Weight info@amicom.com AmiNET130M IPTV Set-top-Box yes (HDMI 1.2a with HDCP) yes (optical) yes yes MPEG-2 MP@HL, MPEG-4 pt10 A, VC/H.264 HP@L4 up to 720p and 1080i 5V DC 114x102x35mm 262g www.tele-satellite.com 02-03/2011 TELE-satellite Global Digital TV Magazine 43