As the ATSC 3.0 RF infrastructure continues growing nationwide in 2021, TV broadcasters need the latest tools available for ATSC 3.0 T&M and infrastructure. Several companies including DekTec have been leading the way to provide test solutions for compressed and uncompressed transport streams, most recently including full-ATSC 3.0 support. The company has also developed and supports DVB testing solutions and a variety of ancillary and other transport stream creation and packaging, testing and measurement tools.

The StreamXpert real-time stream analyzer is the company’s flagship product. StreamXpert 2 is it’s latest real-time transport-stream analyzer, and is the industry standard. StreamXpert 2, v2.14.0. was released in December 2020. StreamXpert analyzes and decodes many popular audio, video and metadata formats in real time, including new formats such as ATSC 3.0. This version is available to any user that is current with the StreamXpert maintenance program. Typically, a DTA-2131 SDR receiver card or a DTA-2139C is required for over-the-air RF testing. StreamXpert can also analyze live IP feeds or recorded streams. These devices are PCIe cards but DekTec is working on a SDR USB-3 receiver for 2021.

StreamXpert quickly reveals the more-hidden contents of OTT, ATSC 3.0 and other transport streams, and it helps users focus on metadata in great detail. Deep decoding of tables and descriptors can be accomplished with user-customizable templates. Integrated video, audio and teletext decoders support all industry-standard formats including HEVC, MPEG-H and Dolby AC4.

The StreamXpert solution is designed for testing, validation and quality monitoring of studio and head-end equipment with transport-stream output, such as multiplexers. StreamXpert combined with a DekTec DTU-245 ASI/SD-SDI input + output for USB 2 adaptor and a notebook to create a portable transport-stream analyzer. StreamXpert comes in two versions: Full (-SX) with all StreamXpert functionality, and Lite (-SL), a lower-priced version with decoding, basic recording functions and a basic transport-stream viewer only. The Full version is an essential tool for all digital-TV professionals that need a fully featured stream analyzer.

MPEG-H audio is a new audio-coding standard that uses 'audio objects' with specific positions in space. By sending separate audio channels and objects to the end device and mixing the streams there, the best audio experience can be achieved for every situation.

Many 2020 Upgrades

DekTec has been busy in 2020 upgrading many of its solutions. StreamXpress v3.27.0 was released in November 2020. It is the industry-standard file player for streaming to any DekTec output port. STL Transport Protocol (STLTP) for ATSC 3.0 was added to StreamXpress for use with DTA-2115B or DTU-315. It can also be used with a pre-recorded STLTP PCAP file to reconstruct a real-life ATSC 3.0 signal bit by bit in the lab.

MuxXpert is a real-time transport-stream multiplexer with GUI. MuxXpert v2.19.0 was released in September 2020 and supports most DekTec new hardware.

Xpect Mosaic is a 24/7 TS monitoring and multiviewer solution that provides 24/7 transport stream monitoring. Xpect v3.6.0 was released in September 2020.

VF-REC advanced TS/SDI/4K recording software is for any use case, from single file to full 24/7 compliance recording. VfRec v3.5.11 was released in September 2020.

Advanced Analysis

SdEye v3.7.1 was updated in September 2020. It is a cost-effective real-time visual analyzer for SD/HD/3G-SDI /4K UHD signals. It also analyzes EIA 608/708 Closed Captions and offline .dtsdi files. It provides teletext decoder and statistics, CRC and EDH error detection, data logging to CSV file and audible audio using PC speaker output.

SdEye features include real-time and offline waveform analyzer for SD-, HD-, 3G-SDI and 12G-SDI signals. For UHD the SdEye can analyze a single 12G-SDI or 4 x 3G-SDI using a DekTec card like the DTA-2174B or the DTA-2178. It displays a picture, YCbCr / RGB waveforms, vectorscope and peak meter and it shows all streams found in HANC and VANC. Combined with a DTU-351 and a notebook makes for a real portable waveform analyzer.

RF Analysis and Generation

Atsc3Xpert ATSC-3 reception and RF analysis software was updated to Atsc3Xpert v1.20.0 in November 2020 allowing a direct connection to StreamXpert for complete RF to video analysis of ATSC3.0 broadcast.

C2Xpert DVB-C2 RF analysis software was updated to C2Xpert v1.5.3 in September 2020.

T2Xpert in-depth DVB-T2 analysis software with T2-MI output option was upgraded to T2Xpert v1.9.0 in November 2020.

DekTec also recently announced that longtime OEM customer Inetsat has upgraded its product offering with new DekTec SDI/ASI cards.

Inetsat offers a cloud-based playout platform that can serve as an alternative for distributing TV channels via satellite. The cloud is used for media distribution, in combination with video servers that play out TV channels at central or remote facilities.

Many major broadcasters and service providers use Inetsat’s product for primary playout, disaster recovery, ad insertion and localization. The video servers support all resolutions from SD to UHD, and play out over SDI (uncompressed) or TS (compressed) over ASI or IP.

"With the advent of the new Colorado line of ASI/SDI combo cards, Inetsat has now deployed the DTA-2172 and DTA-2174B. The new cards offer a small footprint, higher density, and lower cost solution, allowing Inetsat to offer more flexible and cost-effective solutions to networks around the world" says Stephane Billat, GM of DekTec America Inc. "The Inetsat crew is very professional and very pleasant to work with. We are proud to have Inetsat as one of our happy and growing customers."

DekTec Celebrates 20th Anniversary

DekTec Digital Video was founded in 2000 by Sito Dekker and Maarten Ghijsen. The first product, the DTA-100 ASI Output for PCI, was designed by Maarten and hand-soldered by Sito in his attic room. The year 2000 was the year PCs became powerful enough to run digital video applications in real time. These factors contributed to DekTec's rapid growth into a major supplier of professional PC interfaces and digital-video test & measurement tools.

The DTU-245 was bundled with StreamXpress (test generator) and StreamXpert (stream analyzer), now the industry-standard T&M applications in the professional digital-video world.

Rumor has it that DekTec is coming with a new version in 2021 (DTU-345) capable of analyzing and generating ASI/SDI/HD-SDI/3G-SDI/12G-SDI in a small USB-3 package.

Another landmark product for DekTec is the DTU-315 portable modulator for all relevant digital-TV transmission standards used in the world. The design is a combination of smart software technology by Fabrice Bellard, advanced RF hardware and bold industrial design.

The modulators have enabled DekTec to become the world's leading supplier of test modulators and receivers. DekTec is still actively involved in the development of new standards, currently ATSC 3.0. In recent years, the development focus has shifted to products for developers (OEM).

Over the 20 years of its existence, DekTec has created an extensive portfolio of PCI Express cards, USB devices and innovative software solutions. The company is extremely grateful to its loyal customers, distributors, and partners, and is looking forward to another 20+ years of working together.