German public broadcaster Saarländischer Rundfunk (SR), part of the federal broadcaster ARD, has ordered a DVB-T multiplex center from Thomson. The installation will allow SR’s digital services to officially go on air by the end of 2007.
SR invited Thomson to build a digital playout center on the Göttelborn site to be monitored from its headquarters in Saarbrücken. The solution is based on the new Thomson NetProcessor 9040, providing statistical multiplexing, transrating and PSI/SI management in a single unit. A redundant pair of NetProcessor 9040 devices is provided linked by an automated changeover switch to guarantee very high availability of the MPTS stream to the single frequency transmitter network.
As well as the redundant NetProcessor 9040 the project also includes an XMS control system which allows the whole solution to be monitored and maintained from a standard web browser, either in the control room or from remote locations. A Thomson Granite Sentinel MPEG quality of service monitoring system is also included, also under XMS control, to ensure a consistently high quality signal is delivered to the viewer at home.
