Westnet Summer 2005 – UC Boulder Syringa Networks Video over GigE Steve Maloney June 23, 2005

Video Needs Rural Telcos adding cable TV-like services for the “triple play” Distribution from head-end (satellite downlinks) to distant locations Local terrestrial broadcast stations delivery (to cable system head-ends, telco head-ends, DBS collectors, campuses and hospitals), particularly DTV channels that are not repeated through translators VOD and V(A)OD (the Netflix/Tivo model that is evolving ~ (A) stand for “almost

Transport Options Dedicated fiber pair ATM GigE

GigE Advantage Multi-point drops Ample bandwidth for multiple channels Cost per channel lower, compared to ATM, when the number of channels get larger GigE build-out can be leveraged for other (non-video) Ethernet services

Syringa GigE Network GigE on Movaz DWDM frequency Cico 3550 routers as demarc Six nodes -- 230 miles end-to-end -- eventually 1300 miles Network uses IP multicast video, operates its L3 infrastructure using OSPF and PIM-Dense mode protocols

Network Map

IP Video

Syringa Deployment Channels input from three sources (IdahoPTV and Boise NBC via Cherrypicker, Gig-E; SSC via ATM; PMT from head-end as digital video switch output as Gig-E) Channels used at several locations Network extensions as need arises in new locations 172 channels, including audio, local broadcast channels from four DMAs (Boise, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls, Salt Lake City) Includes local DTV terrestrial broadcast channels not otherwise available in many rural communities (providing local news, public affairs and legislative coverage, educational (teacher, adult, teen) and kids programming)

Problems/Solutions Single management of IP addresses Defining a video transport service demarc Monitoring at what point, on what device (as it goes into the network, the end-user sees it, as it comes off the network, etc.; TV screen vs computer monitor) Meaningful monitoring, defining “trouble”, how to measure quality Lack of monitoring & measuring options, finally Ineoquest IP vs. telephone vs. broadcast skill sets

Drilling down, quality issues Two early quality issues were encountered: 1) connection to router at the digital head end site would go away occasionally for no apparent reason, 2) quality of signals from one of the off air points is poor (tiling and pixelization). First problem was issues within the internal network at digital head end site. Foundry worked with telco to resolve. Second problem is still being addressed – has improved, but not fixed

A tool to measure video quality Measuring Mpeg streams over IP multicast was required Demo of IneoQuest Singulus GT-1 for monitoring and analysis of video over IP networks (www.ineoquest.com) Network Determination is “OK” 172 steams 75% of streams variable bit rate – 25% constant bit rate Approximately 40% network utilization Zero Media loss as measured in network IP Packet jitter at an acceptable level Analyzed MPEG streams No detectable MPEG encoding impairments! Assumption is that errors are present prior to encoding Encoded errors will propagate through network Content sources IPTV, Silverstar, PMT Stream impairments at only on one source Next Step – take measurements prior to encoder at problem site

Looking Forward Local broadcast signals to hospitals, nursing homes, campuses, resorts Local terrestrial broadcasters HD programming Additional telco owner participation Non-telco customers GigE around east ring with same architecture GigE around west ring -- 3550s on separate fiber pair

Links http://www.ineoquest.com/page.php/id/225 http://www.syringanetworks.net

That’s It Questions? Thanks for inviting me -- an emeritus member -- to Westnet. I appreciate it.