Imagine running a multinational radio service that broadcasts 1,500 hours of programs a day, in almost 60 languages, with transmitters that reach every nook and cranny of the globe — from Tirana, Albania to Houston, Texas.
That, in a nutshell, describes China Radio International, one of many international broadcasters that rely on QNX-powered audio routers from Danish company NTP Technology A/S.
Serving an audience of millions calls for seriously reliable equipment. It's no surprise, then, that NTP's audio routers are engineered for 24/7 operation, with self-monitoring capabilities, module hot-swapping, redundant power supplies, and, of course, the QNX Neutrino OS.
Why QNX? Because it offers the fault-tolerant software architecture that NTP needs to achieve nonstop operation. It also provides the realtime performance to handle multiple feeds and signals simultaneously, and the dynamic upgradeability to support new features without service interruptions.
Enough from me. Grab the popcorn, dim the lights, and listen NTP's Mikael Vest describe the challenges of modern broadcasting, and how QNX technology helps address them:
Before I go, I have to mention how much we enjoyed working with Mikael. When I cold-called him about doing a video, he immediately said yes. No hesitation, no maybe's, just a let's-do-it attitude. And when it came time to shoot the video, Mikael came through with flying colors, despite suffering from a flu to end all flus. A real trooper and a great guy.
For previous posts on NTP, click here and here.
Showing posts with label Broadcast automation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadcast automation. Show all posts
11/09/2010
Spain's national radio broadcaster chooses QNX-based audio routers
This just in: NTP Technology, a supplier of digital routing solutions to the radio and television industry, has sold 15 of its QNX-based audio routers to the Spanish national broadcaster Radio Nacional de Espana (RNE).The purchase follows the recent installation of an NTP audio routing system at RNE’s Madrid headquarters. RNE will deploy the new systems in a number of regional studios.
Okay, I know what you’re asking yourself: “What the heck is an audio router?”
Well, believe me, I’m no expert. But from what I understand, it provides the audio infrastructure for a radio station, connecting sound studios via a digital network. The router must connect multiple feeds and signals from various sources with great precision and reliability — when you’re broadcasting to an audience of millions, "dead air" isn't an option.
It’s no surprise, then, that NTP’s digital audio routers are designed for nonstop, 24/7 operation. For instance, the NTP 625 router, which serves as the core of the company's routing systems, can house up to 18 plug-in modules configured as 5 RU hot-swappable cards. Each chassis can scale up to 2048 x 2048 crosspoints and can accommodate a redundant power supply and a redundant frame controller.
The NTP 625 router also takes advantage of the QNX Neutrino operating system, which, according to the NTP website, "has very high reliability and is specially designed for critical industrial applications."
A large number of national broadcasters rely on NTP’s audio routing solutions, including China Radio International, which I’ve profiled in a previous post.
For more information on this story, read the press release.
5/01/2008
An audience of millions
Pin a world map to your wall, put on a blindfold, and throw a dart at the map. Grab a shortwave radio and take a plane to wherever the dart landed. Switch on the radio and start twiddling with the tuner. Chances are, you’ll pick up China Radio International (CRI).
CRI, a state-owned radio network of the People’s Republic of China, embodies the "think big" approach. Every day, its 50+ shortwave transmitters pump out 290 hours of programming worldwide — in 42 languages, no less. Those transmitters target just about every corner of the globe, from Tirana, Albania to Houston, Texas.
Broadcasting all that content takes some serious back-end equipment. This week, NTP Technology A/S, a Danish manufacturer of high-end broadcast products, announced that CRI is expanding its broadcast center with NTP 625 audio routers, controlled by the QNX Neutrino RTOS. Not surprisingly, these routers are equipped for 24/7 operation, with full monitoring capabilities, hot-swapping for all modules, and redundant power supplies.
A view inside the CRI broadcast center. An NTP 625 audio router is in Bay 1, at the upper left.
I did some digging, and it turns out that QNX-based systems control hundreds of other radio and TV stations in the United States, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, the UK, and other countries in Europe and Asia. Vendors offering QNX-based broadcast automation systems include Aveco, Harris , IBIS Transmission Automation, Thomson Grass Valley, and, of course, NTP Technology.
I now realize that hundreds of millions of people worldwide watch TV broadcasts controlled by QNX. On the one hand, that’s pretty cool. On the other hand, shouldn’t those millions of people get off their bums, walk out the door, and, well, do something?
CRI, a state-owned radio network of the People’s Republic of China, embodies the "think big" approach. Every day, its 50+ shortwave transmitters pump out 290 hours of programming worldwide — in 42 languages, no less. Those transmitters target just about every corner of the globe, from Tirana, Albania to Houston, Texas.
Broadcasting all that content takes some serious back-end equipment. This week, NTP Technology A/S, a Danish manufacturer of high-end broadcast products, announced that CRI is expanding its broadcast center with NTP 625 audio routers, controlled by the QNX Neutrino RTOS. Not surprisingly, these routers are equipped for 24/7 operation, with full monitoring capabilities, hot-swapping for all modules, and redundant power supplies.
A view inside the CRI broadcast center. An NTP 625 audio router is in Bay 1, at the upper left.
I did some digging, and it turns out that QNX-based systems control hundreds of other radio and TV stations in the United States, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Russia, the UK, and other countries in Europe and Asia. Vendors offering QNX-based broadcast automation systems include Aveco, Harris , IBIS Transmission Automation, Thomson Grass Valley, and, of course, NTP Technology.
I now realize that hundreds of millions of people worldwide watch TV broadcasts controlled by QNX. On the one hand, that’s pretty cool. On the other hand, shouldn’t those millions of people get off their bums, walk out the door, and, well, do something?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)