Tektronix RFM300
ATSC/8-VSB DTV Monitor

Tektronix RFM300 Shown Product Information Datasheet 715 KB Price & Ordering Info PDF Help Tektronix Video Promotions

RFM300 provides a cost effective solution for monitoring DTV transmitter sites for FCC compliance. Continuously monitor the signal quality with key RF parameters like the symbol distribution water fall chart and MER measurements.

Features & Benefits

• Comprehensive confidence monitoring at the RFM 8VSB modulated layer with the inclusive 8VSB interface card. This includes monitoring of the symbol distribution waterfall chart and MER, BER, and SNR measurements for continuous monitoring of signal quality.
• PSIP analysis and repetition-rate graphing allows broadcasters to determine that the system information is present and correct in the transport stream for ensuring FCC compliance.
• Multilayer, multichannel, remote monitoring and measurements at the RF, and MPEG transport stream layers to ATSC A/65 standards.
• Service logging supports verification of service-level agreements to ensure that all contractual obligations are met.
• Unique dual-level alarming and seven-day trend information proactively identifies impending problems before they become visible to the viewer without additional costly RF test equipment.
• Video and Audio backhaul for content checking and verification allows a broadcaster to view transmitted content in the native, uncompressed format.
• Unique learning capability creates a true "monitor by exception" mode of operation. This reduces operational expenditure by eliminating non-customer-impacting alarms to focus resources only on critical activities.
• FlexVuPlus™ uniquely empowers operations staff with the simplest information necessary to prove their service is delivering above their defined thresholds for FCC compliance.
• Remote recording allows capture and analysis of stream events for expert offline analysis to diagnose difficult and intermittent problems, requiring no engineer site visits.
• Comprehensive user-defined template monitoring ensures right content at the right place at the right time, while content ratings checking ensures only appropriate content broadcast.
• Embedded architecture designed specifically for continuous 24/7 operation maximizes service assurance, thus minimizing cost of customer complaints and equipment maintenance (disk-free operation).

Applications

• The RFM300 is a powerful solution for monitoring DTV transmitter sites along with off-air monitoring as well as contribution and distribution monitoring at local and national operation centers and head-ends.

RFM300 Delivers Comprehensive DTV Monitoring

The RFM300 provides a complete solution for real-time DTV monitoring of MPEG transport streams over RF interfaces. The comprehensive RF and PSIP confidence-monitoring capability provides a powerful and cost-effective solution for monitoring DTV transmitter sites along with contribution and distribution feeds at local and national operation centers for FCC compliance.

The RFM300 delivers comprehensive RF 8VSB measurements that includes symbol distribution waterfall chart, MER, and PSIP analysis that includes an Electronic Program Guide. This can be combined with a single diagnostic option to provide enhanced diagnostic capability that includes detailed service logging, in-depth PCR analysis, triggered recording, and template testing. The extended confidence-monitoring probes can be installed throughout the network and powerful diagnostic capability can be added to the key monitoring points where transport streams are manipulated.

For extended confidence monitoring FlexVuPlus™ uniquely provides configurable summary displays that include video thumbnail and Electronic Program Guide (EPG) views. This empowers operational staff with the simplest information necessary to ensure their service is delivering above their defined thresholds for superior Quality of Service and FCC compliance.
FlexVuPlus™ configurable windows in ATSC mode	Unique learning capability creates a true "monitor by exception" mode of operation. This reduces operational expenditure by eliminating non-customer-impacting alarms to focus resources only on critical activities. Video and audio backhaul for content checking and verification, along with remote recording allows capture and analysis of stream events. This supports expert offline analysis to diagnose difficult and intermittent problems, requiring no engineer site visits.
Electronic Program Guide View (EPG)    Video Thumbnails (both MPEG-2 and H.264 supported) Typical Monitoring Points for Terrestrial Hybrid System

The optional diagnostic option provides:

• Triggered recording to be captured and rapidly analyzed in greater depth using powerful offline analysis tools such as the Tektronix MPEG Test System Standalone Software*1.
• Exception monitoring with simple automated template generation from reference streams. Template testing checks a number of key parameters to ensure that the transport stream has been constructed as the broadcaster intended. These parameters include the Transport Stream ID and Network ID, the number of programs in the multiplex, that each program has all of its components (Video, Audio, Data, Teletext, Subtitles), and Conditional Access (CA) status.
• Bit rate testing determines whether PIDs, programs, services, or user-defined groups of PIDs are within user-definable limits to ensure correct multiplex operation. Tektronix-proprietary PID variability test gives indication of PID bit rate variation to assess effects of statistical multiplexing.
• In-depth PCR analysis with graphical results views enable timing and jitter measurements to be made to ensure correct operation of the network.
• Comprehensive service logging enables verification of service-level agreements to ensure that contractual obligations are met.
• Cost-effective polling of multiple RF channels.