IPTV - What's All the Fuss About?

IPTV - OVERVIEW
What is IPTV?
Iptv stands for internet protocol television, which is a technology for transporting data information and Audio and Video (AV), across an IP based digital network. This could include Ethernet,WAN,internet or LAN. Once you add set top boxes (STB), AV sources can be streamed across existing networks to PCs or TVs. IPTV can be one to one (Unicast) or one to many (Multicast).
The most successful type of transmission is offered by Multicast streams as it's possible for the bandwidth to be shared amongst all of the users who want to view that particular stream. No matter how many viewers (providing the network is correctly configured), a 4Mbs stream for example, will only use that amount of bandwidth. No bandwidth is consumed if the channel is not being viewed.
Unicast transmissions are most often used for two-way transmissions - for example Video On Demand (VOD), only the person who has ordered the content receives it with this system. You can pause, play, rewind, fast forward etc. Unicast is used for linking buildings via a WAN for TV channels, cameras etc. The negative effect of unicast on the system is bandwidth, as each viewer uses their own amount. 100 users all viewing 4Mbs of VOD will use 400Mbs of the network's bandwidth.
IPTV - The Advantages
There are many advantages over RF coaxial based transmissions. AV streams can easily be inserted into an existing network and viewed without changes to the existing infrastructure. Channels can be grouped and controlled to suit personal preferences. STBs can be controlled across the network or internet VOD servers. Local content, films and sport can be added for revenue stream in perhaps a hotel, or maybe offered free to a student campus. Streams can be viewed and recorded onto PCs without the need for extra cabling and TV capture cards. This is useful for banks, businesses, news agencies etc.
Digital IP based networks are practically immune to ghosting, noise, harmonics, cross modulation, reflections etc - problems that are often seen in analogue systems. Some of these problems have been resolved using digital transmission across the coaxial networks, however, these still suffer from some of the above.
In brief, the picture quality of a correctly installed IPTV system is superior to almost all other means of transmission.

Article Source: http://www.freetextarticles.com

John Key runs Keydigital Productions and utilises IPTV Technology from TV Over LAN in his business.

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