IPTV: Why a Wise Choice
The first question is: why do we want to have IPTV? The answer is that it can be viewed anywhere, at any time and on any device. It consists of digitally switched architecture and is not channel based.
With IPTV, you are able to stream the media in smaller batches directly from the source. This means that you can start playing your data (such as a favorite movie, show or the song you really like) long before the entire file has been transmitted.
What can you expect? Services such as Live Television, Time-shifted Television and Video on Demand (VOD).
An interactive programme guide allows you to search for content by title or actor’s name. Picture-in-picture functionality permits you to “channel surf” without leaving the programme you are watching. Other controls are available such as adjusting camera angle, accessing photos or music from the PC on the television set, using a wireless phone to schedule a recording of a show or adjusting controls for a child to watch a desired programme while parents are away.
Unfortunately, your IPTV can experience delays if the streamed data is unreliable. It has strict minimum speed requirements for delivery of moving pictures. Due to the limited connection speed and bandwidth available for a large IPTV customer base, service quality delivered can be reduced.
Streaming IPTV across wireless links within your home might prove troublesome due to issues with multipath and reflections of the RF signal carrying the IP data packets. Packets must arrive at the right time and in the right order. Improvements in wireless technology are starting to alleviate the problem by providing new and improved equipment. As the wireless area continues to mature, some IPTV service providers today may opt to use wired home networking technologies instead of wireless technologies.
You might ask: what is the bandwidth requirement for your IPTV service? Well, there is no absolute answer for this because the amount of bandwidth you need depends on the number of devices inside your household. In general, the more devices you have at home the greater your requirement for bandwidth will be.
If you are a residential user, your IPTV is often provided in conjunction with video on demand (VOD). At times, IPTV comes bundled together with VoIP and Internet access. If you are a commercial user this bundling is sometimes referred to as triple play service. If cellular service is added to this, it is called quadruple play.
Hybrid IPTV networks combining IPTV with conventional satellite TV deliver the highest levels of performance and reliability.
Hybrid IPTV’s popularity has increased with the emergence of online video sites such as YouTube and Vimeo and the service providers’ desire to offer analogue and digital terrestrial services in recent years.
Hybrid IPTV allows users to access a range of advanced interactive services such as VOD, video telephony, surveillance, gaming, shopping and e-government.
What does Video on Demand (VOD) do for you? It permits you to browse an online programme or film catalogue, to watch trailers and to then select a selected recording. You can then start playing the selected item nearly instantaneously on your TV or PC.
Encrypted VOD content allows you to avoid content piracy. You only have some time to play a chosen film following payment, after which it becomes unavailable.
Last but not least let us talk a little bit about IPTV Broadcast Technologies. One is Ethernet which is the dominant LAN technology. The other one is called ATM (or Asynchronous Transfer Mode). ATM solution fits all (WAN/MAN/LAN) and offers higher QOS (Quality of Service). Unfortunately, the drawback of ATM is that it is a complex technology that needs higher installation times and is more costly. Therefore if cost and time are really big issues for you, you should choose Ethernet as a broadcast technology for IPTV.
Darius Romanek
Mission Repair Centre Team 🙂
