Program Clock Reference (PCR) measurements have been open to potential misinterpretation from the outset. The key specification, from ISO/IEC13818-1, which became well known throughout the industry, was for a tolerance for generated PCR values of ±500 ns. DVB inherited this and included it as part of its Measurement Guidelines – ETR290. While the guidelines indicated clearly that this measurement was not intended to include any transmission impairments, no real alternatives were available for assessment of PCR jitter. Subsequent operator experience with real systems led to a demand for refinement and greater clarification of PCR measurements – these form part of the revised ETR290, TR 101 290. This document is intended to provide an overview of these new PCR measurements. It describes why three additional measurements that together provide a very clear and valuable view of overall system performance have supplemented the original measurement.

Broadcast digital TV today originates from a wide variety of sources, and then passes through a myriad of devices, before finally reaching the viewer. It isssumed, but not always true, that the source material is free from defects, but this is not always true. Even if the source material is free from video and transmission artifacts, the wide array of devices that this material passes through often adds minor and occasionally major defects to the video. This application note shows you how to objectively rate a program at different points in the network to understand and pinpoint when and where degradation has occurred.

One of the MTS400's key tools is CaptureVu™ technology, an innovative triggering and stream capture system that allows you to find those difficult intermittent and complex problems that traditional analyzers miss during debug. CaptureVu technology allows you to set an error break point on an incoming real time or stored MPEG transport stream. By setting specific conditions for CaptureVu technology you allow the analyzer to find intermittent problems for you, trigger a recording to memory, or stop analysis to allow you to drill down to the route cause of an issue quickly and efficiently. CaptureVu technology significantly enhances MPEG system debug both for network commissioning and deployment, infrastructure equipment and consumer equipment development.

This guide provides the necessary information to establish a high quality of service through your entire digital video delivery workflow, including content readiness, live network monitoring and network troubleshooting

MPEG is one of the most popular audio/video compression techniques because it is not just a single standard. Instead it is a range of standards suitable for different applications but based on similar principles. MPEG is an acronym for the Moving Picture Experts Group which was set up by the ISO (International Standards Organization) to work on compression.

Quality of Service and Quality of Experience: Learn the benefits and faults of the two most common test methods for troubleshooting video signal problems and the critical capabilities required in an MPEG analyzer.

This how-to guide describes how to use the video backhauling functionality of the MTM400A (and its family of IPM/QAM/RFM monitors) to redirect a copy of any MPEG program across the network and back to an operator.
• With a network link of just a few feet, or several thousand miles, the MTM400A delivers a copy of the remote program to an operator for review. using:
• VLC
• Elecard
• Elecard HD AVC
• VQS1000 or any network-capable set top box
• The programs native compression is preserved.
• The MTM400A redirects the selected PIDs without altering them in any way
• The MTM400A automatically converts an MPTS PAT into an SPTS PAT when using the Graphical User Interface.
• The resulting video and audio seen by the local operator would be the same as that seen at the distant location

As broadcasters make the transition from exclusively analog video broadcasting to programming that includes compressed digital video, digital encoder designers are faced with the need to understand the MPEG-2 compression standard and the role it plays in designing robust MPEG equipment.

Consumers are rapidly switching from their old analog TV set top boxes to the newer digital boxes in order to get higher quality video, higher channel counts, and the extra services provided by digital broadcasters.