Acterna Offers MPEG-4 Test Tool

LAS VEGAS and GERMANTOWN, Md. -- Acterna today announced it has added real time MPEG-4 analysis capability to its digital broadcast test and troubleshooting platforms (DTS-330 and DTS-200), the industry's fastest, most flexible, and comprehensive digital network test and management solution. Now able to handle MPEG-4 in addition to its prior capabilities of testing MPEG-2, DVB, and ATSC standards, Acterna's DTS product suite will be on display at NAB, April 17-20, Las Vegas, Booth # SU10043 in South Hall 3.

For equipment validation and acceptance testing, the DTS-330 and DTS-200 verify system performance by pinpointing and resolving equipment and system failures, and addressing interoperability issues while complying with the complex requirements of MPEG-2, DVB, and ATSC standards. The DTS-330 and DTS-200 are able to support several different combinations of inputs and outputs, such as QPSK, ASI, full bandwidth GigE, SMPTE-310, DHEI, QAM, COFDM and 8VSB.

The addition of MPEG-4 real time analysis is a critical feature for broadcasters deploying new and advanced compression technology in their digital networks. Since MPEG-4 provides the means for more efficient use of bandwidth, some operators are planning to use it to offer digital video services in networks that could not support the bandwidth requirements of video. Other uses include support for the deployment of value added services like high-definition television.

"We are excited to introduce the MPEG-4 feature to our popular DTS product line, making a more robust single-platform test set that provides even more application modules easily configured to fit multiple test scenarios for NEMs, terrestrial broadcasters, system integrators, cable operators, and telecommunications companies," said Sudeep Bose, product marketing manager of Acterna's DTS Product Line. "The addition of real time MPEG-4 analysis to the popular DTS line of products provides our customers with the ability to use the same test instrument to analyze, troubleshoot and monitor their entire network regardless of the variety of codecs being used. It also ensures reliability and efficiency when deploying new services and maintaining the highest level of QoS."

Acterna Corp.