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Multiplexer

Flussonic Media Server provides all the necessary tools for implementing an enterprise-scale multiplexer that compiles multi-program MPEG-TS streams (MPTS) suitable for transmission to a satellite or cable network. It does not require any special hardware so you can use a regular server computer for multiplexing (however, you may need special cards for ingesting and sending the signal).

Multi-program streams are needed because the channel bandwidth in such networks is limited so you have to send as much programs as possible through one physical channel (cable or satellite). This is why several programs are packed into one stream.

The multiplexer does not make any changes to codecs, resolution and other video parameters, i.e. does not imply transcoding; it simply transfers several input signals to one output. Flussonic multiplexer can take any stream in the Flussonic Media Server configuration as an input and supports all common standards that you may encounter in satellite and cable TV field.

Flussonic also allows you to add an electronic program guide (EPG) to the MPTS, read and write teletext, use closed captions.

Multiplexer users

  • Satellite television operators that receive TV programs from TV channels and transmit them to the satellite.

    To send an MPTS to a satellite, you usually ingest a raw stream via SDI, HDMI or ASI, and then pack and send the MPTS.

  • Organizations that want to receive a signal from a content provider like a satellite operator and further broadcast it to their own cable network, for example, in a hospital, community, hotel, etc. Such organizations tend to use cable networks because they are already available at the facility, so there is no need in deploying an Ethernet network for IPTV. However, Flussonic can broadcast to Ethernet too.

    An important advantage is that Flussonic not only supports conversion from one physical medium to another (DVB-S -> DVB-C), but generates a new MPTS in which you can filter the programs, change their order, or add your own programs, for example, video from CCTV cameras, your own TV channel with VOD films (subject to copyright), your own TV show, etc.

    To send an MPTS to a cable network, you should receive the video from your content provider: it can be video from a satellite, UDP multicast, streams from the Internet including published via SRT, or even a signal from a terrestrial broadcasting tower. Then you can use all these to pack and send the MPTS, optionally with your own channels.

Supported standards

MPTS streams can be ingested and pushed by ASI, DVB, ATSC or ISDB standards, as well as UDP multicast. SDI and HDMI are used for transmitting raw data of a single program. You will need a capture card (board) to ingest all of those except multicast. The instructions on configuration of the connection of various capture cards with Flussonic Media Server can be found on the next pages in this section.

The signal usually comes from the satellite to the headend with Flussonic installed via DVB, ATSC or ISDB standards (depends on the region). SDI, ASI and HDMI standards are used in professional equipment when transmitting the signal within a telecom operator's facilities (within the same room or building); such a signal can come from the headend to the Flussonic ingest server. Thus, you can use Flussonic on all infrastructure nodes and in most cases you will not need any third party software or hardware.

Read more about data transfer in the networks of a telecom operator on the Digital TV broadcasting page.

See also Copying streams to learn how to emulate raw sources.