Harmonic introduced its DiviCom Electra 8000 encoding and transcoding platform featuring support for MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) and MPEG-2 codecs in standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) formats at up to full frame-rate 1080p 50/60. The DiviCom Electra 8000 delivers four channels per rack unit (RU) and uses 40 percent less power than the industry average for HD AVC encoding.
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Harmonic said the new platform enables cable MSOs to deliver up to four HD MPEG-2 services in one QAM, satellite operators can increase channel count per transponder, telco IPTV service providers can improve reach with constant bit-rate HD video at 5 Mbps or less, and ATSC stations can implement a cost-effective "station-in-a-box" with integrated HD/SD statistical multiplexing and PSIP re-multiplexing.
Key features of the new Electra 8000 encoder include:
- A compact design supporting up to 4 video inputs in a 1-RU chassis, ideal for operators mindful of their carbon footprint, energy costs and rack space
- Support for either MPEG-2 or AVC encoding/transcoding, and a wide variety of SD and HD formats, including 1080p24 and full frame-rate 1080p50/60
- An enhanced compression engine with a unique multi-pass architecture incorporating the latest ASIC and DSP/FPGA technologies
- An innovative high quality second channel output, capable of delivering a variety of resolutions, from picture-in-picture all the way up to full HD resolution for switched digital video (SDV) or time-shifted TV applications
- A built-in broadcast quality up/down converter for differentiated services such as an HD broadcast of the premium SD lineup
- Integrated statistical multiplexing "in the box" with Harmonic's DiviTrackMX, or support for DiviTrackIP in LAN or distributed WAN environments
- IP or ASI outputs, multiple audio format options, native support for Digital Program Insertion (DPI), and FLEX integrated decoding with IP, 8VSB or ASI inputs.
