Jump to content

Next gen Fox HD Splicer


rv65

Recommended Posts

Well Fox is planning to deploy a new splicer to all affiliates. It will debut in 2009 and will offer some good improvements. It supports Weather/Emergency overlays. Now you can have weather overlays while still being able to watch the show in HD. Thats one limitation since overlays have to force the affiliate to show a 4:3 SD image. There will be some new updates as well. I think the splicer is a good and elegant solution. This will make it better.

Link to comment
https://localnewstalk.net/topic/4658-next-gen-fox-hd-splicer/
Share on other sites

I'm sure the O&O's in the major markets will get it first then the smaller ones will get it. It will be done by market. KSWB will of course get it. I hope they don't mess up the splicer. The splicer can really save bandwidth transponder wise.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Version 2 of the HD splicer should come out by in time for next football season. Maybe there will be an 18 mbps mode for stations without subchannels. Yes it will have graphics insertion capability for severe weather warnings. That means it's not ready in time for the DTV transition. Next football season sounds likely. Hope they fixed the reliability problems. The splicer has some reliability problems mainly with the cooling system.

  • 4 months later...

Well they are certainly preparing for it. Fox took down a transponder and reconfigured it to DVB-S2 at 8PSK modulation. Fox is moving to a DVB-S2 HD only distribution system. Paytv providers can easily downscale it to SD viewers. Fox is doing surveys of stations so expect them to upgrade this soon.. The splicer upgrade will contain 3 splicers in Phase 1. Phase 2 there will only be 2 splicers. The new splicers are made by Cisco. This will be a 2 phase process.

 

Phase 1 is where they put in new radio gear, PC, and the splicers. The existing BP5100 will only be used for putting in the local bug. The Cisco one is capable of inserting logos but not right now. The emergency updates will have to be switched to SD for now. This will happen some time this year. Fox will provide a Cable internet connection to monitor the splicers or to communicate with the station. Stage 2 is where they will use just the Cisco splicers. The BP5100 will finally be retired. This is when they can do weather alerts without disrupting the HD picture. It will be some kind of animation file they can insert on to the screen since there is no HD-SDI input. It's still better than having to revert to SD to display those alerts.

 

More info on this is available at http://splicer.foxpico.com

  • 3 weeks later...

The Satellite radio gear may be installed before they put in the new splicer due to the complexities of installing both at the same time. They should have the new Motorola radio gear installed by August 14. The majority of affiliates should have the new Splicer 2.0 by September 1st though it might take longer than that.

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 10 months later...
Fox is still working on a solution that will finally allow stations to show weather/disaster alerts without having to switch over to SD.

 

Does this just have to do with overlays? WITI can show weather info in HD by scaling back the video and showing the alert underneath...

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using Local News Talk you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.