Tektronix Adds IP, RF and Enhanced H.264 Analysis Capabilities to MTS400 Series MPEG Test Systems

BEAVERTON, Ore., April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Tektronix, Inc. , a leading, worldwide provider of test, measurement and monitoring instrumentation, announced new features and capabilities for the MTS400 Series MPEG Test Systems, including enhanced support for IPTV, Video over IP and DTV development and deployment. The additions strengthen cross layer analysis capabilities, enabling in-depth compressed video analysis at many points in a broadcast system. The enhancements to the MTS400 will significantly advance the development and deployment of next generation video networks and services.

The MTS400 Series provides first line diagnostics with integrated cross layer fault analysis and error logging. Time to problem insight is reduced by informing the user whether root cause of video problems is at the Transmission, Transport Stream or Elementary Stream layer. With its new measurement interfaces and analysis capabilities, the MTS400 Series is ideal for equipment developers working to improve product quality and reduce time to market and assists engineers and technicians within broadcasters and network operators looking to ensure Quality of Service in next generation Video Networks.

The first step for an engineer troubleshooting a problem in a digital broadcast system is always to narrow a fault down to the source. Detailed analysis at the appropriate layer can only be performed once the source of the problem is identified. Correlation between layers is critical to identifying whether an artifact seen in the video was contained in the source content, resulted from an IP Network error, or from poor RF performance.

"Tektronix is committed to providing the video industry with the broadest and deepest solutions for next generation video and IP technologies," said Todd Biddle, Vice President, Video Products, Tektronix. "With the new capabilities, the MTS400 Series provides full Transmission, Transport Stream and Elementary Stream analysis for unparalleled diagnostic capabilities and ease of use required to support rapid development evaluation and deployment of next generation compressed video systems."

MTS400 Series provides IP Analysis, RF Analysis and Enhanced H.264 Support

The MTS400 Series offers the broadest and deepest support for the development and deployment of new services and technologies including distribution of Video over IP, IPTV, DTV RF Transmission and H.264 next generation compression, for cable, satellite, terrestrial, fixed and mobile networks.

Enhancements to the MTS400 Series includes a new Optical and Electrical Gigabit Ethernet Interface providing Line Rate IP connectivity and analysis capabilities including Packet Loss, Sequence Errors, MDI Statistics, Packet Inter-arrival Time Histograms and Deep Packet Inspection to enable rapid network fault isolation. The Parametric IP Playout capability allows the generation of IP multi-session traffic including the simulation of network

errors including packet loss, sequence errors and jitter as well as the ability to edit IP packet headers to simulate different IPTV environments.

The new Terrestrial (COFDM and 8-VSB), Cable (QAM) and Satellite (8PSK/QPSK) RF measurement interfaces provide RF performance measurements and trends for critical metrics including MER, EVM and BER. Dual IP and RF inputs enable simultaneous measurements of inputs and outputs of ingest, headend or edge devices.

H.264 enhancements include Video Thumbnail decode, T-STD Buffer Analysis and H.264 Multiplexing. This industry-best support for H.264 makes the MTS400 series the solution of choice for use in the transition to next generation compressed video.

Availability

Additional information about the MTS400 Series can be found at: http://www.tektronix.com/. The MTS400 is available immediately for order.

About Tektronix' IPTV Solution Portfolio

Tektronix' deep knowledge and expertise in both broadcast video content monitoring and IP monitoring -- two critical building blocks for high quality IPTV -- make the company uniquely positioned to test the convergence of voice, video and data. Tektronix' integrated, seamless portfolio of best-in-class monitoring and analysis solutions help bring triple play and IPTV services to market. This portfolio includes the Spectra2|VQM v2.0, part of a full suite of Spectra2 VoIP and PSTN tools designed to assist in the delivery of video and voice media over modern networks; the MTM400 MPEG Transport Stream Monitor, a scalable solution to detect signal degradation caused during transmission and distribution; the MTS400 Series, the world's first Compressed Digital Video Debugger/Analyzer that can be applied to see and solve the most subtle, complex and intermittent DTV problems in minimum time; and Cerify, the world's first automated verification system for file-based digital video content.

About Tektronix

Tektronix is a leading supplier of test, measurement, and monitoring products, solutions and services for the communications, computer, and semiconductor industries -- as well as military/aerospace, consumer electronics, education and a broad range of other industries worldwide. With 60 years of experience, Tektronix enables its customers to design, build, deploy, and manage next-generation global communications networks, advanced and pervasive technologies. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix has operations in 19 countries worldwide. Tektronix' Web address is http://www.tektronix.com/.

Tektronix is a registered trademark of Tektronix, Inc. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.