With the continuous expansion of HD and the introduction of MPEG-4 AVC, new digital services and the complexity of accelerated deployment have significantly increased the demand for traditional front-end devices. Today's baseband architectures are not equipped to handle this transition smoothly, as content comes from various sources and formats. Furthermore, cable, satellite, and telecom operators are rapidly advancing towards Video-over-IP technology and are seeking the best solution to enable a seamless migration to IP-based services. Harmonic's FLEX™ dual decoding module is a powerful solution to address these challenges.
Optional decoding module - compatible with all ION and Electra encoders
Enables transport grid linking in all-IP architecture (GbE input) and/or traditional architecture (DVB-ASI input)
Eliminates ASI and SDI cable connections and wiring
Achieves high-quality compressed encoding when paired with Electra encoders
Provides cost-effective encoding when paired with ION and ION AVC encoders
Density - Up to 4 channels of decoding/encoding per RU platform
Enables volume adjustment
Lays the evolutionary path for audio and video encoding core
Video Decoding Specifications
FLEX supports firmware-licensed options for video decoding.
Video Decoding (4:2:0) MPEG-2MP@ML, MPEG-4 AVC MP@L3,
MPEG-2MP@HL, MPEG-4 AVC HP@L4
VBR, CBR
Video Formats 480i29.97,
576i25,
720P59.94,
720P50,
1080i29.97
1080i25
Aspect Ratios 4:3 and 16:9
The same input PID can be declared multiple times to enable FLEX to decode and re-encode.
the same video program multiple times.
Audio Decoding Specifications
FLEX supports firmware-licensed options for audio decoding.
Audio formats MPEG-1 Layer II
Dolby Digital (AC-3) 2.0 or 5.1
Operating modes: Mono, stereo, multichannel (5.1),
and multichannel down-mix to stereo
Decoding capacity
Dual decoder mode
Up to 4 stereo or one AC-3 5.1
and 1 stereo
Single decoder mode
Up to 8 stereo or 2 AC-3 5.1 and
2 stereo
Static level control - 20 dB to + 20 dB
The same input PID can be declared multiple times to allow FLEX to decode and
Re-encode the same audio program multiple times.
Audio Pass-Through Specifications
FLEX supports firmware-licensed options for audio pass-through.
Number of Channels Up to 8 PIDs per video service
Audio Formats MPEG Layer II, Dolby Digital (AC-3),
AAC and HE AAC
Level magic™ – Audio Leveling Specifications
FLEX supports firmware-licensed options for audio level adjustment.
Audio leveling capability
Dual decoder mode
Up to 3 stereo or one AC-3 5.1
Single decoder mode
Up to 6 stereo or 2 AC-3 5.1
Operating modes: Mono, stereo, multichannel (5.1)
Vertical Interval Services Pass-Through
Specifications
Pass-through EBIF, DPI (SCTE-35), Teletext,
Inverted WST, WSS, VPS, AFD, VITC
Closed captioning CEA-608 and CEA-708
Input module options
IP Interface (optional module) Gigabit Ethernet
IP Ports 2 independent ports
Connector 2 x SFP (copper)
Speed 1 x 1000 Mbps per port
IP Encapsulation MPEG-2 TS over UDP/IP 1 to 7 TS/ IP
MPEG-2 TS Format 188/204 Bytes per TS packet
MPTS and SPTS
Maximum Bit-Rate 80 Mbps per Socket
Addressing Unicast and Multicast
Management IGMP, ARP, ICMP
ASI Interface (optional module) Connector 4 x BNC, 75Ω
MPEG Format 188/204 Bytes per TS packet
Processing 1 MPTS/SPTS per port
Up to 160 Mbps per port
8VSB Interface (optional module) 4x Type F connector per IEC 60169-24
ATSC-compliant 8-VSB signal reception
Tuning Channels 2 to 59.
Sensitivity 83 dBm/6 MHz
Dynamic Range >80 dB