The document evaluates the Jiuzhou DVE-4Q 4-Channel MPEG-2 Encoder. It found the encoder to be a simple and flexible device that can create high quality transport streams for digital TV headends, particularly local cable or terrestrial networks supporting both PAL and NTSC standards. On testing, the encoder performed flawlessly, generating transport streams with very good quality video and audio across various resolutions and bitrates as per the user settings. The encoder is well suited for its intended use in small to medium sized networks.

1. TEST REPORT Professional Satellite Encoder
Jiuzhou DVE-4Q
4-Channel MPEG-2 Encoder
for Digital TV Headends
When we enjoy watching digital tv, That’s where MPEG-2 encod- for installation in 19’ equip-
ers come into play. Those are ment racks what is typical
we rarely think about how the signal the boxes with one or more for the professional equip-
is created. More advanced viewers analog inputs and one digital ment. The front panel looks
know that the very initial input signal output carrying a transport unpretentious – no unneces-
stream. Converting analog to sary blows and whistles. LCD
is quite often in analog form. Such digital signal is not that simple display, power and status
analog signal has to be converted to as it might sound. Digital LED’s, and six buttons. But
digital format. DVB standard precisely signal processors somewhat after all, MPEG-2 encoder is
similar to the microproces- not a device you place in your
describes it. This format is called sors we have in our PC must A/V cabinet to impress your
MPEG-2 transport stream. Actually, one be used in order to do that guests. It is supposed to be
transport stream can carry a number of correctly and in real time. If it installed in the headend sta-
is not done correctly, we may tion, programmed and left
digitized analog channels. A transport get a lip sync problem (a time unattended.
stream is then fed to the modulator shift between video and audio
of suitable type: QPSK for DVB-S detectable by human senses) The rear panel reveals what
or some digital distortion in DVE-4Q can actually do. It has
transmission, QAM for DVB-C or COFDM video (like macroblocks pop- four A/V inputs and although
for DVB-T. The same transport stream ping up here and there on the they use BNC connectors, it
can be used for digital satellite, cable screen, especially in dynamic is the same type of signal we
scenes). have in the satellite receivers
or terrestrial tv. But how to create a but with RCA sockets - analog
transport stream? Jiuzhou DVE-4Q is designed video and analog stereo audio.
02-03/2010
Jiuzhou DVE- 4Q
Excellent MPEG -2 encoder for use
in local
cable or terrestrial networks
40 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 02-03/2010 — www.TELE-satellite.com

2. www.TELE-satellite.com — 02-03/2010 — TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine 41

3. Instrument specification PAL or NTSC. Next item allows
reveals that the input can be you to set the sequence of I,
either in PAL or NTSC system B and P frames in the GOP
– the encoder will adjust to it (Group of Pictures): IP, IBP
automatically. There are two or IBBP. Then, you can adjust
■ Setting the channel bitrate luminance, contrast, satura-
output BNC connectors but
with exactly the same signal. tion and hue for the input in
This is where the transport the next 4 submenus. In this
stream is output. So, if nec- way, you can compensate for
essary, you can connect two imperfections of the incoming
modulators to the encoder analog signal. Those values
or a modulator and transport are set either in the range of
stream analyzer. 0 to 255 or from 0 to 128 (for
hue).
Except for the inputs and
outputs, there are RS-232 Although it may look dif-
and Ethernet interfaces as ficult at the very beginning,
well as power socket and changing the numerical
switch on the rear panel. values is in fact quite simple
Transport stream generated at 720x576 resolution and high bitrate
Interesting that there is no and fast. Left/right arrows
cooling fan. Quick check in are used o change the digit,
the user manual revealed that while up/down to increase/
the device consumed only decrease the digit. However,
30W so the same amount as if the input signal is good and
a regular satellite tv receiver. does not require corrections,
No wonder a cooling fan was the best idea is to leave the
not embedded. The encoder factory defaults.
we received for test was dedi-
cated for 220 V ±10% mains The further submenus in
voltage and ambient temper- the channel settings are more
“digital” in nature. These
ature 5…40° C. The manufac-
are: picture resolution, audio
turer recommends assuring
sampling rate, audio output
Transport stream generated at 352x576 resolution and high bitrate good ventilation for the unit
bitrate. The available video
and considering air condition-
resolutions are: 720x576,
ing of the entire room. Indeed,
704x576, 640x576, 544x576,
the headend stations are usu-
480x576, 384x576, 352x576
ally chock full of different
for PAL and 720x480, 704x480,
stuff and taking care of good
640x480, 544x480, 480x480,
ventilation is a must.
384x480, 352x480 for NTSC.
Audio sampling rates can be
Installation set to: 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz or 48
After power up, the instru- kHz and audio output rates:
ment initialize itself what 128, 256 or 384 kbps.
lasts about 40 seconds, then
it shows software and hard- Audio options are the next
ware version. You can press menu item. Here you can
Transport stream generated at 704x480 resolution and high bitrate
now OK button to enter the set it to stereo, joint stereo,
main menu. The menu con- dual or mono. The last menu
sists of four items: channel items in the channel settings
settings, multiplex settings, are the channel output bitrate
system settings and check (video+audio together) with
the warning information. the setting range from 1
Arrows up/down are used to Mbps to 15 Mbps and PID
switch between menu items, settings. PID settings allow
OK enters the item. you to set the PID values for
video, audio, PCR and PMT of
Channel settings menu is a channel.
used to set proper param-
eters for each A/V input. You When you are finished with
Transport stream generated at 720x576 resolution and low bitrate can choose between: Auto, the channel settings, you
42 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 02-03/2010 — www.TELE-satellite.com

4. TELE-satellite World www.TELE-satellite.com/...
Download this report in other languages from the Internet: can move on to the multiplex ulator. As the input, we used
Arabic ‫ﺍﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/ara/encoder.pdf settings. They are not that DVD player and the outputs
Indonesian Indonesia www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/bid/encoder.pdf
Bulgarian Български www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/bul/encoder.pdf extended as the channel set- of satellite receivers. The
Czech Česky www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/ces/encoder.pdf
German Deutsch www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/deu/encoder.pdf tings. In this menu, you can encoder started to operate
English English www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/eng/encoder.pdf
Spanish Español www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/esp/encoder.pdf select which channels are without any problem.
Farsi ‫ﻓﺎﺭﺳﻲ‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/far/encoder.pdf
French Français www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/fra/encoder.pdf
to be included in the multi- With the default settings
Hebrew ‫עברית‬ www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/heb/encoder.pdf plex (transport stream). The the quality of output signal
Greek Ελληνικά www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/hel/encoder.pdf
Croatian Hrvatski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/hrv/encoder.pdf next setting of the multiplex was extraordinary good what
Italian Italiano www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/ita/encoder.pdf
Hungarian Magyar www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/mag/encoder.pdf is the total output bitrate of you can see in the attached
Mandarin 中文 www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/man/encoder.pdf
Dutch Nederlands www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/ned/encoder.pdf the transport stream. Its set- pictures. CBER better than
Polish Polski www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/pol/encoder.pdf
Portuguese Português www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/por/encoder.pdf ting range is from 1 Mbps 1x10-5 is something you can
Romanian Românesc www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/rom/encoder.pdf
Russian Русский www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/rus/encoder.pdf to 54Mbps. Of course, you not see too often. The encoder
Swedish Svenska www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/sve/encoder.pdf should set the total bitrate
Turkish Türkçe www.TELE-satellite.com/TELE-satellite-1003/tur/encoder.pdf created signal in various res-
Available online starting from 29 January 2010 larger than the sum of the olutions in accordance to our
channel bitrates. setting.
The following menu item
allows you to choose if the Except for video resolu-
SDT table is included in the tion, also the channel bitrate
stream or not and the last has enormous impact of the
item in the multiplex setting picture quality we see on the
is the transport stream ID tv-set. When we decreased it
number. below about 1.5 Mbps heavy
picture distortion were visible
The next menu – system especially during the change
settings – is used to set local of a scene. Normally, the
area network parameters: IP lower the bitrate the cheaper
address, submask and gate- the transmission is. However
way. The last item in this you should not decrease it
Only in the headend station right at the output of a good modulator,
one can see such perfect signal-to-noise performance menu is the reset to factory too much because the view-
defaults. ers will notice the distortions.
Having an encoder as flexible
Finally the last menu “Warn- as DVE-4Q, one can easily set
ing Information” is used only the proper settings for him-
if the red status LED lights up. self.
In this way we can check what
the reason of an error was. During the whole test, DVE-
4Q worked flawlessly. It cre-
Performance ated transport stream with
To check the performance very good quality digital video
of the DVE-4Q encoder, we and audio unless our settings
connected it to a DVB-T mod- were deliberately low.
The constellation diagram reveals that the signal is very “clean”
(noiseless)
TECHNICAL
DATA
Expert Opinion Manufacturer SICHUAN JIUZHOU ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., Ltd.
No. 16, Yuejin Road, Mianyang, Sichuan Province, China
+ Web www.jiuzhoutech.com/
DVE-4Q is simple, very flexible and good quality Phone +86-816-2469 300
MPEG-2 encoder which can be successfully used Fax +86-816-2469 411
in digital tv head ends - especially local cable or Model DVE-4Q
terrestrial networks. It is suitable for both PAL and Function 4-Channel MPEG-2 Encoder
NTSC standard definition signals. Every resolution, Jacek Pawlowski Video input (CVBS) Level 1.0Vp-p, 75ohm, BNC connector
TELE-satellite
sampling rate or audio output bitrate specified in Test Center Audio input Level 2.0Vp-p, 600ohm, BNC connector
DVB standard are supported and the channel and Poland
Output standard ASI
multiplex bitrates can be set freely.
Output level 800mV±10%
- Output bitrate 1~100Mbps tunable ( each channel 1~15Mbps tunable)
Transport streams used for satellite transmissions usually need Video coding Complying to ISO11172 and ISO13818 (MPEG-2), 4:2:0 MP@ML
to have more options set that DVE-4Q can do, for example: channel Audio coding MPEG-1 Lay II, CD audio quality
name or event name. So if this encoder is to be used in a full fea- Dimensions 44mmx480mmx320mm
tured satellite headend, its output would have to be still processed Temperature 0~+50°C (Operating), -20~+70°C(Storage)
digitally before being fed to the QPSK modulator. Power supply 220VAC±10%, 50~60Hz, 30W
44 TELE-satellite — Global Digital TV Magazine — 02-03/2010 — www.TELE-satellite.com