Google Lens gains power.

At Google I/O 2019 conference, the American giant presented new functions of the Google Lens application. Google Lens is an image recognition technology developed by Google, designed to obtain relevant information related to objects identified by visual analysis based on neural networks. It was first created as a stand-alone application, later became integrated with the standard Android camera application. By pointing the phone's camera at an object, Google Lens will try to identify it or read barcodes, QR codes, labels and text, and show relevant search results and information. For example, by pointing the camera to a Wi-Fi label containing the network name and password, it will automatically connect to the scanned Wi-Fi access point.

One can risk saying that until now Google Lens was just a gizmo software program. However, Google is continually working on expanding the database and making the application more useful in everyday life. The new features presented at I/O 2019 should significantly accelerate the growth of popularity. For example, one of them is the restaurant menu scanning function with options of selecting the most popular dishes and presenting them to the user in the form of photos. Another one – scanning a recipe in a culinary magazine will allow the user to see how to prepare the dish. Google Lens will also help with extracting information from photos and video preview.

SatNet 4.1 – new version!

The new version of TERRA SatNet software continues the development of the application for designing multiswitch systems based on TERRA devices. The app can determine signal levels in all outlets and verify if they are compliant with standards, and decide whether to use equalization function of the amplifiers. This allows the designer/installer sitting in front of the monitor to predict what devices will be needed to distribute the signals and what parameter settings such as gain or cable attenuation compensation will be required. The settings are fully compliant with actual implementations.

SatNet 4.1 – free software for designing multiswitch systems

The SatNet application is used by installers and designers around the world. The update includes a number of useful features:

For those who did not have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the SateNet program, and would like to design an S/MATV system on their own, we recommend to see the video and examples contained in the Designing SMATV systems with SatNet software from TERRA article.

ANR function in Hikvision IP devices.

The video from an IP camera is transmitted to the IP NVR in the form of data stream. In the case of a network failure or bandwidth reduction, the information is irretrievably lost, because the network does not buffer packets and the camera cannot send them again. This is the reason for the increasing popularity of IP cameras with SD/SDHC card recording option.
The ANR (Automatic Network Replenishment) solution developed by Hikvision limits the recording on the card placed in the dedicated camera only to the periods of problems with connectivity between the camera and NVR. After the end of the failure, the emergency recordings are automatically transferred to the NVR.
So, in the event of interruptions in the transmission, the operator of the system does not need to take any actions to complete the video footage. The function is available in IP NVRs from the K , I and Acusense (NXI) series. They have to cooperate with Hikvision IP cameras equipped with memory card slot and suitable microSD memory card.

In the event of the LAN failure, the ANR function performs automatic video backup onto the SD card,
and after the defect has been eliminated, it sends the recording to the NVR automatically

GSM repeaters in homes.

Mobile phone conversations in buildings are often difficult to carry on, if not impossible. This is due to the signal attenuation through walls, window panes, ceilings (underground). The problems occur in stores, tunnels, underground car parks, petrol stations, airport halls, hotels. A similar situation can be found in buildings located on the border range of base stations (recreational areas, mountains etc).

The A6775 repeater is used to amplify GSM signals and distribute them inside rooms. It cooperates with an outdoor antenna (e.g. A741030) directed towards the operator's base station and an internal antenna (e.g. A741001) which distributes the signals amplified by the amplifier inside the facility.

TRANS-DATA is a brand of high performance antennas and equipment for wireless reception and transmission of digital data and GSM/DCS/UMTS/LTE signals. TRANS-DATA antennas significantly improve signal strength and increase the coverage area.

When deploying indoor antennas, one should pay attention to the total area and the number of rooms that are to be covered by the amplified signals. It is important to ensure maximum isolation between the outdoor and indoor antennas (usually by installing the outdoor antenna over a large distance from them, somewhere on the roof). Typically, the installation of the indoor antennas should be started from the lowest level since it is often possible to cover two floors with antenna/s located on one floor. We offer three antennas from TRANS-DATA series, specially designed for cellular amplifiers: A741001 (fixing to plasterboard or other suspended ceilings), A741002 (fixing to solid ceilings with the use of expansion bolts) and A741020 (fixing to walls).

Example of installation improving GSM coverage in a house

Access to Hikvision devices via Hik-Connect service.

Hik-Connect is a network service for Hikvison devices. The service integrates P2P cloud for remote access to cameras via smartphones and tablets, providing a wide range of management and configuration functions: live view (also of multiple channels), PTZ control, digital zoom, audio listening, playback of archives, handling of alarm notifications (zone violation, line crossing etc.).

Main features of Hik-Connect service:

The architecture of remote access to CCTV devices via the Hik-Connect cloud service

Reflectometric measurements.

Measurements of optical paths with the use of a reflectometer carry a lot of information. In fact, the reflectometer measures time intervals (the times of return of the generated pulse) and the power of the reflected signals. Other information, such as distances and attenuation, contrary to popular opinion, are not measured but calculated.

Installers usually want to precisely determine the place of an event (splice, connector, macrobending etc.) or the exact length of the cable. One of the key issues here is the correct setting of the group refractive index value for the measured fibers (Index Of Refraction - IOR parameter). This parameter is set manually and its value should be provided by the manufacturer of the cable. It provides information on the velocity of the pulse propagation in a given fiber. Each, otherwise doped fiber will differ slightly in this respect. Due to the fact that the information about the distance of the event comes directly from the measured pulse return time, which in turn depends on the propagation speed, a wrong setting of this parameter will cause erroneous readings of the distance

With measurement parameters set correctly, the GRANDWAY FHO3000-D26 L5828 reflectometer
can determine the location of an event with accuracy close to 1 m

Typically, the value assumed for single-mode cables is 1.471 (the actual value should be read from the catalog card). The longer the distance, the greater the negative impact of the wrongly set refractive index. The table below shows the dependence of the error of determining the distance on longer connections from the difference between the set and actual values of this parameter (it has been assumed that 1.471 is the correct, actual value).

The value of 1.481 is typical for multimode fibers. So, it can be seen that neglecting the change of this parameter for single-mode fibers may cause significant distance errors, and thus eliminating the ability to determine the precise locations of events.

It is also worth remembering that in practice the distance seen on the reflectometer screen will never match the actual length of the cable. This is due to the fact that the fibers in the cable are always longer than its outer jacket (to avoid stresses). In addition, if the fibers are placed in several tubes wrapped around the central rod, then the difference between the length of the fibers and the length of the cable will increase even more (inside the twisted tube, longer than the cable, there are loose fibers). In extreme cases, the difference in length of the fibers relative to the length of the cable can reach even several percent.

Since IOR values are given for fibers and not for cables, the really precise measurements are possible after obtaining the "effective" value of the IOR parameter for the analyzed cable. In order to determine it, it is necessary to measure the length of a section of the cable (e.g. 50 to 100 meter long) both physically (usually it is enough to use the meter markings, if exist) and with the use of the reflectometer, entering the standard refractive index. By introducing the correction factor resulting from the comparison, it is possible to correct the IOR value so that it represents the effective value.

Single-cable multiswitch system. Multiswitch systems with quatro LNBs receiving signals from two satellites (e.g. HotBird 13.0E and Astra 19.2E) have to use 8 coaxial cables (RG-6). A Wide Band LNB (e.g. A98222) has two outputs (H and V polarizations) and the distribution of signals from two satellites requires only four coaxial cables between the LNBs and the suitable multiswitch, reducing by half the number of the cables. With single local oscillators operating at 10.41 GHz, such LNBs provide much wider intermediate frequency band (290...2340 MHz) than conventional (legacy) LNBs... >>>more

The SRM-581 R80581 cascadable multiswitch provides full support for receivers operating in two dynamic modes: SCR (Unicable I - 8 User Bands) and dSCR (Unicable II - 32 User Bands)

Signal surge protection boxes