Keyur Parikh is director, Intraplex Products, for GatesAir. This is one in a series of Q&As with industry professionals about their presentations at the upcoming NAB Show in Las Vegas.
Radio World: You’re overseeing a session entitled, “Reliability for E2X and Other IP Traffic Across the Radio Studio to Transmitter Link,” April 8, 10:40 a.m.–12:00. What is it about?
Keyur Parikh: The session discusses technology to reliably transport IP data for radio applications such as E2X, remote control and more across IP STL connections.
RW: The technology used for STLs has changed greatly over the last decade – from phone line/dedicated analog links through ISDN to IP. How has this benefited the radio broadcaster?
Parikh: The availability and speed of IP-based wide area network connections have been increasing over the past few years. This has not only reduced STL operational costs; it has also increased flexibility for point-to-multipoint connections.
RW: What were/are the weakness of basic IP technology when used as an STL?
Parikh: While the speed of the IP connections has improved, you still have quality uncertainties with packet and connection losses, which can be detrimental for broadcast applications. As a result, audio codec architectures continue to integrate more innovative networking features to overcome these impairments that can degrade broadcast audio quality.
RW: How does your session address this?
Parikh: Besides the main signal, radio broadcasters have seen increased requirements to transport IP data of various applications across STL, most notably HD Radio’s E2X stream. This session will talk about audio codec technology, which not only reliably transports the main audio or FM MPX signal, but also integrates broadcast specific IP gateway functionalities to expand the current technology. That results in an extension of transport reliability to IP packets for E2X and other applications.
RW: Will broadcasters be able to easily adopt/implement this new technology?
Parikh: Yes, the current technology leverages existing platforms. This means that our current customers will be able to benefit from the technology with a simple software upgrade.
RW: NAB Show attendees have a lot to see — why should they take time to attend your session?
Parikh: This session will provide an opportunity to a unique IP networking technology that is very applicable in the evolving radio broadcast network. Attendees will be able to learn how standard IP protocols can be expanded to provide reliability expected for radio applications.
For more NAB Show-related news and features check out our NAB Show News page.
