Tektronix AD954 DATASHEET

Features & Benefits

Supports MPEG-2/DVB/ATSC
Transport Streams Which
Enables Testing to be
Performed Anywhere
in the World

Real Time Monitoring of
Key Parameters Gives
an Immediate Indication
of Major Problems

Detailed Off Line Transport
Stream Analysis Enables
Full In-depth Analysis of
the Transport Stream

Transport Stream Capture
and Triggered Recording
Provides the Capability to
Send Streams Back to Base

ASI, SMPTE 310M, DVB
Parallel Interfaces for
Connection Anywhere
in an MPEG-2 Network

Small, Light and Portable
Low Power Consumption

Applications

Installation and
Commissioning of DVB/ATSC
Transmission Chains

Testing and Debug
of MPEG-2 Broadcast
Equipment

MPEG Portable Analyzer

AD954

Overview

The AD954 is a small,portable unit with
enough power to debug MPEG-2 systems
in the field. It interfaces with the Engineer’s
laptop computer running AD954 software to
create a cost effective and simple analysis
tool for use on the move.

The AD954 is designed for engineers who
work in the field on compression equipment
installation and service. For them it provides
instant real-time analysis and recording as
well as off-line analysis at the transport
stream level.The AD954 works with the
engineer’s own laptop on which status informa­tion is provided by clear graphical displays.

The result is simple, in-the-field diagnosis
and quality assurance.

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MPEG Portable Analyzer

AD954

Features

Real Time Monitoring

The AD954 performs real time monitoring
of MPEG-2, DVB and ATSC transport streams.
This gives “live”stream compliance status
and highlights errant stream behavior.

DVB Testing

AD954 provides real time monitoring of all
the DVB defined first priority measurements*

1

.
It also gives status of the transport error
indicator and detects unreferenced PIDs

A real time view of the SI tables is provided

ATSC Testing

In addition to the basic transport stream tests
a real time view of the PSIP table is provided

PID Bit Rate Testing

User selected PIDs may be tested to check
whether their bit rate remains constant for a
period of greater than 1 second.The multiplex
occupancy is tested against user definable lim­its on either a per PID or per program basis.
Installation engineers can thereby confirm that
statistical multiplexers are functioning correctly

Recording

AD954 can record up to 15 seconds of data
at bit rates of 90 Mb/s

Recording is initiated direct from the
user interface

Captured files can be examined in the field
using Stream Analyzer software or sent back
to research and development engineers for
further analysis

Triggered Recording

Recording can be triggered by a change in
state of any one of the measurements made
by the AD954,as defined by the user

The trigger point can be defined to be any
point in the recorded file

Trigger settings can be maintained
between sessions

Off Line Analysis

AD954 is supplied with Stream Analyzer
software, providing:

Packet Display and Analysis

Transport stream packet header interpretation
Adaptation field information for

individual packets
Hexadecimal representation of transport stream

packet header and payload information
Location of a transport stream packet to match

a particular condition in the packet header

Timing and Statistical Displays

Statistical display of the components of
the transport stream and their data rates
on a program oriented basis

Calculation and graphical display of the
instantaneous and mean bit rate for each
PID and for the entire transport stream from
PCR time stamp values

Calculation and graphical display of
PCR information:

– Repetition interval between successive

PCRs on a PID by PID basis

– Inaccuracy of each PCR on a PID by

PID basis

Display of MPEG-2 tables, DVB tables,
Enhanced DVB SI and ATSC PSIP tables

*1Ref: European Telecommunications Standards Institute,

TR101290: Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB); Measurement
Guidelines for DVB systems.

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MPEG Portable Analyzer

AD954

Characteristics

Product Specifications

Network Interfaces – AD954 is compatible with
a Pentium class laptop or higher running either
Windows 95 or Windows NT operating systems.
Connection is via a parallel port interface (ECP).
To ensure optimum performance of real time monitor­ing we recommend that a PC with a performance
equivalent to a Pentium 300 MHz unit running
Windows 95/98 with 64 MB RAM or running
Windows NT with 128 MB RAM is used with AD954.

Transport Stream Interfaces – DVB parallel.
DVB ASI.
SMPTE310M.

Performance

Storage Capacity – 192 MB.
Max Data Rate – 90 Mb/s.
Min Data Rate – 250 kb/s.

MPEG-2 Real Time
Measurements

Measurement Error No.

*1

TS_sync_loss 1.1
Sync_byte_error 1.2
PAT_error 1.3
Continuity_count_error 1.4
PMT_error 1.5
PID_error 1.6
Unreferenced PID 3.4
Transport error 2.1

DVB Real Time Analysis

SI Table checks

*

2

MPEG-2 measurements as defined above
PID bit rate measurement

ATSC Real Time Analysis

PSIP Table checks

*

2

Program Paradigm Error
MPEG-2 Measurements as defined above
PID bit rate measurement

Physical Characteristics

AD954
Dimensions mm in.

Width 290 11.42
Height 25 0.98
Depth 220 8.66

Weight (system unit) kg lb.

Net 1.3 2.87

*1Error No. derived from references in TR101 290.

*

2

The display of the complete SI/PSIP information in real time is
dependent on the volume of SI in the stream being monitored,
the performance of the PC and the performance of the parallel
link.

Ordering Information

AD954
Platform

AD954 Application software.
External power supply.

Options

The following cost options are available:
Opt. SA – TS analyzer for use with files of any size.

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Copyright © 2001, Tektronix, Inc. All rights reser ved. Tektronix products are
covered by U.S. and foreign patents, issued and pending. Information in this publi­cation supersedes that in all previously published material. Specification and price
change privileges reserved. TEKTRONIX and TEK are registered trademarks of
Tektronix, Inc. All other trade names referenced are the service marks, trademarks
or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

07/01 HB/XBS 21W-14845-0

MPEG Test • www.tektronix.com/video_audio

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MPEG Portable Analyzer

AD954

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