ZeeVee ZvShow Channel User Manual

APPLICATION NOTE

Conguring and Using
the ZvShow Channel

About the ZvShow Channel

The ZvShow Channel is an “extra” channel that you congure on any unit in
the HDbridge 2000 or ZvPro lines. This channel is available in addition to the
channels already offered on the unit. The content for the video on this channel
comes from a stored video resident on the ZeeVee product. The video is played
and looped onto the new ZvShow Channel continuously.

The user loads a video clip

in the proper format (.zvc)

in to an internal on-board

storage. That video clip is

encoded and played just

as if it had come from a

different video source.

Common uses for the ZvShow Channel

The videos running on the ZvShow channel are typically very simple, signage-like
video clips (about 5 minutes in duration), used for the following purposes:

• Menus

• Commercials

• Barker channels – commercial establishments

Type of video for the ZvShow Channel

The ZvShow function only accepts video les that have been converted using
the ZvConvert tool. These les end with a ‘.zvc’ extension. The les are played
out continuously. The ZvShow channel is a sub-channel of the rst congured RF
channel and is simply added as another logical channel to the existing lineup.

There is some exibility in the content and quality of the video that the channel
permits. Note that the bandwidth is shared between the active encoded
channel from a video source and the ZvShow channel. If the bandwidth of the
loaded video is sufciently large, it can compromise the video playback on the
companion program(s).

The internal storage capacity of the ZeeVee units is roughly 250MBytes. A video
le cannot exceed that limit to be usable in the ZvShow application.

Channels available for multiple ZeeVee units

Each ZeeVee product deployed can generate one ZvShow channel. For example,
a head end consisting of six HDb2640 units would have up to six available

ZvShow channels available for looped video content on new channels; one from

each unit. These ZvShow channels are disabled by default, so will not show up in
a channel lineup until they are enabled.

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CONFIGURING AND USING THE ZVSHOW CHANNEL

Using ZvShow

To use the ZvShow functionality the user needs to follow a simple sequence of steps:

Generate a Video File – There are a number of tools available for generation

of video that can be converted to the .zvc format. ZeeVee does not develop, manufacture
or endorse any of those tools. Some example le formats accepted by the ZvConvert tool

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include .MP4 (Mpeg4 or avchd), .WMV (Windows media le), and MOV (QuickTime).

Convert a Video File – Once a video le has been created, it must be

converted to the proper format. ZeeVee offers a conversion tool for this purpose
called ZvConvert. You can download the tool from the Technical Support/tools section
of the website (http://zeevee.com/support/tools). Instructions for using the ZvConvert
tool can be found later in this document.

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Upload le to ZeeVee Unit – Once generated, the le must be loaded

in to the ZeeVee unit that will be sourcing the channel. This is easily done through
Maestro, the ZeeVee web management tool.

Congure Channel Lineup – Through Maestro, congure the new

ZvShow channel on the appropriate logical channel (Channel#). Exact placement of

the channel depends on how you want the desired presentation order to appear to

the TV viewer.

Enable ZvShow Channel – Once the ZvShow channel has been

congured, enable it via Maestro, so the program will be sent out via the appropriate
RF channel.

Scan HD Televisions – Most digital HD televisions require a full channel scan

to pick up and display newly added channels, especially new digital sub-channels.

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CONFIGURING AND USING THE ZVSHOW CHANNEL

Converting a Video File with ZvConvert

The ZvShow Channel will only accept a video le that has been converted using the ZvConvert tool.
The converted le must match the maximum resolution of the ZvPro or HDbridge2000 specications.
For example, a le for an HDb2312 must be 480i and for an HDbridge2540 must not be higher than
720p. The ZvConvert tool assists you in specifying appropriate settings.

The steps for converting a video le with ZvConvert are as follows;

• Download and install ZvConvert

• Convert le

• Manage le bandwidth

Download and install ZvConvert

1. First, download ZvConvert from the ZeeVee website: http://download.zeevee.com/dlimages/software/zvc_setup.exe

2. After installation, launch ZVC.

Depending on your browser you may be prompted to run the le, which will start the installation of the program. If you only

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have the option to save, then save the le locally and then double click the downloaded le to start the installation. From there
follow the prompts to install ZvConvert (ZVC).

Use ZvConvert to convert
the video le

Once ZvConvert is installed and
running, take the following steps:

1. Load the le to be converted by

dragging and dropping the video

le into the interface or by clicking

the File menu and selecting
Open Transport Stream File,

then browsing to the video le.

After loading the le to be converted,

ZVC will show general information

about the video at the top of the

window, including frame rate length

and bit rate.

The bottom of the window will show
the conguration options.

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CONFIGURING AND USING THE ZVSHOW CHANNEL

The ZVC le will default to be saved in the same location as the original le and with the same name
but with a “.zvc” extension, this can be changed by editing the area titled Output Video File.

2. Select the ZeeVee device where the

le will be uploaded in the Target
Device drop down box. Knowing

the device determines the limits

for resolution and bandwidth. For
example, selecting the HDb2380
will limit the resolution to 480,
where selecting HDb2540 will limit
the video resolution to 720.

3. Specify the bit rate and resolution

for the le conversion. The bit
rate controls the video quality of
the converted le. Typically the
higher the bit rate, the better the
video quality. Remember that the

ZvShow channel will be sharing
bandwidth from an existing RF
channel. If the bit rate is set too

high you may affect video quality of
both channels. See the Manage le
bandwidth section for more details.

4. Specify the type of encoding as One

pass or Two Pass. This selection

can also affect the video quality. We

recommend using the Two pass

option, which will take longer, but
provides better video quality.

5. Click the Convert File button

once all congurations are set.

The conversion will start and a

progress bar displays to show the

status of the conversion.

The size and bit rate of the video le
will directly affect the length of time for
the conversion.

Manage le bandwidth

As mentioned, the ZvShow channel shares the bandwidth from an already-existing
RF channel. For this reason, it is important to manage the bandwidth of the video
being played by ZvShow and video on Input 1 of the unit.

If video issues such as stutter or dropped frames occurs on the ZvShow or shared

RF channel, we recommend lowering the bit rate on the ZvShow video or moving
your video sources so the video on Input 1 is not fast motion or high density video.

Recommended ZvShow Bandwidths

Product ZvShow Bandwidth

HDb2640/HDb2620 8Mbits/second or lower

HDb2540/HDb2520 8Mbits/second or lower

HDb2380/HDb2312 4Mbits/second

HDb2840 8Mbits/second or lower

ZvPro Products 8Mbits/second or lower

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CONFIGURING AND USING THE ZVSHOW CHANNEL

Uploading a Video File

Once a video le has been created, you need to upload it to the ZeeVee unit for playback on the ZvShow

channel.

To upload the video, the following specications and instructions need to be satised:

• The ZvConvert le cannot exceed 250MB.

• The ZeeVee unit must be running rmware <1.9.2> or higher. For information on updating rmware

please go to the rmware section under technical support http://zeevee.com/support/rmware.

• The ZeeVee unit must also be congured for the default “Double QAM” mode. This is done under
advanced controls on the Device tab in Maestro.

• The ZeeVee unit must be connected to the same network and accessible to the PC or device containing
the le to be uploaded.

• Log in to the ZeeVee unit and type the IP address of unit in the browser (IP address is found on the Front
Panel Display of unit).

Upload the le using
the Maestro interface:

1. Log in to the ZeeVee unit and type

the IP address in the browser. The

IP address is found on the Front

Panel Display of the unit).

2. Click on the Device tab and click

the ZvShow button.

A popup will appear prompting for

the location of the media le to be

loaded in to the ZeeVee product for

use by the ZvShow player option:

3. Press the Click to browse… button

and then select a video le from
your computer and click the le
button to begin the upload.

The progress window may linger for

several minutes depending on the

size of the le to be uploaded. Do
not close your browser or reboot the
system during the upload operation
or the media le will be corrupted.

Completion is indicated with a
dismissal window at the end of the
upload operation.

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CONFIGURING AND USING THE ZVSHOW CHANNEL

Enabling ZvShow and conguring channel lineup

To enable the ZvShow program
so that it is broadcast as part of

the channel lineup, the channel

numbering must be structured
appropriately. The ZvShow channel
will appear as the last sub-channel for
the rst RF#.

You can congure the channel
numbers so that the ZvShow

program appears in the desired
position. In the case shown here,
the ZvShow channel is desired as

the lowest number in the plant so
that it is the “rst” channel in the

television’s lineup.

1. Choose Enabled and hit Apply to

activate the ZvShow channel.

The ZvShow channel is now active.

If no le has been uploaded, the ZvShow
channel will be enabled and display
a ZeeVee idle screen with a message
stating “NO MPEG FILE LOADED.”

2. Rescan the channel lineup on the

attached televisions. Televisions

usually require a full rescan to detect

the addition of a new logical channel.

Following the channel scan, the

television should display the full lineup

of channels with the addition of the
new ZvShow channel.

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