Features & Benefits
- Automatic Analysis of 270 Mb
Component, 143 Mb Composite, and 360 Mb Component Serial Digital Video
Signals
- Continuous Real-time Format Analyzer with Event Logging
and Frame Capture
- Serial Data Transport Interface (SDTI)
Analysis Standard
- Eye Diagram Display with Automatic Limit
Violation Detection
- Jitter Measurements with Wideband Spectral
Analysis
- Ancillary Data Analyzer with Full Frame Data Distribution
Display
- Conformance Testing to SMPTE 259M and 305M
- AES and Embedded Digital Audio Measurements
- Parade, Stacked,
and Overlay Displays with Interpolated Waveforms
- SMPTE RP-165
Digital Error Detection and Reporting
- Picture Mode with Relative
to Reference Capability
- Relative to Reference Modes
- Longitudinal Time Code Input for Time Stamping Error Events
- Video Wander Measurement
Applications
- Automated Manufacturing Test
of Serial Digital Video Equipment
- Unattended Monitoring of
Serial Digital Video Signals from Studios, STLs, Earth Stations, and
Transmitters
- Equipment Installation and Maintenance
- SDI Interoperability Troubleshooting
- SDTI Interoperability
Troubleshooting
Serial Digital Options
Options 1S and 2S are VM700T,
VMTB, and VMUPG upgrade options that add a state-of-the-art serial
digital video acquisition and analyzer module to a VM700T, Turbo version
VM700A, or standard VM700A video measurement set, providing the capability
to display, capture, and analyze the 270 Mb and 360 Mb 525 line and
625 line serial component and 143 Mb 525 line serial composite digital
video signal with unprecedented ease and accuracy. Now, for the first
time, comprehensive analysis of analog video signals and serial digital
video signals is possible in a single package that is the recognized
leader in automatic video measurement sets worldwide. The features
built into the VM700T/A Series SDI analyzer module are the result
of years of experience with professional television organizations
and in the designing and manufacture of advanced waveform/vector monitors
and automatic analyzers for the serial digital video operating environment.
Ease of Use
The VM700T/A Serial Digital Video Measurement
option benefits from the proven display technology and user interface
that won a technical Emmy for excellence. All SDI (Serial Digital
Interface) measurement functionality was designed with the highest
degree of automation possible. The seasoned professional video equipment
manufacturer to the first-time SDI design engineer will find the VM700T/A
SDI analyzer option innovative, accurate, fast, and above all easy
to use.
Many Capabilities
The VM700T/A Serial Digital
Video Analyzer module installs directly into a VM700T or Turbo version
VM700A. I/O connections are accessible on the instrument rear panel
and include two SDI inputs, a re-clocked SDI output (switches with
the active SDI input), an AES digital audio input, a Longitudinal
Time Code input for time stamping logged error files, and a loopthrough
analog black-burst input for timing reference. SDI measurement applications
can be selected through the instrument front panel, touch-panel interface,
or RS-232-C or GPIB remote control drivers. Simple to complex SDI
measurement functions can be created directly from the VM700T touch-panel
interface. Functions can be enabled manually, automatically using
the system's internal clock, or by remote control. Users who need
to create and distribute VM700T SDI measurement functions to additional
VM700Ts will appreciate the FTP interface that allows file transfers.
SDTI (SMPTE 305M) Serial Data Transport Interface Analysis
SMPTE 305M specifies a Serial Data Transport Stream that can
be used to transport packetized data within a studio/production center
environment. The data packets and synchronizing signals are compatible
with ANSI/SMPTE 259M and can therefore pass through existing plant
routing equipment. The growing use of SDTI to transfer digital video
at faster-than-real-time rates with none of the compression artifacts
found in MPEG provides tremendous potential to post/production applications.
The VM700T Ancillary Data Analyzer application can automatically detect
the presence of the SDTI signal as well as decode the SDTI Header
data information for quick proofs of the SDTI transport layer. Line
number, line number CRC, code and AAI, Destination address, Source
address, Block type, CRC flag, data extension flag, reserved data,
and Header CRC are all decoded and clearly displayed.
Eye
Diagram
A fundamental requirement of any serial digital video
measurement set is the ability to verify the electrical characteristics
of the SDI transport layer. The VM700T SDI option allows comprehensive
analysis of the serial digital transport layer with a high-resolution,
equivalent time sampled Eye Pattern Diagram. The Eye Pattern application
allows direct observation and verification of the analog characteristics
of the serial data signal while simultaneously providing full automatic
measurements of all critical signal parameters. Signal level, rise
and fall time, rise and fall overshoot, Jitter, and DC offset of the
serial data stream are continuously measured and plotted on the VM700T/A
crisp, high-resolution CRT display. All Eye parameter measurements
are continuously compared against user-programmable limits providing
instant notification of an out-of-tolerance condition. An additional
Eye monitoring display allows quick visual indications as well as
logging of all out-of-limit errors. For a more detailed analysis of
the Eye Diagram, voltage and timing cursors are available allowing
for direct manual measurements. Selection of 10 Hz and 1 kHz filters,
equalizer on-off, an automatic cable length meter, and the ability
to select or deselect specific portions of the Eye Waveform for display
complete this application.
SDI Jitter Testing
Jitter
in the serial digital signal can occur as it is processed by distribution
amplifiers, routing switchers, and other digital processing equipment
that operate directly on the signal exclusively in its serial form.
The VM700T SDI Jitter application provides analysis of SDI Jitter
in multiple ways. Peak-to-peak alignment and timing Jitter of the
SDI transport layer are continuously measured and displayed in either
UI (Unit Intervals) or time. As recommended by SMPTE practices, 1 Hz
and 1 kHz selectable clock recovery bandwidths are available. Isolation
of Jitter sources is the first step in diagnosis and elimination.
Therefore, the VM700T SDI analyzer includes a Jitter spectrum display
with over 100 times the spectral range of any competitive device for
detailed analysis and identification of all Jitter frequency components.
Additionally, a unique Jitter waveform display provides the means
to identify line- or frame-correlated Jitter. Cursors are provided
to allow precise measurement of Jitter events in both frequency and
time. An extremely useful relative to reference mode is also provided
allowing up to two Jitter measurement references to be stored internally
and used for difference measurements with one of the two SDI inputs.
Real-time Format Monitor
Monitoring for SDI format violations
helps ensure trouble-free communication between serial digital devices.
Random errors in timing signal placement or other types of data errors,
for example, can mean trouble in a data recovery circuit. The VM700T
SDI format analyzer provides the continuous, real-time format monitoring
capability required to quickly diagnose those hard-to-find format
errors in the serial digital signal. A wide range of individual checks
are performed with error conditions quickly identified in a highly
visible, easy-to-read monitoring display. Monitoring checks include
loss of signal; loss of lock; video line; blanking and field length
errors; EAV/SAV misplacement; ancillary data errors; audio ancillary
data errors; illegal luminance and chrominance values with selectable
search areas; 8/10 bit validation; RP-165 validation; errored seconds
with time counter; event logging; frame capture on user-definable
events and pattern search provide a total validation of the SDI signal
format.
Ancillary Data Analyzer
Once problems are
identified by the Real-time Format Monitor, the Ancillary Data Analyzer
can be automatically enabled to provide a more detailed level of analysis
and diagnosis capability. The primary display of the Ancillary Data
Analyzer provides a complete analysis of all data, including field,
line and sample number, data type, data values, and interpretation
of data value. Data errors are immediately sensed, logged, and indicated
in easy-to-see "bright up" boxes. A "Find Errors" window scans forwards
or backwards in the display buffer, locating and providing a detailed
text interpretation of all data errors. A "Find Data Pattern" search
mode can be programmed to automatically search and locate specific
data patterns as opposed to time-intensive manual searches. The Ancillary
Data Analyzer may also be optimized to display only specific data
types, for example AES Audio packets or EDH data, ensuring the display
remains simple and easy to interpret. To help debug buffer overflow
problems in audio devices, the Ancillary Data Distribution Analyzer
provides real-time verification of the ancillary data distribution
pattern within a video frame.
SDI Waveform Mode
The
SDI Waveform mode further extends the capabilities of the VM700T SDI
option by providing a real-time display and analysis of the decoded
video waveform. Overlay, Parade, and Stacked waveform displays of
individual video lines in equivalent analog form allow complete evaluation
of the video signal, including the ancillary data region, in a traditional
manner. Setup of digital sources is now as easy as if they were analog.
Waveforms can be displayed in either "Bar" style, similar in look
and feel to a logic analyzer display, or with interpolation, providing
a smoother analog look and feel. The "Bar" display style is useful
when using the user-selectable sample cursors to provide readouts
of video sample values. Samples may be displayed in 8 bit or 10 bit
mode in Hex, Binary, or Decimal number base. Timing cursors may be
used to determine the exact timing of any two points on the video
waveform. The interpolated waveform mode is extremely useful for evaluating
the analog characteristics of the component digital signal. Pulse
shape, frequency response, insertion gain, rise and fall times, and
interchannel timing of the decoded signal can be quickly assessed.
SDI Lightning Display
Pressing the VM700T front-panel
Vector button selects the Tektronix-patented Lightning Display. The
Lightning Display helps operators quickly set up color-difference
component recorders using only the color bar test signal.
Interchannel Timing
The Interchannel Timing application
is designed to quickly measure time delay between two SDI sources
or between one SDI source and the analog black-burst reference input.
Timing measurements are made in real-time and in-service without special
test signals. An easy-to-read auto-scaling display indicates time
delay in time or video frames.
SDI Wander
Video sync timing "wander" is a common problem with video that
has been transported over a digital distribution network. Subtle shifts
in picture hue or, in extreme cases, temporary picture unlock, can
result if variations in the horizontal sync frequency timing are not
held to within acceptable limits. The VM700T SDI Wander application
provides a simple and efficient method for the verification of SDI
frequency timing stability for contribution-quality video applications.
No special test signals are required. Absolute frequency offset and
frequency drift rate measurements are made directly on the SDI signal.
Accurate frequency measurements to within 100 ppb can be made. Display
limit markers indicate peak frequency offset in ppm and Hz at Fsc
over the past 17 seconds. Frequency drift rate measurements are reported
in ppm/s and Hz/s at Fsc.
Digital Audio Measurements
Rear-panel I/O Diagram.
The VM700T
SDI analyzer option includes a digital audio measurement application.
Audio level, audio frequency, total harmonic distortion plus noise,
level difference, and interchannel phase of the AES digital audio
or embedded digital audio signal can be measured. An easy-to-read
display automatically updates all audio measurement results, clearly
indicating violations of user-programmable limits and audio bit activity.
For precise error documentation, logging mode may be enabled with
Linear Time Code time-stamping capability. For a more detailed analysis
of the digital audio signal, the Audio Format Analyzer may be selected.
The Audio Format Analyzer provides a waveform display of two digital
audio channels, in addition to analysis of audio channel status, decoding
of user data bits, identification of parity errors, code violations,
and invalid samples.
Picture Mode
Picture mode allows
a quick, visual verification of the SDI signal source. A bright-up
line select feature helps finding any desired video line for testing.
Additionally, a relative-to-reference mode is included that displays
the differences between the active picture and a stored picture, including
differences outside the active video region.
Characteristics
Input Specifications
Channel A
Physical - 2 BNCs (loopthrough).
Electrical -
Input Impedance: 75 Ω.
Return
Loss:
≥25 dB from 1 - 360 MHz, channels on or off, power on.
≥15 dB from 1 - 360 MHz, channels on or off, power off.
Insertion Loss: ≥0.2 dB from 1 to 360 MHz.
Channel
B
Physical - 1 BNC (terminated).
Electrical
-
Input Impedance: 75 Ω.
Return Loss:
≥25 dB
from 1 - 360 MHz, channels on or off, power on.
≥15 dB from
1 - 360 MHz, channels on or off, power off.
Channels
A and B
Signal -
Format: 143 Mb, 270 Mb, and
360 Mb Serial Digital Video per SMPTE 259.
Clock Tolerance:
±20 ppm.
Launch Amplitude: 800 mV ±20% OR.
Cable Loss:
19 dB loss at 135 MHz wrt 800 mVp-p launch amplitude.
SDI Out
Physical - 1 BNC.
Electrical
-
Input Impedance: 75 Ω.
Return Loss:
≥25 dB
from 1 - 360 MHz, channels on or off, power on.
≥15 dB from
1 - 360 MHz, channels on or off, power off.
Signal
-
Format: 143, 270, Serial Digital Video per SMPTE 259.
Clock Tolerance: No worse than selected input signal.
Analog Black-burst
Physical - 2 BNCs (loopthrough).
Electrical -
Input Impedance: 75 Ω.
Return
Loss: ≥30 dB from 1 - 6 MHz, power on or off.
Signal
-
Format: 525/625 line analog composite video.
Input
Amplitude: ±6 dB wrt. 1 Vp-p video.
AES In
Physical - 1 BNC.
Electrical -
Input
Impedance: 75 Ω internally terminated.
Return Loss: ≥15 dB
from 0.1 - 6 MHz, power on or off.
Signal - Format:
41 kHz, 44 kHz, and 48 kHz AES3 digital stereo audio per SMPTE 276.
LTC
Physical - 1 Mini-XLR.
Electrical
- Input Impedance: 20 kΩ internally terminated.
Signal
-
Format: Longitudinal time.
Code per IEC pub. 461.
Speed Range: 0.5x to 5x real time.
Measurement Performance
Eye Diagram
Amplitude Measurements - (AC coupled) (averaged)
Range: 80 mV to 1.0 V.
Amplitude
Accuracy: ±5% at 800 mVp-p.
Rise-time Measurements
-
Accuracy: ±100 ps for signals with rise times of 400 ps-1.5 ns.
Aberrations: <10%, 800 mVp-p step.
Timing Measurements -
Cursor Accuracy: 0.1 ppm ±20 ps.
Resolution: ±40 ps.
Jitter High-pass Filtering
- 10 Hz ,1 kHz.
Jitter Measurement
Demodulated Waveform - Bandwidth: 10 Hz to 10 MHz.
Range (P-P) - 2 UI (4 ns at 270 Mb), 50 Hz to 10 MHz, 5 UI at
10 Hz linearly decreasing to 2 UI at 50 Hz.
Accuracy (RMS)
- 10% measured on sinusoidal Jitter freq 10 Hz to 10 MHz.
Numeric Resolution - 20 ps.
Jitter High-pass Filtering
- 10 Hz, 1 kHz.
SDI Wander Measurement
Nominal Input Freq. - 143 Mb, 270 Mb, and 360 Mb.
Tolerance - ±3%.
Frequency Offset Accuracy - ±0.1 ppm.
Drift Rate Accuracy - ±5 ppb/s.
SDI Interchannel Timing
Digital to SDI Analog Ref
Input -
Accuracy: 400 ns.
Maximum delay: 1 frame (digital
always assumed to be behind analog).
Digital to Digital
- (SDI channel A input to SDI channel B input)
Accuracy: ±1 sample.
Maximum delay: 1 frame.
