Retransmission channel¶

• Table of contents
• Retransmission channel
  • • General information
    • Interface
    • Retransmission channels
    • Retransmission channel settings
    • Group properties

General information¶

The Retransmission channel module (DSM-035) is intended to create a retransmission channel, configure its parameters, as well as select devices for receiving and replaying the retransmission signal. The module allows you to configure switching with adjustable delay. The signal delay is convenient to use at regional retrasmission stations: when at a certain time a signal arrives from the central station, switching occurs after a delay interval that is equal to the time difference in the regions.

Interface¶

The Retransmission channel module has two windows: Retransmission channels and Retransmission chanel settings.

Retransmission channels¶

Retransmission channels window is available from the Main menu: Service\Hardware devices\Retransmission channels.

The same window can be opened by clicking the button  next to the drop-down channel selection list in the settings window of a particular player.

Here is a list of created retransmission channels containing the following columns:

• Type (channel or group);
• Name of channel;
• Recording device;
• Playback device.

At the bottom of the window there are buttons:

• Add channel allows you to create a new retransmission channel. It opens Retransmission channel settings window.
• Add group allows you to combine the channels in the retransmission group. It opens Group properties window.
• Edit allows you to change the parameters of an existing retransmission channel or group of channels. It opens Retransmission channel settings window or Group properties window.
• Delete allows you to delete a retransmission channel if it is not in the group.

Click OK to save the changes. If you don't need to save changes, click Cancel.

Retransmission channel settings¶

• Name - user name of the retransmission channel (required);
• Recording device - recording device selection in the drop-down list;
• Playback device - playback device selection in the drop-down list;
• Keep playback device open - select this option if sound cards are used in which the hardware sound from the input to the output of the card is possible only if the corresponding playback device is open by software.
• Software data transfer - select this option if sound cards don't provide a signal from input to output and recording from one card to another will be used. Software data transfer allows you to programmatically record the signal from the input to the buffer, from which it will then be played on the specified device. This technology is applicable to work with all sound cards. However, it introduces a delay in the signal and requires greater performance and stability of the computer, since the data is transferred from the input to the output of the sound card programmatically, and the depth of buffering is very small. In this case recording and playback devices must be synchronized. For hardware data transfer, an ASIO driver or a standard WAVE driver can be used. In the latter case, a standard Microsoft Windows mixer is used to adjust the level and the recorder must be linked to a controller.
• Software data transfer buffering (ms) - buffering for software data transfer (in milliseconds). It intended to optimize the process of writing data about the signal to the buffer and receiving this data from the buffer by the receiving sound card. This is necessary because the clock frequency of the sending sound card doesn't coincide with the clock frequency of the receiving sound card, if they were not synchronized. Buffering is configured by three parameters:
  • Minimum - minimal buffering (by default is 200 ms). When the buffer is filled to the value specified here, the receiving sound card can receive data about the signal and start playing it.
  • Normal - normal buffering (by default is 600 ms). The optimal buffer size for receiving data on a signal from a receiving sound card.
  • Maximum - maximum buffering (by default is 1000 ms). If this value is exceeded during buffer filling, the buffer fullness will drop to the value of "normal buffering" (by default - 600 ms), since the receiving sound card is not able to receive a larger amount of data.

Note: If broadcasting disruptions are observed when using the Internet stream as the main channel of retransmission and the note "Retr chan buffer overflow" is present in the log, you need change the buffering values ​​during program data transfer to a higher direction. It's necessary to increase the value in the Maximum and Normal fields, that will allow the application to avoid disruptions related to the quality of the Internet (values are selected individually).

• Signal delay is necessary in cases where the retransmission needs to be carried out with a time delay (for example, if there is a difference in time zones). In this case, the retransmission data will first be temporarily stored on the computer, and then played back after a specified time.
  • Temporary folder - need to specify the path to the directory in which the retransmission data will be stored.
  • Signal delay (hh:mm)  - need to set the time (hours and minutes), after which from the beginning of the broadcast signal of the head station, the retransmission will start.
• Use for monitoring in sound editor - this option allows you to listen to the retransmitted signal in BSC Editor.

Group properties¶

The window opens with the Add group button, and also with the Edit button if you selected the group for editing.

You can combine existing retransmission channels into a group by setting their priority.

In the Name field enter any user name of the group. This field is required.

There are two lists:

• Group channels - list of retransmission channels that are included in the group.
• Available channels - list of existing retransmission channels. Any channel can be added to a group, even if it is already a member of another group.

You can add and remove a channel from a group using the buttons:

- add the retransmission channel to the group.

- remove the retransmission channel from the group.

Below are the buttons that allow you to move the channels in the list up and down.

In this way, the priority is set: the higher the channel in the channel list of the group, the higher is its priority.

The player will start playing the first channel in the list. If this signal disappears, the player will switch to the second retransmission channel in the list. After the signal is restored in the first retransmission channel in the list, the player will switch to it again. The time after which the transition from one channel to another will occur, as well as the threshold values ​​of the signal level are set in the Settings section of the backup player.