Many aspects of the broadcast industry are moving to IT and software based technologies. But this causes challenges as manufacturers only have a single size of IT server designed for a datacentre which can be challenging to use in a field environment. In contrast, most of the servers we use for encoding and decoding are the size of a pizza box. For live video transport from the field, size matters. This blog post will explain why.
Smaller is Better
Many IT servers can be cumbersome to transport, limiting where and how they can be used. In contrast, our “pizza-box sized” servers provide the perfect blend of functionality and portability. Their compact size brings unparalleled flexibility, allowing for easy transport. They fit effortlessly into flight cases, vehicles and small comms rooms while remaining usable in traditional IT data centres. This means operations can be set up anywhere, without being limited by bulky server designs.
In the picture above we see one of our pizza-box sized servers resting on top of other equipment, something not easily doable with a deeper and more bulky IT server used by many vendors.
Designed for Mission-Critical Applications
Despite their small size, our servers come equipped with high-end features that meet professional standards:
- Dual Power Supply: Enhanced reliability is critical in any professional setting. Our servers feature dual power supplies, ensuring that the equipment remains operational even in the event of a power supply failure.
- Dual Disk Configuration: This feature not only enhances performance but also provides redundancy and data protection, making our servers ideal for mission-critical applications.
- High Density: With up to 16-channels in a single rack unit, there are no compromises in density. Bidirectional feeds are also possible, something which often requires two separate devices with hardware-centric alternatives.
Comparison with Competitors
Let’s compare our pizza-box servers with the typical deep servers that are available from other manufacturers of encoders and decoders:
| Our Server | Example IT Server | |
| Depth | 429 mm (16.9 inches) | 808 mm (31.8 inches) |
| Weight | 11.4 kg (25.1 lbs) | 21.9 kg (48.3 lbs) |
Having a portable server can be valuable in many environments, allowing teams to focus on delivering high-quality contribution feeds without being bogged down by cumbersome logistics.
Explore our low-latency encoders and decoders.
