In need of CTS renewal units? Contemporary Research offers two free online courses for your convenience. Both courses offer training on video distribution and each offer 1 RU credit after viewing the video and taking the online test.

Click here to take the CTS test for Digital RF and IPTV Convergence: Choosing the Right Solution

Course Description:
There is a growing convergence between digital RF and IPTV technology, with more encoders equipped to deliver media streaming over RF and IP distribution systems. The convergence occurs in both directions, with some digital RF shifting to IP, sharing streams over both, and IPTV applications moving to RF distribution. The goal of this course is to introduce the basics of convergent design, where we looks at the best use of either technology, and enable adaptation for future applications. Participants attending this course will be able to: Determine when an AV. RF, IP or a hybrid RF IPTV system is best suited for a project and know the pros and cons for each solution. Understand how MPEG2 and MPEG 4 streams are processed and delivered. Recognize the challenges in delivering HDTV content over IP and work closely with the IT Department to set up and maintain the system properly.

Click here to take the CTS test for Digital RF- Distributing Digital Media over Coax Course Description: There are two pathways for distributing digital media facility-wide – IPTV and RF coax. While interest in IPTV is high, actual adoption of IPTV has been slow. At the same time, digital RF installations have been exploding. Why? RF is digital media distribution – simplified. In this course we’ll learn how RF systems work, and how digital RF channels are encoded, integrated, distributed and tuned. We’ll explore the crosspoint between RF HDTV and IPTV, as well as how to integrate TV control through the RF network. Participants attending this course will be able to: Understand the basic similarities and differences between RF and IP media distribution Know how to discern if RF is the right choice for an application Be able to work out the basics of matching media sources and modulators and combining the channels Factor losses in a simple RF design Add control over RF using the three basic components of software, control channel, and TV controllers