Sencore is debuting its Centra Gateway in North America next week along with new ATSC 3.0 and UHD decoding solutions. “Building on the success of its initial launch, Sencore will be focusing on demoing the comprehensive capabilities of Centra, which is deployable either as software on-prem, in the cloud or hardware appliance.” Operating across a range of operational layers, Centra gives network engineers — and operators without any technical background — full eyes across their media chain from a centralized interface. In addition, it automates a range of tasks, achieving “maximum efficiency and reliability while minimizing complexity and OpEx.”

The core functionality of the platform is the reception, transmission and conversion of internet protocols for optimized distribution of video. Protocols supported include RIST, SRT, Zixi and HLS, along with MPEG-over-IP, allowing users to leverage the benefits associated with RIST and SRT protocols in terms of reliability, low latency, packet-drop compensation and forward error correction. Further, Centra automatically communicates with Edge devices to ascertain capacity, required protocol and other relevant conditions, and then distributes on that basis. Constant metrics assessing latency across network links allow for Centra to optimize transport according to resources and need. The NABShow will provide opportunity for potential customers to discover firsthand the nature of the comprehensive IP broadcast solution.

Sencore will also reveal a range of enhancements that have been made to the VideoBRIDGE monitoring system, which has now been upgraded with a new four-port RF blade capable of monitoring ATSC 3.0 broadcasts and critical new SCTE 35 ad insertion monitoring features. With this expanded functionality, the VideoBRIDGE system continues to represent an end-to-end monitoring tool of unparalleled functionality and density, allowing customers to monitor signals and streams from ingest, through processing, and to final delivery, all while ensuring ad revenue and regulatory compliance.

In relation to their commercial AV solutions, Sencore will be demonstrating the range of products they offer — along with consultation, implementation and financing services — to support a vast range of applications from worship and hospitality, to large-scale OTT and private cable. New additions include the Impulse 400D: a “powerful and cost-effective 4K UHD receiver decoder/gateway” that supports MPEG-2/H.264/H.265 (HEVC) UHD/HD/SD decoding, re-multiplexing and re-transmission across industry-standard protocols and IP infrastructures.