Total Star Network reduces transmission costs with Barix IP audio solution

Total Star Network, the broadcasting network that has eight stations in England and Spain, has replaced its transmission system based on dedicated lines and ISDN with a much more profitable IP audio signal transmission network.

Thanks to the Reflector service and Barix devices, Total Star Network, a broadcasting network that has eight stations in England and Spain, has replaced its transmission system based on dedicated lines and ISDN with a much more profitable IP audio signal transmission network.

The broadcasting company estimates annual savings of almost $10,000 (£6,000) in program transmission costs, and in some cases even improving audio quality.

Total Star Network opted for Barix's Reflector service to simplify the transmission of IP audio signals from its headquarters in Cheltenham, England, to its seven regional broadcasters. Barix Exstreamer 500 professional IP audio devices provide the encoding/decoding points from headquarters to local studios and onwards to broadcast areas. In addition, the network uses the Barix IP audio solution to transmit the programming of the OneGold Radio station to an FM station located on the Costa Blanca, a stretch of the Mediterranean coast corresponding to the province of Alicante (Spain).

Distributed by Barix partner StreamGuys, the Reflector Service acts as an online center for setting up audio connections (bridge transport), while providing direct retransmission of audio signals. Using the Reflector Service eliminates the operator's need for tedious static IP address and router configurations, reducing them to simply creating an account on the service's website, entering information about hardware devices and making some general adjustments to audio parameters.

Liam Kelly, Broadcast Engineer for Total Star Network, noticed the ability to modify sound levels on the Exstreamer 500 from anywhere through this service, which is undoubtedly a great advantage as it eliminates the need to physically connect to the devices. On the other hand, he also commented that the audio quality was better than when using ISDN lines, thanks to the significant increase in bandwidth available when using the Reflector Service (MP3 format from 128 Kbps to 192 Kbps).

In almost all likelihood, the biggest surprise in switching to IP-based audio streaming has been its consistency. "It's pretty incredible that we can get such exceptional audio quality over these distances with this kind of continuity. The signal strength is rock solid, with no signal loss whatsoever."

Separately, Total Star Network uses Exstreamer 500 devices for remote broadcast applications, including coverage of the Cheltenham Gold Cup horse racing that took place in mid-March. Total Star Network staff transmit live signals from the remote site to headquarters via a satellite connection that costs around $32 (£20) a month. This provides radio stations with a cost-effective and professional way to broadcast events without the need for excessively expensive broadcast equipment and rental of satellite links.

Barix will present its new Exstreamer 500 professional IP audio device at the upcoming NAB 2011 show, which will take place from April 11 to 14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, as well as its new updates to the Reflector Service that will further simplify its integration with existing broadcast infrastructures. The tunneling technique, monitoring, the warning system and system resistance are some of the improvements included in the new updated version.