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Tieline Codecs

Z

zachmorton

We're using Tieline Commander Rack and Field units, and have issues with audio dropouts and connections. An upgrade to the latest firmware helped, but still have quite a few audio drops and connections being lost. We are on the Verizon wireless network for our connections.

The question I have is...is there a better or worse bitrate or algorithm for these codecs in terms of reliability, or am I simply at the mercy of the network?

Thanks for your assistance!
 
We use those codecs as well. Are you sending voice back and forth? If so, the best choice, in my experience, is the voice codec at around 19k. We use the music codec on POTS and wired IP connections only.

One problem for you is that the voice codec is no longer supported in the lastest firmware upgrade. For that very reason, we have not upgraded firmware beyond the May 2011 release I believe.

Also, I don't know whether 4G is available to you, but it should give you much more stability over 3G. We're getting ready to use 4G with the Cradlepoint 750.
 
We do send program back and forth, but only as an IFB type. Mono only, 24k Music codec. The 3g Voice codec is still available as a setting, but the spec sheet discourages use of it.
 
Yes, they recommend the music codec now even at low bitrates, but I would try the voice codec at the 16-19k range and see how that works. I think the 24k and its overhead is probably too much for a congested 3g network.

YMMV, but we do well with the voice codec. Of course, you could try the music codec at lower rates as well.
 
Verizon will be rolling out 4G in Evansville in about 3 weeks.

Having said that, ChiefOperator's suggestion is a good one. The difference in audio quality between 24k and 16k is barely noticeable for voice-only. Start going lower than that and you notice it...
 
I am curious about this unit.

How many of you successfully do voice remotes with it via 3G? Our Verizon is so solid here, it might be a good idea for us. We don't have much height back at the studio, so our our marti range is so-so. The big V's data blanket is solid, though.
 
We are using our Tieline with the VoiceG3 algorithm, and usually connect at 48k either wired or wireless. We use it for mono back and forth to and from the station for telephone call in shows. I didn't get the 3G upgrade on the Tieline box. Late we got a Verizon 4G LTE MiFi unit that connects wirelessly to a Cradlepoint router, and the Cradlepoint connects to the Tieline. Works well, and we can tether other WiFi devices to the MiFi or the Cradlepoint. With 4G service, we have very few problems.
 
ssivers said:
We are using our Tieline with the VoiceG3 algorithm, and usually connect at 48k either wired or wireless. We use it for mono back and forth to and from the station for telephone call in shows. I didn't get the 3G upgrade on the Tieline box. Late we got a Verizon 4G LTE MiFi unit that connects wirelessly to a Cradlepoint router, and the Cradlepoint connects to the Tieline. Works well, and we can tether other WiFi devices to the MiFi or the Cradlepoint. With 4G service, we have very few problems.
Click to expand...

We don't have a Tieline but do have a Comrex Access that we use for remotes and high school sports feeds. A typical football game broadcast runs about 3 hours including pre and post game. Had a lot of problems on Sprint 3G here with data throughput, even if we cut the codec mode to the absolute lowest setting. On the Comrex that's about 14kbit/sec each way. The aircard showed 100% signal but data throughput would drop to zero for up to seconds at a time, resulting in dead air.

Verizon 4G came to town here in June so we switched and got the LTE MiFi device. There's a definite difference since our game broadcasts have been flawless for the entire 3 hours using the usual 24-28k/sec codec mode on 4G. We did have one game that was out of town in a 3G only area that had the occasional dropout for a second or so every 5 or 10 minutes. That place has always been problematic though.

We shall see how things hold up in the winter when the action moves indoors...Gyms can be hard on cell signals.
 
The delay using 48k over the MiFi is about 1/2 second. It still sounds normal when talking to callers. We have had a few problems before switching to 4G, I would then just dial back the bitrate.
 
The delay is from about 200ms to 500ms. Usually, the delay creates no problems; sometimes though the delay makes two-way communication a little stilted.
 
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