International Datacasting Star Three Pro Audio Satellite Receiver IRD

Star Three Satellite Audio Receiver - 3 Channel

The IDC Star Three Pro Audio Satellite Receiver is designed specifically for the distribution of audio programming over satellite to radio broadcasting networks. STAR Three Pro Audio is an ultra high reliability, professional satellite receiver designed specifically for radio distribution applications. Based around the latest DVB satellite modulation and MPEG audio compression standards, the STAR’s highly integrated, low power, fanless architecture is designed to maximize network uptime. STAR supports ultra high efficiency, standards-based DVB-S2 as well as DVB-S satellite demodulation. Both MCPC and SCPC delivery modes are supported, down to rates as low as 100 kSymbol/s.

MPEG Audio Compression

The programmable audio decoder within STAR supports a wide range of open standard MPEG audio codecs. MPEG Layer 2 and Layer 3 are supported as standard, and MPEG-4 AAC is available as a licensable option.

Reduced Satellite Transmission Costs

Combining DVB-S2 satellite demodulation with MPEG-4 AAC audio decoding can reduce annual satellite bandwidth costs dramatically when compared to networks based on legacy audio products. Depending on the size of the network, the yearly satellite bandwidth savings can quickly offset the cost of upgrading older networks to the STAR platform.

High Density

STAR Three supports three audio pairs. Supporting multiple decoders in one chassis reduces cost for radio networks delivering more than one channel to each transmitter site. Program Backup- Certain STAR Pro Audio models can be programmed to play stored audio files from an on-board SD card when the incoming signal is not available, ensuring radio transmission continuity even when the satellite link is not available.

Broad Array of Software Licensable Features

Many of the features available for the STAR Pro Audio, including very low symbol rate support and AAC decoding, are software options. They can be activated using a license key at any time, whenever the extra functionality is required.

ABR Network Replacement

IDC has designed the STAR to be the modern replacement to its market-leading ABR platform, which is still being used to deliver content to tens of thousands of transmitter sites around the world. STAR updates the ABR’s twenty year old satellite modulation and audio compression technologies with modern, open standard alternatives, while retaining the ABR’s legendary levels of reliability. It also improves on the ABR’s density, offering up to three stereo channels per rack unit instead of one.

Long Term Investment Protection

Radio network operators need to be sure that the infrastructure investments they make can be relied upon to support their business for many years to come. Our twenty year history in professional radio demonstrates both IDC’s ability to engineer long lasting, reliable audio receiver products, and our proud commitment to this market. Continuing in this long tradition, IDC has designed the STAR Pro Audio to support our customers' satellite distribution needs well in to the future.