Introduction

Welcome to Telos Zephyr Connect

Welcome to your new Telos iPort High Density, a Multi-Codec Gateway designed on an IP backbone that is used by broadcasters worldwide, featuring built-in resilience and reliability even with challenging connections. Worldwide networks use iPort for both Distribution and Contribution spanning multiple time zones.

Now, the iPort legacy continues with the more powerful iPort High Density, which transports multiple channels of stereo, mono, and dual-mono audio across IP networks, including private WANs, IP-radio links, and over good quality Public Internet connections—perfect for large-scale distribution of audio to single or multiple locations.

iPort High Density is the workhorse of codecs and comes with eight bi-directional stereo codecs, configurable to run in MPEG or Linear PCM mode.  You can license additional codecs up to a maximum of 64, as well as add Enhanced aptX™ encoding. iPort High Density connects to your existing Livewire® Network using a single ethernet cable (CAT-6 recommended) for all I/O. It can also pair with Telos Alliance xNodes via an adequately configured ethernet switch for use as a standalone multi-stream codec.

Coding algorithms include AAC, AAC-LD, HE-AAC (plus v2), MP2, MP3, linear PCM, and optional Enhanced aptX™. 24 to 320 kbps for MPEG codecs, standard fixed rates for Enhanced aptX™, and 24-bit PCM at 48kHz, mono, or stereo are supported. Dual, diverse-path, end-to-end connections are available for ultra-reliability and redundancy. Built-in streaming servers use SHOUTcast/ICEcast formatting at the output.

iPort High Density offers MPEG-standard ancillary data transport, up to three transparent control and metadata channels per codec and direction, and enhanced GPIO options with up to 20 end-to-end GPIO channels per codec and direction, all bundled and synchronized with the respective audio content. An optional Content Delay feature allows independent local storage and scheduled delayed playout of any or all coded audio channels.

Configuration

Host Name

This is the Linux host name that is used for device identification, for example, when system logs are being sent to an external machine. These should be unique for each device in your network. If you have more than one iPort, you will want to change this from the default ‘iPort’ text., as we have done here. If this will be your only iPort, you can keep the default.

Livewire interface

This is the value for the Livewire Ethernet port. Normally, this is set to a value in the same address space as the Livewire network to which the iPort PLUS will connect. Note that the netmask value needs to correspond with that of your other Livewire AoIP equipment.

WAN interface

With iPort High Density, you may configure two IP addresses (A and B) on the same WAN port or each of the WAN and LAN ports for enhanced redundancy.

The WAN port may be set to any needed value for compatibility with the network to which it’s connected. Here, you must enter a correct gateway IP address for the iPort to work correctly. The gateway address will typically be the router's IP address to access the Internet or other WAN.

You may use redundant WAN Paths by enabling the redundant path options, specifying its IP address, netmask, and gateway, and selecting the desired ethernet port.

By default, Web access via the WAN port is disabled. Click the box if you want to enable it.

When you are finished making entries, remember to click the  button at the bottom of the page.

Setting the Time

iPort High Density maintains a very accurate clock by connecting to an NTP time server. Once the network connections are established, you can set them up.

Server Configuration

1. From the main menu, click on the AoIP and Options link under the Configuration heading.

2. Enter the IP address for the Primary and Secondary NTP servers

3. Click the Synchronize Clock with NTP Server box

After a few minutes, you should see the NTP status change to 'Reached, SYNC'.

Time Zone Configuration

On the AoIP and Options page, Under Time zone configuration, set your GMT offset and click Apply.

Adjusting Leap Seconds

From time to time, the leap seconds file needs to be updated. This is particularly important if your iPort uses the optional Content Delay feature where accurate playback time is needed.

A leap second is a one-second adjustment that is occasionally applied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), to accommodate the difference between precise time (as measured by atomic clocks) and imprecise observed solar time.  For more information on leap time,  visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leap_second.

To set leap seconds, upload a leap file to the NTP Configuration page.  To obtain a leapfile, follow the instructions and links on the NTP Configuration webpage.

For web addresses and status information about time servers maintained in the United States by NIST, visit <http://tf.nist.gov/tf-cgi/servers.cgi>.

To find out more about NTP time servers globally, visit <http://www.pool.ntp.org/en/>.

Changing Passcodes

User passcodes may be changed from their default settings on the Software page under the Remote Access Password section.

The default for the Web interface is <blank>, meaning no password is needed

Backing-up and Restoring Configuration

Backup and Restore of the iPort High Density system configuration is done on the Backup & Restore webpage

• Backup - Saves your settings to an XML file on your computer.

• Restore - Click Choose File, browse for and locate the XML file backup, then click Restore.  

• Reset cfg - Used to factory reset iPort High Density.  You will be given the option to;

  • Restore all

  • Restore all except netowrk configuration

  • Cancel

Make sure that you have copies of any licenses before proceeding with a reset.

Restart

iPort High Denstity can be restarted from the Software page.

After answering yes to the Continue? prompt, iPort High Density will restart retaining all current configuration values. Answer NO to cancell the restart.

Firmware Upgrade

This is on the Software page.

You might receive this via email from our support department, or you might find it on our website. To install new firmware, the first step is to download it to your PC. Then browse to locate it, then click the Upload button to install it into the iPort.

To ensure a smooth upgrade, this procedure must be strictly followed. New firmware can only be uploaded to Bank 1, after switching the operation to Bank 0.

If the upload is started but does not succeed, Bank 1 will become unusable, and you will continue on Bank 0 which is working. You can attempt to upload to Bank 1 any number of times, and you can still reboot from Bank 0.

In case booting starts from a corrupted bank and does not succeed after the third unsuccessful attempt the bootloader would automatically switch the system to using the other bank.

When the firmware has been successfully uploaded, click the Apply Selected Bank button to activate it.

The iPort High Density will be offline for 2 to 4 minutes while the firmware updates.

What's Next?

We've just covered the nuts and bolts of getting iPort High Density installed and connected to the network, and discussed how to update and maintain its firmware. You also learned how to set up your unit's configuration files.

Since the main function of iPort High Density is sending high-quality audio from point A to point B, we'll next discuss how to do that with the MPEG or optional aptX® Enhanced encoders.