SipRadius solves remote timing problems with MRTC

SipRadius, the specialist in live media transport and transcoding, is launching MRTC (Master Router/Real Time Clock) at IBC2024 (stand 5.F43, RAI Amsterdam, 13 – 16 September). This simple, low-cost device solves one of the key issues in remote IP production: the challenge of ensuring signals are synchronized. 

IP media architectures have adopted PTP, the precision time protocol, as the mechanism for distributing timing data from a grand master clock to all devices on the network. This works well on a local area network, but it is very hard to transfer PTP over uncontrolled or remote networks, and attempting to implement it takes engineering time and can result in extended latencies. 

“What we realized is that you do not need to try to keep every location timed to one grand master clock,” said Sergio Ammirata, Ph.D. founder and chief scientist at SipRadius. “For REMI frame alignment, we are dealing in milliseconds not nanoseconds. There are time sources of accurate-enough timecode everywhere: Partial-GPS and cellular networks. Just create a local PTP or NTP at each site.” 

MRTC is a simple, low-cost media router and access gateway that accepts IP signals from a remote location. It uses a proven high-quality, high stability protocol like MPEG-TS over RIST. The MRTC has inputs for a GPS antenna and a cellular SIM to get accurate timecode, and creates its own local PTP and also allows PTP/NTP synchronization to other devices in the network effectively acting as a Master Clock for the remote network. 

“The idea of local PTP grand masters is counter-intuitive at first, but this really is a simple, solid and very easily implemented solution,” Ammirata said. “Make MRTC your I/O device and PTP/NTP grand master and you instantly eliminate one of the major roadblocks for IP in live broadcasting.” 

MRTC is a compact, standalone device 115 mm x 108 mm x 39 mm. It is compatible with all common IP transmission formats and protocols. In addition to it’s media routing capabilities, the MRTC is also a full blown router with multiple ISP capability, firewalling, tunnelling and port mapping. “You only need one device, plug it to the Internet and start streaming.” said Sergio Ammirata.
 
See the MRTC alongside the full range of ultra-low latency and highly secure encoding, transport, delivery and visualization platforms at IBC2024, on stand 5.F43. Find out more at sipradius.com.