SnapStream

Typically, it takes approximately 3-4 weeks to build, test, burn-in and ship a configured SnapStream to our customers.

All recordings are made in an unencrypted MPEG-2 program stream format. After a recording has been made, SnapStream's ShowSqueeze technology allows you to re-compress your recordings into the Windows Media Video (WMV) or H.264 formats. The specific parameters for recordings made in MPEG-2 or those ShowSqueeze'd to Windows Media or H.264, such as video resolution and bit-rate, are configurable by the administrator.

Yes, all MPEG-2, Windows Media Video (WMV) and H.264 encoding profiles are highly configurable, from resolution and bit-rate to frame rate to audio frequency and bit-rate.

Yes, SnapStream has full support for recording from digital cable and satellite television sources. For a SnapStream setup involving satellite or digital cable, you will need one set-top box (provided by your television provider) for each tuner. For example, if you are setting up a 10-tuner SnapStream to record from a DISH satellite television system, you will need 10 DISH set-top boxes (one for each input). For most television sources that require a set-top box, SnapStream controls each set-top box using an IR blaster (see our IR blaster quick-start guide). For compatible DirecTV set-top boxes, SnapStream controls each set-top box using serial tuning (see our serial tuning quick-start guide).

SnapStream can record any device that has analog audio and video outputs (NTSC-only). Specifically, SnapStream has one RF coax input, two S-video video inputs and two 3.5mm (1/8") audio inputs for every two tuners. However, SnapStream is specifically designed for recording and searching television, so your mileage may vary for other applications. For example, with video source inputs other than television, SnapStream's search technology is not likely to work.

The following inputs are available on the SnapStream appliance, for every two tuners:

• one RF coax input
• two S-video video inputs
• two 3.5 mm (1/8") audio inputs

Only analog NTSC is supported for SnapStream. For ATSC, check out SnapStream HD. Other formats, such as PAL and SECAM, are available but not necessarily supported. Please speak to a Sales Representative to discuss your options. Also, SnapStream does not have any SDI or HD/SDI inputs or any support for FM Radio.

It depends on the bandwidth available on your network and the video quality settings. For example, if you're recording at SnapStream's default quality of "MPEG-2 Fair", each live TV or recorded TV stream consumes about 2 Mb/s of bandwidth. Accordingly, to support 10 concurrent playback sessions, you would need approximately 20 Mbit / sec of available bandwidth. Also, each PC playing back live TV or recordings needs to have SnapStream Enterprise TV Link or the Web Player plug-in installed. Each SnapStream includes 5 Enterprise TV Link client licenses per tuner. For example, the four-tuner SnapStream includes 20 Enterprise TV Link client licenses and the 10-tuner SnapStream includes 50 Enterprise TV Link client licenses.

It depends on the quality at which video is being recorded and the size of the disk-array. When recording at the default quality (MPEG-2 Fair), the four-tuner SnapStream can store about 580 hours of video, while our 10-tuner SnapStream can store over 3,400 hours.

No, when you purchase a particular configuration, it is not possible to later add additional tuners. A four-tuner SnapStream, for example, cannot later be upgraded to make it a six-tuner or eight-tuner SnapStream.

SnapStream is equipped with dual hot-swap power supplies that are both redundant, and load-balancing. The particular power requirements vary depending on the configuration. View our power and thermal document for more information.

It is recommended that two independent battery backup units are used. View our power and thermal document for more information on best practices.

To view the thermal output of SnapStream, view our power and thermal document.

Yes, SnapStream has a built-in feature for e-mailing clips.

It's also possible to e-mail a URL to a colleague. This URL, when clicked on, will launch the SnapStream interface and load the designated video at the specified time. This method requires the recipient to have the SnapStream Link software installed.

For a visual step by step, visit our How it Works page.

With SnapStream 5.x and above, you can configure multiple nodes to work together as if they were one. By integrating multiple SnapStreams into a clustered installation, you can theoretically record an infinite number of TV channels simultaneously. Search meta data is retained across the system.