Wegener Communications 6420 - Manual (Page 12)

iPump 6420 User’s Manual
www.wegener.com 800070-01 Rev B Chapter 1, Page 8
system. This is called “Compel-over-Internet”. Along with this capability, the i6420 may also
poll for and then pull in it’s local spot files over the same internet connections. This is called
“Internet File Delivery”. This allows the i6420 to easily implement a premium radio network
feature called “Automation Mode”, to be discussed.
Compel commands, either directly addressed, or addressed as groups, or “indirectly
addressed” based on current unit settings, are one method of controlling iPump6420 Audio
Servers. Because of timing-delay functions built into Compel, the network operator can
accurately overlay network “avails” with local spots. In addition to real-time Compel
commands, the network operator can exploit the network-wide time synchronization of all
Wegener edge receivers when being fed from a single Compel control system. Just as events
may be scheduled in the Compel control system, those same schedules may also be loaded to the
remote field iPump6420s. These schedules can create a model for iPump 6420 automatic
behavior, guaranteeing that critical commands are executed on target i6420s precisely at
expected times.
1.2.4. Premium Features
Automation Mode
In Automation Mode, the i6420 is totally removed from the need for a satellite downlink
connection. In this mode, the i6420 functions as a “radio station in a box”. All its content, from
local spots to the music or talk-format material, is downloaded to the unit as audio files. Daily
schedule files, which give traffic-system instructions to the unit, are regularly downloaded to the
unit. The unit is directed to an NTP time source through its LAN IP connection. With the time
reference and the traffic schedule, the unit then autonomously plays it’s files, delivers closures
and sends RBDS messages to the local radio network affiliate.
ShowShifting
Many syndicated radio shows originate at a specific time in the broadcast day. For a radio-
network to resell that show, it often has to record the original feed and then re-broadcast over
satellite later at times convenient for the subscribing affiliates. This is a waste of satellite
bandwidth when the iPump6420’s ShowShifting feature is purchased and made available. This
feature allows the central radio network manager, or a local user, to schedule local recording of
the original show episodes, then subsequent planned playback times. These recordings are,
unlike a “Tivo”, include more than the streamed audio feed, but also include a capture of the
timestamped track of associated Compel commands that went out with the original program
episode: Commands for local spot plays, RBDS messages, and for local relay closure outputs.
This whole effort is done so seamlessly that, at playback, the local affiliate cannot distinguish
between the original show episode broadcast and the ShowShifted episode playback.