Today is a good day because it feels like progress is being made, finally!
I needed to spend some time rationalizing and mapping out how I would best run all our services remotely, simultaneously routing HD/SD video feeds for satellite up-link and split the signal into at least one media encoder for streaming (I am building a custom encoder in-house for reasons mentioned in previous post of “frustration”).
I was able to visit AzzurroHD and spend some time with my new favorite person, Mark Lowden, the brilliant and ever so tolerant VP of Sales at Azzurro my choice for a “Digital Meet Me Point” (but, I’d like to say Lowden is more of a partner rather than a “sales guy” – he knows his stuff).
It was very reassuring to measure the rack and get a sense of where the encoder would physically sit in proximity to the SDI decoder at the facility.
The building itself is Teir1, it is the former AT&T building at 32 6th Avenue here in NYC, and this equates to good access points for both the SDI lines we are getting (HD/SD over fiber) that will facilitate the satellite up-links and good bandwidth/ISP choices from within the facility for streaming. (Please read this HowStuffWorks bit on “Internet TV” – I love this stuff!)
The last I heard it will take ONE more week in order to get the tarriffed services from Verizon Core up and running. I am hopeful.
There is irony to all this, there is no Verizon FiOS in the building. Which I find interesting, but one step at a time…