Turbine Video Settings

To modify the video settings on the station models TCIV-2, TCIV-3 or TCIV-6, log on to the station web interface and select:

Advanced AlphaCom > Video (AlphaCom mode), or
SIP Configuration > Video Setting (SIP/Pulse mode)

What settings and options are available will depend on what firmware is used in the TCIV station.

Video Settings - Firmware version 4.11

This section describes the Video Settings used in firmware 4.11.

Video mode

The TCIV station supports two video streams, each stream is configured separately. The Video mode parameter defines how the video stream will be used.

For turning off video stream Disabled option should be chosen.
When ONVIF option is used, all video configurations is managed by external ONVIF Profile S compliant software - Video Management System. ONVIF media profiles can additionaly be managed on RTSP and ONVIF Settings page.
When RTSP H264 option is used, RTSP stream in H.264 format will be available on URI rtsp://[IP address of the camera]:554/1/RTSP
When RTSP MJPG option is used, RTSP stream in MJPEG format will be available on URI rtsp://[IP address of the camera]:554/1/RTSP
When SIP Call H.264 option is used, video stream in H.264 format will be visible in SIP/Pulse calls.
SIP H.264 uses ephemeral ports in range 32768-60999
When HTTP MJPG option is used, video stream in MJPEG format is available on this url: http://<IP address of the camera>:8090

In RTSP H264 and RTSP MJPG URL, TCIV is using default port 554. The port number is configurable and it can be changed on RTSP and ONVIF Settings page. In the same URL number 1 or 2 determines URL for primary and secondary stream respectively.

In HTTP MJPG URL, TCIV is using default port 8090 for primary and 8091 for secondary stream. The port number is configurable, but it should be different for each stream (if both streams use the same HTTP MJPG option).

Video Settings 4.11
Primary = ONVIF; Secondary = SIP Call H.264 (Firmware 4.11 - Default)
Primary = RTSP H.264; Secondary = RTSP MJPG (Firmware 4.11)
Primary = Disabled; Secondary = HTTP MJPG (Firmware 4.11)

Video Settings

Resolution: Sets the pixel resolution. Options are 240p or 480p.
Frames per second: Sets the framerate per second. Options are 5, 10, 15 or 25 fps in H264 mode, and 5 or 10 fps in MJPG mode.
Bitrate [RTSP H264/SIP Call H.264]: Sets the bitrate which will be used in video stream. Options are 128, 300, 500 or 1000kb/s in H264 mode.
GovLength [RTSP H264/SIP Call H.264]: Group of Video frames length. Determines the interval between each I-frame. Default and recommended value is 25, sending an I-frame every 25th image.
Quality [RTSP MJPG/HTTP MJPG]: Image quality in percentage
RTSP URL [RTSP MJPG/HTTP MJPG]: RTSP URL that can be used for streaming video in RTSP player
Camera IP address and port [HTTP MJPG]: HTTP URL that can be used for streaming video
Enable basic HTTP authentication [HTTP MJPG]: Requires username and password to fetch video when checked (default admin/alphaadmin).

MJPG/H.264 client connections limitation

Primary stream: Max. 1 simultaneous MJPEG or H.264 stream
Secondary stream: Max. 1 simultaneous MJPEG or H.264 stream
MJPEG stream is allowed either on primary stream or on secondary stream (not on both).

TCIV Limitations

Image resolution for both H264 and MJPEG is in 4.11 limited to max 480p which increased product stability and overall robustness. Many low-level optimizations were made for AEWB engine (Automatic Exposure and White Balancing) resulting in much better color accuracy, low-light performance and contrast
Only one stream can use SIP Call H.264 option
Only one stream can use ONVIF option
SIP Call H.264 option is not available in Alphacom mode
Primary stream resolution needs to be higher or equal to secondary stream
Primary stream contains both audio and video while secondary stream contains only video

Video Settings - Firmware version 4.7 and 4.9

This section describes the Video Settings used in firmware 4.7 and 4.9. Older versions might differ somewhat.

Video Settings 4.7
Video Mode = MJPEG (Firmware 4.7)
Video Mode = H264 (Firmware 4.7)

Video settings

Video Mode: Defines whether the video stream will be MJPG in http or H.264 in RTP.
- When the TCIV station is used in SIP or Pulse mode, you can choose to use either H.264 or MJPEG.
- When the TCIV station is used in AlphaCom mode, the station uses video mode MJPEG.

In MJPEG the url to stream video is: http://<IP address of the camera>:8090/mjpg/video.mjpg

Example: http://10.5.101.49:8090/mjpg/video.mjpg (The TCIV is by default using port 8090 for video. The port number is configurable, see below).

Enable Video: This parameter defines whether calls made from the station will be video calls.

Resolution: Sets the pixel resolution.

Frames per second: Sets the framerate per second.

Bitrate [H264 only]: Sets the bitrate which will be used in video stream.

Camera IP address and port [MJPG only]: This is the IP address and port number (default is port 8090) of the camera streaming the video to a web browser or video display station. The video camera and the Turbine station have the same IP address.

Enable HTTP basic authentication [MJPG only]: Requires username and password to fetch video when checked (default admin/alphaadmin).

Video setup mode: Sets how the video will be established, there are two options available:
- Default - this option should be used if the station is used with AlphaCom, Pulse, or non-Cisco 3rd party SIP server
- Cisco - this option should be set if the station is used with Cisco Call Manager. This will force 25 fps framerate.

MJPG client connections limitation

Within firmware versions 4.7/4.9 , if video mode is set to MJPG, the station will enforce a limit of maximum available simultaneous MJPG streams (client connections). This limit is dependent on the set resolution.

Resolution 240P: Max. 3 simultaneous MJPEG streams
Resolution 480P: Max. 2 simultaneous MJPEG streams

Advanced Settings (all versions)

Lens distortion correction: Enabling this parameter will correct the “fish eye” effect that can occur on the edges of the video image.

Night mode: Enables night mode when checked

Zoom: This parameter sets the digital zoom of the video image. The zoom level range is 1.0 to 2.5. Once it is set higher than 1.0 it allows for offsetting the view horizontally and vertically. The offset range is -100 to 100.
- Offset Left Right: Available when zoom is set to more than 1x. Determines the width of the image.
- Offset Up-Down: Available when zoom is set to more than 1x. Determines the height of the image.

Color saturation: This parameter sets the color saturation of the video image. The range is from 0 to 255. The default value is 128.

Contrast: This parameter sets the contrast of the video image. The range is from 0 to 255. The default value is 128.

Brightness: This parameter sets the brightness of the video image. The range is from 0 to 255. The default value is 128.

Backlight compensation: This parameter sets the backlight compensation for the video image. The range is from 0 to 5. The default value is 2.

Bandwidth usage

H264 mode

When video is used in H.264 mode, the allocated bandwidth per stream is defined in the web interface. Available options are 128, 300, 500 or 1000 kb/s.

Higher resolution requires more bandwidth to show a clear picture without much pixelation. More pixels require more bandwidth.
Higher video bandwidth setting will reduce required compression level and pixelation on movements but will require users to have higher connection or will cause massive frame loss, interruptions and latency

MJPEG mode

In MJPG mode the bandwidth depends on the resolution, framerate, quality (compression) and the complexity of the scene. By scene complexity we mean how much activity is occurring in the scene of video that you are capturing. For instance, a person talking in front of a white wall is far less 'complex' than a crowded stadium. In general, the more color, shapes, sizes, objects and movements in a scene, the more complex that scene will be. The more complex a scene is the more bandwidth will be needed to maintain the same quality level.

The table below shows typical bandwidth usage for different settings and scene complexity:

Resolution	FPS	Quality	Bandwidth (Normal Activity level)	Bandwidth (Peak Activity)
240P	5	10	140-160 kb/s	250 kb/s
240P	10	50	350-450 kb/s	1000 kb/s
240P	10	75	400-600 kb/s	1200 kb/s
240P	10	100	800-1000 kb/s	1500 kb/s
480P	5	10	280-310 kb/s	360 kb/s
480P	10	50	600-800 kb/s	1800 kb/s
480P	10	75	800-950 kb/s	1900 kb/s
480P	10	100	1200-1300 kb/s	2500 kb/s