# PikoTV Technology — Codec Support, Encoding Specs & Technical Capabilities

**URL:** https://pikotv.com/features  
**Content-Type:** text/markdown  
**Last-Modified:** 2026-09-23  
**Language:** en

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## Overview

PikoTV builds carrier-grade, modular broadcasting infrastructure engineered for 24/7 reliability. The platform spans professional video encoding, decoding, transcoding, packaging, DRM, transport protocol gateways, monitoring, and smart-home integration — all manageable from a unified web interface.

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## Encoder & Transcoder

**Product page:** https://pikotv.com/encoder

The PikoTV Encoder & Transcoder is a high-performance, carrier-grade video encoding platform designed for broadcast, IPTV, OTT, satellite, and contribution workflows. Built with a modular architecture and powered by next-generation compression technologies, it delivers exceptional video quality at the lowest possible bitrates.

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### Video Encoding — Supported Codecs

| Codec | Profiles / Notes |
|---|---|
| HEVC (H.265) | Main 8 YUV 4:2:0 / Main 10 YUV 4:2:0 |
| AVC (H.264) | Main 8 YUV 4:2:0 / High 10 YUV 4:2:0 / High 4:2:2 |
| MPEG-2 / MPEG-4 | Standard profiles |
| AV1 | Supported |
| VVC (H.266) | Supported |
| LCEVC (V-Nova MPEG-5) | Enhancement layer over H.264, HEVC, AV1 |

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### Audio Encoding — Supported Formats

| Format | Bitrate / Mode |
|---|---|
| MPEG-2 Audio | Standard |
| MP3 | Standard |
| AAC-LC / HE-AAC 2.0 | 32–128 kbps |
| AAC-LC / HE-AAC 5.1 | 96–448 kbps |
| Dolby Digital (AC-3) 2.0 | Passthrough |
| Dolby Digital (AC-3) 5.1 | Passthrough |
| Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3) 5.1 | Passthrough |
| Dolby AC-4 | Passthrough |
| Dolby Digital Plus Atmos (file) | Passthrough |
| Dolby Digital / DD+ Pass-through | With error masking |
| Automatic Loudness Control | Included |

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### Video Input Sources

- SDI / HD-SDI (up to 16 inputs)
- Analog AV
- 4x3G-Quad SDI or 12G (up to 2x 4K)
- HDMI (with or without HDCP)
- DVB RF
- File / Encode Queue List
- IP: UDP / RTP / RTMP / RTSP / HLS / DASH / CMAF
- ASI
- NDI
- SRT / RIST

### Audio Input Sources

- Embedded audio over SDI / HDMI
- Analog audio
- Audio over IP

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### Stream Outputs

- SPTS / MPTS IP
- UDP / RTP / RTMP / RTSP / HLS / DASH / CMAF
- ASI
- NDI
- File
- CDN
- SRT / RIST

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### Encoding Modes

| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| CBR | Constant Bitrate |
| VBR | Variable Bitrate |
| CVBR | Capped Variable Bitrate |
| ABR | Adaptive Bitrate for OTT |
| Multicast ABR | ABR over multicast networks |
| Custom | Custom bitrate range, resolution, and frame rate |

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### Video Formats & Resolutions

- **Resolutions:** UHD (4K, 8K), HD, SD — any custom resolution supported
- **Frame rates:** 24, 25, 30, 50, 59, 60 Hz — any custom frame rate supported
- **Aspect ratios:** 4:3, 16:9, 21:9, 5:4, 3:2, 8:5, 5:3, 17:9 — any custom ratio supported

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### Video Quality Features

- 2-Pass encoding mode
- Still picture mode
- Fully adaptive GOP
- Motion estimation
- Scene change detection
- Frame rate conversion
- Up & down scaling
- High-quality deinterlacing
- Audio & video blackout

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### Packaging & DRM

| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Packager | HLS / DASH / CMAF |
| DRM | PlayReady, Widevine, FairPlay |
| Encryption | Common Encryption (CENC) |
| Key Rotation | Supported in HLS and DASH |
| CMAF | Supported |
| DVB Subtitles | Converted to WebVTT and EBU-TT via OCR |
| Subtitle masking | Manual marking of rude words |

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### Scrambling

- BISS-1
- BISS-E
- Hardened BISS (no scrambling of black video, silence, or padding bits)

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### Multiplexer

- Multiplex any UDP/RTP IP source
- PID filtering / remapping
- Type filtering / remapping
- Stream routing: any input to any output
- SPTS → MPTS with null insertion

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### CDN

- Any CDN compatible
- Works as RTMP and HTTP origin server
- RTMP / HLS / DASH / CMAF output

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### IP Redundancy

- Source switch based on CC errors, scramble detection, PID loss, and stream loss
- Monitors up to 8 streams simultaneously
- CC count window time for real-time source selection
- Fixes UDP disorder caused by packet congestion
- Can mark CC errors as clear and restamp PCR errors
- Caption video insertion on total source loss

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### Add-on Features

- Logo insertion (static and animated)
- Watermarking (serial code, moving logo)
- Caption on signal loss
- Last frame injection on packet loss (SDI or IP)
- TS recording / playlist
- Test signal generation
- Content share over Windows networks
- Thumbnail generation (WebVTT, JPEG/PNG, single or tail-based)
- Time scheduler (Google Calendar-style UI, repeating events)
- Stream analyzer (ETSI TR 101 290)

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### Redundancy

- Dual power supply
- Multiport IP and ASI output
- Multiport SDI/HD-SDI source for recovery
- 1+1 redundancy over network switch

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### High-Density Performance (Single Chassis)

| Scenario | Capacity |
|---|---|
| 1080p@25 transcoding | Up to 100 channels |
| 1080p@25 SDI encode/decode | Up to 16 channels |
| OTT channels (dual profile) | 70+ (Nelson Cable ScoutTV reference) |
| Satellite uplink + OTT | 34 uplink + 42 OTT (Power Telecom reference) |

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### Physical Specifications — Encoder

| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Form factor | 1U / 2U × 19" |
| Power consumption | Max 1200W / 350W typical workload |
| Power input | 100–240V AC |
| PSU | Dual PSU |
| Operating temperature | -5°C to +45°C |
| Storage temperature | -10°C to +70°C |
| Maximum humidity | 90% RH |

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### Compliance — Encoder

- CE marked (LVD 2014/35/EU and EMC 2014/30/EU directives)
- Safety: IEC 62368-1, EN 62368-1
- EMC: EN 55032, EN 55035, EN 61000-3-2

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## Decoder & Media Gateway

**Product page:** https://pikotv.com/decoder

The PikoTV Decoder & Media Gateway is a powerful, turnkey satellite IRD (integrated receiver decoder) and IP media gateway, designed to decode, package, and deliver live and on-demand video streams across a wide range of devices — from traditional STBs to Smart TVs, connected-TV platforms, smart speakers, and IoT endpoints.

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### Video Decoding — Supported Codecs

| Codec | Notes |
|---|---|
| HEVC (H.265) Main 8/10 | CPU-based, YUV 4:2:0 / 4:2:2 |
| AVC (H.264) Main 8 / High 10 / High 4:2:2 | CPU-based, YUV 4:2:0 / 4:2:2 |
| HEVC / AVC | GPU-based, HEVC Main 8/10, AVC Main 8/High 10 YUV 4:2:0 + Lossless YUV 4:4:4 |
| MPEG-2 / MPEG-4 | Standard |
| AV1 | Supported |
| VVC (H.266) | Supported |

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### Audio Decoding — Supported Formats

| Format | Bitrate / Mode |
|---|---|
| MPEG-2 Audio | Standard |
| MP3 | Standard |
| AAC-LC / HE-AAC 2.0 | 32–128 kbps |
| AAC-LC / HE-AAC 5.1 | 96–448 kbps |
| Dolby Digital (AC-3) 2.0 | Passthrough |
| Dolby Digital (AC-3) 5.1 | Passthrough |
| Dolby Digital Plus (E-AC-3) 5.1 | Passthrough |
| Dolby AC-4 | Passthrough |
| Dolby Digital / DD+ Pass-through | With error masking |
| Automatic Loudness Control | Included |

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### Decoder Input Ports

**ASI:**
- 75 ohm BNC
- Bitrate: 0–215 Mbps

**RF / Satellite (DVB-S/S2/S2X):**
- Frequency range: 950–2150 MHz
- Signal level: -69 to -23 dBm
- Symbol rate: 1–45 Msps
- Demodulation: QPSK, 8PSK, 16APSK, 32APSK, 64APSK
- FEC: 1/2, 3/5, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 5/6, 8/9, 9/10 (codec-dependent)
- DiSEqC: 1.0, 1.2, 2.x
- LNB inputs: 4× or 8× with/without CI

**IP:**
- SPTS / MPTS UDP / RTP
- RTMP / RTSP / HLS / DASH / CMAF
- CDN links
- NDI
- SRT / RIST

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### Decoder Output Ports

- SDI (up to 16 outputs)
- HD-SDI (up to 16 outputs)
- HDMI (up to 8 outputs)
- DVI
- Analog AV
- Quad-SDI (4×3G)
- 12G (up to 4×12G)
- IP (original or decrypted)
- ASI (original or decrypted)

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### Audio Output Modes

| Mode | Details |
|---|---|
| Line out | Mono / Stereo |
| Embedded HDMI/SDI | Mono / Stereo / Multi-point |
| Sampling rates | 48000 Hz / 44100 Hz / 24000 Hz |

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### Physical Specifications — Decoder

| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Form factor | 1U × 19" or 2U × 19" |
| Power consumption | Max 270W |
| Power input | 100–240V AC |
| PSU | Single or Dual PSU |
| Operating temperature | -5°C to +45°C |
| Storage temperature | -10°C to +70°C |
| Maximum humidity | 90% RH |

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### Compliance — Decoder

- CE marked (LVD 2014/35/EU and EMC 2014/30/EU directives)
- Safety: IEC 62368-1, EN 62368-1
- EMC: EN 55032, EN 55035, EN 61000-3-2

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## Platform Features & Software Capabilities

**Feature page:** https://pikotv.com/features

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### Transport Protocol Gateways

#### SRT Gateway
- SRT ↔ UDP/RTP MPEG-TS (bidirectional)
- Stream encryption support
- Caller/Sender–Receiver/Listener and Caller/Listener–Receiver/Sender modes

#### RIST Gateway
- RIST ↔ UDP/RTP MPEG-TS (bidirectional)
- Stream encryption support

#### Sat2IP Gateway
- DVB-S/S2/T/C2 tuner support: Single / Dual / Dual+CI / Quad / Octo
- SPTS or MPTS UDP/RTP MPEG-TS output
- PID or channel filtering
- CI module management

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### Media Gateway Conversions

| Conversion | Direction |
|---|---|
| UDP ↔ RTP | With FEC support |
| RTMP ↔ UDP/RTP MPEG-TS | Bidirectional |
| UDP/RTP MPEG-TS → HTTP | Supported |
| UDP/RTP MPEG-TS → HLS | Supported |
| HLS/DASH → UDP/RTP MPEG-TS | Supported |
| CBR ↔ VBR | Bidirectional conversion |

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### ASI Converters

- **IP to ASI:** SPTS or MPTS UDP/RTP MPEG-TS → ASI output with null inserter
- **ASI to IP:** ASI input → SPTS or MPTS UDP/RTP MPEG-TS output

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### Multiplexer / Demultiplexer

- **Mux:** SPTS UDP/RTP MPEG-TS → MPTS UDP/RTP MPEG-TS (with null insertion)
- **Demux:** MPTS UDP/RTP MPEG-TS → SPTS UDP/RTP MPEG-TS

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### Ingest

- Supports IP, NDI, and SDI ingest
- Ingest based on file size and content duration
- Ingest chunks: MXF or MPEG-TS
- Frame-accurate on video and audio — seamless joining in video editors
- Rsync support for remote ingest points (no data loss on network-based ingesting)

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### VOD Transcoding (Watch Folder)

- Input and output folders assignable to transcoding profiles
- Fully transparent — up to 40× transcoding speed for 1080p@25 source
- API-based status control and transcoding queue management

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### Stream Analyzer

- ETSI TR 101 290 analysis
- Multiple simultaneous stream analysis
- Bitrate graphics rendering
- Error history retention: up to 1 month

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### IP Redundancy

- Monitors up to 8 streams
- Source switching based on: CC error count, scramble detection, PID loss, stream loss
- CC count window time for real-time switching
- UDP disorder correction
- PCR restamping
- Caption video insertion on total source loss

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### Thumbnail Generator

- Any source → WebVTT-based thumbnail generation
- JPEG or PNG output
- Single or tail-based WebVTT generation
- Compression support for smaller thumbnail sizes

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### Playout

- Any video file → playout playlist generation
- Output: SDI decode, UDP MPEG-TS, OTT HLS/DASH
- Logo change on adverts

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### CDN (Local Origin)

- Local origin server for RTMP (username/password protected)
- Local origin server for HTTP (HLS & DASH)
- Low-latency streaming support

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### Scrambler / Descrambler

- BISS-1, BISS-E, Hardened BISS
- PID-level selection (video only, audio only, or any combination)
- Hardened BISS: no scrambling of black video, silence, or padding bits

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### Logo & Watermark Inserter

- Add static or animated logo to SDI/HDMI/Analog AV
- Watermark: serial code or moving logo

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### HDCP HDMI Encoder

- Capture HDCP-protected HDMI content and transcode to any format

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### Time Scheduler

- Schedule logo insertion, caption insertion, and blackouts
- Start/stop profiles on set date and time
- Google Calendar-style UI with repeating event support

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### Control & Monitoring (All Products)

| Interface | Details |
|---|---|
| Web UI | Full web interface with LDAP authentication |
| Front panel | Hardware front panel controls |
| SNMP | Network management protocol support |
| Syslog | System log forwarding |
| Email alerts | Automated alert notifications |

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## Supported Standards & Protocols Summary

| Category | Standards / Protocols |
|---|---|
| Video codecs | AV1, VVC, HEVC, AVC, MPEG-2/4, LCEVC |
| Audio codecs | AAC-LC, HE-AAC, Dolby Digital / DD+ / AC-4 (passthrough), MPEG-2, MP3 |
| Transport | UDP, RTP, RTMP, RTSP, SRT, RIST, NDI, ASI, HLS, DASH, CMAF |
| Satellite | DVB-S, DVB-S2, DVB-S2X |
| Terrestrial | DVB-T |
| Cable | DVB-C2 |
| DRM | PlayReady, Widevine, FairPlay, CENC |
| Packaging | HLS, DASH, CMAF, MPEG-TS (SPTS/MPTS) |
| Scrambling | BISS-1, BISS-E, Hardened BISS |
| Monitoring | ETSI TR 101 290, SNMP, Syslog |
| Subtitles | DVB, WebVTT, EBU-TT |
| Management | Web UI, LDAP, SNMP, REST API |

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## Related Content

- [Homepage](/content/home.md)
- [Products & Solutions](/content/products.md)
- [Global Deployments](/content/deployments.md)
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