IPTV hybrid solution for the Hotel K99 in Radolfzell
The project
30. September 2019 | Located in the heart of the submarine region, the Hotel K99 offers upscale accommodation and conference comfort. Clear lines and straightforward shapes are hallmarks of the hotel ambience. An extension with eleven new exclusive rooms was created for this hotel. First, the paid cable television connection for the entire hotel should be replaced by a head office. This enables free satellite reception with a large selection of German-speaking and international channels.
In a conversation at AXING in Ramsen, we presented our interactive IPTVSolutions for hotels in addition to the AXING header technology. It quickly became clear that exclusive rooms with today’s standard require more than just television and radio reception.
The IPTVSolutions offer high added value for the guest and for the hotelier. The television welcomes the guest personally, TV menu and programs appear in their mother tongue, information and services can be operated interactively.
The hotel staff in the middleware processes all activities and the content provided for customers via the web-based content management system (CMS). Here, for example, the menu and drinks cards of the bar and restaurant are maintained, offers for the hotel sauna are discontinued or possible activities are presented.
IPTVSolutions are available in three different packages: basic-line, premium-line and exclusive-line. Additional functions can also be booked.
The challenge
All rooms are already supplied with TV signals via coaxial lines. In order to continue using the CATV distribution, 16 SAT transponders must be converted into 16 DVB-C channels. A SKY transmitter also had to be fed in.
Technically speaking, the IPTVSolution can be implemented both as a full IPTV and as a hybrid version (DVB-C / T + IP). Since the rooms are supplied with TV signals via coaxial lines, the hybrid version was particularly suitable for the K99. In the hybrid solution, the TV signals are distributed in DVB-C via the coaxial network and the interactive services via a WiFi network.
The SmartTVs must have access to the middleware via WiFi and thus receive the interactive hotel menu. The 11 new televisions must therefore be compatible with the middleware.
The PMS (hotel system) must provide the middleware with data on room occupancy, language of guests etc. and the design of the interactive menu must correspond to the corporate design of the K99.
The implementation
The project management was coordinated by the product management of AXING AG with the respective contact person:
It was fundamentally important that the necessary parameters were transmitted from the hotel software (PMS) to the middleware. The middleware exchanges data (e.g. name and language of the guest) via a defined interface with the PMS (Property Management System). This required agreements between the IT specialists of the Ganter Hotel Group and the middleware specialists from AXING AG.
The marketing company of the Ganter Hotel Group adapted the design of the interactive menu for the hotel TVs. The design of the interactive menu is determined by Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and can therefore be adapted for any experienced web designer.
To access the TV sets via WiFi, an IT company installed a hidden WiFi network. All smart TVs receive an IP address from the middleware and thus represent the interactive hotel menu on the screen.
The electrician installed a SAT antenna with 2 LNBs. In addition, a SPU 916-09 multi-switch was installed, which distributes the SAT signals to the header inputs. An MK header was installed and configured for the implementation of 16 SAT transponders in 16 DVB-C channels filled with approximately 80 radio and 54 TV channels. Since a SKY transmitter was also to be fed in, only an MK 16-06 with CI shafts came into question.
The AXING technology configured the head office on site.
Products used
1 × SAA 85-01 SAT antenna
2 × SCO 4-00 Quattro-LNB
1 × SZU 85-02 multifeed rail ±5 °
1 × SZU 85-01 40 mm feed holder
1 × QEW 9-10 earthing angle with surge protection
1 × SPU 916-09 multi-age
2 × QEW 9-12 earthing angle
1 × SPU 996-09 cascade module
2 × QEW 3-12 earthing angle
1 × MK 16-06 DVB head office
1 × IPTVSolutions middleware package premium-line
Advantages at a glance
The new TV sets have an individual, interactive menu that responds to the guest
As soon as the hotel purchases additional new TVs, they can be connected to the middleware via WiFi
The K99 marketing company can maintain the interactive menu via remote maintenance
Due to the in-house SAT to DVB-C implementation, monthly provider costs are eliminated
Older, existing TV sets continue to be powered via DVB-C