Even if the SD connection is a long time coming, small cable providers and property owners are currently being asked to update their TV distribution technology.In many cases, the headend technology must also be exchanged.Symarix has a solution, the Symarix S2C1616 headend, which we will take a closer look at.This test first appeared in Digital Fernsehen 04/2021Cable and satellite are still the two most important ways of receiving in German-speaking countries.Both offer their advantages, the flexibility with simultaneous central feed at the satellite makes it possible to receive the signals almost anywhere within a predefined area.Cable, on the other hand, offers the possibility of simple distribution and non-central feeding.In many places the question is whether to use cable or satellite.But there are also areas of application where the question can be answered very quickly.If you think of hotels, hospitals and nursing homes, cable reception is still the best solution for distributing TV and radio signals.Apart from using Unicable solutions, satellite would require significantly more installation effort.However, such a facility does not necessarily have to be tied to a large cable network provider, but can also rely on an individual solution.Compact headends are helpful here.The Symarix S2C1616 is such a compact headend.Symarix GmbH, based in Mühlheim an der Ruhr, offers elegant solutions for the distribution and processing of TV and radio signals.The S2C1616 is a compact headend that can remodulate 16 satellite transponders so that they can be fed into the cable network.In many cases this is enough to prepare all important programs for cable receivers.The device is very compact and looks more like a multi-switch at first glance.There are four IF inputs on the left side, and two additional IF inputs are available at the top left.The RF outputs are located in the upper area in the middle right, one for connecting to the cable network, the second is a test socket.An RF input can be found in the lower area, so other cable signals can also be fed in directly.In addition, a network connection, which is essential for using the headend, because the unit is programmed via the web interface.The power supply of the S2C1616 is firmly integrated and very low-power.The compact unit consumes a maximum of 30 watts and thus almost as much as high-quality PVR receivers and TV sets in the 32-inch range.The ancillary costs for operating the system are therefore low.The price of the unit is also fair.The RRP is 1,990 euros, but Symarix offers dealers and installers a fair range, so that you can earn money not only from the installation, but also from the device itself.First, the leads from the antenna are connected.Since the Symarix S2C1616 also provides the switching voltage at the outputs, it is possible to use Quattro LNBs as well as quad or octo converters.Two additional LNB inputs on the top enable additional levels to be fed in.For example, it is possible to feed in signals from Hotbird 13 degrees East or Eutelsat 9B in addition to Astra.This makes it possible, for example, to integrate the M7 Group's cable kiosk program package into the cable network.The connection to the cable network is also established at the RF output.Another headend - regardless of whether it is another Symarix S2C1616 or a product from another manufacturer - is connected to the RF input in the lower area.Some will miss the attenuator and configuration tools on the device itself.These are not necessary, all settings are made via the configuration interface via the web interface.To do this, however, the headend must be connected to the house network, and it is recommended that this is done permanently so that problems can be intervened quickly.Symarix delivers the S2C1616 preconfigured for the German market.In addition to the HD programs of the public broadcasters, the SD transponders with the German private broadcasters are also processed in this configuration.So if you only rely on the basic supply, you can put the headend into operation in no time at all, connect it, do a search on the receivers and TV sets and you're done.However, in many cases the user will want more and the Symarix S2C1616 also gives that.First, the headend must be placed in the correct IP range.To do this, a computer in the network must be brought into the IP range of the headend.Now enter the IP address of the headend in a browser and log in with your user name and password – both admin on delivery.Now the head end should be moved to the correct IP range.To do this, change the data in the IP parameters menu item so that the headend fits your network area.Finally confirm and also return the PC to the network area.Now the web interface of the headend can be used normally by entering the new IP address and the installer can configure the program packages.The headend inputs can be configured via the LNB settings item.The switching voltage can be switched on and the LNB LO frequency can be set.Inputs 3 and 4 (vertical high band and horizontal high band) can also output DiSEqC C commands.If more than four levels are to be used, the input selection should be made using the detailed operating instructions.In principle, the Symarix S2C1616 has great potential here, but it has to be properly exploited.Which transponders of the satellite are converted can be determined individually.Many manufacturers rely on preconfigured lists for transponder selection.These can then only be selected from a pop-up menu and are therefore not flexible.Symarix takes a different approach with the S2C1616.At this headend, the frequency, symbol rate, polarization and modulation form of the packet are selected.This means that each package can be selected and uploaded to each satellite.This also has advantages if not only German-language offers are to be used, but also, for example, Türksat signals are fed in.Once the data has been entered, the user can immediately see whether everything is running properly, because the headend writes whether an input channel is locked and also measures the technical parameters for the level, the signal-noice level and the BER.It also shows how high the bit rate is.The output channels can also be configured independently.The complete UHF range between channels 21 and 69 is available.Of course, the Symarix S2C1616 is suitable for adjacent channels.The constellation, symbol rate and level can be configured individually for each output channel.For the constellation and symbol rate, however, it is generally advisable to choose the maximum possible (QAM-256 and 6900) in order to be able to transmit the large DVB-S2 packets from the satellite in full.Even if the packages are generally implemented 1:1 - a satellite transponder is also fed in as a cable channel and cannot be remixed - the installer has the option of intervening in the program package.Irrelevant channels or unwanted programs can be deselected via the Services tab in the web interface.These services are then no longer included in the cable package.In addition, the LCN channel sorting can also be carried out under this point.This means that a channel number can be assigned per transmitter, which receivers or TV sets that support LCN also adopt.The operator receives information on whether the headend is working properly both on the device itself and on the start page of the web interface.In addition, a separate e-mail server can be configured for the headend, which sends an error message via e-mail to the responsible operating personnel as soon as problems arise during operation.The headend can be updated directly via the service menu, but configurations can also be exported and imported.In the test, we put the headend through its paces with various configurations and couldn't find any errors.The transmitted programs were transmitted without image errors over a longer period of time.Coded signals are also passed on perfectly.In the test, we imported the complete cable kiosk package into our test cable network.This also worked without any problems with Sky programs and HD-Plus content.The measurement at the output channel over a long period of time has also demonstrated high level stability.The Symarix S2C1616 headend convinces in the test.The device is very compact, energy-efficient and, thanks to its fanless design, can also be used in rooms that are not exclusively reserved for distribution technology.The configuration is well thought out and can be carried out flexibly and intuitively via the web interface.Thanks to a total of six IF inputs, signals from more than one satellite can be converted.The attractive price of the device makes the Symarix product an insider tip for hotels, old people's homes and also local cable networks.Even if the SD switch-off is still a long time coming, the Symarix S2C1616 offers a perfect instrument for the new installation.