Harmonic Electra9200 User manual

Electra9200
Multichannel Encoder
Installation Guide
Rev O

© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. ii
August 11, 2015
Copyright © 2000—2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. Omneon, and the Omneon logo are trademarks of Harmonic Inc.
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. Harmonic, the Harmonic logo, [all other Harmonic products mentioned] are trademarks, registered trademarks or
service marks of Harmonic Inc. in the United States and other countries. Dolby, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby E are registered trademarksof
Dolby Laboratories. Implementations of AAC and HE-AAC by Fraunhofer IIS. Other company, product and service names mentioned herein may be
trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. All product and application features and specifications are subject to change at Harmonic’s sole
discretion at any time and without notice.
Disclaimer
Harmonic reserves the right to alter the equipment specifications and descriptions in this publication without prior notice. No part of this publication shall be
deemed to be part of any contract or warranty unless specifically incorporated by reference into such contract or warranty. The information contained herein
is merely descriptive in nature, and does not constitute a binding offer for sale of the product described herein. Harmonic assumes no responsibility or
liability arising from the use of the products described herein, except as expressly agreed to in writing by Harmonic. The use and purchase of this product do
not convey a license under any patent rights, copyrights, trademark rights, or any intellectual property rights of Harmonic. Nothing hereunder constitutes a
representation or warranty that using any products in the manner described herein will not infringe any patents of third parties.
Third-Party Product Trademarks
Adobe® After Effects®, Photoshop®, Flash® Professional, Premiere®
Avid® Media Composer®
Dolby® E, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
Jünger Audio™
Apple® QuickTime®
Microsoft® Mediaroom®
Microsoft® PlayReady®
DOCSIS® 3.0
Start Over® TV
Third-Party Copyright Notes
Dolby is a registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories. Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Pulse, aacPlus, AC-3, and Dolby E are trademarks of Dolby
Laboratories.
Level Magic and Jünger are trademarks of Jünger Audio Studiotechnik GmbH.
MPEG Audio technology licensed from Fraunhofer IIS http://www.iis.fraunhofer.de/amm/
PitchBlue® is a registered trademark of Vigor Systems.
QuickTime and the QuickTime logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., used under license therefrom.
Trademark Acknowledgments
Harmonic and all Harmonic product names are trademarks of Harmonic Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement or nondisclosure agreement. The software may be used or copied only in
accordance with the terms of those agreements.
May be covered by one or more of U.S. Patents No. 6,571,351; 6,696,996; 6,545,721; 6,574,225; 6,895,003; 6,522,649; 6,643,702; foreign counterparts
and pending patent applications.
This system is distributed with certain other software that may require disclosure or distribution of licenses, copyright notices, conditions of use, disclaimers
and/or other matter. Use of this system or otherwise fulfilling their conditions constitutes your acceptance of them, as necessary. Copies of such licenses,
notices, conditions, disclaimers and/or other matter are available in any one of the following locations: the LEGAL NOTICES AND LICENSES directory of the
distribution disk of the software, the root directory of the hard disk drive of the Products, or by contacting us at [email protected].
Notice
Information contained in this guide is subject to change without notice or obligation. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information is
accurate as of the publication date, Harmonic Inc. assumes no liability for errors or omissions. In addition, Harmonic Inc. assumes no responsibility for
damages resulting from the use of this guide.
License Agreement and Limited Warranty
1. AGREEMENT: This is a legal agreement ("Agreement") between you ("you" or "your") and Harmonic, or its appropriate local affiliate ("Harmonic", "we",
"us" or "our"). Use of our product(s) and any updates thereto purchased or validly obtained by you (the "Products"), and/or the Software (as defined below)
(collectively, the "System"), constitutes your acceptance of this Agreement. "Use" includes opening or breaking the seal on the packet containing this
Agreement, installing or downloading the Software as defined below or using the Software preloaded or embedded in your System. As used herein, the term
"Software" means the Harmonic owned software and/or firmware used in or with the Products and embedded into, provided with or loaded onto the

© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. iii
Products in object code format, but does not include, and this Agreement does not address, any third-party or free or open source software separately
licensed to you ("Third Party Software"). If you do not agree to this Agreement, you shall promptly return the System with a dated receipt to the seller for a
full refund.
2. LICENSE: Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement (including payment), we hereby grant you a nonexclusive, nontransferable license to use
the object code version of the Software embedded into, provided solely for use with or loaded onto the Product, and the accompanying documentation
("Documentation") for your internal business purposes. The Software and any authorized copies are owned by us or our suppliers, and are protected by law,
including without limitation the copyright laws and treaties of the U.S.A. and other countries. Evaluation versions of the Software may be subject to a time-
limited license key.
3. RESTRICTIONS: You (and your employees and contractors) shall not attempt to reverse engineer, disassemble, modify, translate, create derivative works
of, rent, lease (including use on a timesharing, applications service provider, service bureau or similar basis), loan, distribute, sublicense or otherwise transfer
the System, in whole or part except to the extent otherwise permitted by law. The Software may be operated on a network only if and as permitted by its
Documentation. You may make one (1) back up copy of the object code of the Software for archival purposes only. Evaluation Software will be run in a lab,
nonproductive environment. Results of any benchmark or other performance tests may not be disclosed to any third party without our prior written consent.
Title to and ownership of the Software and Documentation, and all copyright, patent, trade secret, trademark, and other intellectual property rightsinthe
System, shall remain our or our licensors' property. You shall not remove or alter any copyright or other proprietary rights notice on the System. We reserve
all rights not expressly granted.
4. LIMITED WARRANTY: (a) Limited Warranty. We warrant to you that, commencing on your receipt of a Product and terminating 1 year thereafter, the System
will perform substantially in accordance with its then-current appropriate Documentation. The Product (including replacements) may consist of new, used or
previously-installed components. (b) Remedies. If the System fails to comply with such warranty during such period, as your sole remedy, you must return
the same in compliance with our product return policy, and we shall, at our option, repair or replace the System, provide a workaround, or refund the fees you
paid. Replacement Systems are warranted for the original System's remaining warranty period. (c) Exclusions. EVALUATION SOFTWWARE IS LICENSED ON
AS-IS BASIS AND SUBJECT TO 4(d). We will have no obligation under this limited warranty due to: (i) negligence, misuse or abuse of the System, such as
unusual physical or electrical stress, misuse or accidents; (ii) use of the System other than in accordance with the Documentation; (iii) modifications,
alterations or repairs to the System made by a party other than us or our representative; (iv) the combination, operation or use of the System with equipment,
devices, software or data not supplied by us; (v) any third party hardware or Third Party Software, whether or not provided by us; (vi) any failure other than by
us to comply with handling, operating, environmental, storage or maintenance requirements for the System in the Documentation, including, without
limitation, temperature or humidity ranges. (d) Disclaimers. We are not responsible for your software, firmware, information, or data contained in, stored on,
or integrated with any Product returned to us for repair or replacement. SUCH LIMITED WARRANTY IS IN LIEU OF, AND WE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM, ANY
AND ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
SATISFACTORY QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE
SYSTEM WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS OR BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE. NO ADVICE OR INFORMATION, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN,
OBTAINED FROM US OR ELSEWHERE, WILL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THIS AGREEMENT. Some jurisdictions do not allow the
exclusion of implied warranties or limitations on how long an implied warranty may last, so such exclusions may not apply to you. In that event, such implied
warranties or limitations are limited to 60 days from the date you purchased the System or the shortest period permitted by applicable law, if longer. This
warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights which vary from state to state or country to country.
5. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: WE AND OUR AFFILIATES, SUPPLIERS, LICENSORS, OR SALES CHANNELS ("REPRESENTATIVES") SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO
YOU FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOST
REVENUES, PROFITS OR SAVINGS, OR THE COST OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS, HOWEVER CAUSED, UNDER CONTRACT, TORT, BREACH OF WARRANTY,
NEGLIGENCE, OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF WE WERE ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH LOSS OR DAMAGES. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT, WE AND OUR REPRESENTATIVES' TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT
OR THE SYSTEM SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE TOTAL PAYMENTS TO US UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR THE SYSTEM. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS
SHALL NOT APPLY TO DEATH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO PERSONS OR TANGIBLE PROPERTY IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE APPLICABLE LAW
PROHIBITSSUCHLIMITATION. YOUARESOLELYRESPONSIBLEFORBACKINGUPYOURDATAANDFILES,ANDHEREBYRELEASEUSANDOUR
REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANY LIABILITY OR DAMAGES DUE TO THE LOSS OF ANY SUCH DATA OR FILES. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE
EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO SUCH EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.
6. CONFIDENTIALITY: Information in the System and the associated media, as well as the structure, organization and code of the Software, are proprietary to
us and contain valuable trade secrets developed or acquired at great expense to us or our suppliers. You shall not disclose to others or utilize any such
information except as expressly provided herein, except for information (i) lawfully received by the user from a third party which is not subject to
confidentiality obligations; (ii) generally available to the public without breach of this Agreement; (iii) lawfully known to the user prior to its receipt of the
System; or (iv) required by law to be disclosed.
7. SUPPORT: Updates, upgrades, fixes, maintenance or support for the System (an "Upgrade") after the limited warranty period may be available at separate
terms and fees from us. Any Upgrades shall be subject to this Agreement, except for additional or inconsistent terms we specify. Upgrades do not extend the
limited warranty period.
8. TERM; TERMINATION: The term of this Agreement shall continue unless terminated in accordance with this Section. We may terminate this Agreement at
any time upon default by you of the license provisions of this Agreement, or any other material default by you of this Agreement not cured with thirty (30)
days after written notice thereof. You may terminate this Agreement any time by terminating use of the System. Except for the first sentence of Section 2
("License") and for Section 4(a) ("Limited Warranty"), all provisions of this Agreement shall survive termination of this Agreement. Upon any such termination,
you shall certify in writing such termination and non-use to us.
9. EXPORT CONTROL: You agree that the Products and Software will not be shipped, transferred, or exported into any country or used in any manner
prohibited by the United States Export Administration Act or any other export laws, restrictions, or regulations (the "Export Laws"). You will indemnify, defend
and hold us harmless from any and all claims arising therefrom or relating thereto. In addition, if the Products or Software are identified as export controlled
items under the Export Laws, you represent and warrant that you are not a citizen, or otherwise located within, an embargoed nation (including without
limitation Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Cuba, North Korea, and Serbia) and that you are not otherwise prohibited under the Export Laws from receiving the
Software. All rights to the Products and Software are granted on condition that such rights are forfeited if you fail to comply with the terms of this Agreement.
10. U.S. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS: The Software and the documentation which accompanies the Software are "Commercial Items," as that term is defined at
48 C.F.R. §2.101, consisting of "Commercial Computer Software" and "Commercial Computer Software Documentation," as such terms are used in 48 C.F.R.
§12.212 or 48 C.F.R. §227.7202, as applicable. Consistent with 48 C.F.R. §12.212 or 48 C.F.R. §§227.7202-1 through 227.7202-4, as applicable, the
Commercial Computer Software and Commercial Computer Software Documentation are being licensed to U.S. Government as end users (a) only as
Commercial Items and (b) with only those rights as are granted to all other end users pursuant to the terms and conditions herein. Harmonic, 4300 North
First Street, San Jose, CA 95134 U.S.A.
11. GENERAL: You shall not assign, delegate or sublicense your rights or obligations under this Agreement, by operation of law or otherwise, without our
prior written consent, and any attempt without such consent shall be void. Subject to the preceding sentence, this Agreement binds and benefits permitted
successors and assigns. This Agreement is governed by California law, without regard to its conflicts of law principles. The U.N. Convention on Contracts for
the International Sale of Goods is disclaimed. If any claim arises out of this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of
the federal and state courts located in Santa Clara County, California. In addition to any other rights or remedies, we shall be entitled to injunctive and other
equitable relief, without posting bond or other security, to prevent any material breach of this Agreement. We may change the terms, conditions and pricing

© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. iv
relating to the future licensing of our Systems and other intellectual property rights, including this Agreement, from time to time. No waiver will be implied
from conduct or failure to enforce rights nor effective unless in a writing signed on behalf of the party against whom the waiver is asserted. If any part of this
Agreement is found unenforceable, the remaining parts will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted. There are no third-party beneficiaries to this
Agreement. We are not bound by additional and/or conflicting provisions in any order, acceptance, or other correspondence unless we expressly agree in
writing. This Agreement is the complete and exclusive statement of agreement between the parties as to its subject matter and supersedes all proposalsor
prior agreements, verbal or written, advertising, representations or communications concerning the System.
Every reasonable attempt has been made to comply with all licensing requirements for all components used in the system. Any oversight is unintentional and
will be remedied if brought to the attention of Harmonic at [email protected].
Documentation Conventions
This guide may use some special symbols and fonts to call your attention to important information. The following symbols appear throughout this guide:
DANGER: The Danger symbol calls your attention to information that, if ignored, can cause physical harm to
you.
CAUTION: The Caution symbol calls your attention to information that, if ignored, can adversely affect
the performance of your Harmonic product, or that can make a procedure needlessly difficult.
LASER DANGER: The Laser symbol and the Danger alert call your attention to information about the lasers
in this product that, if ignored, can cause physical harm to you.
NOTE: The Note symbol calls your attention to additional information that you will benefit from heeding. It
may be used to call attention to an especially important piece of information you need, or it may provide
additional information that applies in only some carefully delineated circumstances.
IMPORTANT: The Important symbol calls your attention to information that should stand out when you are
reading product details and procedural information.
TIP: The Tip symbol calls your attention to parenthetical information that is not necessary for performing a
given procedure, but which, if followed, might make the procedure or its subsequent steps easier, smoother, or
more efficient.
In addition to these symbols, this guide may use the following text conventions:
NOTE: You require Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat version 6.0 or later to open the PDF files. You can
download Adobe Reader free of charge from www.adobe.com.
Convention Explanation
Typed Command Indicates the text that you type in at the keyboard
prompt.
<Ctrl>, <Ctrl>+<Shift> A key or key sequence to press.
Links The italics in blue text to indicate Cross-references, and
hyperlinked cross-references in online documents.
Bold Indicates a button to click, or a menu item to select.
ScreenOutput The text that is displayed on a computer screen.
Emphasis The italics text used for emphasis and document
references.

Contents
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. v Electra 9200, Rev O
Contents
Introduction.............................................................................................1
Manual Organization .................................................... 1
Chapter 1: Electra 9200 Overview.........................................................3
Encoder Description .................................................... 3
Front and Back Panels ................................................ 4
Optional Modules ....................................................... 5
Features Overview ...................................................... 6
Chapter 2: Installing the Encoder..........................................................8
Preparing the Encoder................................................... 8
Installing the Encoder in a Rack ........................................... 8
Rack Guidelines ...................................................... 9
Chassis Warnings for Rack Mounting and Servicing ........................ 9
Airflow ............................................................10
Attaching the Rack Rails ..............................................10
Mounting the Encoder ...............................................11
Cabling the Encoder....................................................12
Connecting the Video Input Cables .....................................12
Connecting the IP Output Cables ......................................12
Connecting the IP Input Cables ........................................13
Connecting the Ethernet Management Cable ............................13
Connecting the Fault Relay/General Purpose Interface (GPI) Ports ...........14
Connecting the Serial Data Port ........................................15
Cabling Optional Modules ...............................................15
Connecting the Power ..................................................15
Connecting an AC Power Supply .......................................15
Connecting the DC Power Supply ......................................16
The Boot Sequence ....................................................19
Local Control Panel Display Messages during Bootup .....................19
Messages When Resetting the Encoder .................................20
Front Panel LEDs ......................................................20
Back Panel LEDs.......................................................21
Main Board LEDs ....................................................21
Video Lock LEDs ....................................................22
Chapter 3: Operating the Encoder...................................................... 23
Operating with NMX Digital Service Manager...............................23
Operating in Standalone Mode ...........................................23
Using the Front Panel ..................................................23
Front Panel Keypad ..................................................23
Front Panel Display ..................................................24
Licensing Information...................................................25

Contents
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. vi Electra 9200, Rev O
Chapter 4: Electra 9200 Specifications.............................................. 26
General Features ......................................................26
Optional Features ......................................................28
Module Options .....................................................28
Video Features ........................................................29
VITC Support..........................................................30
Audio Features ........................................................30
Audio Encoder Features ................................................31
PCM Downmix from 5.1 ..............................................31
Onboard Audio Coding Mode, Sampling Frequencies, and AES Bit Rates .....31
IP Input and Output Support and Specifications ..........................33
DiviTrack Features .....................................................34
DiviTrackIP Support ..................................................34
DiviTrackMX Support ................................................35
Closed Captions Support................................................35
Japanese Standard Closed-Captions Support ............................35
Digital Program Insertion Support.........................................35
HHP Support ..........................................................35
Chapter 5: Maintenance and Troubleshooting................................... 37
Installing Encoder Software ..............................................37
Messages When Installing New Software ................................37
About the Encoder Cover in the Following Illustrations .......................37
Bezel ................................................................37
Removing and Replacing the Bezel .....................................38
Air Filter ..............................................................39
Maintaining the Air Filter ..............................................39
Removing and Replacing the Air Filter ..................................40
AC Power Supply Fuse..................................................41
Replacing the Power Supply Fuse ......................................41
Fan Tray..............................................................42
Removing and Replacing the Fan Tray ..................................42
Power Supply .........................................................43
Removing and Replacing a Power Supply ...............................43
Input/Output Modules ..................................................45
Removing and Replacing an Input/Output(I/O) Module ....................46
Audio Video Processing Modules (AVPM)..................................47
Removing and Replacing an Audio/Video Processing Module (AVPM) .......47
Chapter 6: Audio Modules .................................................................. 51
Overview .............................................................51
IOM-RAC2 Module .....................................................52
IOM-RAC2 Audio Encoding Features ...................................53
IOM-RAC2 Coding Mode, Sampling Frequencies .........................53
AHC-RAC Module......................................................55
Connecting the AHC-RAC Audio Input Cables ............................55
AHC-RAC Audio Encoding Features ....................................56

Contents
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. vii Electra 9200, Rev O
AHC Coding Mode, Sampling Frequencies, and AES Bit Rates ..............56
AHC-RAC Metadata Connection .......................................59
Dolby Digital Metadata with the AHC-RAC ...............................59
AHC-561 Module......................................................59
Connecting the AHC-561 Audio Input Cables ............................60
AHC-561 Audio Encoding Features ....................................60
Dolby Digital Metadata with the AHC-561 ...............................60
Chapter 7: FLEX Decoding Module ..................................................... 61
Introduction...........................................................61
Cabling the FLEX-1 Module..............................................61
Two Channel FLEX System ............................................63
Four Channel FLEX System ...........................................63
Configuring the FLEX-1 Module in NMX ...................................64
Video Decoding Specifications ...........................................64
Audio Specifications....................................................65
Audio Pass-through Specifications .....................................65
Audio Decoding Specifications ........................................65
Audio Decoding Resource Considerations ...............................66
Level Magic™ Dynamic Audio Leveling ..................................68
Ancillary Data Specifications .............................................69
Input Specifications ....................................................69
Output Specifications ...................................................70
Environmental and Physical..............................................70
Installing the FLEX-1 Decoding Module....................................70
ESD Safety Precautions ...............................................70
Installing a Module ..................................................70
Chapter 8: ASI Module ........................................................................ 71
ASI Input Specifications .................................................71
ASI Output Specifications ...............................................71
Connecting the ASI Output Cables .....................................72
Connecting the ASI Input Cables .......................................72
Chapter 9: ATSC RF Input Module...................................................... 73
RF Module Specifications................................................73
Environmental and Physical..............................................73
RF Module LED Lights ..................................................74
Appendix A: Encoder Physical Specifications .................................... 75
Appendix B: Audio Specifications....................................................... 80
Appendix C: Encoder Back Panel Slot Specifications........................ 83
Appendix D: Contacting the Technical Assistance Center ................ 85
Appendix E: Safety and Regulatory Compliance Information .......... 87

Introduction Manual Organization
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 1 Electra 9200, Rev O
Introduction
This manual describes the Harmonic Electra® 9200 Universal SD/HD MPEG-2 and AVC
Encoder series. It describes the encoder features, the various optional components that can
be integrated into the encoder, and provides instructions for basic installation and setup.
The Electra 9200 encoder is normally delivered with all cards, components, software, and
licenses pre-installed according to customer specifications. The purpose of this manual is to
guide you through the installation of your customized encoder, from mounting it in the rack to
making it operational.
NOTE: While information about various cards and modules may include installation instructions,
Harmonic strongly recommends that only trained service representatives perform installation of
internal cards and components.
Manual Organization
This manual is organized to walk you thorough the steps common to all encoder
configurations: unpacking and mounting the encoder, cabling and power-up, and accessing
the encoder set-up applications. It includes instructions specific to each optional component,
as well as component replacement, troubleshooting and maintenance information. Also
included are comprehensive specifications for the physical characteristics of the encoder, as
well as for the features supported by the encoder.
This manual contains the following parts:
nChapter 1, Electra 9200 Overview, introduces the encoder and describes its features.
nChapter 2, Installing the Encoder, provides instructions for rack-mounting the encoder,
cabling for the basic encoder configuration, and power-up/boot sequence instructions.
nChapter 3, Operating the Encoder, describes how to begin configuring the encoder using
NMX.
nChapter 4, Electra 9200 Specifications, provides specifications for all audio and video
encoding features supported on the encoder.
nChapter 5, Maintenance and Troubleshooting, describes maintenance of the unit, how to
replace field-replaceable components, and what to do in the event of problems.
nChapter 6, Audio Modules,provides specifications for the optional audio modules.
nChapter 7, FLEX Decoding Module, describes the optional FLEX decoder module, and
provides decoding specifications and support information.
nChapter 8, ASI Module, describes the optional ASI module for input or output.
nChapter 9, ATSC RF Input Module, describes the optional RF input module.
nChapter 10, A/B Power Input Switch, describes the optional A/B Power Switch for power
redundancy for units equipped with a single power supply.
nAppendix A, Encoder Physical Specifications, describes physical characteristics and
environment specifications for the encoder, the back panel input and output ports, and
the connector pinouts.
nAppendix B, Audio Specifications, lists detailed audio specifications for each major audio
format supported by the Electra 9200.

Introduction Manual Organization
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 2 Electra 9200, Rev O
nAppendix C, Encoder Back Panel Slot Specifications, describes the back panel slots for the
encoder.

Chapter 1 Electra 9200 Overview Encoder Description
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 3 Electra 9200, Rev O
Chapter 1
Electra 9200 Overview
This chapter describes the Electra 9200 encoder, and gives a high-level overview of the
Electra 9200 features. It includes the following sections:
nEncoder Description
nOptional Modules
nFeatures Overview
Encoder Description
The Electra 9200 is a single rack-unit (1-RU) encoder with multi-resolution, multi-standard,
multi-profile, multi-service, and multi-channel capabilities. The high-performance Electra
9200 significantly enhances bandwidth efficiency and provides up to four standard definition
(SD) or high definition (HD) channels of superior quality, constant bit-rate (CBR), or variable
bit-rate (VBR) video using either MPEG-2 or AVC encoding.
The Electra 9200 has the following basic configuration:
nAC or DC Power and Fuse
nUp to four audio/video compression boards
nTwo 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet output ports
nTwo 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet input ports
nTwo 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet management ports on the rear panel
nOne 10/100 Mbps Ethernet test port on the front panel
nFault Relay/GPI port
nOne serial data port
nVideo Lock, Fault and Locator LEDs
The Electra 9200 accepts these optional components:
nIOM-RAC2, AHC-RAC, or AHC-561 audio modules
nDual power supply—provides power input redundancy (ELC-9200D chassis only)
nFLEX decoding module — up to two FLEX-1 Modules per chassis
nRF (8VSB) input module
nASI (input and output) module
To view a slot diagram and find information about valid card/module/module configurations,
see Appendix C, Encoder Back Panel Slot Specifications
The Electra 9200 encoder operates as part of a video delivery network that includes multiple
encoders, transcoders, and multiplexers. The encoder operates within an ASI or IP
environment, allowing flexible network architectures. In an IP environment, encoders and
multiplexers do not need to be in the same physical location.

Chapter 1 Electra 9200 Overview Encoder Description
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 4 Electra 9200, Rev O
NMX™ Digital Service Manager manages encoders that form part of a delivery network and
supports full configuration of the Electra 9200 platform, ports, services, and PSI, as well as
alarm management. The NMX client runs locally and/or from remote PCs. For more
information, see Operating with NMX Digital Service Manager.
Front and Back Panels
The following illustrations show the front and back panels of an encoder without any optional
modules.
Figure 1–1: Front Panel
Table 1–1: Front Control Panel and Bezel
Item Feature Function
1 Ethernet service port Ethernet service connection
2 LED—Power Power indicator
3 LED—Fault Fault indicator
4 LED—Focal Local Control indicator
5 LED—TX Transmitting Indicator
6 LCD panel Status indicator
7 Latch Front panel latch
8 Right key Menu right
9 ESC key Menu escape
10 ENTER key Menu Select
11 Down key Menu down
12 Left key Menu left
13 Up key Menu up
(RN-03)

Chapter 1 Electra 9200 Overview Optional Modules
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 5 Electra 9200, Rev O
Figure 1–2: Back Panel
Table 1–2: Back Panel
Item Feature Function
1 AC power Power
2 Optional slots I/O module slots
3 Serial port Serial data input
4 Optional SDI ports SD and HD digital video input
5 Fuse (available only on Electra
9200 single power supply model)
Fuse protection
6 Ground Ground/Bond Connection
7LEDs Fault and locator LEDs
8 Gigibit Ethernet ports—signal Ports 1 and 2: Input
Ports 3 and 4: Output
9 Fault relay port Contact closure fault indication
10 Gigibit Etherner ports—
management
Network Management
Optional Modules
The Electra 9200 encoder can accept several optional Input/Output modules, as described in
Table 1–3.
Table 1–3: Optional Modules for the Electra 9200
Optional Module Description
IOM-RAC2 (IOM-RAC2
Module
Audio module that can accept MPEG-2 TS and SDI inputs
AHC-RAC (AHC-RAC
Module)
Audio module that can accept AES3/S/PDIF inputs
AHC-561 (AHC-561
Module)
Audio module that can accept AES3/S/PDIF inputs
Slot 1 Slot 2
Slot 3 Slot 4 Slot 5
10
(RN-04)

Chapter 1 Electra 9200 Overview Features Overview
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 6 Electra 9200, Rev O
For a description of the optional modules, refer to the appropriate chapter.
Features Overview
The Electra 9200 inherits all the major platform level features and options introduced in prior
Electra generations, including: IP or ASI outputs, support for multiple audio-processing cards,
support for Digital Program Insertion (DPI), and FLEX integrated decoder with IP, 8VSB, or ASI
inputs.
Table 1–4 lists the Electra 9200 feature highlights. For more information about specific
features, see Appendix A, Encoder Physical Specifications, and the Electra 9200 data sheet on the
Harmonic web site: http://www.harmonicinc.com.
FLEX-1 (FLEX Decoding
Module)
Dual decoder module
ASI input/output (ASI
Module)
ASI input module to provide a transport stream to the FLEX-1
Modules, or to provide an ASI output from the Electra 9200
RF input (ATSC RF Input
Module)
8VSB (ATSC) RF input module to provide a transport stream to
the FLEX-1 Modules
Table 1–4: Electra 9200 Feature Highlights
Feature
Optional dual AC power supplies
Video input router support:
nAny input can now be routed to any compression
card
nOne input can be routed to more than one
compression card
nResource allocation is performed by an improved
resource allocation manager
Multi-codec support capable of MPEG-2 or AVC
encoding of SD or HD video
Constant bit rate (CBR) or variable bit rate (VBR) video
High quality ultra-low, bit-rate encoding with
Hierarchical LookAhead™ and preprocessing
Common hardware - license options as needed
Up to four channels per chassis (1-RU)
Up to two outputs plus PiP per video input
High-quality integrated decoding with FLEX™ option
Statmux over IP in LAN and WAN environments with
DiviTrackIP™
Integrated statmux with DiviTrackMX™
Table 1–3: Optional Modules for the Electra 9200
Optional Module Description

Chapter 1 Electra 9200 Overview Features Overview
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 7 Electra 9200, Rev O
3DTV frame-compatible, format-capable
Microsoft MediaRoom Certified
Encodes up to four stereo pairs per video service
(Up to 16 stereo pairs using IOM-RAC2)
Built-in, broadcast-quality up/down conversion
Using optional audio cards: pass-through of
precompressed audio, encode from PCM audio,
multichannel to stereo down mix, and audio leveling.
Table 1–4: Electra 9200 Feature Highlights continued
Feature

Chapter 2 Installing the Encoder Preparing the Encoder
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 8 Electra 9200, Rev O
Chapter 2
Installing the Encoder
This chapter provides detailed instructions for installing an Electra 9200 encoder in a
standard 19-inch rack, connecting the cables, and powering up the encoder.
Following is the installation checklist, with links to instruction for each task. Perform these
tasks in the order presented:
nPreparing the Encoder
nInstalling the Encoder in a Rack
nCabling the Encoder
nCabling Optional Modules
nConnecting the Power
nThe Boot Sequence
nFront Panel LEDs
nBack Panel LEDs
Preparing the Encoder
You need a Phillips-head screwdriver to mount the encoder in a standard 19-inch rack.
Harmonic ships the necessary rack-mount screws and rack rails with the optional rack-
mounting kit.
The encoder comes in a specially designed shipping container that ensures the integrity of
your encoder hardware during shipping and handling. To avoid damage to the component,
follow the unpacking instructions that come with the encoder.
When you unpack the encoder, you should find the following items:
nEncoder
nStandard IEC power cord or DC power connector
nSpare air filters
nSoftware warranty agreement
Harmonic ships rack-mounting kits in a separate shipping container.
Installing the Encoder in a Rack
You can install the encoder in different sizes and types of racks. For rack assembly
instructions, consult the manual that came with the rack or the customer service department
of the rack manufacturer.
This section describes how to mount the encoder in a standard 19-inch rack, using the two
side-mount rails included in the optional rack-mounting kit. A 30-inch-deep rack with a
spacer or chimney between racks with multiple encoders is the recommended rack setup.
However, these rails work for racks that are 30- to 36-inches deep.
When you view the rack from the rear, the power rail should be installed on the left side.

Chapter 2 Installing the Encoder Installing the Encoder in a Rack
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 9 Electra 9200, Rev O
Rack Guidelines
When operating the encoder in the rack, ensure that:
nThe ambient temperature around the unit (which may be higher than room temperature)
is within the limit specified for the unit.
nThere is sufficient airflow around the unit.
nElectrical circuits are not overloaded; consider the nameplate rating of all the connected
equipment.
nThere is overcurrent protection.
nThe equipment is properly grounded.
nNo objects are placed on top of the unit.
Chassis Warnings for Rack Mounting and Servicing
CAUTION: To prevent bodily injury when mounting or servicing this unit in a rack, you must take
special precautions to ensure that the system remains stable. The following guidelines are provided to
ensure your safety.
nThis unit should be mounted at the bottom of the rack if it is the only unit in the rack.
nIf the rack will hold a number of units, load the rack from the bottom to the top with the
heaviest component at the bottom of the rack.
nIf the rack is provided with stabilizing devices, install the stabilizers before mounting or
servicing the unit in the rack.
ATTENTION: Pour éviter toute blessure corporelle pendant les opérations de montage ou de
réparation de cette unité en casier, il convient de prendre des précautions spéciales afin de maintenir
la stabilité du système. Les directives ci-dessous sont destinées à assurer la protection du personnel.
nSi cette unité constitue la seule unité montée en casier, elle doit être placée dans le bas.
nSi cette unité est montée dans un casier partiellement rempli, charger le casier de bas en
haut en plaçant l’élément le plus lourd dans le bas.
nSi le casier est équipé de dispositifs stabilisateurs, installer les stabilisateurs avant de
monter ou de réparer l'unité en casier.
WARNUNG: Zur Vermeidung von Körperverletzung beim Anbringen oder Warten dieser Einheit in
einem Gestell müssen sie besondere Vorkehrungen treffen, um sicherzustellen, daß das System stabil
bleibt. Die folgenden Richtlinien sollen zur Gewährleistung Ihrer Sicherheit dienen.
nWenn diese Einheit die einzige im Gestell ist, sollte sie unten im Gestell angebracht
werden.
nBei Anbringung dieser Einheit in einem zum Teil gefüllten Gestell ist das Gestell von unten
nach oben zu laden, wobei das schwerste Bauteil unten im Gestell anzubringen ist.
nWird das Gestell mit Stabilisierungszubehör geliefert, sind zuerst die Stabilisatoren zu
installieren, bevor sie die Einheit im Gestell anbringen oder sie warten.

Chapter 2 Installing the Encoder Installing the Encoder in a Rack
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 10 Electra 9200, Rev O
Airflow
The airflow through the encoder is critical for maintaining the proper temperature range. Fans
in the chassis draw air in through the front bezel and through the encoder. The airflow
ventilates out the right side (front view).
CAUTION: Do not obstruct the airflow of the encoder. Severe equipment damage can result when
the encoder cannot properly exhaust the airflow.
Attaching the Rack Rails
Attach the side-mount rack rails to the rack to hold the encoder in place. Figure 2–1 illustrates
the parts of the rack rails.
Figure 2–1: Rack Rails
To attach the rack rails to the rack:
1. If needed, place a Tinnerman™ speed nut with the nut on the outside of the rack over the
holes to which you would like to mount the rails.
NOTE: Each of the four rack posts requires two speed nuts.
2. Position the rack rails so the shelves are toward the inside of the rack.
3. Using the #10 screws provided with the encoder, screw the mounts into the speed nuts
from the inside of the rack using the rack-mount holes that line up with the holes on the
rack posts.
Figure 2–2 illustrates attaching the rails.

Chapter 2 Installing the Encoder Installing the Encoder in a Rack
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 11 Electra 9200, Rev O
Figure 2–2: Attaching the Rails to the Rack
CAUTION: Make sure to install the rack rails with the shelf at the top of the rail. If you install the
rail upside down, the rail blocks the encoder air vents, which can result in overheating the encoder.
Mounting the Encoder
CAUTION: Rack mount the encoder using the screws that came with your Harmonic rail kit. If you
did not purchase a Harmonic rail kit, use a rack-mount screw with a head no larger than 0.4 inches in
diameter and 0.14 inches in height to avoid damaging the front panel of the encoder. (Some encoders
may come with a peel-away sticker that advises on the correct screw size.) Using only the bottom two
screw holes will be sufficient.
To mount the encoder in a rack:
1. Using both hands, grasp the right corner of the front bezel and slowly pull to detach the
hinge on the left side of the encoder and expose the mount holes. See Figure 2–3.
DANGER: The front panel display on the encoder is susceptible to electrostatic discharge (ESD) when
the bezel is removed. Wear the appropriate ESD protection when the bezel is removed.
2. Gently slide the encoder to rest on the rack rails.
3. Push the encoder back until the rack-mount holes in the front of the encoder line up with
the rack posts.
4. Insert four screws through the mount holes in the front of the encoder to the
corresponding holes on the rack posts.
5. Tighten the screws with a screwdriver.

Chapter 2 Installing the Encoder Cabling the Encoder
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 12 Electra 9200, Rev O
6. Carefully replace the front bezel of the encoder.
Figure 2–3: Mounting the Encoder
Cabling the Encoder
CAUTION: Do not make any cable connections when the power cord is connected. You must unplug
the power cable to turn off the encoder.
The following sections describe how to connect the cables for the basic encoder
configuration.
nConnecting the Video Input Cables
nConnecting the IP Output Cables
nConnecting the Ethernet Management Cable
nConnecting the Fault Relay/General Purpose Interface (GPI) Ports
nConnecting the Serial Data Port
See Figure 1–2 for a sample back panel of the Electra 9200 encoder. It identifies all of the
connections described in this chapter (with the AC power module).
For optional modules, see the following sections:
nAudio modules
nFLEX decoding module
qRF Input module
qASI input module
Connecting the Video Input Cables
Your encoder has four video input ports that accept serial digital video.
To connect the video cables:
1. Connect a coaxial cable with a BNC connector from the first video source to the Video 1
port on the encoder.
2. Continue connecting the additional video sources to the remaining video ports.
Connecting the IP Output Cables
For RJ-45 pinouts, see RJ-45 Ethernet Port Pinouts.
Ports 3 and 4 are GbE output ports.
Rack mount holes
(RN-27)

Chapter 2 Installing the Encoder Cabling the Encoder
© 2015 Harmonic Inc. All rights reserved. 13 Electra 9200, Rev O
To connect the IP output cables:
1. Connect an Ethernet cable from the primary IP output port to a port on a network switch
or router, not a hub.
2. Optionally, connect the backup IP output port to a different switch or router to facilitate
redundancy.
3. Configure the Ethernet switch to support auto-negotiation by setting each port to set
speed auto and set duplex auto.
Set the IP address and other network information for the IP output ports using NMX.
Harmonic supports 10/100/1000 Mbps and is fully compliant with IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, and
802.3as standards.
NOTE: The network hosting the IP output traffic must be a different network from your management
network and must be configured with a different IP address.
Harmonic recommends that shielded and grounded Ethernet cables be used on all Ethernet ports.
Failure to properly configure the Ethernet switch could result in a mismatch between the IP output
and the switch.
Connecting the IP Input Cables
For RJ-45 pinouts, see RJ-45 Ethernet Port Pinouts.
Ports 1 and 2 are GbE input ports. The Electra 9200 CPC-L card has GbE input with two
redundant Ethernet ports (used on FLEX-1 systems).
To connect the IP input cables:
1. Connect an Ethernet cable from the primary IP input port to a port on a network switch or
router, not a hub.
2. Optionally, connect the backup IP input port to a different switch or router to facilitate
redundancy.
3. Configure the Ethernet switch to support auto-negotiation by setting each port to set
speed auto and set duplex auto.
Set the IP address and other network information for the IP output ports using NMX.
Harmonic supports 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet and is fully compliant with IEEE 802.3,
802.3u, and 802.3as standards.
NOTE: The network hosting the IP output traffic must be a different network from your management
network and must be configured with a different IP address.
Harmonic recommends that shielded and grounded Ethernet cables be used on all Ethernet ports.
Failure to properly configure the Ethernet switch could result in a mismatch between the IP output
and the switch.
Connecting the Ethernet Management Cable
The Ethernet management ports, labeled Management 1, 2, are 10/100/1000 Mbps and use
an RJ-45/UTP cable to connect to an Ethernet network. It allows communication between
NMX and the encoder.