Con Matrox Maevex, The Oslo metro manages the contents of its digital signage network

Matrox Maevex H.264 encoders and decoders solve the problems of controlling and transmitting HD content on the Oslo Metro digital signaling network.. Installation has started on three of the stations, where are located 176 screens.

Clear Channel have installed H.264 encoders and decoders Matrox Maevex to broadcast advertising content on the 176 digital screens located in three of the stations of the Oslo metro system. Both Matrox displays and AV over IP devices will now be controlled using Matrox Maevex PowerStream software.. With this solution, Distributed digital signage will no longer be affected by subway operating system tests that abruptly cut power.

Constituted by 6 lines and 100 stations, The Oslo metro system performs more than 80 million trips a year. Although it is considered a privileged place for advertising placement, The metro system has presented several challenges for integrator Clear Channel Norway regarding the implementation of digital signage in three metro stations.

Clear Channel Norway was in charge of setting up a network that would offer content to 176 screens of 65 inches already installed in the digital stations of the Oslo metro system. The original installation had screens connected to PC players located in the machine rooms. Signals had to be transmitted via HDMI extenders, but emergency power outages during system testing left the screens blank, even after connection has been reestablished, which resulted in loss of advertising revenue.

“The environment and operations were difficult to manage. “We had to find a different solution to transmit the signal from the player to the screens”, indicates Jonas Michael, Head of Digital Development and Operations at Clear Channel Norway.

A temporary solution was to regularly access the screens to reconfigure the HDMI extenders, something practically impossible to do, since these are located between the tracks. As a result, Clear Channel Norway sought a stable and economical solution that would not be affected by abrupt disconnections, that did not require on-site maintenance or interfere with passengers or subway workers.

The option was Maevex, as its features and functionality matched AV over IP requirements to deliver high-quality video up to 1080p at 60fps and sound over IP at user-defined low bitrates.. Y, in the heart of the new facility, the operations center is located, located in Clear Channel's Oslo office, that oversees the operations of the entire network.

Maevex PowerStream

With VPN connection, Clear Channel Norway uses Maevex PowerStream software to monitor and manage all Maevex encoders and decoders. The company has also integrated two encoders into each of the stations for redundancy and can remotely switch from one to the other if a problem occurs..

Content was created using digital signage software Mermaid and has been placed on a PC media player in the Clear Channel operations center. Maevex's AV over IP platform captures, encodes and dynamizes the signal to decode and display on remote digital signage screens at each of the metro locations.

Integrated Maevex decoder toggling is no longer necessary, which involved a separate alternator, to search for PC players in each of the stations and communicate with the monitors, in addition to controlling them. For this, Maevex has drastically reduced the number of breeders and the cost.

With the new solution, when power returns after a system test, the screens work without problems, something key for an outdoor advertising company where display problems imply losses. For now, The installation has been carried out in three stations, but work is underway to expand the network to seven more.

Clear Channel Norway has also integrated Maevex into a similar facility, on three Oslo ferries and is also doing it in six airports in the country. “The usual thing is to have a PC behind the screen in all digital signage installations. It is the normal procedure. Maevex is a great change that allows us to do without it and place it anywhere else in the operations center, away from the public, comments Michael.