Telos Zephyr Connect

Overview

Zephyr Connect is a virtual multi-codec gateway built on the legacy of the Telos iPort series of products. It performs all the same core functions as iPort HD while allowing users to flexibly scale up and down in ways not previously possible. As a software solution, Zephyr Connect is delivered via a Docker container that can be deployed on-premises on a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) server or cloud-hosted. Zephyr Connect can handle hundreds of codec channels on one server or just a handful on an endpoint at a transmitter site.

Features

• Transports multiple channels of stereo, mono, and dual-mono audio across IP networks.
• Comes with 2 bi-directional stereo codecs, licensable up to 64 codecs per instance.
• Each codec is independently configurable.
• Up to four redundant IP stream destinations per encoder.
• Supports Unicast UDP and TCP, or UDP Multicast stream types, independently configurable per WAN stream.
• Enhanced aptX™ encoding is optional.
• Can be paired with Telos Alliance xNodes and an adequately configured Ethernet switch for use as a standalone multi-stream codec.
• Optional Content Delay feature is available.

In Depth

Zephyr Connect is a virtualized version of the Telos iPort High-Density Multi-Codec Gateway hardware product, and the two products are fully compatible and interoperable. Delivered as a Docker container for on-premises hosting using a COTS server, each instance starts with two bidirectional codec channels and is expandable via licensing up to 64 channels per instance. A pair of Zephyr Connects operating via a QoS-controlled IP link can send and receive up to 64 channels of bi-directional stereo MPEG audio. Alternatively, Zephyr Connect can be used as a one-way "push" link to encode and deliver up to 64 channels of broadcast-quality one-way audio to remote destinations. Its ability to send multiple MPEG channels over IP connections makes it suitable for various applications.

The exclusive optional Content Delay feature enables delayed playout of select received audio channels. Associated GPIO and ancillary data are likewise delayed and synchronized with audio. Any or all coded audio channels can be delayed, with each channel's delay time independently configurable. The amount of audio stored varies by available storage, and high-end enterprise SSDs are recommended.

Zephyr Connect streams utilize genuine Fraunhofer IIS encoding algorithms (inventor of MP3, co-inventor of AAC). A full range of state-of-the-art codec types and bitrates are supported in the highest-quality implementations. Options include AAC-LD for delay-sensitive applications, AAC-HE and AAC-HEv2 for low bitrate requirements, standard MPEG AAC for best quality and resilience to packet loss at higher bit rates, or MP3 and MP2 for legacy applications.

Applications

Zephyr Connect is ideal for audio transmission over VPNs, satellite links, Ethernet radio systems, and Telco or ISP-provided IP services such as SD-WAN, MPLS, or traditional data links like T1. It is suitable for studio-to-transmitter links, network distribution systems, and multi-channel links to remote studios. Installing a QoS-enabled IP link between two studios with Livewire networks, with a Zephyr Connect or iPort HD at each end, allows audio and GPIO to be passed between locations as if they were co-located. When paired with an appropriate streaming server, it can generate multiple channels of MP3- or AAC-coded audio for streaming, broadcasting to mobile phones, and audio distribution systems.

Requirements

The following minimum hardware requirements must be met for a single Zephyr Connect instance with 64 channels of bi-directional stereo coded audio. These are general operational guidance for software container deployment on a Linux server and are subject to change.

• Cores: 4 cores (x86-64 12th generation "Alder Lake" or better, or Gen 6 Xeon server CPU)
• CPU Speed: 3.6 GHz
• Memory: 4 GB RAM per instance
• Linux Distribution: Ubuntu Server v22.04 or 24.04 (64-bit)