Motorola SEM-V0 


Each unit has been tested and is fully functional. Functionality guaranteed for 30 days. Buy with confidence! 


Each SEM is fitted with a MediaCipher ACP FPGA board. Each SEM will have varying software revisions, from 4.0 to 7.4.3 . New software can be obtained through DigitalCM if you have access.


Included Items:

  • SEM-V0 DC Power
  • No power cord, manuals, box, or other accessories included.


Cosmetic Condition: POOR

  • There are many visible scratches on all parts of the unit.
  • Some units have a bent rack ear. This does not affect functionality.
  • NO FACEPLATE is included. You'll receive the SEM as pictured.


We have DC or AC configs available. If you need a DC config, please check our other listings - this auction is for an AC unit.


Returns are accepted only if your SEM is defective. Returns for any other reason are not accepted. Please note we keep track of serial numbers and any returns must match our records.


Product Details

The Motorola® SmartStream Encryptor Modulator (SEM) v0 fulfills the throughput demands of broadcast stream intensive and VOD dedicated stream topologies. The SEM provides re-multiplexing, real time encryption capabilities in a high density one rack unit (RU) form factor. Its MPEG routing I/O architecture, consisting of three Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, eight Asynchronous Serial Interfaces (ASIs), enable it to redirect services present from any input into any output. These interfaces are supplemented by two 10/100Base-T Ethernet interfaces that provide management/control communication with a SEM controller and insertion of pre-packetized MPEG data or IP datagrams into output transport streams.

Unique attributes of the SEM include:

  • Two input power versions (AC and DC). 
  • Three Gigabit Ethernet interfaces (GigE1-3), each of which can accept a Small Form Factor Pluggable (SFP) module. 
  • Eight software configurable input ASIs (ASI1-8), of which four (ASI5-8) can be configured as either inputs or outputs.
  • Two 10/100Base-T Ethernet interfaces (ENET1 and ENET2) compliant with IEEE 802.3u. 
  • Network Protocols (interface dependent) consisting of: IP/ICMP/IGMP at the Network Layer, UDP/TCP at the Transport Layer, and SNMP, DHCP, BOOTP, TFTP, SNTP, and HTTP at the Application Layer. 
  • MPEG transport stream reception and transmission over Gigabit Ethernet or ASI. 
  • Creation of up to 16 Multi-Program Transport Stream (MPTS) outputs. 
  • Creation of up to four output MPTSs, over ASI, at rates up to 206 Mbps. 
  • Creation of up to 16 output MPTSs, over Gigabit Ethernet, which can be transmitted to up to sixteen different destination IP addresses.
  • Input program specific information (PSI) extraction for internal processing and display to the operator. 
  • Output PSI and conditional access (CA) message insertion. 
  • PID re-mapping and MPEG service number (SN) re-mapping to prevent component PID and SN conflicts within an output transport stream. 
  • DCII encryption using Data Encryption Standard (DES) or Common Scrambling Algorithm (CSA). Encryption requires an optional ACP module. 
  • SimulCrypt encryption processing (encryption requires an optional ACP module). 
  • Multi-Protocol Encapsulation (MPE) and insertion of IP datagram streams. 
  • In-band MPEG data insertion. 
  • ASI Monitor Port output.

The SEM can be configured and monitored remotely using the SEM Element Manager (SEM-EM), which uses a JAVA-enabled console. This console is a remote user interface based on a JAVA application that is initially invoked from the host computer. Once invoked, the console can access any SEM on the system, as determined by the IP address.

The SEM-EM can function as the SEM controller in applications where encryption is not required. The SEM-EM provides manual re-multiplexing control that allows an operator to route input MPEG services from any input transport stream to any output transport stream. A second mode, UDP Port Mapping, is provided when receiving SPTSs from the Gigabit Ethernet. This mode provides for the autonomous routing of SPTSs to the appropriate output, based on the destination UDP port of the received UDP segment stream carrying the SPTS. A third mode, ASI auto de-multiplexing, reduces SEM-EM configuration and provisioning necessary to support the reception and re-multiplexing of a high speed transport stream containing a large number of services. 

The SEM-V0 provides up to four operating modes, selectable in the SEM Element Manager Software (included on the built-in web server):

  • External modes: 
    1. Cable Encryptor — broadcast cable system applications and real-time encryption VOD applications.
  • Internal modes: 
    1. Manual Routing — operator input controls the SEM-EM, acting as a surrogate controller. 
    2. ASI Demultiplexing — ASI inputs to GigE, whereby starting and ending program service ranges are defined for outputs associated to specific ASI inputs. It is a quicker alternative than using Manual Remapping, which entails defining each service output individually. 
    3. MHA Session VOD (SVE) — This mode is used for encrypting VOD services in Session-Controlled mode. 


Input/Output Ports Overview:

  • GigE 1-3
    • All three GigE transceivers can transmit and receive MPEG transport streams; however, two (GigE-2 and GigE-3) are normally used to receive transport streams from headend devices, for example a VOD server. VOD systems require high-speed capabilities, as a large number of transport streams are implemented to establish dedicated sessions to each subscriber set-top. 
    • The other transceiver (GigE-1) is used to transport encrypted streams to the distribution network. 
      • The distribution network can implement Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM), Synchronous Optical Network (SONET), and Switched Ethernet transport technologies. 
    • GigE interface SFP Modules are not included and must be provided by the customer
    • Two (GigE-1 and GigE-2) of the three GigE transceivers have loop-through capabilities.
  • ASI 1-8
    • ASI 1–4 are dedicated inputs only. 
    • ASI 5–8 can be configured as inputs or outputs under software control. 
    • The ASIs can carry a single Multi-Program Transport Stream (MPTS) at an input rate up to 213 Mbps and an output rate of up to 206 Mbps.
  • OAM&P Interface 10/100Base-T
    • A 10/100Base-T Ethernet interface that receives remultiplexing, message extraction, message insertion, and encryption commands from an external controller. It can operate in half and full duplex modes.
  • IP Data Interface 10/100Base-T
    • This interface can receive pre-packetized MPEG packets from the UDP/IP and Ethernet. The SEM will be capable of associating the pre-packetized MPEG data with one or more outgoing services. IP datagrams will also be received on this interface for insertion into an output multiplex.
    • The Ethernet 1 port may be used to control the SEM using the SEM Element Manager Software
  • ASI Monitor Port
    • The ASI Monitor Port can be used to monitor any one of the 16 output transport streams prior to encryption
  • Test Console Port
    • A front panel, nine-pin RS-232 interface used to access internal diagnostics from the operating system command line shell. It also provides an alternate method to configure the SEM, as it can be used to assign Internet Protocol (IP) addresses in the absence of a BOOTP/Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server.