ARCHITECTURE & SPECS

The real problem is the network.

Live streaming rarely fails because of cameras or codecs. It fails because internet connections on location are unstable, shared, and unpredictable. Live is unpredictable.
The job is to handle that, not deny it.

A transparent look at the protocols, hardware, and infrastructure that make the Nobox transmission unbreakable.

Protocol & Codec

SRT over RTMP

RTMP is TCP-based. TCP guarantees delivery through retransmission—which means latency compounds with every dropped packet. In a degraded cellular environment, RTMP doesn't drop frames. It buffers them. The stream falls behind and dies.

SRT runs over UDP. It doesn't retransmit lost packets. It compensates for them using an adjustable latency buffer. The stream stays in sync because it never waits for what it can't recover.

SRT also handles encryption at the protocol level (passphrase-based, user-to-user). No additional VPN or tunnel overhead.

Hardware H.265 Encoding

This system encodes exclusively in H.265 (HEVC). The bonding software runs on a dedicated high-performance, ARM-based SBC powered by a Rockchip RK3588 octa-core processor and up to 32GB of LPDDR4X RAM. It acts as a compact, energy-efficient workstation.

H.265 delivers the same perceived quality at roughly half the bitrate of H.264. In cellular bonding, every megabit matters. H.265 is the difference between a stable feed and a struggling one, guaranteeing zero-latency encoding without sacrificing a single pixel of quality.

The Bonding Engine

Standard Kit — 4 Paths

4× 4G USB modems, each on a different Belgian operator (Proximus, Orange, Base, Telenet). Different operators mean different cells, different backhaul, and different failure points.

Additional Paths (Up to 8 Modems total)
  • Local WiFi network
  • Mobile hotspot (phone tethering via USB)
  • Ethernet (1–2 ports, critical at press conferences)

Seamless Failover

What happens when a 5G connection drops dead? Absolutely nothing.

The missing packets are instantly routed through the remaining connections. The MCR sees zero frame drops, no glitches, and no stream restarts.

  • Dynamic Bitrate: Automatically scales based on available bandwidth.
  • End-to-end latency: Under 3 seconds (Camera to MCR).

Beyond Cellular: Extreme Redundancy

Every additional path is a bonus. The core system runs on four independent cellular connections. Everything else is incremental resilience built to survive heavily congested environments like EU or NATO summits.

Wi-Fi HaLow

Sub-GHz bridge reaching local internet connections through thick concrete walls.

Dual Ethernet

Direct hardline plug-ins when local venue infrastructure is dedicated and available.

Starlink Ready

Situational seamless integration for completely off-grid locations.

3G Fallback

The absolute last-resort safety layer when 4G/5G networks are jammed.

Cloud Core

The core routing is handled by the globally managed Belabox cloud infrastructure, offering ~10 regional servers worldwide for the lowest possible ping.

Driven by an active community on Discord and continuous development by the BelaBox team and contributors.

Zero Vendor Lock-in

If your network security requires it, the stream can be routed directly to your proprietary cloud servers. No lock-in to a closed ecosystem.

What your MCR receives

No special hardware decoder is required on your end. You receive a clean URL.

mcr_receive_specs.sh
# Ingress feed parameters
Format: SRT Listener mode
Resolution: 1080i50 (HD)
Maximum: 3840 × 2160 (4K)
Codec: H.265 / HEVC
Audio: 2ch AAC embedded
Target_bitrate: 15 Mbps

# Network & Cloud
Latency: < 3s (camera to air)
Cloud_RTT: 30–50ms (EU region)
Protocol: SRT (passphrase encrypted)
Bonding_platform: BelaBox
Cloud_managed: BelaBox (10+ global regions)

# Multipath active routes
Paths_(standard): 4x 4G cellular (4 distinct operators)
Paths_(additional): WiFi, Ethernet, USB tethering, HaLow, 3G, Starlink

Battle Tested. Brutally Honest.

Operated in the worst RF environments in Europe. At top level events dealing with extreme security jammers, and at EU Summits watching local cell towers drop from 100 Mbps to below 1 Mbps the moment heads of state arrive. This rig is built to survive those exact moments.

The fastest way to evaluate this is to see the feed.

Real-time. Bitrate visible. No setup.