NAB 2012: Telecast Fiber Focuses on Fiber Optics

Telecast Fiber will showcase its new Thunder system, a cost-effective, compact, and versatile fiber optic solution for transporting audio, intercom, and data in mobile production, broadcast infrastructure, and live sound applications.

Thunder Fiber Optic Audio, Intercom, and Data Transport System
Using just one or two strands of fiber and just 1 RU of space, the scalable Thunder system transports up to 80 bi-directional channels of audio, data, and/or intercom signals, configurable in up to 10 eight-channel blocks.

Alternatively, rows of 16 XLR and DB9 connectors can be added to provide traditional audio, intercom, and data interfaces when those connectors are preferred. In addition, the system can be equipped with a portable, throwdown “Stage Box” offering 32 analog inputs, eight analog outputs, and two intercom channels in a hardened, ruggedized enclosure.

“The use of fiber-optics technology is exploding for audio and video transport, which means increased demand for innovative, cost-effective systems that can move large quantities of signals over an existing fiber optic infrastructure,” said Steve DeFrancesco, vice president and general manager, Telecast Fiber Systems. “At this year’s NAB Show, we’re looking forward to showing why Telecast is at the forefront of fiber technology innovation. A great example is new Thunder audio system, which fills an important gap in the market between high-end audio transport and the use of bulkier copper solutions.”

Terrapin TR-D6 3Gb/s HD/SDI Video Transceiver and Distribution Amplifier
The new Terrapin TR-D6 is a compact, bidirectional throwdown device that features both a fiber optic (ST) input and a copper (BNC) input, as well as a fiber optic output (ST) and six copper (BNC) outputs. A single push-button operation makes it easy to switch between four modes, permitting the Terrapin TR-D6 to act as an HD/SDI distribution amplifier with six BNC outputs and a fiber optic output, a fiber optic transceiver with six BNC outputs of the received signal or the local copper signal, or as an optical repeater with a six-output BNC tap.

Cobra 2 DT
The Telecast Fiber Systems Cobra 2 DT is a fiber-optic solution that permits extension of the industry’s new digital triax-based camera chains using simple, inexpensive fiber optic cable. The Cobra 2 DT system extends Sony’s new high-definition triax camera chains, such as the HXC-100K and HSC-300K, to enable their use over durable, lightweight tactical fiber or within an installed fiber optic infrastructure. Cameras can now be separated from their CCUs and be located around a building, across a campus, or even 20 km across town using metropolitan “dark fiber.” Using Telecast’s TelePort systems, several digital triax cameras can be “muxed” over a long distance onto a pair of fibers, all at the lowest pricing Telecast Fiber Systems has ever been able to offer for triax-to-fiber technology.

New Members of Thor Fiber Optic Extender Family
Telecast will introduce several new members of its Thor family of fiber optic extenders for broadcasting, government, and professional A/V applications. The Thor DE is an optical DVI extender consisting of transmitter and receiver modules that use CWDM optical multiplexing to transmit four channels of WUXGA (1920×1200) graphic signals with a 60Hz refresh rate over a single fiber. The companion Thor DE Throwdown DVI and Audio Extender drives uncompressed WUXGA (1920×1200) 60Hz DVI signals up to 2km (single-mode) or 500m (multi-mode) over a duplex LC fiber. The Thor DA Throwdown HDMI Distribution Amplifier allows one HDMI (TMDS) single-link digital video signal to be split into multiple digital displays, with a built-in amplification function that enables HDMI signal distribution without signal loss. Finally, the Thor MR 8X8 HDMI and DVI Matrix Routers are new additions to the Thor-S KVM switcher product line, enabling customers to make cross-switches between up to eight DVI or HDMI sources (computers/servers) and eight displays located away from the main sources.

TR6442i CommLink Fiber Optic Intercom Link and Converter
The new TR6442i CommLink fiber optic transceiver system will be making its North American debut at NAB. The system carries two intercom channels over a single strand of fiber across distances of more than 40 km. Ideal for outside broadcasting (OB), the CommLink features advanced auto-nulling hybrid technology, making it easy to interface with industry-standard party-line and matrix-style intercom systems. When in two-wire mode, the CommLink will extend two channels of a Clear-Com party-line system or an RTS two-wire intercom system. In four-wire mode, the system creates a fiber optic connection from a matrix frame to two remote matrix stations, using either Clear-Com Matrix Plus or RTS ADAM (Advanced Digital Audio Matrix), Cronus, or Zeus systems. Alternately, the CommLink system’s auto-nulling hybrid permits the easy interconnection of two-wire intercom to four-wire systems, featuring the fastest, easiest setup of any two-wire-to-four-wire hybrid in the industry.