WATCH: NEW FOR 2020
While extension capability has been built into matrix switchers, converters and monitoring systems, there are still plenty of applications that make use of individual extension units and modules. The technology has also allowed different signals to be combined, extended and separated.
In June Adder Technology announced a series of enhancements to its ADDERLink XDIP IP KVM solution. The receiver can now access 16 sources and the transmitter can broadcast to 256 receivers. Improved remote control, either via a RESTful API or HTTPS web browser, is designed to give users additional choice and flexibility with how they control their XDIP solution. Managing all endpoints through an API will reportedly help customers simplify configuration and maintenance. According to Adder, this level of interoperability, combined with new multicasting functionality, means the XDIP is the ideal solution to bridge the gap between KVM and video-over-IP. Customers can now take advantage of KVM functionality while delivering video and AV content around a large-scale installation, over an existing 1GbE network. Power over Ethernet support has also been made available in the US.
The company also debuted a new addition to the ADDERLink INFINIITY 4000 Series, the ALIF4000. Multigigabit Ethernet support has been added to provide customers with the ability to balance their video quality and bandwidth usage requirements by delivering 4K over varying network capabilities, from 1Gb/s to 10Gb/s. Integrated 1GbE ports reportedly enable easy delivery of 4K60 video over 1Gb/s copper links using 100m of standard Cat-5e or Cat-6 cable. Dual multigigabit or 1GbE ports can be teamed together for enhanced resiliency or improved video capability. Compatibility with the existing ADDERLink INFINITY range means the ALIF4000 can be phased into an existing network.
AJA Video Systems can provide cable runs of up to 32,808ft. for 4 independent channels of 3G/HD/SD-SDI input using their FiDO-4T-ST. 4K/UltraHD-SDI is output over 4 fiber links while the tiny unit uses only 5-20VDC power on its included DWP-U-R1 universal power supply. It is one in the family of FiDO single, dual and quad channel SDI/Fiber converters with a choice of LC, ST or SC connectors.
The TP315-105 HDMI over AnyWire transmitter from Altinex uses automatic transmitter/receiver detection and it sends HDMI 720/1080p video close to 1000ft. The HDCP compliant unit provides IR pass-through control, fixed EDID and a local monitor input. A single transmitter is capable of driving up to 4 receivers using either 4 individual wire pairs over 300m each, or by daisy chaining the receivers.
The AMX DX-TX DXLink MultiFormat Transmitter can carry analog and digital AV, control and Ethernet over 300ft. on a twisted pair cable. It can be used with Enova DVX all-in-one presentation switchers or with the DXLink HDMI Receiver as a stand-alone solution. The transmitter’s built-in control ports can be used to control a source and the ICSLan port provides an IP access point.
The ANI-0104POE from A-Neuvideo splits an HDMI 1080p@60Hz video signal into a local display plus four additional feeds for remote displays up to 150ft. away on CAT5e/6 cable. The receivers are powered by the base unit on the same twisted pair. It also supports stereo audio and 7.1 channel surround sound. The extender includes surface mounting hardware.
One of Apantac’s signal extension units is the KVM-IP-Tx-PL transmitter and KVM-IPRx-P receiver. Both feature PoE and the transmitter has a built-in HDMI looping input. The pair enables up to 170m extension on CAT6, unicast and multicast for AV distribution, RS-232 and advanced EDID management. The units have LED status indicators and web page management. There is also bi-directional stereo audio, embedded HDMI and an external stereo input.
ATEN Technology has introduced the ATEN VE8950/VE8900 Control App, an iOS and Android compatible mobile app that enables mobile control of ATEN’s VE8950 and VE8900 4K HDMI over IP Extenders. The app was designed to help users instantly switch sources/displays and apply and reschedule profiles for their over IP video extenders. ATEN’s Control App provides direct access to VE Manager, which enables preview, real time monitor and control of a user’s video sources from anywhere. Users can track the latest display schedule and system updates and do calendar-based scheduling.
In January, Atlona, a Panduit company, announced a new HDBaseT extender kit that pairs two of its most popular HDVS Series solutions for huddle rooms and small meeting spaces. The AT-HDVS-150-WP-KIT combines the AT-HDVS-150-TX-WP two-input wallplate switcher with the AT-HDVS150-RX scaling receiver to provide HDMI and VGA auto-switching, integrated display control and HDBaseT signal transport and scaling in a simplified package for corporate, educational, and other environments. The HDVS-150-WP-KIT transports video signals up to 1080p or 1920×1200 alongside embedded audio, power and control across distances reaching 230 feet (70 meters) over standard category cable. The HDVS-150-TXWP switcher/transmitter features one HDMI input and one VGA input with corresponding analogue audio, automatically selecting between the two interfaces and powering on or off compatible displays when a video source is connected or removed.
The HBT200KIT represents a very simple solution by Audio Authority for HDMI extension up to 330ft. on one Cat 5 network cable. Handling up to 7.1 channel uncompressed audio, the unit also conveys bi-directional IR and RS-232. The video transmission is uncompressed and the operation is Crestron, AMX, and Control4 compatible. The kit includes one HBT200T Transmitter and one HBT200R Receiver.
Part of Aurora’s HT Series with optional Dante/AES67 up to 8 channels for surround sound, the HTE-TX2 HDBaseT 2.0 transmitter can extend 4K60 4:4:4 & HDR (18Gbps) to 330ft. with unshielded cable. It is also capable of directional USB to provide a choice as to which end of the line will be the sender. Third party control is enabled through the built-in IP port expansion.
At the end of June, BlackBox introduced a new family of Networking Active Optical Cables (AOC) optimized for datacenter and edge network applications. Offering SFP+ 10Gbps, SFP28 25Gbps, QSFP+ 40Gbps, and QSFP28 100Gbps AOC products, Black Box addresses the increasing need for lower-cost, high-speed interconnectivity solutions that are flexible enough to be used in applications of one meter or hundreds of meters. The Black Box Networking AOCs allow connection of (Q)SFP network equipment across multiple racks. Black Box AOCs are 100% compliant with their Cisco counterparts and constructed for full compliance with MSA industry standards, they also support non-Cisco equipment that does not require proprietary connectivity. Available in an array of lengths and speeds, Black Box Networking AOCs can be used for switch-server interconnectivity inside racks, between racks, and across multiple rooms. Because they are compatible with the Black Box Emerald Unified KVM platform and MCX 4K network AV distribution and management system, Black Box Networking AOCs can be used to connect the transmitters of these KVM and AV-over-IP solutions to network switches.
The Blackmagic Camera Fiber Converter and Blackmagic Studio Fiber Converter allow video, audio, camera power, talkback and tally to be extended up to 2km on a single SMPTE 311M hybrid electrical and fiber optic cable. The cable includes a 2 way fiber pair, data pair and power pair, along with a central strength member. The Camera Fiber Converter attaches to the back of URSA Mini and URSA Broadcast cameras and it adds standard studio camera controls.
CE labs designed the HX40M to take HDMI and HDCP compliant 1080i/720p video up to 230ft. and 1080p@60Hz 24bit signals up to 132ft. on CAT5e/6 cable. Built-in features include auto equalization and an EDID auto backup function. It is equipped with HDMI connectors and supports DVI equipment by allowing use of an HDMI to DVI adapter.
AT ISE, Crestron showed the new NX2 Series range of DM NVX USB-over-IP endpoint extenders in a wall plate form factor. They provide seamless routing and extension of USB 2.0 signals across the network between NX2 devices and are completely interoperable with DM NVX products. Now, routing USB 2.0 peripherals, such as keyboard, video, mouse, webcams, microphones, or mass storage, is simplified. The NX2 Series can be used to create a robust network KVM (Keyboard, Video, and Mouse) solution, for example.
Part of the DVIGear HyperLight Series active optical cable line, the DVI-23xxx-AOC Series cable is constructed of 4x POF (Polyfluorinated Optical Fiber) and 6x copper wires. With a minimum bend radius of only two millimeters, the cables feature two removable DVI docking connectors along with fixation screws for added security and they can be run through very tight spaces.
The Gefen EXT-ADA-LAN-TX transmitter can send digital and analog audio over IP to the EXT-ADA-LAN-RX receiver and its inputs include L/R analog, coaxial digital, and optical digital. Firmware updates will allow audio, RS-232 and 2-way IR to be independently routed and distributed for source and amplifier control. Each cable run from a sender to a receiver or from a sender or receiver to the network switch can be up to 330ft.
Hall Research has released new addition to its Javelin active optical cables —the CUSB3V1-AP for extending USB 3.0. A light-weight plenum-rated hybrid of optical fiber plus copper, and available in lengths of 15, 30, and 50 meters, the CUSBV1- AP cables support transparent extension of USB 3.0 (USB 3.1 Gen1) signals at data rates of up to 5 Gbps. The cables are downward compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1 devices when used with a PC host. CUSBV1-AP cables are compatible with virtually all USB 3.0 and 3.1 Gen1 devices, and are designed to be an ideal solution for extending 4K video conferencing cameras, video capture, docking stations, and other high-speed data communications. They also work with USB 2.0 or 1.1 devices, although this feature is only available for PCs running Windows. The small cable ends can be easily pulled through most conduits, and no additional power is required.
The Draco ultra HDMI 495 Series from IHSE USA allows a CPU, including DisplayPort monitor, keyboard, and pointing device, to be operated via fiber connection from a remotely located workstation. The 495 Series supports digital video in 4K resolutions up to 4096 x 2160 and 3840 x 2160 at 60Hz along with audio transmission via the HDMI interface.
The 767DSS 3G+ Dante Sound System Transmitter from Just Add Power adds compatibility with Dante and AES67 audio networks to the UltraHD over IP system. With the ability to input and extract up to 8 channels on the audio network, it also provides transmission for RS232 or IR control of sources. Secondary connectivity is built in for glitch-free performance and to provide redundancy for high-availability applications.
The KanexPro EXT-4KFIBERPRO HDMI 2.0 extender is designed to extend 4Kx2K@60Hz video and HDR up to 984ft. with zero latency on two single mode or two OM3/ OM4 multi-mode fiber cables. It can also be controlled over fiber via bi-directional IR and RS323C. The front panel DIP switch allows SPDIF ports on both the sender and receiver to function as ARC (Audio Return Channel) mode or normal audio support for downstream devices.
The TP-752T and TP-752R form an ultrareach extender pair from Kramer Electronics that allows 1080p (HD) HDMI and RS232 control to reach up to 2000ft. on any 2-wire cable. Connector options include terminal block, RJ-45 and VGA. The transmitter has an active, reclocking HDMI output loop port for cascaded signal extenders or distributors, or local signal monitoring while the receiver features audio de-embedding.
Lightware Visual Engineering has introduced the HDMI20-OPTJ-TX90 and HDMI20-OPTJ-RX90 full 4K HDMI 2.0 compatible fiber optical extenders. They carry HDMI 2.0 class 4K signals with embedded audio to up to nearly 3000ft. and a full HD signal over 8000ft. over one multi-mode fiber cable. The hardware features a solid machined aluminum body and firmware can be updated through USB.
Matrox designed the Extio 3 Series KVM extenders to securely carry a single 4Kp60 4:4:4 video signal—or four 1080p60 4:4:4 signals—along with keyboard, mouse, stereo audio, and USB 2.0 over standard gigabit Ethernet at low bit rates over a standard Gigabit Ethernet network. They allow users to instantly switch to any system on the KVM network. Extio 3 provides a secondary H.264 proxy video stream, compatible with H.264 software and hardware decoders, enabling users to view a selected desktop on mobile devices, record it to a network attached storage or to display it on a video wall. In May, Matrox announced private wide-area network (WAN) support. This new mode of operation enables organizations to introduce new remote work and collaborative workflow infrastructures by allowing users to access, share, and control any centralized workstation located in another building or city.
The MuxLab model 500763-TX extends HDMI signals up to 330ft. at up to 4K @ 30Hz resolution on Cat5e/6 and along with the Muxlab 500762-RX Receiver supports point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and multipoint-to-multipoint configurations, video wall and multiview capabilities. Also carried are RS232 and directional IR control as well as two-channel embedded audio.
The Opticis DPFX-400-TR supports the HDMI 2.0 standard and it transmits 4K 60Hz (RGB:4:4:4) up to 656ft. over one LC multimode fiber (OM3) without any data compression. The transmitter supports 3D content and complies with CEC, EDID and HDCP. It also supports HDR within its maximum bandwidth of 18Gbps. It features a high-retention HDMI connector to prevent accidental disconnection if it is subject to any vibration or movement. Opticis also developed their DPFX-400-TR as a DisplayPort 1.2 multimedia fiber optic extender. It can transmit DisplayPort 1.2 signals and analog RS-232 up to 4,921ft. on a duplex LC single-mode fiber in 4K 60Hz. Support includes an MST feature as well as auxiliary/I²C transmission. Moreover, it provides both DisplayPort and HDMI output with dual-mode DP (DP++).
The Purelink HOF 2.0 Tx/Rx provides long-distance distribution of 4K/60 video, audio, and control signals over fiber. Ultra HD/4K, HDMI 2.0 (18G), embedded audio, RS-232, and bi-directional IR are all supported over distances up to 3,300 ft. using PureLink’s TOTALWIRE LC-terminated fiber optic cables. Features include real-time auto-EDID management and support for Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio and LPCM 2/5.1/7.1.
Rose Electronics’ UltraLink KVM/ AV over IP Switches/Extenders consist of transmitter units located at computer or AV sources and receiver units at KVM stations or AV displays, which connect directly for point-to-point extension or to a central 1G or 10G Ethernet network for matrix switching. All signals are routed over CAT6 and/ or fiber cable.
RTI’s ultra-thin VXT-LR is a long reach HDBT video extender set which contains a VXT-LRT transmitter and a VXT-LRR receiver. Compliant with HDMI1.4 and HDCP2.2, it is capable of transmitting highdefinition video signals up to 4K@60Hz. Designed with support for HDBT2.0 it enables 100m (max) 4K transmission and 150m 1080p transmission as well as RS-232 and IR control signals via single Cat5e/Cat6 cable. Four Ethernet ports enable network switch capability. The pair supports CEC and ARC.
The HDX-Ultimate from SmartAVI extends ultra-HD 4K resolution video up to 450ft. on a single CAT5e cable and it has PoE capability. Either unit can be powered from the other. The HDX Ultimate works with SmartAVI matrixes to offer a range of extended routing solutions. There are LED status indicators and bi-directional IR and RS-232 control. SnapAV’s Binary 560 Series 4K HDR HDBaseT Long Range Extender carries up to 18Gbps of virtually lossless (4K@60 4:4:4) video along with bidirectional IR and RS-232 for long distances. It also supports 2-channel PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-X. A front panel DIP switch provides control for different modes of operation.
The Tekvox TEK TPHD402P HDBaseT extender set conveys HDMI video with RS-232 and IR up to 200ft. Packed into wall or table mountable enclosures, the sender and receiver support 3D and 4Kx2K resolutions and the power can be connected to either unit to run both. Control on bi-directional RS232/ IR is included as well as a CEC pass-through.
Among the wide variety of signal extension products from Thinklogical is the TLX video extension system. Through its HDMI 1.4 and DisplayPort 1.2 connectors, it provides support for up to 4K@60Hz video and full duplex stereo audio, RS232 and 10/100/1000 Ethernet. The TLX system can transmit embedded audio and de-embed it at the receiver. There is a local monitor output and an Ethernet port for configuration and updates. The extenders can be used with the TLX non-blocking matrix switchers with capacities of 12 to 640 ports.
The Magenta HDMI 2.0 Active Optical Cable (MG-AOC-66x) from tvOne supports up to 4K60 4:4:4 with no compression or latency up to 328ft. without the need for external power and is available in UL rated Plenum (CMP). It allows HDCP 2.0 support of bi-directional EDID and HDCP communication using its 4 channel 850nm VCSEL array source. The cable is a hybrid type with OM3 fiber and copper wire.
Wyrestorm designed the EXF300-H2 to be compatible with 2160p 4:4:4/60 or high frame rate HDR content with HDCP 2.2 encryption and to send it up to 984ft. on a 10G OM3 multimode cable. It also carries bi-directional IR or RS-232 control signals safely through environments with high EM or RF interference. The transmitter and receiver each operate on 12VDC.
The ZeeVee ZyPer4K HDMI Module, developed in collaboration with NETGEAR and the SDVoE Alliance, is not itself an extender. But it provides a unique way to manage and distribute HDMI signals and is significant for its AVIT pedigree. The development partners envision it as a bridge between HDbaseT and AVoIP. The module plugs into the NETGEAR switch chassis, accommodating up to four uncompressed 4K HDMI sources; multiple modules may be used in the same switch. The ZyPer4K HDMI is built using the same technology as ZeeVee’s ZyPer 4K family of stand-alone encoders and decoders.
The Zigen ZIG-POEPRO-100A long-distance 4K/60Hz 4:4:4 HDMI extender conveys HDMI over a single UTP/STP with bidirectional RS-232 and IR. The transmitter will safely detect, classify, and provide 48V up to 25W power to the receiver connected to the HDBaseT port. The link is continuously monitored for any fault or overloading conditions and the current is limited to avoid hazardous conditions.
