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Snell & Wilcox Adds Powerful HDTV Flexibility to IQ Modular Broadcast Infrastructure at NAB2005

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- Twenty-five New SD/HD "Smart" Modules Allow Broadcasters to Upgrade to DTV at a Controlled and Cost-Effective Pace

- New Multi-Function, Future-Proof Modules Allow Broadcasters to Do More With Less in Facility and OB Applications

Moving to help the industry face the twin challenges of beginning digital transmission while upgrading to local HDTV, Snell & Wilcox is introducing a series of new infrastructure products at NAB2005 that will allow broadcasters to manage continuous technological change in an intelligent, measured, and cost-effective way.

The Snell & Wilcox IQ Modular line, the broadcast industry's leading modular infrastructure system, is expanding with 25 new components that deliver multi-use, future-proof functionality in SD, HD, and hybrid television facilities. Being introduced at NAB2005 are new components - including converters, synchronizers, distribution amplifiers, routers, and audio modules - all capable of operating at SD and HD resolutions and all offering the capability of being used in multiple ways and in multiple configurations.

Each new Snell & Wilcox IQ Modular product is designed to let broadcasters take control of their transition to digital broadcasting, while being IT-aware for the next generation of workflow technology. These "smart" infrastructure building blocks, which can quickly and easily adapt to change, allow engineers to build seamless bridges between different generations of broadcast equipment. Such powerful flexibility empowers engineers to adapt their plants quickly to take advantage of new business opportunities and ever-changing services.

While IQ Modular has always offered remarkable packing density of electronic circuitry, in 2005 there's a new emphasis on giving each module added functionality. That means modules are designed with the capability to carry out multiple tasks. This results in a total infrastructure system that consumes less space, is lighter in total weight, generates minimum heat, and has reduced operating costs due to lower power consumption.

Another significant feature of the new IQ Modular products is improved signal handling and fidelity, resulting in very low return loss and the ability to equalize longer cable lengths securely - a major benefit to systems integrators and broadcasters alike. New IQ modules have built-in "signal firewalls" that ensure signals are not lost to mission-critical components. The signal firewall capability ensures that the output - whether video or audio - is continuous even when the input fails.

S&W's goal of doing more with less equipment falls nicely into the design criteria of building mobile broadcast trucks, making the combination of the company's new Kahuna multiformat SD/HD switcher and IQ Modular a compelling infrastructure choice for a new generation of OB vehicles.

"Unlike in a traditional broadcast plant, the infrastructure in an OB truck is never quite installed. The configuration of mobile units changes depending on the current job," noted Richard Schiller, product manager of infrastructure products for Snell & Wilcox. "One job might require only downconversion. Another might call for up- or crossconversion. This is when the reconfiguration capability of IQ Modular is used on a day-to-day basis."

That need for constant reconfiguration of the truck's functionality highlights a unique advantage of IQ Modular products - all can be reconfigured without the need for a bulky PC in the mobile unit. S&W's Active Front Panel (IQHSBOX), which fits in a 1 RU space, can manage full configuration, diagnostic, and operational control of all modules via a single coaxial cable using the company's RollCall network control and monitoring system.

The design of the IQ Modular system provides major benefits for broadcasters at all stages of the digital transition. A small broadcast station may upgrade to a digital switcher while still using analog studio cameras. Larger facilities with an installed SDI plant can use IQ Modular products to bridge HD and file-based technologies that are quickly gaining momentum.

Whatever the facility size, IQ Modular systems allow for an easy transition to HD. For example, last year Turner Entertainment Group, the world's largest broadcast system with integrated monitoring and infrastructure capabilities, upgraded its existing IQ Modular system to handle HD signals. The HD signal path was added on top of Turner's existing SD layer. The configuration allowed both the HD and SD equipment, including gear from other suppliers, to be controlled and monitored via RollCall.

The following new Snell & Wilcox IQ Modular products are among those that will be demonstrated at NAB2005:

IQDEC00 - Packs a 12-bit 3D Golden Gate premium decoder, synchronizer, and audio embedder with noise reduction all on a single compact card. This versatile module, available in six variations with different audio and video feature sets, can be used as a complete analog ingest solution. The IQDEC series - specifically designed to aid the transition from SD to HD broadcasting - offers Golden Gate decoding for fewer picture artifacts and the absolute highest image quality from legacy analog composite video material.

IQBRK00/01 - AES Audio Break Out Module - Designed to take up to two embedded audio streams and break them out to AES and then re-ingest the resulting signal. Thus, any AES-capable device can be inserted in an embedded audio path. This multi-use module offers a complete AV solution for incoming lines with firewall, proc amp, audio shuffling, and delay.

IQUDC00 - A flexible up-, down-, and crossconverter suitable for converting SD-SDI signals to HD-SDI or vice-versa, and for transcoding HD-SDI signals of the same frame rate. Features include a sub-pixel controllable aspect ratio converter with pan, tilt, and zoom adjustments and closed caption support for analog and encapsulated formats. Embedded non-PCM audio can be seamlessly handled, and up to eight channels of embedded audio can be processed alongside the video.

IQMUX40 - HD-SDI Remultiplexer - A single-solution module for all HD-SDI 1.5-Gbit/s multiplexing or demultiplexing operations. It can embed up to 16 audio channels as eight AES/EBU streams. It can also de-embed up to 16 audio channels as eight AES/EBU streams from the video stream. It is possible to embed and de-embed at the same time providing, for example, wraparound functionality to place an audio-only device into the embedded streams. This feature can also be used to provide AES monitoring outputs of the audio inputs.

IQSDA00 - Intelligent Reclocking High-Performance HD-SDI/SD-SDI Distribution Amplifier - This is the only HD-SDI distribution amplifier capable of equalizing up to 140 meters of industry-standard cable. It provides up to seven reclocked outputs for HD-SDI 1.5-Gbit/s or 270-Mbits/s SD-SDI/DVB-ASI signals or seven non-reclocking distributions of wideband signals.

IQSYN20 - HD-SDI Frame Synchronizer - Provides synchronization for HD-SDI 1.5-Gbits/s or SD-SDI 270-Mbits/s with firewall capability. This module is an ideal input processor for HD-SDI and SD-SDI video signals.

IQSRT00 - HD/SD-SDI 5 x 2 Router - Five-input router/switcher for HD-SDI 1.5-Gbit/s or SD-SDI 270-Mbits/s and wideband signals. By providing two outputs, this module allows main and spare operation as well as preview functions or simply two circuits in an incredibly compact package. This router packs in a density of over five devices per 1 RU.

IQSRT10 - HD/SD-SDI 8 x 2 Router - As above, but also offers direct GPI control for ultimate simplicity, true tallies, and 16 cross points with a staggering density of eight units in just 3 RU.

IQMDA00 - This is a distribution amplifier and monitoring downconverter for HD-SDI 1.5-Gbit/s signals. Output options include four-times HD-SDI and three-times SD-SDI. The model can also be used to distribute SD-SDI signals to SMPTE 259M.

IQSYN00 - SD-SDI Frame Synchronizer with Embedded Audio Processing - Provides synchronization for SD-SDI 270-Mbits/s. Features a video firewall enabling re-synchronization on a line-by-line basis and a guaranteed embedded audio output. An ideal input processor for SD-SDI video signals, it also includes video and audio proc amp functions.

IQMUX00 - An SDI synchronizer and two-times AES/EBU stream embedder designed as a general digital ingest module where any digital audio source signal can be handled, even combinations of embedded and external digital audio. Comprehensive video and audio proc amp capability add to the power of this unit as a complete solution in one module.

IQDMX00 - This SDI synchronizer and four-channel AES/EBU de-embedder/de-multiplexer can extract PCM, AC-3, and Dolby E digital audio data. It has flexible audio delay features including variable audio delay offset, up to two frames of video delay in delay mode, and two SDI inputs and outputs. Its dual-input capability is particularly powerful in allowing construction of systems with main and redundant input feeds.

Snell & Wilcox, the leader in its field, delivers technologies and products that enable television and satellite broadcasters, post-production facilities, filmmakers, and communications professionals to move content seamlessly between analog, digital, high-definition and file-based systems and to bridge the world's multiplicity of line/field and color standards. The company provides switchers and keyers, standards conversion systems, networked infrastructure components, and products for noise reduction, image enhancement, and restoration. In business since 1973, Snell & Wilcox maintains its U.S. headquarters in Burbank, Calif., and European headquarters in Hampshire, UK. Additional offices are located in New York, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Lebanon, Malaysia, and Russia. Visit www.snellwilcox.com for more information.

Americas Press Contact: Laura Schoeggl, Wall Street Communications, Phone: +1 253 404 0020. Email: laura@wallstreetcom.tv.

EMEA Press Contact: Karen David, Wall Street Communications Europe, Phone: +44 (0) 1865 310422. Email: karen@wallstreetcom.tv.

Asia Pacific Press Contact: Genevieve Hilton, Ketchum Newscan Public Relations Limited, Phone: 852-3141-8112, Fax: 852-2510-8199 or E-mail: Genevieve.Hilton@knprhk.com

Snell & Wilcox, Engineering with Vision, Alchemist, Ph.C, Kudos, Magic Dave, IQ Modular, RollCall, RollTrack, Mosalina, and Kahuna are all trademarks of the Snell & Wilcox Group.