Cobalt Unveils Test Signal Generator Ahead Of NAB 2015

Cobalt Digital has unveiled the 9960-TG2-REF1 3G/HD/SD-SDI dual-channel test signal generator.

The solution is an openGear card that sends dual test signals into a video chain to ensure the validity of downstream baseband SDI systems. It is the only openGear card that can perform two separate tests on two separate paths.

It also generates a 'bouncing box' confidence indicator to track the movement of a signal throughout the facility and show whether a test was successful.

The 9960-TG2-REF1 card features a stress-test generator that can send illegal characters into the video path in order to determine whether the downstream systems will catch them. This helps find and fix problems along the signal path during testing and setup instead of discovering them after the systems go live.

"Our new test signal generator is another demonstration of Cobalt's high-density approach to product design. That is, we pack as much functionality as possible into our cards so that users can get maximum performance for their money in the densest-possible footprint," said Jesse Foster, Cobalt Digital's product manager. "With its two independent signal generators and the ability to simultaneously generate timecode and bi-level sync — something that wasn't possible on the openGear platform until now — the 9960-TG2-REF1 could potentially do the work of three other cards."

The 9960-TG2-REF1 card can generate video, audio, analog, timecode, data, and other types of test signals used by broadcasters. Unlike other openGear test generator cards, the 9960-TG2-REF1 lets users set up dual test packages, which can be run simultaneously on two different paths in order to test different parts of the chain at the same time or feed selectively to a single path. The 9960-TG2-REF1 also provides ANC data generators designed to check all standard ANC packages, including CEA-608/708 closed captioning, SMPTE 12M TC, SMPTE 2020 HANC audio, and SMPTE SCTE 104 test packets. A CVBS output offers bi-level reference output, line 21 (CEA-608) closed-captioning, and VITC waveform test sequences.

The 9960-TG2-REF1 features bouncing-box animation that serves as a dynamic raster confidence check. If there is a problem along the signal path, such as with a frame sync generating colour bars during a loss of active video, the operator may lose confidence in the actual signal transport. An animated moving box ensures active video is actually passing through the chain. Users can customise trouble slides with text or imported graphics.

"The media and entertainment industry is a fast-paced business that can't afford downtime, so ensuring the validity of the video infrastructure is a challenge many organisations face. Cobalt Digital is one of the most prolific suppliers of openGear solutions that not only solve such problems, but in ways that no other openGear solutions do," said Bob McAlpine, executive vp of sales and marketing at Cobalt Digital. "The 9960-TG2-REF1 is our latest unique contribution to the very successful openGear platform, with features that make the testing process more efficient, clearer, and less costly for any facility that processes video."

The 9960-TG2-REF1 test-signal generator card fits into any openGear system. The same test-signal generator functionality is also available as a 1-RU standalone system — the BBG-1060-TG2-REF1 from Cobalt Digital's Blue Box Group family of products. Both products will be available in the second quarter.

Cobalt Digital will demonstrate the capabilities of the test signal generator and other openGear-cards and enclosures at the 2015 NAB Show in booth N2722.

www.cobaltdigital.com

(IT/CD)