4K With KVM Convenience

4K resolution, as part of Ultra HD, is the hot topic in broadcast and post at the moment.

As well as the content, all that screen resolution is great for rich user interfaces and dense control screens.

At the same time, there is a push to declutter control rooms and post production suites. A single workstation – keyboard, video (for the monitor) and mouse (hence KVM) – accesses one or a number of computers tucked away in a machine room - it gives ultimate flexibility, switching between devices and processes instantly. It also keeps the noisy machines in well-cooled machine rooms away from operators.

The problem has been the difficulty of handling 4K over KVM. Providing networked connectivity which supports the full resolution and colour fidelity of Ultra HD with minimal latency is a challenge.

At Argosy we spoke to the market to find a solution. It came from Austrian manufacturer and specialist kvm-tec, who developed the necessary technologies in house to meet the challenge head on.

The core product is the UVX Ultraline Extender. This is the device which provides the network connectivity and supports the transport of ultra-high resolution video, at up to 4096 x 2160 pixels and 60 Hz frame rate, so true 4K. Colour fidelity is maintained with 4:4:4 coding at eight bits per colour.

It carries multiple signals over either copper or fibre networks. Clearly fibre presents much more capacity, but it means that initial systems can be installed on a legacy office copper ethernet without the need to embark on a major network refurbishment. The other benefit of fibre, of course, is that it allows very long distance signal transmission: the kvm-tec Ultraline Extender is certified up to 120km.

All this makes it ideal for demanding post production tasks like editing and finishing. Jobs can be allocated to machines to save the need to transfer or network vast quantities of raw content, with the editor simply logging on to the appropriate computer from whichever room is convenient.

For control applications, kvm-tec has a companion product, the 4K Multiview Commander. As well as being a network node, this accepts the video output from a number of computers, creating a multiview display which provides clear, high resolution outputs on a 4K monitor, monitor wall or projector for the largest control rooms.

Kvm-tec’s solution is compatible with standard network components so can be dropped into existing installations with no delay. It can be used in a matrix switching system with up to 480 endpoints. Bundled with the hardware is a suite of management tools, which provide easy and intuitive management of all extenders across the network.

From a distributor's point of view, we have found the kvm-tec team to be extremely reliable and friendly, and the technical support to us and to our customers is outstanding. We are confident we can help our customers to innovative and intuitive, but cost-effective and reliable KVM installations.

Author: Chris Smeeton, managing director, Argosy

This article is also available in the July edition of Broadcast Film & Video. Available here.

www.argosycable.com