PORTLAND, ORE.–Apantac has launched its next generation line of HDMI 2.0 splitters, distribution amplifiers and matrices.

In addition to the new HDMI 2.0 solutions, the company also announced that is has filed a patent for its Optimized Video Transmission Technology. The patent is designed to offer intelligent and dynamic transmission optimization between the source and its various possible outputs.

“The current technology for video distribution and matrix switching has been around for a very long time, yet only supports the distribution of the exact same source multiple times, i.e. sending the same source to multiple displays,” comments Thomas Tang, President of Apantac.

“Our team here at Apantac has designed and produced an invention that includes dynamic detection of each output that is connected to a display. What this means is a direct communication between each individual output of a splitter/matrix and its display. The communications between the individual outputs and the displays determines the individual adjustments necessary prior to the signal transmission, such as color space correction, chroma resampling and scaling. And we’ve done this all without exorbitant costs, meaning our partners and customers can still expect cost-effective pricing on our solutions.”

Apantac’s signal processing and distribution solution that support the latest HDMI 2.0 standards address multiple applications in the Broadcast and ProAV market space where 4K / UHD signals and capabilities are a requirement. These HDMI 2.0 solutions enable transmission of High Dynamic Range content and carry true 4K/UHD resolution at 60 frames per second at 4:4:4.

The Apantac HDMI 2.0 distribution amplifiers, splitters and matrices are compatible with all video resolutions, audio formats, and color space formats supported in the HDMI 2.0a specification. They include EDID management features as well as front panel LED indicators for power and signal status.

SOUTHWICK, MASS.—Hitachi Kokusai Electric Comark LLC has a long standing history in the broadcast TV market. Comark started more than 40 years ago manufacturing RF components for UHF transmitters and branched out to design and deliver full TV transmission systems. Hitachi-Comark has been involved in many innovations that have revolutionized the market. It is the only transmitter manufacturer to win multiple technical Emmy awards including for the Klystrode tube transmitter and for Digital Modular Adaptive Precorrection (DAP).

Over the last 18-24 months Hitachi-Comark has been preparing for the upcoming FCC spectrum auction and UHF channel re-pack with a full portfolio of equipment and services. For DTV transmitters, Hitachi-Comark and its sister organization Hitachi Kokusai Linear have introduced two highly efficient Doherty solid state UHF transmitter designs; PARALLAX and E-Compact. These solid state technologies perfectly complement the company’s market leading DCX Paragon MSDC-IOT transmitters.

So why is there an industry wide push towards Doherty? The answer is two-fold. First, Doherty amplifiers are more efficient than Class AB amplifiers. Doherty achieves higher efficiency by using LDMOS devices biased in both Class AB (carrier amp) and Class C (peaking amp). The Class AB device amplifies the average power level and the Class C device amplifies just the peaks of the digital waveform. Driving the Class AB device higher towards saturation improves efficiency; having the Class C complements the power amplifier with ample peak power capability to avoid signal compression and other non-linear distortions.

PA module from Hitachi Kokusai Electric Comark’s Parallax transmitter

The second reason Doherty is gaining popularity is that a properly designed Doherty amplifier can achieve equal power ratings in both ATSC 1.0 (8-VSB) and ATSC 3.0 (ODFM). Amplifiers are peak power limited. ATSC 1.0 has a peak to average power ratio between 6-7dB. So a 25kW transmitter (measured in average power) has to accommodate peaks that are in excess of 100kW! Amplifier requirements for ATSC 3.0 are even more onerous. OFDM has a typical peak to average ratio of 10dB. So that same 25kW transmitter (also measured in average power) has to accommodate peaks of 250kW! A typical amplifier needs to be de-rated by 15-20 percent when switching from ATSC 1.0 to ATSC 3.0; 25kW will be de-rated to ~20kW. Properly designed Doherty amplifiers, like those used in the PARALLAX, contain ample Class C peaking amplifier capacity. This allows equal average power rating in both ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0, preserving investment now for use tomorrow.

ATSC 3.0 and FCC re-packing will cross paths during the next few years and Hitachi-Comark has been working hard to deliver products and technologies that are on point and ready for deployments. After involvement with live ATSC 3.0 demos at the CES and NAB shows last year, Hitachi-Comark released the EXACT-ATSC exciter. EXACT features “DualCast” technology that is easily upgraded via firmware from ATSC 1.0 to 3.0; protecting investment today for use tomorrow. The EXACT-ATSC exciter was even used in the Sinclair/ONE Media ATSC 3.0/SFN trial in the Baltimore-Washington DC trial that began in March of this year. And Hitachi-Comark is hard at work on other key ATSC 3.0 building blocks that will be simple to use yet take advantage of the powerful capabilities of ATSC 3.0.

Visit www.comarktv.com to learn more about Hitachi-Comark and its RF technology and associated products.

Joe Turbolski is Director of Sales Operations at Comark Communications.

IRVINE, CALIF.—Pasternack, a provider of RF, microwave and millimeter wave products, have announced the release of new RF amplifiers all priced below $500. These coaxial-packaged amplifiers come as both low noise and gain block amplifiers able to cover frequency bands from 9 kHz to 3 GHz.

This RF amplifier series has P1dB levels up to 23-plus, low VSWR and are stable. Many of the designs use GaAs PHEMT semiconductors for linear performance and efficiency. The units feature noise figure levels as low as 0.5dB and high IP3 linearity up to 37-plus dBm. Single DC Positive Voltage ranges from 12-15-plus Vdc, while bias current ranges from 40-190mA. It also comes with 50 ohm hybrid circuits, which require no external matching components.

The entire amplifier portfolio from Pasternack is now in-stock and available for shipping.