Telecast Fiber Systems announced that its widely used Cobra triax-to-fiber camera interface now features digital transmission of the bidirectional RF signals. Compatible with most triaxial cameras from Sony, Grass Valley, and Ikegami, the new Cobra-D provides even longer distances and greater reliability than ever before.
"The transition of the Cobra to a digital transport system brings new life to existing triax-based camera systems," said Eugene Baker, Telecast vice president and CTO. "It means that we can now offer better signal-to-noise performance, higher optical margins, and more stable, reliable connections. As a result, today's standard and high definition triaxial cameras will be operating at their best, whether using fiber or copper, and users may continue to use their existing base stations, regardless of the cabling medium in any given venue."
The Cobra-D supports all two-way communications between camera and base station, including component video, audio, intercom, and data, over a single optical fiber. As triax-to-fiber converter sets, the units immediately digitize the wideband RF camera signals, locking in high signal quality at the origin. The fiber pathway eliminates transmission problems due to EMI, RFI, or grounding. The digital fiber signal is also significantly less susceptible to optical back reflections and loss than analog signals. In addition, the Cobra-D offers approximately twice the range of earlier Cobra systems, or approximately 30 kilometers.
The original Cobra, introduced in 1994, has been used by broadcasters worldwide to overcome the limitations of traditional triaxial copper cabling. Users of original Cobra systems will be able to upgrade to the new Cobra-D under a program to be offered by the company.
