Axon equipment

By Georgy Sinelschikov

Review contents:

Fiber Optic technologies in broadcast sphere Profitt Company equipment for Fiber Optic links of video, audio and data transmission Axon equipment BKtel equipment for Fiber Optic networks Fiber Optics in TV and Radio broadcasting Kramer Electronics equipment for Fiber Optic lines of TV signal transmission Network Electronics equipment Snell & Wilcox Fiber Optic receivers and transmitters Equipment of Telecast Fiber Systems Company Optical node getting closer to the household Fiber Optic equipment from Vistek

High quality, reliability, wide functionality and adaptation to customer’s requirements — these are just few characteristics which the equipment produced by Netherlands Axon Digital Design Company complies to. Founded in 1973 the company today is the one of most accepted vendors of devices for processing and interfacing for leading TV companies. The fact of standardization of the equipment had led to appearance of interface modules manufactured by Axon Company in the lists of preferences of Scandinavian, Benelux, German TV companies and in the recent time — in Great Britain where BBC has chosen Synapse as a main interfacing system at time of building new broadcast and post-production facilities. Axon equipment is also installed in Russia. In particular, the reliability and high parameters of fiber optic equipment deserve positive opinion of leading Russian broadcasters. Installed about 10 years ago, FR series equipment reliably operates performing signals processing and signals exchange between remote users.

New modular interfacing Synapse system call so in a name of important node of human nerve synapse system which is responsible for transfer of information between neurons represents combination of original design, wide functionality of modules and high durability. Users obtain an advantage using Synapse system not only due to maximum density of function for the unit of volume and also highest signal processing quality but also because of system’s flexibility at the moment of developing and future extending the functions set.

The frame for Synapse modules installation

The system initially designed for transmitting and receiving signals over video cables via BNC 75 Ohm connectors can be in few minutes reconfigured for operation with Fiber Optic cables. It is necessary to note that in this case there is no need to install additional modules to the frame occupying so an expensive space and decreasing functional possibilities for the unit of volume. The move is being performed just by replacing of rear panel of exact converter containing connectors. Replacement can be done with no switch off the SRF18 module containing 18 Synapse modules. In this case the other 17 modules proceed executing their functions.

At present moment the system includes 14 rear panels with Fiber Optic converters installed. The panel depending on modification can be equipped either the transmitter or receiver or can handle several receivers and transmitters.

So the wide used BPL01 connectors’ panel designed for operation with video cables and containing nine BNC 75 Ohm connectors can be equipped with one and more transmitters of optical signal with connectors, for example, FC/PC instead of appropriate number of BNCs. As a sample the panel BFT71 can be considered which has three transmitters of optical signal and supplied with FC/PC connectors as well as six BNC connectors for video cable connection. This panel pretty often is used as a cable interface containing both electrical and optical connection for SDR07 card which is built-in distribution amplifier of SDI signal. Flexibility of Synapse system architecture gives a possibility to create connectors’ module in which all outputs from a card can be optical ones or it can have at the same time receivers and transmitters (optical inputs and outputs) on a single connectors’ card.

Synapse series module

Optical inputs and outputs can operate with single mode and multi mode Fiber Optic cables supplied with ST, FC/PC type connectors for SDI 270 Mbit/s and with SC connectors for HD-SDI 1.485 Mbit/s signals.

BFT01 and BFT03 transmitters’ panels have laser’s emission level of -18 dBm with wavelength of 1310 nm and provide signal transmission over Fiber Optic cable to the distance of up to 2 km.

At their turn the BFT11/13 and BFT21/23 panels have lasers’ emission levels equal to -7 dBm (0.2 mW) and 0 dBm (1 mW) relatively and provide signal transmission to the distance of up to 90 km.

The sensitivity of signal conversion receivers for single channel BFR01/03 modules is — 28 dBm and optical input saturation — -7 dBm which provides dynamic range of 21 dBm.

Single channel BFR21/23 SDi receivers have 33 dBm dynamic range at sensitivity about -33 dBm.

HD signals receivers (on the BRH21/22 connectors’ cards) have sensitivity -22 dBm and laser’s emission level for BTH21/22 transmitters’ panels is 0 dBm and it provides the possibility of transmitting High Definition signals over Fiber Optic cable to the distance up to 60 km.

Internal Synapse’s parameters monitoring system allows constantly track the operability not only namely modules for processing of audio and video signals but also optical converters installed on connectors’ cards. Transmitter’s laser output power is also constantly monitored and kept on constant level. Any fails on modules are being processed by the system and results are outputted to the event journal. User is able to set the priority of messages output having so just required information about each module status at current moment.

For today the interfacing Synapse system has in its range over 100 multifunctional modules and this number constantly grows. In conjunction with wide variety of connectors’ modules including ones with optical connectors the Synapse system gives user a possibility to build large multifunctional interfacing systems with configurable conditions of creating and distribution of TV programs. The system’s philosophy with open access provides unlimited possibilities of shared working with other studio systems built on the same principle of openness.

Since been founded the Axon Digital Design Company works in tough co-operation with existing and potential customers developing new devices. Some successful sold modules for signal conversion and processing were developed in co-operation with such customers as Alfacam (Belgium), BBC (Great Britain), NOB (Netherlands), SVT (Sweden).

Material provided by Axon Digital Design Company