Snell Announces Vega™ — The New Flexible Port, Fiber, and Coax Router
posted:
"Video routing switches are used in virtually all broadcast media installations, and very few of these installations require exactly the same number of router inputs and outputs," said Kim Francis, product manager at Snell. "Traditionally, broadcast and media companies have obtained the additional inputs or outputs they require by purchasing a larger router. This model is wasteful in terms of unused ports, added cost, and the greater amount of space required. Vega eliminates this waste by allowing users to configure any unused inputs as additional outputs, or vice versa, as the application demands, and its plug-in fiber modules keep the cost and complexity of fiber routing to a minimum. Quite simply, Vega changes the rules of the game."
Vega has 96 signal ports on its rear panel. The fully asymmetric I/O port designation of the platform enables the user to configure the router with just one input and 95 outputs, 95 inputs and one output, or any combination in between. The use of small fiber plug-in modules and/or miniature coaxial connector types also means that this innovative design yields 50 percent more signal ports than a conventional router of the same rack height.
advertisment
Each pair of ports consists of a receptacle cage that accepts a very small plug-in module supporting either fiber (LC-type small form-factor pluggable, or SFP) or copper coaxial (HD BNC and/or DIN 1.0/2.3) connectivity. Because Vega's ports can be configured simply and quickly, broadcasters and media companies can choose the appropriate connection medium on the fly. Convenient support for fiber connectivity without the need for external converters makes it easy and affordable to maintain high data rates over long-distance links. A bidirectional, 12-port, coax-only rear module type is also available, offering users an entry-level solution when fiber connectivity is not yet required.
The router's extensive redundancy options include dual redundant crosspoints, frame controllers, power supplies, and fans. A comprehensive array of "soft" and "hard" control options is also available.