HOW TO GET A CLEAN SWITCH (April 2011)

New from Crystal Vision and already generating a lot of interest is Safe Switch 3G, which provides clean and intelligent 2 x 2 switching between two 3Gb/s, HD or SD sources and was developed following a request from a broadcaster who could not find a clean switch with the features and high performance they required.

The clean switching comes from the framestore synchroniser on each input and the ability to connect it to an external HD tri-level syncs or SD Black and Burst analogue reference, which means that Safe Switch 3G can correct for any timing difference between the two inputs resulting in no disruption to the output picture when a switch takes place. The synchronisers act as a self-adjusting delay, allowing a clean transition between the two channels even if their relative timing has slipped.

Safe Switch 3G can either be switched manually or automatically. Ideal for planned maintenance switches to manually re-route a good signal around broken equipment, it can also be used as an intelligent emergency transmission switch by engineers who do not want to restrict themselves to timed inputs, with the option of selecting from 16 different fault conditions to automatically trigger the switch.

Safe Switch 3G extracts information about various parts of the video signal to decide which of the two inputs is better and can be set to automatically switch away from the user-selected input if it does not meet the set requirements.

The 16 parameters which can be selected to perform a switch are input missing, input video standard incorrect, EDH missing, EDH full field error, EDH active picture error, line CRC error, audio group 1 missing, audio group 2 missing, audio group 3 missing, audio group 4 missing, active video black, active video frozen and audio silence in a selected group.

Safe Switch 3G will switch away from an error on the user-selected input only if the other input is free of that fault. If both inputs have different alarms, it will use the most significant alarm to decide which feed to select.

In addition to the automatic switching, two fault indications can also be set and assigned to GPIs if desired, allowing very flexible monitoring. The fault indications each have their own list of chosen parameters which can be different from the auto switch selection. Each fault indication can be assigned to a specific input, to either input, or to only become active if both inputs show a selected fault.

Two versions are available. Safe Switch 3G is a single 100mm x 266mm module which provides two feeds of output A, one feed of output B and an analogue reference connection. Safe Switch-L 3G is the ‘double decker’ version which additionally provides a second feed of output B, input and reference loop-throughs, and extra GPI connections.

Safe Switch 3G is used with the RM54 frame rear module, while Safe Switch-L 3G is used with the RM63. Both rear modules include relay bypass protection on power failure or board removal, giving the system an extra layer of security and preventing signal loss.

The Statesman PC control software can be used to either ignore or create an alarm on any of the features that Safe Switch 3G can measure. Additionally, Safe Switch 3G has exceptional GPI flexibility – ideal for GPI-focused broadcasters. The six GPIs on the Safe Switch 3G and 12 GPIs on the Safe Switch-L 3G are all bi-directional, allowing them to be configured as either GPI inputs or GPI outputs and so giving you real flexibility when setting up buttons and lights for GPI control and monitoring of alarm conditions.

Safe Switch-L 3G will be shipping in April, with Safe Switch 3G shipping shortly after that.