Protection/Emergency Changeover Switchers

The value, range, flexibility, and upgradability of the protection/emergency changeover switchers from ISIS is, without doubt, the best in the industry! That is certainly a big claim, so let us explain:

• Value - The MF-800 offers manual/remote control changeover modules of various types from $200.00 each, plus frame with power supply. The ARTS/DRTS series, which is manual or fully automatic, is designed to deal with a comprehensive range of signal formats, with prices ranging from $1800.00 to $2750.00 per unit. These prices include the 1RU frame and one power supply.

• Range & flexibility - The MF-800 frame (including main PSU) is 2RU. It has 9 module cells, one of which is allocated to the main power supply, and a second cell for the redundant power supplies. There are, therefore, 7 or 8 cells available for the switching modules. There are three basic types of switching modules: the DV-800, a 2x1 video module which uses a 75 ohm coaxial relay, and is capable of handling all formats of analog or digital video or data. The DAS-21 is a 2x1 analog stereo audio module. The TW-422 is a multi-pole relay unit that can be used for either RS-422/RS-485 or AES/EBU digital audio. Any of these modules can be mixed in any combination in the frame. Normally the control panel mounts at the front of the 2RU frame; however, there are remote control options available for this switcher or it can be controlled from a customer supplied controller.
  
  

The ARTS/DRTS is quite unique in that the range of products and options have evolved over a period of time. All of the switchers use a common 1RU frame, a common rear panel, and a common power supply. Each switcher in the range provides a multi level 2x1 switch on a main processor board. In the analog version, there are two inputs, one for primary and a second for standby video. There are also four channels of primary analog audio, four channels of standby audio, and five primary and five standby GPI inputs. The unit is designed to detect the loss of vertical sync. Each unit offers monitoring outputs of the input, as well as front panel status monitoring. The unit can operate either in automatic or manual mode, and can also be operated from an external control system. Included with the base system is one PSU. Space is provided for an optional redundant PSU. The PSUs are interchangeable between frame cells and also between frames with different versions of processor boards installed.

The DRTS digital processor board operates in a very similar manner to the ARTS analog board. This unit detects end-of-active-video. It provides analog monitoring outputs, so that the customer is able to use more cost-effective analog monitoring equipment.

There are several other versions of the DRTS board available which have been specifically designed to handle various signal formats. Today we can support the following signal formats: SDI with AES/EBU audio, SDI with embedded audio, ASI compressed video or ATSC compressed HDTV. We would be happy to discuss other versions to meet your needs.

• Upgrading - The ARTS/DRTS was designed with the idea that some customers would need to have an upgrade path from the signal format presently being used to any of the other signal formats mention above. The two major hurdles that we had to overcome, in order to provide this flexibility, was the design of a multi-purpose, multi-input voltage power supply and input/output connectivity. Both of these problems were solved and customers who had originally purchased the analog version are now upgrading to the SDI or ASI version processor boards. This is being done in seconds and without switching off the equipment. All that is necessary to upgrade - or indeed back track - is to remove the existing processor board and plug in the new version!
  
  
• Applications - There are many uses for the ISIS protection/emergency changeover switchers.

In one example, the MF-800 is in service at CBS in New York. It is installed at the output of their major studios and provides an emergency switch to a backup source in case of a studio output failure. It is also in use in many installations to provide an economic means of backing up master control - again in case of a failure of the primary output signals.

The ARTS/DRTS units are being used extensively by major broadcasters around the world for back up of satellite up and down links, where dual transponder receivers and transmitters are essential to maintaining the on air signals. They are also used in dual path protection of STL microwave and fiber optic links. The units are also used to back up a broadcaster's mirrored station or network output servers. We've seen situations where the switchers are being used in cable head-ends to provide emergency change over switching on critical paths or where the customer needs the ability to insert local program material.

The list of applications goes on, and if you have a different or unusual requirement, call or e-mail us. We might just have a solution for you!