Contemporary Research Previews HD-SDI Modulator

Last week at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, Contemporary Research previewed what the company calls the industry's first affordable HD-SDI modulator, the QMOD-SDI.

The new digital QAM modulator, which company officials said will retailing for $2,990, is designed to distribute HD and SD SDI media from live studio feeds, high-performance digital signage players, and broadcast-quality video sources. Applications might include in-house broadband RF systems at sports, retail, and entertainment facilities, corporate offices, colleges, and worship centers.

The QMOD-SDI accepts HD-SDI, SD-SDI, Component, S-Video and Composite video, plus digital and analog audio. It then integrates professional-quality HD encoding, QAM processing, channel up-conversion, and adjustable RF amplification to distribute the HDTV digital cable channel.

General-purpose interface inputs can trigger emergency alert system programming. Video inputs are fully switchable between SDI, Component, and Composite inputs. Front-panel buttons and LCD display make for easy setup, and the half-rack space enclosure and low 10W power draw save both space and energy, according to the company.

"Our QMOD-HD which features analog VGA, Component, and S-Video/Composite inputs, has been well received by dealers and users," said Contemporary Research president Scott Hetzler, in a statement. "When we asked our integrators what they preferred for digital video, the overwhelming response was for HD-SDI. There simply were no affordable HDTV modulators. Now there is one."