Is your clients’ infrastructure ready for 4K?

With 4K content getting ready to hit the mainstream market, do your cables have what it takes to ensure you get the best possible quality and performance out of your 4K content?

If you work in broadcasting and production, you know that Serial Digital Interface or SDI rules. It’s the Pro AV standard for audio video connections. SDI has evolved over the years with SMPTE governing the standards for each transition, and now with the emergence of 4K we see a new form of SDI on the horizon – 12G SDI.

Far superior than quad-link infrastructure which involves connecting four individual 3Gbps cables for 4K connections, a 12G SDI cable replaces the 4-wire infrastructure with one cable that helps to decrease weight, minimize cable management complexities and limit points of potential failure.  A trend is now emerging in the market with many broadcasting system designers adopting 12G SDI technology.

The momentum of switching to 4K technologies is also evident in the consumer market with leading streaming companies like Netflix, YouTube and Amazon Instant Video already offering 4K content.

With new technologies surging into the market at an incredible pace, one has to be cautious on how current infrastructure such as cabling, AV switchers, receivers and displays can adapt to 4K. There are several infrastructure-related roadblocks that can be encountered. For example, we often see that cabling or devices that can’t handle bandwidths over 10Gbps have to be replaced.

Broadcast and pro-video content providers are inevitably upgrading their cable and hardware infrastructure to support the higher bandwidth requirements for high resolution 4k content broadcasting.

Similarly with the surge in sales of 4k televisions and displays, leading manufacturers have rolled out high performance 4k offerings including 4K UHD, 12G-SDI, HDBaseT cables, connectors, adapters and more to meet the rising broadcasting demands of HDTV retail, security and monitoring applications, data centers, conference rooms, corporate training locations and more.

Serving the pros for 80+ years, at Pacific Radio we’ve got you covered with our top of the line 4K Connectivity Solutions from leading pioneers in the ProAV market such as Belden, Canare, Calrad, Media Solutions and Vanco.

Let’s take a look at some of our top picks to ensure your transition over to 4K runs smoothly:

1. Calrad 4K Ultra HD HDMI Cables

Available in any length you need from 1FT to 50FT, Calrad 4K cables feature 24K gold-plated connectors for the best signal transfer and corrosion resistance. Both ends of the PVC jacketed cable contain HDMI® Male (Type A) connectors with latching plugs/connectors for a better grip while plugged in.

If you’re looking to split the signal between two or more Ultra HD displays simultaneously, without loss of quality and resolution check out Calrad Electronics’ 4K Ultra HD Distribution Amplifiers.

2. Belden 4794R 12 GHz 4K UHD 75 Ohm Precision Video Cable

Replace your 4-link cable structure with one sleek cable! Belden’s 4794R 4K Video Cable maximizes 4K transmission distance over a single coax while minimizing space and weight compared to multi-link solutions such as dual-link and quad-link. With 12GHz bandwidth, silver-plated copper conductor, and Belden’s proprietary tri-shield design you get easier installation and superior performance!

3. Vanco HDMI 4K Switchers

Working with a 12G switcher can save physical space, and utilizes a much smaller footprint in your overall pro-video infrastructure. The Vanco 280561 HDMI® 4×2 4K2K Compact Matrix Selector Switch allows up to 4 HDMI sources to be distributed simultaneously to up to 2 displays and the Ultra HD capable Matrix Switcher provides a perfect solution for home and retail AV applications as well as commercial and hospitality Installations. The Vanco 280711 HDMI® 3×1 4K2K Switch allows 3 sources to be switched and distributed to a single display and will automatically switch to any HDMI signal that is connected or turned on or automatically switch to the next active HDMI source signal available.

4. Canare 75 OHM 12G SDI Cables and Connectors

Featuring a center conductor constructed of solid annealed copper  and highly-foamed PE insulation with advanced attenuation characteristics, the Canare L-5.5CUHD 75 OHM Video Coaxial Cable is designed for 12 Gbps signal transport and is rated for signal transfer up to 100 meters (330 feet), a jump over its predecessor the Canare L-3.3CUHD cable, which is rated for about 60 meters or 200 feet. Canare also has a selection of 12 Gbps-rated BNC connectors to support their range of 12G SDI cables.

5. Media Solutions HDBaseT Tester

The Media Solutions MS103TD MS-TestPro HDBaseT Tester comes with WiFi support and a 3.5″ Touch Display. This powerful HDBaseT tester allows for real-time field testing of HDBaseT based communications systems and cabling and comes with built in HDMI pattern generation, link monitoring, logging, and link diagnostics capabilities that allow for quick and accurate configuration analysis and troubleshooting of all your HDBaseT ports. Designed for the Media Solutions HDBaseT Tester, the MS202HC/MS203HC MS-TestPro Hardened Waterproof Case is IP67 certified, tough, durable and reliable. A perfect carrying case for the MS-TestPro HDBaseT Tester, it offers superior protection from the elements, water, dust and impacts!

Have questions about how to transition over to 4K? Visit our Burbank store, get in touch or shop our complete range of 4K products online!