Thomson Adopts Tektronix Waveform Monitor for 3 Gb/s SDI Interoperability and
Compliance Testing
Tektronix WFM7120 Helps Thomson to Verify Compliance for SMPTE 3 Gb/s Single
Link Serial-Digital-Interface for High Quality Video Distribution and
Broadcasting
BEAVERTON, Ore., April 12, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Tektronix, Inc., a leading
worldwide provider of test, measurement and monitoring instrumentation,
announced that Thomson, one of the leaders in digital video technologies, has
adopted the Tektronix WFM7120 waveform monitors to achieve 3 Gb/s Single Link
Serial-Digital-Interface (SDI) compliance (SMPTE 424M and 425M standards) for
its new Thomson Grass Valley 8943RDA 3 Gb/s HD/SD re-clocking distribution
amplifier. Through use of the Tektronix WFM7120 Waveform Monitor with 3 Gb/s
SDI support, broadcasters can now be assured that all Thomson Grass Valley
infrastructure products will meet the SMPTE 424M and 425M standards.
With the 1080p standard gaining strong traction, many of Thomson's
customers have found that existing 3 Gb/s products on the market are not fully
compatible as a result of not having proper test equipment available during
the design process. With the new Tektronix WFM7120 Waveform Monitor that
provides 3 Gb/s SDI support, Thomson is able to assure its broadcast customers
that its infrastructure products will meet the SMPTE 424M and 425M standards.
Providing the ability to cleanly process and strengthen 1080P 50/59.94/60
(3 Gb/s) HD video signals in order to distribute them further, the new Thomson
Grass Valley 8943RDA distribution amplifier (to be shown at NAB 2008 in booth
#$SL106) features eight reclocked outputs for its input and includes automatic
format detection. It's designed to help broadcasters make a smooth transition
from standard-definition to high-definition and to increase their HD
capability to include the highest quality HD signals now available.
"We have been working with 3 Gb/s SDI test technologies for the past two
and a half years," said Don Thomas, Senior Product Manager, Facility
Infrastructure for Thomson. "Early component integration proved unreliable.
First iteration test and measurement equipment didn't allow us to adequately
profile our products. The Tektronix WFM7120 Waveform Monitor solution is
reliable, compliant to SMPTE standards, and enables us to ensure
interoperability among our 3 Gb/s SDI products."
3 Gb/s SDI provides a means of transporting high-bandwidth 1080P (also
known as Full HD) signals conforming to SMPTE 424M and 425M standards. With
the 1080p standard now emerging in earnest, many customers have found poor
interoperability among 3 Gb products on the market. Both WFM7020 and WFM7120
waveform monitors are able to solve that problem because they provide
standards compliance verification support for 1080P 50/59.94/60 Level A and
Level B formats. The WFM7120 also provides a solution for evaluating the
physical layer performance on a single-link 3Gb/s interface with the new
jitter measurement option.
About Tektronix
Tektronix is a leading supplier of test, measurement, and monitoring
products, solutions and services for the communications, computer, and
semiconductor industries -- as well as military/aerospace, consumer
electronics, education and a broad range of other industries worldwide. With
60 years of experience, Tektronix enables its customers to design, build,
deploy, and manage next-generation global communications networks, computing
and advanced technologies. Headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon, Tektronix has
operations in 19 countries worldwide. Tektronix' Web address is
http://www.tektronix.com.
Tektronix is a registered trademark of Tektronix, Inc. All other trade
names referenced are the service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies.
SOURCE Tektronix, Inc.
Gary Grossman, Worldwide Sr. PR Manager of Tektronix, Inc., +1-503-627-1097,
gary.grossman@tektronix.com
