Gefen Offers Solutions for all Your Signal-Distribution Needs

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Installers the world over have long trusted Gefen for all their niche needs, from KVM switchers to wireless HDMI and more. Founded by Hagai Gefen, in 1998, the Chatsworth, California-based company received increased attention followed, naturally, by product demand after the company’s equipment was used for the digital signage setup in the 2010 X Games. Since that time, Gefen developed its Gefen Synergy line of software, which provides IP management and control of the company’s products. And now that the Fall 2015 product catalog is here, installers and DIY-ers are looking forward to seeing what new tools are available for their trade.

HDMI Switchers

Probably the most in-demand products that Gefen offers are HDMI switchers. Hospitals, colleges, corporate offices, and all types of businesses can benefit from these devices, which not only split the signal, they also ensure that this split doesn’t result in signal degradation. Considering the data-rich 4K signals they’re designed to handle, preserving the integrity of the signal is paramount.

I had the opportunity to test one of their 1 x 2 switchers, the GTB-HD4K2K-142C-BLK. It will route one UHD 4K source to two displays, or cascade up to 10 layers of splitting for large-scale video distribution. With enough of these switchers, you can route your signal to more than 1,000 displays! The switcher supports up to 4K DCI (4096 x 2160 at 24 Hz), the aforementioned 4K Ultra HD (3860 x 2160 at 60 Hz, 4:2:0 color space), 1080p (1920 x 1080), and WUXGA (1920 x 1200). Deep color, 3D, and multichannel audio are also supported, including 7.1 channels of LPCM and high-bit-rate lossless formats.

This switcher appears to provide a simple setup, with one locking HDMI input, two locking HDMI outputs, a locking power plug, and a mini-USB port for firmware upgrades. It has three switches, the first of which is labeled FST, for Fast Switching Technology. When in Fast mode, this switch will allow for quick HDCP handshaking when switching between sources, or when powering on your HDTVs. However, if your source doesn’t support multiple devices, the Slow setting is recommended.

The third switch is, perhaps, more important than the second, so I’ll describe that one first. The EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) switch has an Int and an Ext setting, which determines whether you decide how the splitter will output, or if the splitter will read the settings from the displays. If it’s set to Ext, the splitter will “talk” to your displays, determine the highest video resolution and best audio format supported, and output that setting. If there are any problems when using the external EDID, for whatever reason, you will then want to use the Int setting.

When EDID is set to the Int setting, you will be able to select between two-channel audio and multi-channel audio with the second switch, labeled Audio. The multi-channel setting (Multi-ch on the splitter) will be useful in situations where a home theater system is set up with one or more TVs, whereas the two-channel setting (2ch on the splitter) will used in installations where all of your connected equipment supports only two-channel LPCM audio.

Matrixes, Signal Extenders, Scalers, and Wireless HDMI!

Prominently positioned in the Gefen catalog is the 8:8 matrix, the GTB-HD4K2K-848-BLK. In addition to routing eight 4K sources to eight displays, it supports HDCP, 3D, and 7.1-channel LPCM, plus high-bit-rate audio, such as Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio, making it a powerful and versatile device. It would make a great choice for digital signage applications or information distribution.

Their signal extenders are given a good bit of attention in the catalog, as well, and HDMI extension is featured in three out of the five shown. The EXT-HD2IRS-LAN-TX and the EXT-HD2IRS-LAN-RX, for instance, will work in tandem to extend HDMI, RS-232, and bi-directional IR signals over your existing LAN, allowing you to extend high-definition video and audio, as well as control. If you’re looking to extend HDMI over fiber optic cable instead of a LAN, then the EXT-HDRS2IR-4K2K-1FO is the model for you. It will extend HDMI, RS-232, and bi-directional IR signals over fiber optic cable up to 6,600' at up to Full HD resolution… that’s well over a mile!

The product category with the largest selection shown in this catalog would be the company’s scalers/converters. Six are featured, all with similar yet very different purposes. The EXT-HDVGA-3G-SC, for example, will take an HDMI or VGA audio/video signal, scale the image, and output it to SDI, adding versatility to your professional production equipment. On the opposite end of that spectrum is the EXT-3G-HD-C, which will take an SDI signal and convert it to HDMI at up to 1080p. Then there’s the EXT-IP-2-RS2322, which will allow you to control RS-232 equipment via IP, allowing you to integrate older equipment into your newer setup.

Wireless HDMI solutions are also featured, and this catalog focuses on two models. The EXT-WHD-1080P-SR will send high-definition audio and video up to 33', while the EXT-WHD-1080P-LR will send the same signal up to 100'. If there are multiple sources that you’d like to make wireless, additional senders are available for both the 33' model and the 100' model.

That’s just a sample of Gefen’s product line, but as you can see, this company offers quite an eclectic mix of products that are great for professionals, installers, and DIY-ers alike. As always, if you need help choosing the right product, Gefen or otherwise, B&H’s stellar sales professionals are happy to answer whatever question you may have via phone, at 800-606-6969, chat, or email.

 

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