Exterior of the Live! Casino in Maryland with a large video display above the entrance. (background)

AV over RF

Why AV Over RF

AV over RF often is the choice for locations that have coaxial cabling already in place. It also is a popular choice for new installations because of its simplicity, reliability, scalability, and ability to transmit HDTV over long distances.

Whether your plan is for all coax or incorporating Cat 5 or Cat 6 UTP (see Hybrid Systems), Contemporary Research offers custom and ready-to-go solutions. Either way, using existing cabling saves time and money for initial installations.

System Design Considerations

System design depends on several factors, including:

Number of locations/screens to be served
Distances involved
Expansion plans
Any existing RF Distribution infrastructure that may be used

Advantages of RF Video Distribution

AV integrators choose AV over RF for video distribution solutions in widely diverse installations, including stadiums, arenas, office buildings, college campuses, houses of worship, sports bars, and restaurants for a number of reasons.

Affordability – uses existing coax cabling saves money.
Ease of installation and affordable maintenance – it is simple to install and it works with standard TVs available in retail stores and readily available taps and splitters.
No distance limitations – whether using existing coax or any new cabling needed, is easy to install.
Flexibility – Easily add or subtract sources and endpoints without out the need to reconfigure network hardware.
Scalability – RF networks can start small and expand to hundreds of channels and TVs at any time.
Controllable – users can control on/off power, channel and volume with smart phones or other web-connected devices.
Reliability – no expensive licenses, support, servers, or daily maintenance – it just works!

These attributes allow AV integrators the ability to create flexible network designs to provide for video origination, distribution, and control over RF.

AV Over RF Solutions

RF is well established, runs on open standards, and is a reliable, cost-effective medium that is an integral component of many AV installations. Contemporary Research offers hardware and software designed to simplify installation, operation, and maintenance of enterprise networks.

Download the Solutions Guide

HDTV Modulators-IPTV Encoders

Contemporary Research’s HDTV Modulator-IPTV Encoders were designed and developed for ease of use. Units create QAM digital cable channels or 8VSB air modulated channels as well as MPEG-TS IPTV streams. Easy front-panel setup is available, so no PC is required for configuration and a built-in hardware scaler which will compensate for non-broadcast and other frame rates while accepting content inputs up to 4K (2160p).

CR modulators include robust features such as built in scalers for edge-to-edge presentation, dual-language SAP audio, and Emergency Alert messaging capabilities.

QMOD-SDI HDMI HDTV Modulator-IPTV Encoder

The QMOD-SDI HDMI is a professional dual-channel frequency-agile RF Modulator/Encoder ideal for distributing live video from SDI and HDMI sources as well as digital signage content from media players or PCs.

QMOD-YPB 2 HDTV Modulator-IPTV Encoder

The QMOD-YPB 2 is a professional dual-channel frequency-agile RF Modulator / Encoder for distributing HD video content over CATV systems to an unlimited number of televisions or standalone HDTV Tuners.

QDA4-45 Distribution Amp Combiner

The Contemporary Research QDA4-45 is an amplified RF combiner that can switch between one or four inputs, with adjustable amplification up to 32 dB of gain.

HDTV Tuners

The ATSC HDTV tuner series is available for commercial integration systems with projectors and professional displays without built-in TV tuners. These tuners can receive ATSC, NTSC, and clear QAM formats and are compatible with digital channels encoded in MPEG-2/H.264.

The HD video outputs can be set for native resolution or scaled up to 2160p. All tuner functions can be controlled with infrared and 2-way RS-232/IP Telnet. Tuner/controllers provide all the features of a tuner with the ability to pass control commands to the display devices for power on/off, input selection, and volume.

232-ATSC 4K HDTV Tuner

The 232-ATSC 4K HDTV Tuner, the 5th-generation ATSC HDTV tuner from Contemporary Research, adds new capabilities to the industry-standard ATSC series.

ATSC-SDI 4i HDTV Tuner

The ATSC-SDI 4i HDTV Tuner, the 3rd-generation SDI tuner from Contemporary Research, adds new capabilities to the industry-standard ATSC series tuners with SDI.

ATSC-mini HDTV Tuner

The ATSC-mini is an HDTV Tuner designed for use with HD and UHD video displays and projectors in a distributed CATV system. Housed in a new, smaller low-profile enclosure, the unit with built in mounting wings can be attached flush to walls or displays.

Display Controllers

Contemporary Research’s display control product line offers versatile 1-way control for power, volume, channels, and available control lockout commands, receiving iCC-Net network commands over the same broadband coax that carries the CATV channels.

High-speed 1-way control is possible through the same RF cable that carries the TV channels, creating networked operation of distributed media systems without adding control wiring.

Compatible with the Contemporary Research Display Express software, CR’s display controllers can be networked with up to 4000 displays. For custom systems applications, display controllers can be accessed from a single RS-232 or Ethernet port on a Contemporary Research Display Control Center.

Display Express Control Systems

What do stadiums, arenas, casinos, entertainment venues, as well as civic, church, and corporate video systems around the country share in common? These sites have many displays, TVs, and video projectors already connected together over the RF coax cable system.

To create an integrated display control system, you could run new Ethernet or control wires to all the sets, but that is an expensive option. With Display Express, you have all the benefits of Web-driven Ethernet control, while using the control wire already in place - the existing RF cable.

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