Cobalt® Digital, designer and manufacturer of devices for live video production and master control, and a founding partner in the openGear® initiative, will feature a line-up of openGear compatible products at NAB 2020 (Booth SL 3308). The new solutions will be demonstrated alongside Cobalt’s entire platform that is designed to help broadcasters transition to IP, 4K, HDR, the cloud, and beyond.

Cobalt’s new 9942-RTR series of 12G/3G/HD/SD-SDI/ASI/MADI routers provide a high-density card-based solution for openGear® with a design specifically optimized for 12G support that fits in a 2RU frame. In addition to standard openGear DashBoard™ support, the series offers built-in Ethernet ports for IP-based protocols such as Cobalt’s ReFLEX and SW-P-08.  The 9942-RTR also offers serial and GPIO interfaces. The routers are available in 24×24 and 12×12.

Cobalt will also introduce a mini frame that fills a need when space is an issue and functionality can’t be compromised. The BBG-1300-FR is a 1/3 rack width 1RU openGear® compatible frame capable of housing up to two cards.  A built-in network card is included with the chassis allowing openGear cards to be controlled and monitored in DashBoard™. This miniaturized openGear 3.0 chassis features looping reference, redundant power supplies, and support for high-power delivery (60W usable).

Using the 1RU tray mount, up to three BBG-1300-FR units can fit onto a 1 RU. The BBG-1300 can be employed in remote locations as a standalone when a full-size 2RU 22 slot openGear frame is not required. The integrated LCD buttons and control knob makes status monitoring and network setup “a breeze”.

Last but not least, Cobalt will be highlighting a series of distribution amplifiers that distributes 12G-SDI signals within an openGear® frame in response to the rising demand for 4K.  The new 9915DA-1×16-12G 12G/6G/3G/HD/SD-SDI 1×16 Reclocking Distribution Amplifier supports an input channel which is distributed to 16 DA outputs. The 9915DA-1×16-12G also offers optional SFP support for fiber input and DA outputs.

Cobalt’s 9915DA-2×16-XPT-12G is a 12G/6G/3G/HD/SD Quad-Channel Multi-Rate Reclocking DA with x4 Output Crosspoint that supports two input channels which can be crosspoint-routed up to 16 DA outputs.

The Cobalt 9915DA-4×16-XPT-12G 12G/6G/3G/HD/SD Quad-Channel Multi-Rate Reclocking DA features the same x4 Output Crosspoint but supports four input channels which can also be crosspoint-routed to up to 16 DA outputs. The 9915DA-4×16-XPT-12G and 9915-2×16-XPT-12G both include optional SFP support to expand the signal reach beyond the limits of coaxial connections.

“Introducing advanced, practical and affordable solutions at NAB is a Cobalt traditional,” explained Chris Shaw, Cobalt’s executive vice president of sales and marketing. “This year is no exception. We’ve listened to our customers and developed products that focus on the increasing adaptation of 4K; the trend to save space with high-functioning, compact units; and the overall migration to IP, HDR and operation in the cloud.”