TMB ProPlex Network Helps Make Olympic MagicBillions of people worldwide watched the 2012 London Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, where producer Danny Boyle masterfully deployed mystical elements of the gods -- light, color, and fire -- in a celebration of British culture and history, depicted using a huge rig featuring all the latest in entertainment technology from around the world. The prodigious system of LEDs, lasers, lighting, projection, audio, motion control and pyrotechnics was flawlessly controlled and synchronized over a stadium-wide network using more than eight kilometers of fiber optic cable. A significant element of the network was a system of ProPlex GBS gigabit switches and fiber cable from TMB. TMB's ProPlex GBS tour-grade gigabit Ethernet switches and fiber distribution systems represent the state of the art in reliable networking for high-volume, multicast control and data distribution in the portable entertainment and staging environment. Rugged and reconfigurable, ProPlex GBS Ethernet switches are available in managed and unmanaged versions, and both RackMount and PortableMount models. All models incorporate advanced thermal and shock protection. RackMount models feature modular, reconfigurable panels, i.e. connectors can be added, removed, and swapped front to back. ProPlex fiber "Rock 'n' Roll tactical" cables are the toughest and most dependable fiber cables available. ProPlex GBS and ProPlex fiber are part of the comprehensive ProPlex devices range of fiber/copper signal management systems, all of which feature Neutrik data and power connectors. "There is no greater A/V event in the world than the Olympics," says Fred Morgenstern, product manager at Neutrik USA. "Every four years, Neutrik supports the games with tens of thousands of our connectors. We were delighted when TMB chose our opticalCON fiber optic connector system for its line of ProPlex devices signal distribution products. And we're honored that opticalCON has been specified for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games." Morgenstern adds, "TMB's ProPlex line of fiber optic products is a perfect pair for opticalCON. Both ProPlex and opticalCON have been engineered to succeed in the rough-and-ready world of live A/V. Whether on tour, on set, or at the Olympics, ProPlex and opticalCON prove their worth every day in front of thousands, millions, and even billions of people at a time. TMB's decision to standardize on opticalCON QUAD multimode cabling is a great step forward for the market. A universal cabling specification allows interoperability of equipment of all kinds and eliminates any confusion in the field." ProPlex devices are distributed exclusively worldwide by TMB. See TMB at PLASA Focus: Stamford, November 12-13. ![](/std_images/blank.gif)
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