Lightware Introduces MODEX Family of Modular Signal Extenders

	Lightware's Modular Extender

The Modular Extender (Modex) family of external signal extender with modular capabilities, makes its debut from Lightware USA, the US distributor for Budapest-based Lightware Visual Engineering products. The new products work in tandem with Lightware's new 25G Hybrid line of digital matrix switchers or act as standalone extenders offering great flexibility to users who need to transport digital and analog video, audio, or data signals over a single Cat5/6/7 cable or fiber.

"Modex is believed to be the first product family of its kind," says Blake Dudash in sales and marketing. "It supports AV and broadcast-industry formats with a full range of modular transmitters and receivers which interface with Lightware's new 25G line or function as standalone devices."

Modex eliminates the need to invest in discrete units for different types of connections, he notes. "Previously, you'd have to buy a transmitter and receiver (TX/RX) to send DVI, Display Port, HDMI 1.4, DVI-DL, VGA, or 3GSDI over one fiber or CatX; each format requires its own TX/RX pair. Now we can use one Modex TX/RX pair and send any and all of today's, and tomorrow's, video connection types. Instead we just switch out the connection type module in the transmitter or receiver."

To customize Modex, users choose a media core (single or duplex fiber or CAT5/6/7 twisted pair cable), select one or two video and audio modules (analog VGA, interlaced composite video, DVI, dual-link DVI, HDMI 1.4 with 3D, SDI, 3G-SDI and Displayport 1.1 or 1.2) and choose up to four interface modules for Ethernet, control or optional audio. Modex is then ready to use.

The technology built into the Modex family breaks many standard limitations allowing 60m DVI cable compensation on inputs; advanced EDID management; pixel-accurate reclocking; LAN, RS-232, RS-422, and USB control; fiber cable powering; and more.

Modex comes in half-rack width and full-rack width RU frames. The full-rack width extender has the bigger media core, which allows two video and audio modules and four interface modules. The front panel has an additional 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet port and USB KVM connectors. The half-rack width extender has the same functionality but allows one video and audio module and two interface modules; its front panel has an additional 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port and USB KVM connectors. Both size frames may be either a video transmitter or receiver depending on the installed video and audio module.

"Modex's modularity is the key concept for all kinds of users -- permanent installations, rental and staging, broadcast," says Dudash. "Users can easily swap out connection modules as needed for real mix-and-match applications."

Modex is expected to be available this fall following the release of the Lightware 25G line.