Belden Extends Testing Of SDI Video Cables To 4.5 GHZ

First in the industry to perform higher frequency testing on every reel of SDI cable, Belden raises the bar to assure unequaled levels of cable signal integrity and reliability, with lower return loss (RL) at higher frequencies.

Richmond, IN — Belden CDT Electronics Division, a unit of Belden CDT Inc., and a world leader in the development of specialty cable products for A/V, broadcast and entertainment applications, announces the extension of its SDI coaxial cables' performance specifications from 3 GHz to 4.5 GHz - with every reel being sweep tested for return loss and certified to the new, higher frequency. This extension is designed to assure broadcasters, leading-edge broadcast equipment manufacturers, and the standards bodies of high performance and reliability as they begin to migrate from the existing 1080i (interlaced) SDI format to the emerging 1080p (progressive) format, protocols and equipment, which require twice the bandwidth of 1080i.

To date, Belden is the first cable manufacturer to perform sweep testing and certification to meet this emerging format. The enhanced testing is currently being performed with three of Belden's most popular precision video coaxial cables for HDTV/SDI  Belden Brilliance 1505A, 1855A, and 1694A - and will soon be expanded to additional products.

In the 1080i (interlaced) format, the image resolution is 1920x1080 pixels, sent at 60 interlaced frames per second. In the 1080p (progressive) format, the image resolution is the same but is sent at 60 complete frames per second. Thus, in the progressive format, the complete image updates every 1/60th of a second and in the interlaced format, only half of the image updates every 1/60th of a second. As a result, progressive images result in better image definition and quality.

Cable Manufacturing Consistency and Quality: Key to Minimal Return Loss
Good practice requires testing to the third harmonic of the operating frequency. For serial, single cable 1080p, that means testing to a frequency of 4.5 GHz. This 1080p format is expected to transmit serial digital video signals at 2.97 Gb/s, requiring an operating frequency of 1.485 GHz. This translates to a shorter wavelength and a greater chance that inconsistently manufactured cables will choke off the signal with a high level of return loss. This may be caused by even the slightest irregularity in the cable manufacturing process. A slightly bent shaft, bad bearing or uneven cable tension, for example, can cause reflection and affect the signal wavelength. Therefore, utmost consistency and control in the manufacturing process is essential to the reliability of the cable's signal transmission at high frequencies and to minimize return loss.

As a pioneer and leader in cable technology, Belden CDT Electronics Division has always taken a stringent approach to cable quality assurance. Rather than simply inspect and test random batches of cables after manufacturing, Belden begins its quality process in the product development and manufacturing stages. This "Design for Manufacturability" approach, combined with statistical quality control of manufacturing processes, and state-of-the- art manufacturing and testing equipment, ensure that Belden cables are manufactured in such a consistent manner as to guarantee superior performance and reliability.

For more information about Belden's 4.5GHz sweep testing of precision video cables, visit http://www.belden.com.

About Belden CDT Electronics Division
Belden CDT Electronics Division, a unit of Belden CDT Inc., is a leader in the design, manufacture, and marketing of cable products for the entertainment, residential, industrial and security markets. It also provides highly engineered products for the aerospace and automotive markets. Belden CDT Electronics Division is headquartered in Richmond, Indiana, and has manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe and distribution centers in the U.S., Canada, Singapore, Australia and the Netherlands. A majority of Belden's manufacturing, engineering and support functions are registered to the International Organization for Standardization.

Belden CDT Inc., formed in July 2004 through the merger of Belden Inc. and Cable Design Technologies Corp., is one of the largest U.S.-based manufacturers of high-speed electronic cables and focuses on products for the specialty electronics and data networking markets, including connectivity.

Source: Belden CDT Inc.