IMT's SkymasterTX Digital COFDM Video Downlink Transmitter

ORLANDO, FL, JULY 9, 2013 — Integrated Microwave Technologies, LLC (IMT), a Business Unit within the Vitec Group’s Videocom Division, and a leader in advanced digital microwave systems for MAG (Military, Aerospace & Government) markets, showcases its range of state-of-the-art digital microwave video systems for mission-critical applications at ALEA 2013, the Airborne Law Enforcement Association’s 43rd Annual Conference and Exposition (Booths 227 & 229).

On display at ALEA 2013 will be IMT’s SkymasterTX Digital COFDM Video Downlink Transmitter. SkymasterTX is a lightweight, full-featured digital COFDM video downlink transmitter purpose-built to address the unique requirements of aircraft downlink operations. It has secure BCRYPT AES 128/256 encryption, ensuring seamless integration and interoperability with any standard-compliant equipment the customers may already have in their inventory. The chassis design features ARINC mounting with all of the connections and controls located on one side of the unit. This allows users to remove SkymasterTX from one aircraft and install it in another with ease.

“ALEA is the ideal setting for IMT to showcase the SkymasterTX video downlink transmitter,” says Integrated Microwave Technologies Divisional Chief Executive Stephen Shpock. “SkymasterTX was designed with interoperability at its cornerstone, MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 capabilities to support legacy installations and BCRYPT AES 128/256 as the only industry-recognized open standard encryption.”

The ability of SkymasterTX to autodetect and support both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 systems is an important feature that protects our customers’ earlier capital investments in legacy technologies while enabling them to take the advantage of the newest MPEG-4 encoding. The latest encoding method, MPEG-4, requires a 50 percent less bit-rate than MPEG-2, improving the reliability of the transmission. MPEG-4 encoding also allows users to transmit high definition video without sacrificing performance. Offering MPEG-2 enables the SkymasterTX to be compatible with legacy systems.

Also on display at ALEA 2013 will be IMT's DropCam (DTx) COFDM Video Surveillance Kit. Ideal for rapid deployment and tactical surveillance scenarios, the DTx Video Surveillance Kit incorporates the company’s DTx COFDM transmitter with a rechargeable battery, camera, microphone and a handheld receiver/monitor in a compact, rugged chassis. Combined with a light-level-sensor-controlled infrared LED, the kit’s low-light camera enables surveillance in all light conditions. Users can remove the camera head and position it separately, using the package’s four-foot camera cable, to allow for more discreet concealment of the camera.

Developed for portable viewing of transmitted video feeds, IMT’s Mobile VIEWER receiver/monitor rounds out the DTx offering for a complete transmit/receive turnkey solution. Its dual-input COFDM diversity receiver with integrated antennas and a built-in rechargeable battery is designed with an LCD and GUI for handheld operation. Mobile VIEWER offers exceptional RF performance with superb H.264 or MPEG-2 decoding. The unit displays video on a built-in, nine-inch, 16:9-format high-brightness-resolution LCD display. It also features an easy-to-use menu-driven interface designed with the user in mind. Much more than a COFDM handheld receiver, the Mobile VIEWER can stream video over Ethernet to remote software or hardware decoders. This allows multiple remote viewers to monitor the same video simultaneously.

IMT will also be displaying its MobilCMDR, another ruggedized COFDM (DVB-T-compliant) dual-diversity handheld receiver/monitor. It boasts exceptional RF performance, durability, true ease of operation and superb H.264 decoding. Like IMT’s Mobile VIEWER handheld receiver, the MobilCMDR can send video over Ethernet to remote software or hardware decoder. Additionally, the unit has an extended array of video input and output formats, including ASI and HD/SD SDI, extending its options for connecting to other systems in a command center environment for inter-agency video sharing. Its milled aluminum chassis and ergonomic hand grips are weather resistant. The receiver features a clip-on battery that can be seamlessly changed for more extended use without video loss. External antennas can be changed for a more high-gain options for extended distance. The receiver includes a built-in spectrum analyzer, giving the user the option to adjust the frequency for optimal video reception. All of these features provide an unequaled value in a high-quality COFDM receiver/monitor.

IMT will also be showcasing its Mobile Tactical Receiver at ALEA 2013. The Mobile Tactical Receiver is a ruggedized COFDM vehicle-mounted diversity downlink receiver. It offers exceptional RF performance and durability with H.264 MPEG-4 and MPEG-2 decoding. The Mobile Tactical Receiver includes integrated antennas and a compact and lightweight rugged IP-rated chassis, enabling it to be mounted on vehicles in any weather condition. Its AES decryption capabilities make it well suited to law enforcement, public security monitoring and homeland security applications. For advanced functions, such as changing frequency plans, AES decryption keys, or unit naming, an easy-to-use administration software package is supplied. The receiver, which is powered via a single cable, accepts IP streaming of the MPEG transport stream to its computer application software decoder. All of these features provide an unequaled value in a high-quality COFDM downlink reception.