THE WAIT IS OVER FOR THE GAME-CHANGING NEXT GENERATION OF MXNET
- Published , by Tom Devine
The wait is over for the game-changing next generation of MXNet. AVPro Edge’s MXNet 10G AV-over-IP ecosystem arrives later this month, ready to meet the design challenges for upscale commercial and residential applications head-on. Based on Software Defined Video-Over-Ethernet (SDVoE) interface technology, MXNet 10G uses a 10Gbps Ethernet network as a bridge between system endpoints and the software platform comprising audio, video, USB, KVM and control signals.
AVPro Edge is an adopting and contributing member to the SDVoE Alliance and deep in the heart of many MXNet 10G products are SEMTECH’s BlueRiver ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) technologies. The ASIC consolidates a host of features and formerly individual component platforms into an alliance-only, readily-available form factor, avoiding supply chain issues associated with designs based on FPGA (field programmable gate array) architecture, currently in excessive worldwide demand and foreseen to long remain so. An indirect “green” feature of MXNet 10G devices is to be had as they run 75% cooler than FPGA designs, reducing the environmental impact large-scale systems might otherwise impose.
MXNet’s core concepts for system stability, interoperability with all connected devices, and deployment ease have been implemented into MXNet 10G, along with familiar features. MXNet 10G’s system performance enhancements include imperceptible, ultra-low latency HDMI 2.X distribution, effortlessly transporting signals of up to 4K/60Hz 4:4:4 artifact-free, with multi-channel audio codecs plus control information. A/V signals may be distributed point-to-point, matrixed from any encoder to multiple decoders, and configured for multi-viewing or multi-window video walls. KVM, USB 2.0, and control signals such as CEC, IR and RS-232 may be openly routed from any input to any output.
AVPro Edge manufactures every component of our MXNet 10G ecosystem in our own facilities, including network switches and network PoE switches, Transceivers, and the Control Box featuring our in-house developed Mentor system configuration and control software. Unlike other “assemblers”, we control our products from end-to-end.
WHAT MAKES MXNET 10G DIFFERENT
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10G PoE Switch: The MXNet 10G ecosystem debuts our first 10G PoE switch, the AC-MXNET-10G-SW12C. System designs using the MXNET-10G-SW12C negate the use of transceiver power adapters or a supplemental cable pull, instead using a solo CAT6A cable to provide power and data.
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Control Box: Configuring MXNet 10G AV-over-IP systems is handily done with the AC-MXNET-10G-CBOX and powerful Mentor software, not to mention a suite of comprehensive troubleshooting tools. The Mentor interface is easily used by technicians of all levels for set-up tasks such as switch management, transceiver output scaling, virtual assembly of video walls, and signal routing assignments.
Should issues arise, Mentor assists with detective work in real-time to identify and remedy port conflicts or non-responsive devices.
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Source Input Preview: All connected system sources may be monitored using MXNet Mentor’s source preview feature. An SDVoE module onboard the Control Box decodes input source streams for preview display with Mentor or via the API on third-party devices.
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Transceivers: Unique with MXNet 10G is the solo-chassis, function-selectable SDVoE Transceiver. A simple switch selects between operation as transmitter or receiver. Each chassis supports both copper and fiber transmission and reception. Outfitted with both 10GbE copper and fiber ports, cable availability or distance requirements may be addressed without a confusing assortment of dedicated models.
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Genlock Mode: Latency is reduced to 0.1ms (or 1/400th of a frame), equal to high performance physical matrix switchers for mission-critical switching times. Non-genlocked fast switching is between one to two frames (approximately 17-34 milliseconds) which is visually imperceptible.
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Multi-viewer Display: A single MXNet 10G transceiver is capable of applying multiple streams of video onto a single display for application-specific purposes such as surveillance, education, broadcast, or governmental uses. Traditionally, multiple devices in cumbersome configurations were required to accomplish this same result. As many as 32 separate images are possible.
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Video Wall Ready: Sizing and bezel display via Mentor software.
- 1G Ethernet Extension: Whereas MXNet 1G utilized full bandwidth for the ecosystem, MXNet 10G dedicates 9Gbps to AV-over-IP and allocates 1Gbps for conventional data transfer. Each MXNet 10G transceiver is by default, an additional ethernet jack for TVs, computers or peripherals such as wireless accent points.
THE ECOSYSTEM
AC-MXNET-10G-TCVR - Transceiver Encoder / Decoder: Inarguably, the most versatile product in the AVPro MXNet SDVoE ecosystem is the AC-MXNET-10G-TCVR, a single SKU, dual-use configurable, advanced modular AV-over-IP encoding / decoding IP streaming solution.
AC-MXNET-10G-CBOX - Control Box: The AC-MXNET-10G-CBOX serves as the central control unit for the SDVoE AV over IP ecosystem. Connected to the MXNet 10G network system switch (or a third party multicast capable switch), the AC-MXNET-10G-CBOX maintains communication with all MXNet 10G transceivers to manage multicast data distribution, audio/video switching - including matrix routing presets, and command destination mapping for RS-232, IR or USB extension control signals.
AC-MXNET-10G-SW12C: An industry-first design to traffic both data and POE through 12 common ports; a single CAT-6a is all that is required for power and data on this network switch. Onboard are six 10G/25G SFP28 ports, which are backward compatible with SFP+ ports and can function with SFP+ optical modules or SFP+ DAC cables (please note: the 25Gbps data rate is not supported). These ports can be used to connect up to six, MXNET-10G TCVR SDVoE transceivers.
AC-MXNET-10G-SW24Q and AC-MXNET-10G-SW48Q: These managed switches support MXNet 10G installations. AC-MXNET-10G-SW24Q is stackable, with 24, 10G SFP+ ports plus two, 40G QSFP+ ports, expandable to 8 additional endpoints using break out cables. The AC-MXNET-10G-SW48Q is also stackable, featuring 48, 10G SFP+ ports, and six, 40G QSFP+ ports to increase endpoint capacity with breakout cables to an additional 24 endpoints, for a total of 72.
