LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, June 8, 2016 – Continuing its commitment to provide commercial integrators with state-of-the-art signal management solutions, Gefen the A/V signal management unit of Core Brands, a Nortek company (NASDAQ: NTK), today introduced a new line of switchers, splitters and extenders to the commercial market at InfoComm 2016. The introduction was made in the Las Vegas Convention Center at Gefen Booth #C5430.

“To help commercial dealers capitalize on the industry’s most cutting-edge technologies, Gefen has developed a wide range of new ground-breaking products that are compliant with new and evolving standards,” Jason Fitzgerald, Core Brands’ Gefen Product Manager, said today. “Today’s emerging technologies include the migration to 4K Ultra HD in its various formats, the ubiquitous application of HDBaseT™ for extension, and the transition to Video over IP communications – just to name a few. Gefen’s new line addresses these emerging technologies by providing multiple signal management solutions for integrators.”

According to Fitzgerald, Gefen’s new products provide commercial, corporate, broadcast and residential dealers with the sources and features that are paramount to their success, now and in the future. “Our new line of signal routing, extension, conversion and management solutions are designed to accommodate even the most complex commercial applications,” Fitzgerald explained. “This allows integrators to push beyond the limits of today’s digital AV formats, like HDMI. As we begin seeing the market fully adopt emerging technologies like 4K, integrators need the means to properly process the newly available sources and features.”

Leading the way for what’s new from Gefen is its EXT-UHD600 line of 4K 600 MHz products, starting with three splitters and a 4×1 switcher. This new product family enables AV distribution at full specification of 4K 60 Hz with 4:4:4 chroma sub-sampling along with HDR support. “With this introduction, Gefen continues to anticipate integrator needs for commercial A/V signal distribution, as we have done since the brand’s inception,” Fitzgerald emphasized.

This HDCP 2.2-compliant family of products supports HDMI 2.0 4K 60 Hz with 4:4:4 chroma sub-sampling, along with HDR (High Dynamic Range) support. HDR delivers greater image contrast, vastly improving color depth between light and dark areas of a video image. 4K Ultra HD and 4K Cinema (up to 4096×2160), LPCM7.1, and HBR digital audio are also supported. The new EXT-UHD600 splitters support multiple layers of cascading for use in large video distribution and signage applications. The switcher in the EXT-UHD600 line-up features flexible control options including the front-panel, IR, RS-232, Telnet/UDP, and Gefen’s intuitive web server interface. The Gefen Syner-G™ software simplifies configuration and allows advanced EDID management for the splitters, switcher, and matrix products. Additionally, all units accommodate Gefen locking HDMI cables for secure connections.
Gefen is also showcasing its all-new Ultra HD HDBaseT™ 2.0 Extender for HDMI (EXT-UHDA-HBT2), a signal extender that uses HDBaseT™ 2.0 technology to extend 4K HDMI, Ethernet, RS-232, 2-way IR, and 2-way audio up to 330 feet using one CAT-5e cable. The new extender provides a robust signal connection when extending 4K HDMI, Ethernet, RS-232, 2-way IR, and 2-way audio up to 330 feet. The bi-directional power feature allows the pair to be powered from either side of the extension. Also, the flexible, surface mountable enclosures fit anywhere, guaranteeing a convenient installation. To enable intuitive system monitoring for integrators, the Gefen Syner-G™ software provides an intuitive path for firmware updates and advanced EDID management tools.

The EXT-UHDA-HBT2’s sender/receiver system is compatible with all compliant HDBaseT™ systems and will easily interface with sources and displays equipped with HDBaseT™. Video with resolutions of 1080p and 1920×1200 8-bit can also be delivered flawlessly up to 495 feet. 4K Ultra HD and DCI-Cinema (up to 4096×2160) at 60 Hz 4:2:0 or 30 Hz 4:4:4, LPCM7.1, and HBR digital audio are also supported. “To provide a secure and robust connection, Optical Digital Audio is sent from Receiver to Sender and analog audio is extended from Sender to Receiver,” Fitzgerald explained. “And Bi-Directional Power Over HDBaseT™ provides power from Sender to Receiver or vice versa, over the same CAT-5.”

Gefen is also debuting the EXT-DVIKA-HBT2, a DVI over HDBaseT 2.0 KVM extender that is designed to extend DVI, USB 2.0, RS-232, and 2-way analog audio up to 495 feet (150 meters) over one CAT-5e cable. The new HDBaseT 2.0 platform provides added features such as USB and 2-way audio extension, and ensures an even more robust and resilient connection than the industry standard HDBaseT. Resolutions up 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) and 1080p are supported.

“This DVI over HDBaseT 2.0 extender serves as the next generation DVI extender for commercial integrators,” Fitzgerald stated. “Both the Sender and the Receiver units feature 1U tall, half-rack-width enclosures that can be placed on a shelf, surface-mounted, or rack-mounted using the separately available EXT-RACK-1U tray. Additionally, the Gefen Syner-G™ software speeds up configuration via EDID Management, facilitates real-time performance audits by Link Monitoring, and simplifies field firmware updates.”

Up next for Gefen at InfoComm 2016 is the all-new 4K Ultra HD HDMI over HDBaseT™ 2.0 Extender (GTB-UHD-HBT2) which carries RS-232, Bi-directional IR, and Power over HDBaseT. “Gefen’s implementation of the latest HDBaseT™ 2.0 technology enables the extension of HDMI up to 330 feet (100m) at 4K, using one CAT-5e cable,” Fitzgerald emphasized. “The new HDBaseT™ 2.0 Colligo™ platform ensures an even more robust and resilient connection than the industry standard HDBaseT.”

Via the GTB-UHD-HBT2, 1080p Full HD and 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) 8-bit video can be extended up to 495 feet (150 meters). Resolutions up to 4K DCI-Cinema (4096 x 2160 @ 30 Hz 4:4:4) and 4K Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz 4:2:0), along with the latest HDCP 2.2 encryption, are supported. 7.1 channels of LPCM and HBR (High Bit Rate) lossless digital audio including Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD™, DTS:X™, and DTS-HD Master Audio™ are passed through. RS-232 and 2-way IR are transferred between the Sender and the Receiver to control the A/V source and the display. POH (Power Over HDBaseT) technology provides power to the Receiver unit, using the same CAT-5 cable that extends the HDMI and control signals. Plus, only the Sender needs an external power supply.

“Low profile, surface-mountable Sender and Receiver units fit in tight places, and accommodate Gefen locking HDMI cables for secure connections,” Fitzgerald said. “This new feature simplifies installation for the integrator.”

Last but not least, Gefen is introducing its all-new DisplayPort 1.2 Fiber Extender (EXT-DP-4K600-2FO). The latest extender sends signals over 2 strands of LC fiber optic cable with uncompromised quality, and no signal degradation from compression. The DP-4K600-FO is capable of handling video resolutions up to UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) at 60 frames per second with no color subsampling.

“This powerful, small form factor extender is impervious to electromagnetic interference, and extends signal up to 300 meters (1000 feet),” Fitzgerald continued. “This extender lends itself well to the demanding standards required for commercial, corporate, and broadcast signal extension.”

For more information, visit Gefen Booth #C5430 at InfoComm 2016.