08.18.2008 — Key Digital Systems could have named its gala pre-CEDIA Expo preview event in New York City "From Russia with Love."

The company recently unveiled a handful of products in a high-rise MDU on Central Park West amid a layout of fine Russian delicacies, including caviar and vodka.

President Mike Tsinberg started off the event by showing a 3-minute DVD about the company’s vision for the future.

He then unveiled what he called a line of breakthrough Smart Baluns and matrix switchers with the Smart Baluns inside them.

“Dealers love Cat 5. That is what we have learned. It’s easy to use and low cost," Tsinberg says.

"Dealers want to use it in every way possible, but it doesn’t transmit long distances well."

But with sophisticated silicon signal processing, he says Key Digital can push a high-quality signal through a poor transmission channel like Cat 5 and achieve the same performance as high-quality coax.

Smart Baluns Enable Quality Runs of 800 Feet

The new line of "smart baluns" is designed to allow long, high-quality video runs using Cat 5 wiring. This reduces the cost of using more expensive video cable throughout the home.

The KDVACTX, KD-VACRX, and KD-VACWPRX baluns are new additions to the company’s FAT CAT Series and incorporate six Key Digital technologies, such as the ASDL (Adaptive Smart Data Link), allowing clear transmission and reception of almost any video and audio signal possible over a distance of 1000 feet.

The products will be officially unveiled at CEDIA Expo 2008.

Tsinberg is advising dealers to use the product in runs of 700 to 800 feet. “We are honest with our dealers," he says.

"The product can go 1,200 feet, but at that distance the quality of the HD signal won’t necessarily be recognized. You will start to see some clipping."

By designing systems that use the Smart Baluns, Tsinberg says integrators can run a single Cat 5 wire throughout the home and save “a lot of money.”

The product comes in two basic formats: a small 3 x 3 inch black box (KD-VACRX), or a wall-plate unit (KD-VACWPRX) for new construction.

Michael Lakhter, vice president of Key Digital, says bidirectional IR and RS-232 control baluns are “going to be a huge category for many years to come, as more resellers are installing control systems which will require the need for bidirectional communication.”

These baluns can transmit and/or receive bidirectional RS-232, IR, composite video, left/right analog and PCM/TOSlink digital audio over one Cat 5/6/7 cable. The baluns can also handle all standard video and audio formats, stereo formats, digital SPDIF and compressed digital audio coaxial formats.

The KD-VACTX is the transmitter piece, which works with both the KD-VACRX and the KD-VACWPRX receivers. The new FAT Cat Series baluns are compatible with Cat 5e, Cat 6, and Cat 7 cables and can be optimized for UTP cables.

Audio Video Equalizer, Next-Generation Switcher

Key Digital also unveiled an Audio Video Equalizer that automatically performs measurements of Cat 5/6/7 link frequency response, as well as adaptive video response equalization for maximum video performance.

The new FAT CAT Series baluns will be available for: $425 for the KD-VACTX and the KD-VACRX and $475 for the KD-VACWPRX.

Tsinberg also unveiled the company’s next-generation switcher: the KD-VP2000. The switcher is suited for commercial applications, which is a growing part of Key Digital’s business.

Tsinberg says the company has experienced organic growth in the commercial area to the point that 35 percent of its business is now commercial.

He notes that the company enjoys dealing with commercial integrators: “You train them once and they install forever,” he says.

Key Digital sells exclusively to dealers, using reps and distributors primarily, with some dealer direct sales.

From Russia with Love

How well does Key Digital know CE Pro (or more specifically, me)? Very well. This humble editor was the recipient of the door prize at the press event: a tasty bottle of Russian vodka called “Legend of Kremlin” that came in an ornate hollowed-out “book.”

As the CE Pro staff prepares for the upcoming CEDIA Expo, we can all use a shot of vodka. In all, CE Pro and its sister publications — Electronic House and TecHome Builder — will have 10 editors at the show.

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