Key Digital introduces its first plenum active optical HDMI fibre cables
Plenum-rated active optical HDMI fibre cables enable long-distance HDMI signal extension without requiring a power device. The digital video and control systems company, based in New York, USA, offer the plenum active optical HDMI fibre cables in lengths from 10 to 100m (33to 328 ft).
According to said Jonathon Ferry, national training manager for Key Digital, the introduction of plenum active optical HDMI fibre cables is “representative of Key Digital’s growth in commercial new-construction audio visual projects. The flame retardant and low smoke characteristic cables are UL-approved for installation in plenum spaces. These features and certifications go hand-in-hand with the plenum AOCH cable series, which allow AV integrators to extend HDMI 4K/18G signals at an unprecedented length up to 328 feet or 100 meters.”
The active optical copper hybrid cable series offers 4K resolutions with ultra-HD/4K support up to 4096 x 2160 or 3840 x 2160 50/60Hz at 4:4:4 with high speed 18Gbits per second bandwidth performance for the latest HDMI video specifications.
Key Digital’s plenum active optical HDMI fibre cables are directional, and each head contains specific handling for optimal performance. The series is made up of the KD-AOCH33P, KD-AOCH49P, KD-AOCH66P, KD-AOCH98P, KD-AOCH131P, KD-AOCH164P, and KD-AOCH328P.
The active optical copper hybrid cables deliver full 4K/18Gbits per second signals at greater distances than traditional copper HDMI cabling, says Key Digital.
The cables are also characterised by the signal of the video and audio layer not being subjected to typical signal degradation due to sending the transition-minimised differential signalling (TMDS) channel, the heaviest portion of HDMI signals, over optics. A minimal amount of copper wiring is included inside the cables to carry power and essential extended display identification data (EDID) handshaking information, high-bandwidth digital content protection (HDCP) authentication, and more.
With 28 AWG measurement, Key Digital’s plenum active optical HDMI fibre cables are thin, flexible, and support a tighter bend radius than traditional HDMI.
They are also HDCP 2.2-compliant and backwards-compatible with previous HDCP versions.
The cables have been designed using Open Eye technology and each is tested for noise-free performance. The Key Digital plenum active optical HDMI fibre cable series has deep colour support up to 4K 24/25/30Hz 4:4:4/12-bits or 50/60Hz 4:2:0/12-bit as well as high dynamic range or HDR10 to deliver a greater range of luminance levels for life-like images, says the company.
The cables support audio return channel (ARC), allowing audio to be returned from the display back to the HDMI source for amplification and display. Support for digital audio formats includes Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD Master Audio. The Ethernet channel on the cables supports up to 100Mbits per second of Ethernet speeds between two HDMI connected devices.
(Picture credit: Warchi)
