SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Sep 15, 2014) - Pico Digital, a worldwide leader in providing comprehensive multi-media delivery solutions to customers in the broadband, satellite, cable, and broadcast markets, today announced that its PD1600 ultra-compact headend in a box has received a 4.0 rating in the Broadband Technology Report (BTR) 2014 Diamond Technology Reviews, a renowned industry program that recognizes the most innovative cable industry products and solutions.
"The 2014 Diamond Technology Review program was a resounding success, with 52 products submitted by 37 companies," stated Tom Gorman, Diamond Technology Review Program Director for Broadband Technology Report. "During the review process, the PD1600 stood out for the judges as a versatile, high-efficiency solution for MDUs and hospitality facilities." This -- in combination with its user-friendly features and compact, low-cost design -- earned the headend an excellent 4 Diamonds.
The Pico Digital PD1600 is optimized for the secure delivery of cable, satellite, and IPTV content to Multiple Dwelling Units (MDU), Headend In The Sky (HITS) operations, and hospitality television screens. Offering the performance, functionality, and broadcast-approved security features of a traditional multi-rack headend within a compact 5-RU form factor, the high-density unit decodes, decrypts, re-encrypts, and rebroadcasts content in IP, QAM, or analog output while providing end-to-end content protection from uplink to the TV.
The PD1600 is equipped with 12 input slots for multiple satellite, QAM, or ATSC input blades. Each blade features eight tuners, which can either descramble one TV service or pass through off a complete transponder, and is available with an optional transcoder module for format conversions of eight streams per blade. The unit features four slots for QAM and NTSC output blades. The QAM blade is available with 16 or 96 channels (72 or 288 services), while the NTSC blade provides 24 analog channels. Output can be free-to-air or scrambled using either DRM- or CAS-based encryption. The PD1600 supports multiple encryption formats, including LG Pro:Idiom®, Samsung LYNK®, and Verimatrix VCAS™. The unit's internal security architecture deploys "chain of trust" protocols.
"BTR's Diamond Technology Reviews is a premier technology award program for the cable industry, so we couldn't be more thrilled to receive such a high rating for our PD1600," said Carlos Shteremberg, president of Pico Digital. "In addition to combining the complete functionality of a multi-rack headend into a single unit, the PD1600 offers a number of other cost-saving benefits for cable and broadband providers, including the highest density on the market, the lowest cost per HD channel, and 75 percent lower power consumption than similarly equipped systems."
Diamond Technology Review rankings are determined by a prestigious panel of cable telecommunications engineering experts, including engineering executives from Boyer Broadband, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Suddenlink Communications, Comcast, Charter, and Cox. Technology submissions are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 according to a variety of criteria, such as unique technology or application thereof, innovation, ease of use, efficiency, reliability, and contribution to profitability.
More information about Pico Digital's PD1600 headend in a box is available at www.picodigital.com.
About Broadband Technology Report
Broadband Technology Report (BTR), celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2014, is the cable and telecom industry's premier source for product and technology news, and is the most successful and fastest growing online outlet for product information and deployments; reviews and rankings; technology expertise; and buyer/seller facilitation. BTR's portfolio includes online, print and video assets, all designed to help network operators build, upgrade and maintain high-performance communications networks. BTR, backed by more than 70 years of combined industry experience, delivers its email, online, print and video production services to more than 18,500 subscribers. If you are interested in subscribing, consult http://www.btreport.net/subscribe.html.
About the Diamond Technology Review Program
The BTR Diamond Technology Reviews ("the Diamonds") is a renowned industry program -- now in its ninth year -- that was developed to recognize some of the top products and solutions available to the cable industry as determined by a stellar panel of cable telecommunications engineering experts. Engineering executives from Bright House, Buckeye, Comcast, Boyer Broadband, Suddenlink, and Time Warner Cable were among the third-party judges for the 2014 Diamonds. Every year, BTR invites vendors to submit written information about products/solutions that have been released or upgraded since the previous year's SCTE Cable-Tec Expo (October 2013). Criteria used in the Diamonds rankings include, first and foremost, unique technology or application thereof, innovation, ease of use, efficiency, reliability and contribution to profitability.
About Pico Digital
Pico Digital is an international telecommunications technology company serving radio and television broadcasters, content providers, hospitality, and commercial markets in more than 30 countries. Headquartered in San Diego, California, the company is privately held and dedicated to developing best-in-class communication products, systems, and services. Pico Digital products are designed and manufactured in San Diego, California. Additional information about Pico Digital Inc. is available at www.picodigital.com.
Link to product datasheets:
http://picodigital.com/_docs/_data_sheet/PD1600.pdf
Link to product photo:
http://www.redpinesgroup.com/PicoDigital/PD1600.jpg
Contact Information:
Pico Digital Contact:
Eitan Bendesky
Pico Digital
+1 858.546.5050