Long distance HD with fiber
One challenge audiovisual designers run into is sending HD video over long distances. There are solutions that convert the signal into IT bits and send it over the network. Proprietary systems transport HD signals along various means. Vanco aims to send HD video over a vast expanse using fiber with their EVEXFBRK1.
Vanco fiber extenders deliver long-distance video and audio transmission without the loss of bandwidth or quality. Unlike when using copper cabling, fiber optic cables are immune to electromagnetic interference (EMI) that may be caused by power lines, electrical appliances, fluorescent lamps etc., which can cause poor picture clarity and sound distortion.
Unboxing HD Fiber EVEXFBRK1
Upon opening the box, the transmitter and receivers are both the same size and footprint. This makes it easy to install. The fiber optic cables are supplied in a spool with the fiber already terminated on one end and an SFP port on the other, which will plug right into your device.
The Vanco fiber extenders were tested against both copper cable services from other extenders. The setup was quite easy. The transmitter has easy-to-understand ports as well as dip switches to change the type of control passthrough.
In reality, what we are doing is using the multimode fiber to extend HD video by almost 1,000 feet. There is no networking, VPNs, or subnets to mess with. This is much better than copper cable connections for the quality of audio/video performance.
The video quality is pristine. There was no loss. We tested up to UHD, but not full 4K. At both UHD and HD the picture was great. The Vanco EVEXFBRK1 video conversion is perfect enough for the naked eye. We did not put it into an analyzer. The KVM aspect of this extender was also impressive. The latency was basically undetectable. The test consisted of both mouse and keyboard signals going over the fiber extender.
The downside of the devices really is just a design consideration. With transmitter/receivers such as these, having the inputs and outputs on opposite sides is a bit inconvenient. The USB, RS-232, and fiber connections are on one side. HDMI, as well as IR and power, are on the opposite side of the device.
I would recommend this fiber extender for those who need to extend the distance of an HDMI and RS-232 signal. The device can be used as a KVM switch, too, which is a great asset.
The fiber extender is not quite as easy to use as a HDMI cable, but if you need that distance and don’t mind installing the device in an area where it’s handy for both ends of the signal, this fiber extension could be your solution.
3 out of 5 Stars
Tim Albright is the founder of AVNation and is the driving force behind the AVNation network. He carries the InfoComm CTS, a B.S. from Greenville College and is pursuing an M.S. in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. When not steering the AVNation ship, Tim has spent his career designing systems for churches both large and small, Fortune 500 companies, and education facilities.
