ATM edge switch supporting live-to-air streaming

Switch configured with 16 ports 100 Mbit/s + 8 ports 155 + 2 ports 622.
Click on the pic for an enlarged view

Switch configured with 16 ports 155 Mbit/s + 2 ports 622 and "extension box".
Click on the pic for an enlarged view

The data sheet is available here in Word format (2.6 Mbytes).

Features

as an ATM switch:

throughput: 3.6 Gbit/s non-blocking
cold start time less than 5 secs
CBR and UBR services

as a digital audio router:

size: up to about 3000 x 3000 mono channels (based on 44.1kHz, 24 bits per sample)
can route different sample rates simultaneously without sample rate conversion
front-panel indication when live-to-air traffic is flowing, so maintenance engineers know when it is safe to unplug cables

Description: switch

The switch is packaged in a 1U high 19" rack box, powered either via IEC mains inlet or at 24v from an extension box.

A switch has up to three network interface "modules", each module carrying:

8 ports 155 Mbit/s ATM over category 5 UTP, or
2 ports 622 Mbit/s ATM over fibre, or
16 ports Brunhilde ATM service over 100 Mbit/s Ethernet physical layer

Typical configurations:

16 ports 155 Mbit/s UTP + 2 uplink ports at 622 Mbit/s
32 ports 100 Mbit/s Brunhilde + 2 uplink ports at 622 Mbit/s
24 ports 155 Mbit/s UTP
48 ports 100 Mbit/s Brunhilde

On the 155 Mbit/s ATM module, the "spare" pairs in the cat5 cable are used for:

passive fixed links which do not depend on the power to the box being switched on, and
distribution of a "house sync" signal

Extensions to the standard ATM signalling protocols (to be standardised as IEC 62379) allow connections to be prioritised and pre-scheduled and the presence of "on-air" connections to be indicated automatically at each port.

Pricing is low when compared with telecommunications ATM switches or conventional audio routers.

Description: extension box

The extension box is a 1U high 19" rack box containing:

two separate mains power supplies
batteries sufficient to supply power to the switch for 10 to 30 minutes when neither mains inlet is powered
management panel providing status information for the switch and calls passing through it

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