Thomson announces new multi-format IRD

Thomson Video Networks has confirmed the launch of the RD6000, a multi-format integrated receiver decoder (IRD) developed for a wide range of MPEG contribution applications. The RD6000 supports high-quality contribution video feeds for all satellite and telecom contribution networks, offering full MPEG-2, MPEG-4, 4:2:0, 4:2:2, 8-bit, and 10-bit decoding in a single 1RU chassis.

The system is suitable for MPEG contribution applications ranging from carriers providing circuits between regional studios and central playout facilities, to backhaul contribution circuits for occasional uses such as sports coverage, and to distribution from playout centres to broadcasting head-ends.

The RD6000 features inputs for DVB-S/S2, IP gigabit Ethernet, and ASI to accommodate the full range of transmission media. The system decodes up to eight stereo audio channels in all major formats including MPEG Audio, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby E, and AAC. Out of the box, the RD6000 supports SD 4:2:0 and 4:2:2 formats with software licenses available for HD 4:2:0, 4:2:2, 8-bit, and 10-bit. No additional hardware is required for the software upgrades.

“Combined with our ViBE CP6000 encoding platform, the RD6000 is the high-quality solution to the video contribution challenges of broadcasters and content providers today and tomorrow,” says Hervé Congard, chief operating officer at Thomson Video Networks. “As an easy-to-operate decoder with software-based licensing, the RD6000 is flexible and cost-effective — enabling future-proof deployments and reducing operators’ CAPEX.”

In addition, the RD6000 offers built-in automatic input redundancy, switching automatically to a predefined backup feed in the event of an input failure. For IP feeds, the RD6000 performs SMPTE-2022 forward error correction to ensure service availability in the case of network disturbance.