​For this month's product spotlight I'm going to take a slightly different approach. I've been focusing on our latest and greatest product releases. Although the pandemic has certainly caused a lot of issues for many, during all of it we continued to pour resources into R&D with the results being a slew of new products including the just-released MXNet Video-over-IP System, USB extension, and more, not to mention the amazing stuff you don't yet know about. With all of that it's easy to overlook some key products that have been around for a while that continue to be standout items in our lineup. One of the most powerful, versatile solution products is also one of our least expensive and it deserves a closer look - the AC-DA12-AUHD-GEN2 1x2 Distribution Amplifier.

You might be tempted to call it an "HDMI Splitter", but that would be selling this little gem short. It has been so popular that a few "me-too" versions have popped-up. As is often the case, a quick look under the hood will tell you there is nothing like the real thing. It is indeed a terrific full 18Gbps HDMI splitter capable of full 4K60 4:4:4 and all forms of HDR, but that is just a small part of what it can do.

All HDMI cables are not created equal. Bullet Train has developed HDMI cables built for mission critical environments where stability is key. These cables are ISF (Imaging Science Foundation) Certified, the name to trust in picture quality and calibration. Tried and tested, Bullet Train cables are highly engineered to be a long lasting part of any audio/video system. ALL ABOARD.

We want to give our dealers a break with this one-month-only promotion, receive a free cable with every 5 purchased!

This offer is valid through March 31, 2021 and cannot be combined with other offers. Your first five cables must be the same length then your free cable can be the same length or shorter.

​With Bullet Train you have two outstanding choices that work for different types of applications.

In this month's tech tip, Sam breaks down the different types of USB.

USB 3 Offers SuperSpeed
USB 3 is an awesome technology offering us over 10x the Data Rates of USB 2 as well as introducing the omnidirectional Type C connector. But that does not mean that USB 2 has met the end of its usefulness; in fact, USB 2 lives on as parallel to USB 3 in the USB 3 and Future USB 4 specifications. 

In USB 3, two separate bridges can be used between USB Devices, Hubs, and Hosts. 

The SuperSpeed Bridge (USB 3)

• Designed for High Bandwidth Signals such as 4k MJPEG Video or SSD read/writing for gaming.

The Hi-Speed Bridge (USB 2)

• Designed for legacy USB functions such as Mouse/Keyboard, UVC Cameras, and UAC Audio.

There are two important factors to remember when using USB nowadays:

• Some cables/ports may have some functions. Whether it be USB 2 or 3 functionality only, all the way down to the cable being power only.
  ​
• The two USB bridges are separately clocked even for isochronous (occurring at the same time) USB events; meaning that a device that captures both 4K Video and Audio can suffer severe video delay because of the High Bandwidth video signal. This causes major issues in soft codec conferencing as audio is arriving before a presenter’s lips move.
  

​Ultimately, these factors can cause less problems by understanding the symbols provided by USB, which help you to discern the capabilities of a port.

​I hope the holidays treated everyone well! I think we can all agree that after a tumultuous 2020, we're all looking forward to a better 2021. For my first spotlight of the new year, I want to focus on a product that can help make this year more productive and more profitable for every integrator, the MSol HDBaseT/Network Video tester from Murideo.

​We've all heard the phrase "tools of the trade". Every industry has what are considered essential tools - automotive, culinary, construction, etc. It's one of the things that separates the true professionals from the amateurs. I love to work on my cars and motorcycles; however, I know that when I take it to a pro, they have the tools that allow them to correctly identify the problem the first time and get it done in hours instead of days (sometimes I enjoy those days doing it myself, but then again nobody is paying me to do it). It's no different in our industry. Diagnosing video transmission issues is not necessarily an intuitive process. We can't actually see what's going on with the complex digital communication taking place without the proper tools. AVPro is, of course, in the test tool business through our sister company Murideo. Our Fox and Hound HDMI Test Kit sets the standard for diagnosing HDMI video issues in the field; however, there have been limits to its capabilities. In the real world, we are often tasked with sending increasingly complex video signals over category wire infrastructure. In some ways, it's not unlike deploying data networks, in other ways it is very different. Tools for verifying and troubleshooting data networks have been around for a long time. IT professionals couldn't be in business without them. With today's high-bandwidth video signals, we push the limits even further, both with HDBaseT transmission and video-over-IP.

Realizing that the need existed, Murideo collaborated with MSolutions out of Israel to bring you the MSol tester. Now you can test your copper infrastructure for actual video transmission up to 10Gbps. You can know, with certainty, that the wiring will support the video signals you'll be sending over it. Even better, it can identify issues that may cause intermittent issues - the kind that happen on a Saturday three days after you've completed the project. You can also generate certification documents, something that can be of great value to both the client and others in the process. And of course, if you encounter problems after installation, the MSol can identify the cause with unprecedented accuracy. Here are just a few of the capabilities.

Despite the power of the MSol, it is easy to use, providing intuitive feedback for even a novice user. Easy color-coded feedback provides a user-friendly experience. A variety of available modules allow you to only buy the capabilities that are important to you, including the MU-M4SOL-MXNET upgrade, valuable for deploying video-over-IP platforms such as our new MXNet system. There really is nothing else like it on the market. If you incorporate HDBaseT video or video-over-IP in your business, you really can't afford to be without it. Here's to a 2021 with less headaches and more profit!

​AVPro Edge is a proud distribution partner of Murideo. For more information, contact AVPro Edge sales at 877-886-5112 or find a distributor near you at www.avproedge.com/buy.

​Steve Baker is and industry veteran and AVPro's Sales Manager for the Western US. Here is a little more info about Steve:

​I entered the A/V industry in 1979. Since then I have worked in retail sales/management, custom integration installation /sales/project management as well as business owner and licensed contractor. Since 1999 I have worked primarily in CEDIA channel distribution and direct representation.

Look forward to Baker's Corner in the AVPro Newsletter!