UTAH-400 Chosen by Kansas State to Unlock the Future
September 17, 2007
Source: Utah Scientific
Embarking
on a fiscally responsible transition to digital operation,
Kansas State University's Educational Communications Center
(ECC) has installed two Utah Scientific UTAH-400 routing switchers
for video and audio, along with the SC-4 control system, at
the heart of the center's production and broadcast facility.
"Like a lot of facilities, we are transitioning as our
budget allows, and every dollar is important," said Robert
Nelson, director of engineering at the ECC. "The router
is one of the most important pieces of equipment in a facility.
To us, a reliable, functional, and easy-to-use router is the
key to our future plans, including the eventual upgrade to
HD."
Located in Manhattan, Kan., Kansas–State University (K-State)
is a land-grant institution with an educational communications
center whose full production facilities include four studios,
an uplink truck and a production truck. Round-the-clock programming
includes lectures, music, arts and K-State football and basketball
video-board productions.
The center also contracts some commercial work such as outdoor
events for Cabela's and video-board productions for a local
music festival called "The Country Stampede." Besides
production, the ECC frequently provides backhaul services
for CNN, PBS, and other networks.
Installed in one day and on the air since March, K-State's
new routers are upgradeable to HD by means of a simple card
exchange, making them ideal for facilities in transition.
The Utah Scientific equipment is easy to use, so novices can
readily be trained to work on it. While the K-State facility
is not run by an academic department and is not primarily
for teaching, a number of students work there.
"We design all our routers to be backward compatible
with legacy analog and digital equipment," said Tom Harmon,
president and CEO of Utah Scientific. "This is important
for facilities like K-State, which are trying to upgrade on
a limited budget."
Also important to K-State's decision was Utah Scientific's
support, its 10-year 24-hour free warranty, and inclusion
of a laptop that configures the router but is not required
for ongoing operation.
About Kansas State University's Educational Communications
Center
K-State's ECC production facilities include four studios,
an uplink truck, and a production truck. Round-the-clock programming
includes lectures, music, arts and Kansas State football and
basketball, as well as student-produced programming. The center
also produces some commercial work for state agencies, non-profits,
and other clients and provides backhaul for national networks
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