Draft:Utah Scientific

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Utah Scientific, Inc.
IndustryBroadcasting and Production
Founded1977
Headquarters
Salt Lake City, Utah
ProductsVideo Routing Equipment
Websiteutahscientific.com

Utah Scientific is an electronics dealer and manufacturer specializing in broadcast technology, mainly for video and audio application. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, the company currently offers equipment for routing and distribution, control panels, master control systems, multiviewers, and sync generators to major broadcasting networks and communications infrastructure across the United States. However, Utah Scientific is most well-known for its early creation of equipment capable of supporting HD-compatible signals, which later aided the switch from SD to HDTV in the United States.

Utah Scientific partners with both CVE Italy and with EVS (formerly Axon[1]) to serve customers domestically and internationally.[2][3][4]

History[edit]

Utah Scientific was founded in 1977 by Lyle O. Keys and Earl G. Gray.[5] Prior to founding Utah Scientific, Keys had been a founder of TeleMation, Inc. and Gray had been employed by TeleMation as Production Manager. After selling their stake in the company, the two men set about developing their first product, routing switchers for the television broadcast industry.[6] This development culminated in their first routing switcher, the AVS-1, which was sold to KUED-TV in July 1978.

Subsidiary Years (1987 - 1999)[edit]

In December 1981 Utah Scientific was acquired by Dynatech Ltd.[7][8] Earl Gray left Utah Scientific to assume a management position at Quanta Corporation, another Dynatech subsidiary, in 1987. Eventually, Dynatech divested Utah Scientific with a number of other subsidiaries,[9][10] and Utah Scientific was acquired by Artel Video Systems in March 1997.[11]

As Utah Scientific grew, the company expanded its product line, adding the AVS-1B in 1985. The AVS-1B allowed engineers to reprogram their router using an attached PC terminal, without having to re-cable or reinstall a control system. In this way, as facility changes occurred at broadcast stations, they could quickly make changes to their systems.

Utah Scientific's team also began to add Master Control Switchers, Automation Systems, and Machine Control Systems to its catalog, each designed to be compatible with AVS routers. In 1988 when CCIR 601 digital signals came into use, Utah Scientific added the DVS-1, a parallel digital D1/D2 router.[12]

For the company's 10 year anniversary, at NAB Show 1987 Utah Scientific introduced its signature 10-year hardware warranty. This warranty, the most competitive in the industry, is still included with all Utah Scientific routers sold today.[13]

At NAB Show in 1988, the company unveiled the AVS-2, a compact router that featured 525 crosspoints per rack unit including control module and power supply, the largest available at the time.

The Switch to HDTV[edit]

In July 1997, in preparation for the switch to digital signal, Echostar Communications purchased a Utah Scientific UTAH-300 256x256 router and SC-4 control system for its Dish Network (Later DISH). The router was selected for its ability to support both digital and analog signals simultaneously, as well as its ability to switch inputs from an analog to a digital signal by swapping cards (as opposed to discarding the entire system).[14]

That same year, Vyvx Services (later Level 3 Communications, ultimately absorbed by Lumen Technologies) implemented Utah Scientific routers as a major part of its network, placing routers at teleports in Steele Valley (Los Angeles), Denver and Upsouth Teleport in Atlanta, as well as POPs in its 13,000-mile fiber optic network spanning Chicago, Colorado Springs, Denver, Los Angeles, Portland, Miami, Tulsa and Washington.[15][16] This network is currently used as a conduit for television broadcast as well as video streaming for companies like Netflix.[17]

Reformation (2000 - Present)[edit]

In March 2000, Utah Scientific purchased the routing switcher product line from Artel Video Systems. As part of the acquisition, Utah Scientific assumed all existing warranty and service obligations to the acquired products, Lyle Keys became honorary chairman, Earl Gray assumed the CEO position, and Carmelo Catalano, owner of CVE, became Chairman of the Board.[18] Previously, CVE had represented Utah Scientific products in Italy and was a major investor in Artel.[19]

At NAB Show 2001 Utah Scientific released the industry's first HD-compatible Master Control Switcher, the HD2020.[20]

In 2008 Utah Scientific unveiled the UTAH-400 XL, the first video router offering 1056 inputs and 1056 outputs in a single equipment rack.[21] November of that year Utah Scientific also acquired Norwegian routing switcher distributor and manufacturer Sandar.[22]

In May 2009 NRK, the Norwegian national television broadcaster, announced they had selected a UTAH-400 HD routing switcher and four additional associated control panels to form the core of a standalone fly-away pack generally used for broadcasting remote sporting events.[23]

In 2015, the company partnered with Axon, later acquired by EVS.[2]

On March 9, 2021 Broadcast Management Group (BMG) announced they had selected a UTAH-400 Series 2 288x288 router to power their new production center in Las Vegas, Nevada. The router was chosen for its ability to provide the necessary signal routing infrastructure in order to enable the Remote Integration Model (REMI) for television production.[24]

In March 2023, Globecast purchased a UTAH-400 Series 2 1056XL router for its new location inside Westlake Village Studios, a broadcast facility located in Los Angeles. Globecast had previously used the same model of router at its facility in Culver City.[25]

Notable Products[edit]

Routers[edit]

The UTAH-400 Series 2 routers range in size from 72x72 (32 inputs, 32 outputs) to 1056x1056. The 400 series is designed to provide a hybrid routing hub, supporting all inputs including those used in IP networks. The Series 2 routers feature built in MADI and some feature crosspoint redundancy. These routers can be customized with a wide variety of modular input and output cards, which are hot swappable.[26]

The UTAH-100 UHD-12G line of routers are designed for enterprise-class routing of 4K UHDTV signals, while continuing to support the routing and distribution of all SDI signal formats. These routers are available in sizes 32x32 to 288x288.[26]

The UTAH-100 UDS routers feature compact design for smaller spaces and unique network architecture. Available in sizes 10x10 to 288x288, these routers act as simple distribution amplifiers and most feature programmable control buttons.[26]

Router Control Panels[edit]

Utah Scientific produces both hardware and software control panels for its routers:

The UCP line is a comprehensive suite of hardware panels suitable for all Utah Scientific routers. These panels feature LCD panels, touchscreens, and/or programmable buttons with adjustable colors for simple organization.[26]

WebPanel, SoftLC, and Softpanel are the three software panels available for Utah Scientific devices. All three allow users to group and program buttons according to their preferences, and can be used on any computer running Windows, PC or Linux. WebPanel, as its name implies, can be accessed by multiple users via the web to make adjustments and control system configuration on the fly.[26]

Router Control Systems[edit]

Utah Scientific's SC-4, -40, and -400 control systems act as a bridge between router and control panel, monitoring and managing signals. These control systems can be expanded or bolstered using the U-NET hub, MX-Lator, or UCI-400.[26]

Master Control & Branding Panels[edit]

Utah Scientific's BPS, MC, MCP, and GS panels allow users to bypass or overlay graphics and text (such as logos or chyrons) on top of streamed video feeds while on-air.[26]

Sync Generators[edit]

The Utah Scientific TSG-460 and its expansion unit, the CO465, generate test patterns in order to sync video, audio, text (such as captioning), and timecodes in a signal feed. It is designed to operate in serial digital (standard, high-definition, and 3G) and/or mixed digital/analog environments and adhere to EBU, CCIR or SMPTE requirements.[26]

Fiber Transport[edit]

Both the Utah Scientific XFD line of fiber distribution frames and the HubBox series of portable optical receivers allow incoming fiber optic signals to be converted into SDI formats, and vice versa.[26]

Multiviewers[edit]

Utah Scientific partners with Apantac to offer multiviewers that integrate with Utah Scientific routers in order to monitor signal flow across multiple channels simultaneously.[26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Analysis: EVS Acquisition of Axon". Devoncroft Partners. 2020-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  2. ^ a b "La CVE rilancia e cerca nuovi collaboratori per il proprio staff | MonitoR" (in Italian). 2015-05-13. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  3. ^ "International". Utah Scientific. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  4. ^ Phil Kurz (2021-06-30). "Utah Scientific, EVS Partner on Signal Routing". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  5. ^ Paulson, Bob (1984). "Corporate Profile: Dynatech" (PDF). Broadcast Engineering. p. 34. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  6. ^ "Technical Briefs" (PDF). Broadcasting: 55. October 24, 1977 – via World Radio History.
  7. ^ "BRIEFS". The New York Times. 1981-12-19. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  8. ^ International Broadcast Engineer: IBE. International Trade Publications. 1982.
  9. ^ Dickson, Glen (February 19, 1996). "Dynatech Video Group Breaks Up" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. 126 (8): 66, 68 – via World Radio History.
  10. ^ "Dynatech Corporation | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  11. ^ Broadcasting & Cable. Cahners Publishing Company. 1997.
  12. ^ "Technology: Up to the minute (and then some) at the Las Vegas Convention Center" (PDF). Broadcasting: 56. April 4, 1988 – via worldradiohistory.com.
  13. ^ "10-Year Warranty". Utah Scientific. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  14. ^ "Router Ready" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable: 59. July 15, 1996 – via World Radio History.
  15. ^ https://assets.lumen.com/is/content/Lumen/CDN_map_poster_1220pdf?Creativeid=238af054-1c9d-4507-a2e5-b86fcc2bafff
  16. ^ Dickson, Glen (July 28, 1997). "Vyvx Taps Utah for Big Routers" (PDF). Broadcasting and Cable. 127 (31): 70 – via World Radio History.
  17. ^ "Teleport Los Angeles, Perris, CA | The Center for Land Use Interpretation". clui.org. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  18. ^ "In Brief" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable. 130 (12): 71. March 20, 2000 – via Worldradiohistory.com.
  19. ^ "Comteck Video Enterprise Srl - Company Profile and News". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  20. ^ "Product Jackpot" (PDF). Broadcast Engineering. 43 (7): 128. June 2001 – via World Radio History.
  21. ^ "The Firsts Just Keep On Coming" (PDF). Broadcast Engineering. 50 (8): 39. August 2008 – via World Radio History.
  22. ^ TVTechnology (2008-11-04). "Utah Scientific acquires Sandar". TVTechnology. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  23. ^ American, The Norwegian (2009-05-21). "Norwegian Broadcaster NRK Selects UTAH-400 Router to Support Coverage of Distant Sporting Events". The Norwegian American. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
  24. ^ Communications, Wall Street (2021-03-09). "Utah Scientific UTAH-400 Series 2 Router to Power BMG's Groundbreaking New REMI Production Facility in Las Vegas". Sound & Video Contractor. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  25. ^ Miller, Mark (2023-04-12). "Utah Scientific To Drive Signal Routing In Globecast's New L.A. Facility". TV News Check. Retrieved 2023-05-02.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Products". Utah Scientific. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
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