RAD Adds Video Surveillance Solution to its Megaplex Multiplexer

At ITU Telecom World 2003 in Geneva, RAD Data Communications will formally unveil a unique real-time video surveillance solution for security-sensitive facilities.

“In the post-9/11 world, even the smallest communications room has become a potential front line for protecting people and property,” notes Ami Sofer, Megaplex Product Line Manager at RAD Data Communications. “Until now, video surveillance has not been integral to the data communications and telecommunications markets,” he explains. “RAD is changing that by introducing sophisticated integrated video surveillance capabilities into its data/voice multiplexer solutions, streamlining video surveillance data over the existing infrastructure and transforming it into a converged network.”

The new VID module for RAD’s Megaplex-2100 and Megaplex-2104 modular integrated access multiplexers offers four video inputs and comes with a video control and monitoring package suitable for surveillance applications such as alarm verification, traffic control, crowd control and other security purposes.

Installations already employing the Megaplex as a data and voice solution can immediately obtain a surveillance application as well by simply adding the VID card. “This is true multiservice, with data, voice and video all in one box, eliminating the need for additional capital expenses,” Sofer states. “Other vendors might offer multiplexers that supply the transport layer for video, but that is no substitute for a single data/voice platform,” he continues. “With the VID module, the Megaplex has become the most integrated and cost-effective data/voice/video solution on the market today.”

The Megaplex can be deployed as a security solution for buildings, fenced perimeters and unmanned access points at government offices, border control posts, airports and mass transit facilities, public utility facilities, cellular base stations, educational institutions, offices, malls and shopping centers and large corporate campuses.

By utilising a patent pending algorithm for video compression, the VID card is able to provide very high quality resolution so that even small details can be discerned on the screen. The solution also comes complete with a video control application for a PC platform that enables many different operations for video surveillance. In addition, each VID module can record up to 1,000 frames, allowing local pre- and post-alarm recording at each location for identification and event (or post-event) analysis.

The versatile Megaplex can transmit the video surveillance data over an E1/T1 line or over an IP network, either as pure Ethernet or as a TDM over IP (TDMoIP®) stream. When needed, it can also serve as a channel bank for video streaming directly over the LAN.

The simple to configure VID module supports video streaming over a star or daisy chain topology. Video traffic is protected by all of the Megaplex’s protection mechanisms, including main link 1+1 and 1:1 and data base redundancy and various ring topology implementations.