QuStream routing systems used for NBC's coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games

QuStream Corporation has been selected to provide the central routing system to NBC for the network's coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games.

The QuStream routing system chosen is the Cheetah 864XR series which provides for up to 864 HD inputs and outputs in a single chassis. Occupying only 41 U, the QuStream Cheetah router forms the backbone of a complete system being installed in the International Broadcast Center for NBC. The router is equipped with both fiber-optic and coax I/O cards and includes an interface allowing it to be controlled by Sony's S-BUS remote router controller.

"The Cheetah 864XR gives us a tremendous number of crosspoints in only 41 rack units", says David Mazza, NBC's Senior Vice President, Engineering. "Other companies can require more than four equipment racks to provide the routing capacity that QuStream provides in only one. With real estate at an absolute premium in the IBC, the QuStream Cheetah 864XR was the right choice for us".

"We are pleased to have been selected to participate in this high profile project," comments Karlton Burn, QuStream Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing. QuStream routing technology is recognized worldwide for its quality and reliability in mission-critical applications. Our products are frequently chosen for mobile broadcast coverage of major live events and the Beijing Olympics is as big as they come in terms of worldwide audience figures."

Populating in groups of 16 inputs and outputs, the Cheetah 864XR bridges the gap between the industry-standard router architecture for requirements larger than 512x512 but less than 1024-squared. Housed in a single 41 U chassis (including internal power supplies and control), the Cheetah 864XR offers the greatest routing density in the industry. It provides for both coax and fiber connectivity directly in and out of the frame with no need for expensive, external conversion gear. The fiber I/O includes both single and multi-mode – and even CWDM technology allowing for 16 uncompressed HD channels on a single fiber. All major modules are hot-swappable and real-time SNMP-based monitoring and diagnostics of internal frame health is a standard feature.