Evolution Digital uDTAs now operate in ClearQAM mode with DRAKE Simulcast Headend

By Evolution Staff | Fri, 25 Feb 2011

New ClearQAM solution provides high quality MPEG-4/2 local encoding at an affordable price for independent cable operators.

Centennial, Colo, (February 25, 2011) - Evolution Digital, LLC, a leading supplier of digital solutions for bandwidth reclamation and next-generation set-top boxes, has partnered with R.L. Drake, LLC, a leader in communications since 1943 and trusted supplier to independent cable operators, to provide an inexpensive solution to transition to all digital at the cable operators own pace.

A recent breakthrough in MPEG encoding by R.L. Drake allows high quality MPEG-4/2 local encoding which allows operators to provide virtual channel numbering that is equivalent to their analog service. Drake has developed a low-cost PC based solution to provide virtual channel mapping, EAS support and DTA code download support for Evolution Digital uDTAs. This ClearQAM solution will minimize cable operators headend engineering and technical support required.

This is important as it is a subscriber friendly solution with channel numbering including a channel name. Throughout the deployments of over one million DTA units throughout North America, Evolution has focused on making the product as seamless to the analog experience as possible to lessen the subscriber inconvenience.

"Our goal with building the Evolution DTA to operate with this low-cost encoder platform with support for channel mapping is to allow operators to accomplish what they need to today to compete against the satellite and telcos today in an affordable manner," states Tom Lambrecht, CTO of Evolution Digital. "Yet this solution gives operators a path to upgrade in the future, when they are financially ready, to move to full encryption with a security software download."

"It does no good to provide inexpensive bandwidth on network side if a low-cost device were not available to display the content on the premise side," Explains Andy Ruffin, Vice President of Sales, R.L. Drake, LLC. "It is also not feasible for most independent cable operators to purchase an expensive DAC controller or to pay transport and management fees on DTA set top boxes. This partnership delivers operators an affordable, sensible solution for bandwidth reclamation."

Evolution and Drake are focused on supporting the independent cable operators where they are today and help them build to where they want to be through cost-effective bandwidth reclamation solutions to allow operators to deploy advanced services expected by subscribers today.

About R.L. Drake

Headquartered in Ohio, Drake is an American cable TV institution, designing and building innovative end-to-end communications systems and video engineering components for over 65 years. Drake Digital headends are deployed in demanding locations worldwide, from the White House Situation Room to Iraq's Green Zone, Disney's cruise ships to US Navy vessels, and even in remote Inuit Eskimo communities across the Arctic Circle. Drake Digital systems are used by commercial, government, and MSO customers of all sizes. Drake arms multi-channel service providers with the technical solutions they need to effectively compete in the residential, enterprise and hospitality environments.

About Evolution Digital

Evolution Digital, LLC was formed to provide cost-effective solutions for small-to-medium size cable operators to stem the loss of subscribers to DBS and Telco competition. By using Evolution Digital's low-cost DTA converter, operators can reclaim analog bandwidth and use that additional bandwidth to enhance their HD and high-speed data offerings. Once momentum is regained, Evolution Digital provides products to win back lost market share and prepare the market for next generation, "over-the-top" content with ever increasing ARPU as TV and high speed data merge. Evolution Digital is committed to open standards for both set-top boxes and content security, providing operators with choice previously unavailable. www.evolutionbb.com.