DDC Monitoring option for 780 Handheld Test Instrument for HDMI now available

DDC Monitoring option for 780 Handheld Test Instrument for HDMI now availableSequoia Technology, today announced the release of an Auxiliary Channel Analyzer (ACA) feature on the 780 Handheld Test Instrument for HDMI. The 780 is a battery powered, portable multimedia A/V signal generator and analyzer that can quickly check the HDMI digital ports on HDMI 1.3 devices such as HDTVs, projectors, repeaters, A/V receivers, players, set-top-boxes, etc.

The 780 instruments optional Auxiliary Channel Analyzer (ACA) feature is available in two configurations: 1) for monitoring DDC channel(s) and hot plug detect while emulating an HDMI source or sink device (available now); 2) for passive monitoring (sniffing) DDC channel(s), hot plug detect lines, and CEC buses (available soon). The ability to passively monitor two separate sets of auxiliary data is especially useful for analyzing interoperability problems in an HDMI system comprised of three devices (source, repeater and sink).

The ACA feature enables installers, lab technicians and engineers to monitor DDC transactions such as HDCP and EDID as well as hot plug related events while emulating device(s) in the HDMI system. Since the 780 can emulate a known-good source and/or a known-good sink, operators can sequentially substitute for each device in the system to isolate an interoperability problem. The 780 can even monitor on both sides of a repeater device while emulating both the source and sink devices for trouble isolation.

With the 780 ACA passive monitoring capabilities, users can connect to an HDMI system to passively monitor each side of a repeater device such as an A/V receiver. The 780s ACA feature offers the additional flexibility to monitor passively on one side of an HDMI system while emulating an HDMI device and monitoring its transactions on the other side. For example, the 780 can emulate a set top box (STB) connected to the input side of an A/V receiver and monitor on the output side of the A/V receiver between it and the HDTV. Alternatively, troubleshooting personnel can emulate the HDTV connected to the output side of an A/V receiver while passively monitoring the upstream side between the STB and the input of the A/V receiver. In each case, the two sides of the HDMI-HDCP system transactions--upstream and downstream--are shown interleaved on the 780 GUI to provide an integrated view.

The ability to substitute for each device in an HDMI system, one by one, while emulating a known-good device and monitoring all transactions--upstream and downstream--is critical for troubleshooting HDMI interoperability problems especially when you can passively monitor one side of the HDMI system and emulate the other side.

The DDC transactions, CEC messages and hot plug events are decoded and presented sequentially on the 780s colour display. Operators can highlight a transaction and view its details in human readable text. Users can save a trace file and export it to a PC for dissemination to colleagues and subject matter experts for further analysis on the standalone ACA application available free from the Quantum Data website.

The 780 combines versatility, portability with ease of use and at an attractive price. Whether in the development lab or out in the field, the 780 is an ideal tool for investigating interoperability problems or conducting routine testing of sources and sinks. Existing customers can get their 780 upgraded - contact Sequoia Technology Ltd for ordering, upgrading and pricing information.

Sequoia has a demonstration unit that can be shown to anyone interested in this product.

LINK:	http://www.sequoia.co.uk/news.php?id=52...
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