SALT LAKE CITY — Dec. 9, 2009 — Utah Scientific today announced that Auburn University's Media Production Group has installed a Utah Scientific UTAH-400 video routing switcher and a UTAH-200 router as part of a major facility renovation that included the facility's transition to HD operation. The UTAH-400 digital router replaces a 19-year-old analog router, also manufactured by Utah Scientific. The UTAH-200 (loaded 16x16) is being used as a cost-effective means of routing timecode.
"We have had Utah Scientific routers since 1985, and the last one ran from 1990 until this year with never a problem," said Larry Shaw, manager of the Media Production Group. "That's why, when it came time to get an HD router, I wanted one from Utah Scientific. The whole system relies on the router every day, and you don't want a failure there. With Utah, you can be sure the router is consistently working the way it's supposed to."
Television's entire technology history can be traced in Auburn's media production facility, which dates to 1954 when programming for the Alabama Educational Television System was shot there on black-and-white film. Today, the operation's mainstay is distance-education classes produced for the university's College of Business, but the staff also produces content for public television including documentaries and musical performances, informational and promotional programming for the university, public service announcements for the state of Alabama, and contract work for the industry.
The Auburn media production staff planned its facility renovation during the 2008 calendar year, and most of the new equipment was delivered a year ago. The goal was to complete the installation before the start of spring semester in 2009, but unforeseen construction challenges caused delays. As a result, the new Utah routers had to be pressed into service in a closet-sized space that served as the control room until construction was finally completed in October. Fortunately, the 144-frame UTAH-400 router (loaded 64x80) takes up only one-third of a rackframe. Besides being compact, the UTAH-400 uses minimal power while producing very little noise and heat.
In addition to its small size and cost-effective operation, the UTAH-400 is valuable to Auburn for two key reasons. First, it is easy to expand and upgrade, and second, it carries Utah Scientific's best-in-the-industry, 10-year no-fee warranty. The UTAH-400 also features an easy-to-use graphic interface that allows the operator to copy settings from one control panel to another without reentering all the information, a substantial time-saver over earlier systems.
"Longtime customers such as Auburn University recognize that Utah products combine our well-known reliability and durability with up-to-date, user-friendly innovations," said Tom Harmon, president and CEO of Utah Scientific. "With everything we manufacture, we remember that there's no better salesperson for any piece of equipment than a satisfied customer."
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About Utah Scientific Inc.
Utah Scientific is the world's leading specialist in analog, digital, and HDTV routing switchers, master control switchers, and related control software. For more than 30 years, the company has provided industry-leading products and best-in-class service and support as recognized, again in 2009, by Frost & Sullivan with its Customer Service Leadership Award and demonstrated by the industry's first no-fee 10-year warranty. Additional information about the company can be found at www.utahscientific.com.
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