The Communications Cable and Connectivity Association (CCCA) and the Copper Development Assocation (CDA) issue a joint warning on the usage of cables with copper clad non- UL, NEC or TIA code compliant aluminium conductors instead of solid copper conductors.

Both organisations warn such cables violate a number of safety and building industry standards due to potential safety and performance concerns. Standards UL 444 and TIA 568C.2 require solid copper conductors for multi-conductor communications cables.

Some contractors may be unaware of this recent development. Luckly, one can easily detect copper clad alumium conductors by scraping the thin copper surface to expose the bright alumium underneath.

The CCCA says installers and users should ask for complete product specification documentation when dealing with lesser known brands, making sure such cables are verified or listed by an independent third party.

Go CCCA and CDA Warn of Non-Compliant Category Cable

CEDIA releases its 3rd white paper on the topic of HDMI-- HDMI Installation Best Practices.

The new document covers best practices in HDMI distribution, including how to pull HDMI cables, basic HDMI tests and an overview of common interoperability issues.

The organisation says the white paper should help industry professionals execute HDMI installations properly from the onset, in order to achieve the best results.

CEDIA offers another 2 documents-- Introduction to HDMI and HDMI Design and Initialisation Sequence. All are available through CEDIA' online marketplace.

Go CEDIA Releases Third HDMI White Paper

Extron unveils its Foxbox HDMI fiber optic transmitter and receiver set at Amsterdam's ISE.

The Foxbox carries pixel-for-pixel HDMI images (up to WUXGA and HDTV 1080p/60) via Extron's all digital zero-compression technology. Its features include Key Minder, EDID Minder, Auto Input memory, RS-232 control from multiple locations, internal test patterns and real-time system monitoring.

The transmitter and receiver set is compatible with FOX series amplifiers, switchers, matrix switchers and VGA/DVI extenders (when transmitting non-HDCP content).

It is available in multi- and single-mode models, in a compact, low profile enclosure.

Go Extron

Magenta Research announces an addition to its MultiView family-- one delivering 1920 x 1200 resolution single link DVI-D video over 1200' of standard UTP cable.

The model outputs DVI or RGBHV video, alongside serial and audio signals.

Integrators can also daisy-chain MultiView DVI receivers for additional install flexibility.

The models are compatible with Magenta's Mondo Matrix III scalable UTP switch-- resulting in Mondo Matrix installations supporting both digital and audio signals within the same switch, with configurations ranging from 16 x 16 to 256 x 512.

Go Magenta Multiview