New product features IR and RF output to facilitate mixed testing environments as TV remote controls become increasingly RF based
Full capabilities will be on display on the RedRat booth (B30F) situated in Hall 11.
RedRat will also be showcasing a new product RF evaluation kit developed specifically to support its new RF4CE and Bluetooth product range. RedRat’s evaluation kit allows set top box vendors and manufacturers to cost effectively incorporate RF remote control testing scripts into their standard testing processes before moving to mixed IR/RF or totally RF-based testing environments.
The new irNetBox (branded as irNetBox-IV) comprises a number of new features, including a built-in OLED display and navigation panel to simplify its installation and management on customer networks. The display can also be configured to show client-specific testing data, such as the type, frequency or duration of tests being carried out.
Other features include an on-board real-time clock (to support autonomous testing functionality directly from the device itself), Power over Ethernet (PoE) support and extended API capabilities. There is also an expansion header to accommodate RedRat’s RF4CE and Bluetooth LE modules to facilitate both infrared and RF control in testing facilities with heterogeneous groups of set top boxes (STBs).
RF technology is being increasingly used to control TV set top boxes and to facilitate interactive TV applications and, according to industry estimates, almost 50% of TV and set-top box remote controls currently coming on to the market are RF based.
“Our next-generation product range allows set top box manufacturers to support mixed testing environments while they make the transition from infrared,” says Dr Chris Dodge, Technical Director and Owner of RedRat Ltd. “Improved usability and management that our new product offers, combined with an enhanced specification and design will assist QA departments as they setup and operate their test environments.”
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