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FS.COM 3G-SDI Video

SFP Solution

Have you ever experienced the splash screen, black or blue screen or lagging frame when using
HD-SDI (High definition Serial Digital Interface) fiber converter at the 3Gbps data rate? If so, todays
contents about 3G-SDI video SFP (small form-factor pluggable) module may be very useful for you
to escape this predicament.

About 3G-SDI
With the wide deployment of fiber optics, the HD (high definition) video transmission over fiber is
no longer a dream. We are familiar with the HD video interface such as HDMI (High Definition
Multimedia Interface), HD-SDI, HD-CVI (High Definition Composite Video Interface) and so on. But
what is 3G-SDI?
3G-SDI is an updated version of HD-SDI which can offer nominal data rates of 1.485 Gbit/s (dual link)
and 2.970 Gbit/s serial link, respectively. 3G-SDI system can support the digital video signals with
SMPTE424M, SMPTE292M, SMPTE259M, SMPTE297M , SMPTE305M and SMPTE310M standards,
as well as the DVB-ASI (EN50083-9) format digital video signals. Similar with HD-SDI, 3G-SDI is
generally used for the television broadcasting. But as the technology advances, it is now widely
applied in global security applications such as high-end surveillance or unmanned systems, allowing
simple designs or upgrades with full HD cameras.
SDI Transmission

Method

SD-SDI

HD-SDI

3G-SDI

Signal Type

Digital

Digital

Digital

Specification

SMPTE 259M

SMPTE

306

Mbps

1.485

Gbps

180

MHz

About

750

Transmitted Data
Transmission
Maximum

Quantity

Frequency

Resolution

960486@59.94i

292M

1080i60,

Fiberstore (FS.COM) | FS.COM 3G-SDI Video SFP Solution

MHz

1080p30

SMPTE 424M
2.970

Gbps

About

1.5 GHz

1080p60

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3G-SDI Video Equipment & 3G-SDI Video SFP

A variety of 3G-SDI video products have been launched in the market. These equipment include
3G-SDI extenders, 3G-SDI distribution amplifiers, 3G-SDI matrix switchers and so on. They are
adopted with 3G pathological signal but can also be compatible with 1.5G pathological signal for
long-distance transmission, meeting the diversified demands of users.
However, though there are many 3G-SDI equipment in the market, most of the products cannot
pass the SDI pathological-code test. In this case, if the video signals are transmitted in an irregular
bitrate, the issues that are mentioned in the beginning of the article may occur. This phenomenon
will happen especially under the operation of 3Gbps (i.e., 1080p application) rather than 1.5G (720p
or 1080i application). Why? Excluding the factors of equipment quality and brand differences, the
cost factor may be the main reason. In the current market, most of the HD-SDI converters employ
the ordinary SFP optics, namely the 1.25G or 2.5G digital SFP to replace the specific video SFP.
Inevitably, the error rate increases when transmission bit rate is irregular. Since the application field
of HD-SDI converter requires higher quality frames, it is very necessary to use the specific 3G-SDI
video SFP to avoid these problems and ensure the high definition and smooth frames of the video.
3G-SDI module is designed in SFP package which is compliant with SFP Multi-Source Agreement
(MSA) and SFF-8472. 3G-SDI module can be designed with different form factor such as dual or
single transmitter, dual or single receiver, duplex or BiDi (bi-directional) transceiver (transceiver &
receiver). According to the operation wavelengths, 3G-SDI module can be used in multimode or
single-mode applicationworks on 850nm wavelength to support up to 300m transmission
distance over multimode fiber and 1310 or 1550nm wavelengths to support 10km or 80km
transmission distance over single-mode fiber. In addition, 3G-SID CWDM SFP modules are also
available in the market. Furthermore, 3G-SDI SFP module also support DDM (Digital Diagnostic
functions) function to monitor extensive output optical power, bias current, supply voltage and
operating temperature etc.

3G-SDI Video SFP Application Cases

Similar to the ordinary SFP module that is used in the switch to transmit and receive the signals,
3G-SDI SFP module is for the same purpose but used in the HD-SDI equipment. It plays an important
role in the application of digital video extension over fiber. Three classical 3G-SDI SFP application
cases (over SMF) are shown in the following:
Case 1: Using a 3G-SDI SFP transmitter for transmitting the signals and a 3G-SDI SFP receiver for
receiving the signals over a simplex SMF. This is the most basic case of the HD-SDI video
transmission.

Fiberstore (FS.COM) | FS.COM 3G-SDI Video SFP Solution

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Case 2: Using 3G-SDI SFP transceivers which can both transmit and receive over a duplex LC SMF.

Case 3: Using a pairs of 3G-SDI BiDi SFP transceiver which can both transmit and receive over a
simplex LC SMF. This solution can help save more cost on fiber.

Fiberstore (FS.COM) | FS.COM 3G-SDI Video SFP Solution

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FS.COM Solution
FS.COM offers a full line of the 3G-SDI SFP modules that are mentioned above. By making
continuous improvements, more and more related products will be launched in the near future. In
addition, for high-definition video transmission, we also offer the high-quality SDI/HDMI/VGA fiber
converters, as well as other optical multiplexers. Welcome to contact us for more details (E-mail:
sales@fs.com).

Fiberstore (FS.COM) | FS.COM 3G-SDI Video SFP Solution

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Contact Us
Manufacturing R & D (China)

North America (United States)

Eastern Side, Second Floor, Science &

Technology Park, No.6, Keyuan Road,
Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518057,
China
Tel: +86 (755) 8300 3611
Fax: +86 (755) 8326 9395
Email: sales@fs.com

331 Andover Park East Ste330, Tukwila,

WA 98188,United States
Tel: +1-425-226-2035
Fax: +1-253-246-7881
Email: sales@fs.com

APAC Office (Hong Kong)

London Office (United Kingdom)

1220 Tung Chun Commercial Centre,

438-444 Shanghai Street, Kowloon,
Hong Kong
Tel: +852 81763606
Fax: +852 81763606
Email: sales@fs.com

Third Floor 207 Regent Street, London,

W1B 3HH, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 2081441980

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Notice: This document is for informational purposes only and does not set forth any warranty, expressed or
implied, concerning any equipment, equipment features, or service offered or to be offered by Fiberstore.
Fiberstore reserves the right to make changes to this document at any time, without notice, and assumes no
responsibility for its use. This information document describes features that may not be currently available.
Contact a Fiberstore sales team for information on feature and product availability.

Fiberstore (FS.COM) | FS.COM 3G-SDI Video SFP Solution