Although 'Balun' technology is not new, (the original concept was introduced by the British Post Office over 60 years ago), the introduction of active (powered) devices to support hi-resolution computer video in financial trading rooms gave a new meaning to the word 'flexibility', specifically in regard to people moves and changes. Many electronic trading rooms with large numbers of back office support staff move desk positions at least 30-50% of their employees during one year.

When 'flood' wiring of buildings with UTP cabling for computer networking began during the 1980's it created a demand for impedance matching baluns to allow coaxial 'ethernet' systems to be seamlessly matched to the twisted pair 'Token Ring' networking solution. Following deregulation and the emergence of large financial trading rooms, passive baluns were devised to match the impedance of traditional 75 ohm coaxial cable to UTP, thereby allowing analogue video to be transmitted over dedicated runs of computer networking cable.

Increasing video resolutions generated by modern computer graphics systems began to highlight the limitations of simple passive baluns leading to the design of active devices.

The first active baluns carried composite video and RGB signals with Syncs-on-Green to multi-sync display monitors. But when, some ten years on, 'open network information systems were introduced in trading rooms, baluns were re-engineered to enable lower cost displays to be used, which required the VGA signal to be effectively transparent from the server. These baluns, which also included data paths for keyboard and mouse controls and audio features, soon became known as PC Extenders and now are generally referred to as KVM (keyboard - video - mouse) extenders. Many manufacturers also include sophisticated switching to allow several PCs to be controlled using one keyboard and mouse device.

Scion Technology specialize in the managed distribution of multi-media services using extender baluns, balun switching systems and remote control products. This enables a full range of multi-media information and business Television services to be accessed by users at their desk and for images to be sent to public area displays by a centrally managed control switch. Balun products now also form the basis of new presentation room installations, which together with other twisted pair control and distribution products, replace expensive multi-core coaxial systems.

Emerging Markets

The growing demand for fast installation of real-time information, not least Television News Services, has been easy to meet with the ability to transmit the signals over previously installed UTP and STP twisted pair cable, and in many instances, standard telephone cable.

Enquiries from the marine industry for solutions to provide passengers aboard luxury liners and cruise ships with up-to-date information and news bulletins throughout cabins and recreational areas have opened up unexpected opportunities. UTP/STP cable installations provide designers with solutions to meet today's needs and future cabling platforms for the eventual roll-out of digital systems when they become real-time and cost effective.