Test and Measurement News

Link Research buys another dScope Series III

Cambridge, UK: Professional broadcast equipment manufacturer Link Research has invested in a second Prism Sound dScope Series III audio analyzer, which is being used in its service department to find audio faults and verify audio performance.

Barry Smith at Link Research with dScope Series III

The Hertfordshire based company, which is part of the Vislink Group, specialises in Encoder/Modulators and SD and HD Wireless Camera Systems that are at the cutting edge of Broadcast technology. Since their introduction in 2002, these systems have been taken up by major broadcasters throughout the world and are in constant use in the day to day gathering of top news stories and sports events.

Service Department Manager Barry Smith says two factors were instrumental in his department's decision to invest in a Prism Sound dScope Series III. Firstly, the unit was already being used by Link Research's R&D department, therefore having the same audio test solution provided a constant platform for sharing test files and results between the two departments. Secondly, dScope Series III is also the audio test solution used by Briton EMS, a Bedfordshire based company that is contracted to build and test Link Research's new L1500 SD/HD wireless camera system.

"With recommendations from two entirely different sources, it made sense for us to look at dScope Series III and see whether it was suitable for our purposes," Smith says. "In the past we have used other manufacturer's equipment, but the results we were achieving were too variable and therefore not accurate enough for our purposes. With Prism Sound's dScope Series III we can share test profiles and easily achieve repeatable test results, as well as confirm results with our subcontractors. It is generally used to confirm faults with audio but we do occasionally use it to provide detailed specs should our customers request them."

Prism Sound has been supplying successful high quality audio test solutions for more than 20 years. The company's solutions provide state-of-the-art testing capabilities, backed up by consultancy and support services that are recognised as the best in the industry.

The dScope Series III offers comprehensive analogue and digital audio signal generation and analysis, plus support for digital audio carrier testing, quasi-anechoic microphone/loudspeaker analysis and testing of Windows™ sound devices. Users can also define their own analysis filters or measurement algorithms, enabling dScope Series III to go far beyond the hugely flexible tool that is already provided as standard. dScope Series III can be easily automated using its built in VBScript interpreter, enabling the creation of custom test routines and pass/fail limit checking. Furthermore, Test automation can also be accomplished with dScope's "COM" interface, when using external automation software. This makes dScope Series III ideally suited to production line testing applications, where testing of many different types of functionality in different domains (analogue, digital, electronic, acoustic) can all be accomplished using this single unit.

The dScope Series III system comprises a Windows PC (XP™ and Vista™ compatible) software application coupled with an external high-precision audio I/O processor for equipment-under-test (EUT) connection. The fact that it is very easy to use was another reason why Barry Smith decided to invest in the unit.

"dScope Series III makes it very easy to collate test data because it is so clearly presented," he says. "It is also portable and, thanks to its simple USB connection, incredibly easy to use. All you have to do is plug it in and you're up and running."

Commenting on the sale, Simon Woollard, Applications Engineer for Prism Sound, says: "I am very pleased that Link Research is continuing to invest in Prism Sound test solutions, and I look forward to working with Barry and his team of engineers. dScope Series III has some great features that Barry and his team will find very valuable. In the service environment, a common problem is that intermittent faults can be very difficult to find and track down. Our test solutions can run automatic fault detection tests which pick up and report faults even when the operator has left the building - a comprehensive report will be waiting for them the next day, describing what faults were detected and when. We strive to deliver the most powerful and best value audio test equipment on the market, and we believe that dScope does exactly that."

Link Research's Encoder/Modulators and the Wireless Camera Systems have become market leading products throughout the world. The company places great emphasis on R&D and Customer Support and Service, both of which it sees as key to its continued growth into the world of professional digital television.