Drake has introduced its Digital Master Digital-To-Analog (MDTA) Mini-Headend, which it described as an on-premises QAM conversion system.

The company said it designed the system to enable operators to adapt smaller, pre-determined, digitally delivered channel lineups for mixed analog and digital environments within MDUs and commercial services properties like schools, health clubs, smaller hospitality properties and hospitals.

The Mini-MDTA system provides cable operators with a scalable approach to servicing the minimal NTSC analog needs of their customers where deploying set-top boxes remains prohibitive or full channel lineups aren’t required . Compatible with both Cisco and Motorola set-top systems, the Mini-MDTA system utilizes Drake mini-rack modulators and inexpensive STBs, such as the Motorola DCT700, to enable ops to offer basic analog services and digital packages.

Built around Drake’s compact, high-performance analog video modulation product, the Mini-MDTA system is capable of processing, demodulating, decrypting and converting up to 12 QAM channels per chassis, yielding 12 analog program streams. The design allows the Mini-MDTA to be quickly wall-mounted or installed inside an existing equipment rack if one is already present on-site.

Multiple Mini-MDTA chassis may be combined to convert as many channels as desired. Locally originated video and audio baseband signals from a satellite receiver, TV camera, videotape recorder, TV demodulator or similar signal sources commonly present at MDUs are also easily integrated with the Mini-MDTA system.