R.L. Drake has launched The Drake Digital Freedom system, a cable system based on MPEG-4 and using the BBTSolution open standard downloadable security (OSDSTM) and conditional access system introduced by Beyond Broadband Technology.

The Drake Digital Freedom headend architecture consists of a customizable combination of Drake transcoder, modulator and passive combiner devices networked with an InterTech headend controller.

Drake Digital Freedom is designed to overlay existing hardware and provides cable operators with a fully customizable migration path from analog to digital distribution, allowing operators to recover and manage broadband spectrum far more efficiently without the necessity of major new capital expenditures, R.L . Drake explained.

Drake Digital Freedom is compatible with both MPEG-2 and MPEG-4, but it relies on the latter to deliver a larger number of SD and HD digital channels, while continuing to support analog channels.

Most cable networks are now available through the BBTPlus end-to-end package via satellite transport by Avail Media, R.L. Drake said.

The system uses HDDS24 set-top boxes (based on ST Micro chipsets) enabled by BBTSolution.

“For the first time, operators have a new, viable choice in conditional access systems. We've integrated cutting-edge technologies into our Drake Digital Freedom system specifically to provide cable TV systems operators with the tools they need to compete at price points even the smallest operators can afford,” said Jeff Huppertz, who was recently promoted from COO to president and CEO of R.L. Drake.