Leader’s new Sx2 Series of handheld signal generation, analysis and monitoring devices is precisely calibrated to support today’s 12G-SDI, 4K UHD and HDR workflows and features a new touchscreen UI.
Test & measurement developer Leader Electronics of Europe, has launched a range of handheld signal generation, analysis and monitoring devices, the Sx2 Series. Moving on from the PHABRIX Sx Series, the new line is precisely calibrated to support today’s 12G-SDI, 4K UHD and HDR workflows.
So far, the Sx2 Series comprises the Sx2 portable 12G-SDI 4K/UHD generation and the Sx2E portable 12G-SDI 4K/UHD generation, analysis & monitoring instruments. The Sx2E version includes advanced physical layer analysis. With greater processing power, expanded functionality and a redesigned touchscreen interface, the Sx2 Series suits engineers and operators who need to work efficiently and maintain high standards of signal quality across, production, post-production, broadcast and manufacturing facilities.
Key features that are common to both models include full 12G-SDI and 4K UHD capabilities. The 12G-SDI support delivers the bandwidth and performance required for high-resolution, high-bandwidth media workflows. Enabling 4K UHD signal analysis over a single coaxial interface simplifies setup and ensures signal integrity and accuracy. This capacity reflects current developments across today’s media and broadcast operations where demand for 12G-SDI monitoring is growing alongside the adoption of UHD.
Modern Touchscreen and Extended Field Use
The Sx2 products also continue and improve on operation of the original Sx Series, recognised for its ease of use, with a modern touchscreen interface that supports faster, more efficient workflow navigation. The new UI allows users to control the instrument using either the touchscreen or the precision rotary control – affording flexibility to work in all environments. An integrated speaker supports audio monitoring as well. Configurable screen layouts make it possible to create up to eight custom templates, each displaying three or four instruments.
Designed for extended operation in the field, the Sx2 combines battery performance improvements with USB-C charging to keep engineers working for longer. A high-capacity rechargeable battery extends operating time, and the swappable battery design allows depleted batteries to be replaced in seconds, keeping downtime during testing to a minimum. From on-location deployments and OB trucks to broadcast facilities, the Sx2 maintains the flexibility, endurance and reliability engineers need to keep test and measurement workflows running uninterrupted.
The new handheld hardware also include a comprehensive suite of analysis and generation tools – including everything for detailed monitoring and troubleshooting of SDI signals – as well as ancillary data monitoring, with ANC status and payload inspection, on-screen decoding of OP47, CTA-608 embedded within CTA-708, and native CTA-708 closed captions, plus Ancillary Time Code (ATC) display.
Physical Layer Toolset
The Physical Layer Toolset, which is available as standard on the Sx2E only, offers fast 12G/6G/3G/HD/SD-SDI physical layer commissioning, testing and development. Its RTE (Real-Time Eye) Technology instantly highlights any SMPTE compliance issues and real-time SDI jitter window provides simultaneous monitoring across five specified frequency bands, jitter histogram and video trigger options.
Both models in the Sx2 Series feature an optional SX2-HDR software license. This opens up a comprehensive HDR toolset including signal generator, Luma false colour highlight or heat map, waveform monitor and vectorscope. All the main live production SDR and HDR formats are supported - Standard Dynamic Range (SDR), BT.709, BT.2020 as well as HDR BT.2100 HLG, PQ, Sony S-Log3 and SR Live.
The Sx2 Series is not a replacement for but an extension of the Sx Series, which will continue to be supported by Leader. leaderphabrix.com
