A typical High Definition Broadcast chain features potential interconnects that could result in ground loops and the introduction of induced noise. Even though SDI is more immune to extraneous noise and low frequency components (hum) problems can still exist. As with analog signals, once you have noise in the signal, it is extremely difficult and costly to remove. Jitter caused by induced noise effects can compound problems created by unstable signal sources, poor re-clocking systems, cable attenuation and can be the demise of digital signals. HD-SDI Serial Digital signal transmissions at 1.485Gbps over a cable contain a range of low to high frequencies like analog signals and are subject to analog-type distortions like induced noise as well as unique digital distortions related to sampling and quantizing.
These distortions may result in a variety of visible impairments. Unlike analog signals, the digital signals do not degrade gracefully and are subject to a cliff effect. The eye pattern is typically used to evaluate signal quality. When an external factor such as random induced noise affects the absolute bit timing it can result in lost data. Using the Allen Avionics HD-SDI Ground Loop Eliminator you can eliminate the potential for this kind of data loss.