Today, Comtrol launches its latest range of products, BroadPort 550, aimed at the broadcast and recorded media industry.  The BroadPort 550 range of products provides an effective solution to monitoring and controlling a large number and wide range of serial based peripherals in a broadcast environment.

By using the BroadPort 550 range of products a broadcast studio can typically control peripherals such as graphics generators, robotic tape libraries as well as video routers, servers and tape recorders, it is highly versatile and suitable for a myriad of diverse operations.

It provides a 1U 19” rack-mounted uPCI interface with RS-422 connections via Sony DB9 (SMPTE 207M) connectors and a shortly planned update is the 16-port changeover unit which allows rapid swapping of the peripherals from a duty server to a standby server, meaning there is no need to add further adapters as you would with a standard IT product.

This high performing, robust and compact hardware solution is cost-effective and extremely efficient. It provides industry standard 16550 UART technology.  With SCSI cable for connections to the 1U 19” passive rack interface, its enhanced installation capabilities means you can both mitigate risk and improve network performance with immediate effect.  To ensure the post customer service is as key as the pre customer service the BroadPort 550 range of products are supported by a five year warranty for that extra piece of mind.

With such rapid change happening in the broadcast industry it is imperative that the technology used is versatile, reliable and efficient to handle the ever-growing workload, from the high pressure live programming of news and sports to the pay-per-view, interactive, film-only channels. By its very nature, the medium of television leaves little room for error, and therefore broadcast automation hardware must be of the highest quality.

Tony Elvidge, VP sales and marketing director for Comtrol, comments “Our products are designed to handle high data activity and diverse operations at maximum speed; we are continually developing new products that can handle an ever changing climate.  We believe that the BroadPort 550 range of products offers a cost-effective solution to controlling and simplifying the management of serial based peripherals”

For further information on Comtrol’s products please visit www.comtrol.co.uk or contact Tony Elvidge on 01869 352740 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Notes to Editors

Comtrol is a technological leader and a world-wide supplier of high performance PC data communications products.   The business applications include broadcast, remote monitoring & telemetry, industrial control, access control & security systems, CNC monitoring & control, satellite monitoring & control and remote access.  Comtrol’s products are designed for use by system integrators and system builders as well as commercial, government and defence businesses of all sizes.  Based near Oxford, Comtrol designs, develops and sells products specific to the European market. Comtrol has specialised in working with systems integrators to offer a wide range of connectivity products and development tools.  We sell our products in the UK through over 300 value added resellers, who have expertise in our technology and products.

For further press information please contact Natalie Oliver at Boutique PR on 01865 304075 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it