TechnoFile

Tributaries Bows Duo of Flagship Cable Lineups

Two All-New Series Totaling Nearly Two-Dozen SKUs Introduced

Orlando, FL—August 2007—At the 2007 CEDIA Show in Denver, Colorado, Tributaries® will debut two new ranges of cables destined to redefine the high-end value/performance connectivity category. The Tributaries® Series 9 and Series 7 families of interconnects will extend its reputation for quality still higher with designs suited to the most demanding audio and home-theater systems and installations.

“There are a lot of very expensive cables out there,” says Joe Perfito, President of Tributaries®. “But few if any can match the new Series 9 and Series 7 for thoroughness of engineering and quality of construction—and we know for certain that none can approach their value. Everything we’ve learned in more than 15 years of cable and connector design is reflected in these products, and we’re proud of them. We fully expect these new Tributaries to take their place at the top of the cable and interconnect world.”

Both new Tributaries® ranges are offered in families dedicated to video, analog-audio, digital-audio, and digital-video formats, each one specifically engineered to bring state-of-the-art performance to its appointed task. The Series 9 take pride of place as the company’s new flagship cables: Simply put, the finest cables Tributaries® has yet created. The Series 7 cables come astonishingly close to equaling Series 9 performance, at substantial savings thanks to judicious use of less costly materials in selected, less-critical positions. Where the ultimate in performance is demanded and cost is no object, the Series 9 is the clear choice—but for many, the quality and value of the remarkable new Series 7 cables will be difficult to pass up.

Every Series 9 and Series 7 cable, excepting the HDMI and optical-digital models, is hand-soldered and hand-assembled at the Tributaries® Florida facility. All feature gold-plated, solid brass connectors with fully gold-plated contacts and connectors, solid-metal covers, and waterproof woven jacketing.

Series 9 Tributaries features include: Analog Audio
• Heavy, 20AWG OFHC solid copper signal conductor and a 1.25% silver-plated 20AWG/46-strand OFHC copper return conductor; these deliver world-class signal-transfer with unmatched flexibility and corrosion-free longevity.
• LDPE insulator for superior dielectric properties and flexibility.
• OFHC copper braided shield provides 95% coverage plus a double-sided copper foil secondary shield with 100%-coverage for optimum isolation from interference.

Digital and Video
• True 75-ohm engineered coaxial construction for optimum video signal-transfer
• 20AWG, 2.5% silver-plated solid OFHC copper conductor reduces “skin effect” by improving conductance at ultra high video/digital frequencies.
• Cutting-edge “skin-foam-skin” dielectric construction maintains tight-spec 75-ohm impedance even when the cable is bent.
• Dual concentric OFHC copper braided shields provide 95% coverage plus a double-sided copper foil secondary shield with 100%-coverage ensures unparalleled protection from noise, RFI and EMI.

HDMI Digital Video
• All HDMI models are fully compliant with HDMI v1.3/1.3a and HDCP.
• Engineered 100-ohm construction complies with HDMI specification.
• 10.2 Gbps bandwidth ensures total data transmission, future-tolerance.
• 25AWG silver-plated copper conductors minimize “skin effect” via improved conductance at ultra-high video/digital frequencies.
• Unique “skin-foam-skin” dielectric maintains tight spec 75-ohm impedance even when cable is bent.
• Tinned OFHC braided copper 95%-coverage shield plus an aluminum/Mylar® wrap with 100%-coverage.
• Gold-plated connectors, die-cast metal covers, gold -plated contacts ensure trouble-free performance.

The Tributaries Series 7 share most of the Series 9’s important design elements and their benefits, but implement selected cost-saving changes in materials to reach lower price points while preserving much of the Series 9’s unsurpassed performance. Where the ultimate in performance is demanded and cost is no object, the Series 9 is the clear choice. But for many, the quality and value of this remarkable new Series 7 cables will be tough to pass up.

Like the Series 9, every Series 7 analog audio and video model features hand-soldered construction by the Tributaries team at the firm’s Florida, USA plant, with solid-brass connectors throughout.

Series 7 Tributaries features include:
Analog Audio
• Twisted-pair construction for immunity to outside interference.
• Dual 20AWG/46 strand OFHC copper conductors maintain high conductance and flexibility.
• LDPE insulator layer for excellent dielectric properties and flexibility.
• OFHC copper braided shield provides 95% coverage plus an aluminum/Mylar® secondary shield with 100%-coverage delivers superior shielding.

Digital and Video
• True 75-ohm engineered coaxial construction for optimum video signal-transfer.
• 20AWG/46-strand 1.25% silver-plated copper signal-conductor reduces “skin effect” for improved conductance at ultra highvideo/digital frequencies.
• Nitrogen-injected PE insulation for best dielectric properties.
• OFHC copper braided shield with 95% coverage plus a double-sided aluminum/Mylar® secondary shield with 100%-coverage yields superb rejection of interference and noise.

HDMI Digital Video
• All HDMI models are fully compliant with HDMI v1.3/1.3a and HDCP.
• Engineered 100-ohm construction complies with HDMI specification.
• 10.2 Gbps bandwidth ensures total data transmission and future-tolerance.
• 26AWG silver-plated copper conductors reduce “skin effect” for improved conductance at ultra-high digital-video frequencies.
• Unique “skin-foam-skin” dielectric maintains tight spec 75-ohm impedance even when cable is bent.
• Tinned OFHC copper braided shield with 95%-coverage plus an aluminum/Mylar® wrap with 100%-coverage
• Gold-plated connectors, die-cast metal covers, gold-plated contacts ensure trouble-free performance.

All of the Tributaries® Series 9 and Series 7 cables are available in a wide range of formats, lengths, and connectors, including balanced-audio models; Series 9 includes a new optical-digital cable using multi-stranded core technology terminated with a hand polished convex-lens. Like all Tributaries products, the Series 7 and 9 cables comply fully with the RoHS environmental standards; what’s more, like all Tributaries products, each Series 7/9 cable is optionally available without retail plastic blister packaging, a further environmentally conscious measure.

Tributaries® Series 7 and 9 cables are now available with the following suggested retail pricing.

Series 7: 1m Optical: $75
1m of Component Video $200
Series 9: 1m Optical: $150
1m of Component Video $400

About Tributaries®
Established in 1991 in Orlando, Florida, Tributaries® is an acknowledged leader in the design, production, and distribution of high-quality audio and video interconnect cables, speaker wires, accessories, and electronics. The company prides itself on its customer service, and has won the CE industry magazine Inside Track Supplier Loyalty Awards a total of ten times in the past eleven years.

Tributaries® is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gordon J. Gow Technologies, Inc.

For more information, please visit www.tributariescable.com.

Tributaries® Introduces Innovative Duo of HDMI v1.3 Switchers

New HX410A model first to offer separation of audio signal from HDMI

Orlando, FL—July 2007—Tributaries®, the acknowledged leader in “value-high-end” connectivity for home and professional A/V systems and custom installations, has applied its expertise to a pair of new, affordable, and compact remote-controlled HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) switchers, bringing the single-cable format’s full functionality to systems in a highly competitive form. The HX410 and HX410A boast value and superb performance that separate them from the crowded field of “me too” HDMI accessories.

The Tributaries® HX410 and HX410A can each select from among four HDMI sources—DVD players, Blu-ray Disc or HD DVD high-definition disc players, and cable, satellite, or broadcast hi-def set-top/boxes or tuners—and output signals to a single HDMI output. The Tributaries® designs do more than passively select—both models include Signal Enhancement, which engages active equalization to maintain full-integrity HDMI transmissions even over long cable runs. This feature will prove very helpful in maintaining the optimum video/audio quality that can be obtained from the customer’s equipment. In fact, each model’s built-in booster enables it to be mounted along with the other equipment and still run 30 meters of 1080p signal after the unit—a feature hard to find in this crowded product category.

The Tributaries® HX410A goes even further: Though identical to the HX410 in every other regard, it also includes both optical and coaxial S/PDIF digital-audio ports for each input and at its single output, allowing the audio and video signals to be routed independently. This makes it a unique problem-solver for the many consumers who are using their new display devices with HDMI and older audio systems without HDMI. The 410A serves as the “missing link” that enables all of these components to work flawlessly together, at a similar price to products that lack this important capability.

Both HX410 models are compliant with the latest standards, HDMI 1.3 and HDCP 1.1, and thus accept and select among inputs that incorporate digital video and stereo or multichannel digital audio on a single cable, with full compatibility with even the newest components. Front-panel pushbuttons provide control over both models, while blue mini-LEDs indicate power-on, the active input, and the Signal Enhancement mode.

With ease of installation and integration in mind, the new models incorporate both wireless remote control and RS-232 serial control. Both the HX410 and HX410A are supplied with a convenient “credit-card”-style infrared remote that delivers direct-access selection among its four HDMI (or HDMI + digital audio) inputs by simply pressing numeric keys 1 through 4; the remote also provides power on/off. Both new Tributaries® switchers also include an RS-232 serial port that enables them to be fully integrated into a multiroom media system or touchscreen-controlled home theater, incorporating serial commands for input select, power on/off, and signal-enhance enable/disable.

Manufacturer’s suggested retail prices:
HX410: $300, HX410A: $400.
Availability: Now shipping

Tributaries® is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gordon J. Gow Technologies, Inc.

For more information, please visit www.tributariescable.com.

TRIBUTARIES® Delivers Bundled Cables

Serving the needs of today’s demanding AV systems integrators

Orlando, FL—June 2007—A quartet of “bundled” bulk cable solutions from TRIBUTARIES®, known worldwide for its award winning service in the audio, video, and custom-installation cabling and accessories industry is launching today. These new solutions will make designer/installers’ jobs easier, while also making projects more successful and economical.

TRIBUTARIES® offers a “mini-RGB” cable in three versions, plus an intensively bundled quad-CAT5+RG6 cable engineered to deliver one-run efficiency and economy that is able to cover a broad range of system and installation needs.

The TRIBMINI family bundles high-performance, individually insulated RGB conductors—fully capable of long-run transmission of High Definition and standard analog video including all configurations of component and RGB/H/V—in a single, flexible, compact, easy to ‘pull’ cost-saving, UL® CL2, FT4 PVC jacket. There are three variations forming easy-to-run solutions for video, video+audio, and video+audio+data requirements; the TRIBMINI3 delivers 3x RGB (23AWG); the TRIBMINI5 5x RGB, and the TRIBMINI6D1 bundles 6x RGB with an individually jacketed CAT5E 350MHz twisted-pair data cable, all in a single PVC overjacket.

The TRIBD4V1 is a very different type of solution and is engineered to meet the needs of the most up-to-date distributed-system designer. For this market, Tributaries’ TRIBD4V1 serves as a ready answer: four 350MHz-capable CAT5E groupings, including one that is shielded (CAT5ES), plus a high-end quad-shielded, solid copper 18AWG center conductor RG6QSC run for any antenna, satellite, or RF-video needs. Designed with a UL® CMR FT4 PVC-jacket the TRIBD4V1 makes for a flexible, highly adaptable, space-efficient and high-value resource for a wide range of custom-install challenges.

All three models of TRIBMINI and the TRIBD4V1 are RoHS compliant (Restricted or Hazardous Substances).

Tributaries TRIBMINI family of bundled RGB cabling and TRIBD4V1 bundled CAT5/RG6 cabling is available on 500-foot bulk spools. Pricing is available from the factory. TRIBD4V1 and TRIBMINI3 are now shipping. TRIBMINI5 and TRIBMINID61 will be available in September.

About TRIBUTARIES®
Established in 1991 in Orlando, Florida, TRIBUTARIES® is an acknowledged leader in the design, production, and distribution of high-quality audio and video interconnect cables, speaker wires, accessories and electronics. The company prides itself on its customer service, and has won the CE Industry magazine “Inside Track” Supplier Loyalty Awards a total of Ten times in the past Eleven years.

TRIBUTARIES® is a wholly owned subsidiary of Gordon J. Gow Technologies, Inc.

For more information, please visit www.tributariescable.com.

TRIBUTARIES® Bows High Current-Capable Power Cables

New Silver Series provide premium protection

Orlando, FL-August 8, 2006-TRIBUTARIES® Cable, ranking among the world leaders in wire and cabling for high-performance home theater and audio/video systems, has introduced a series of high end quality AC power cords. The Florida manufacturer's new Silver Series AC Power Cables combine the very high current carrying capability required in a performance design with unexcelled shielding that provides top-notch protection from virtually all external noise sources.

Clean power is essential if today's digital-intensive audio and video signal paths are to deliver their highest-resolution sonics and imaging-and achieving clean power means starting with a noise-immune connection to the AC supply. To this end, Tributaries® Silver Series AC Power Cables incorporate an aluminum/Mylar® shielding wrap as well as a 95% braided shield of ultra-low-resistance, oxygen-free high-conductivity (OFHC) copper, providing virtually total rejection of both high frequency RFI and lower-frequency EMI noise sources. Inside these barriers, three stranded 10-gauge (AWG) twisted conductors of OFHC copper deliver tremendous current-carrying potential, even over longer cable lengths. The Silver Series cable-shield assemblies are housed in a flexible, rugged, UL®-listed PVC jacketing, with an attractive finishing cover of black-and-gold-striped woven nylon. (This may be removed for applications that specify full UL compliance.) Finishing the Tributaries® cables are a hospital-grade, UL-listed gold-plated 3-prong male plug and a gold-plated UL-listed three-connector IEC-standard female; both terminators are molded-in for the ultimate in strength and strain-relief.

Tributaries® Silver Series AC Power Cables are available immediately, in a range of lengths at the following manufacturer's suggested prices:

1.5 feet $105
3 feet $120
6 feet $150
9 feet $180
12 feet $210

TRIBUTARIES® Intros RF Splitters

Orlando, FL-Apriil 10, 2006-TRIBUTARIES® Cable, known worldwide for its high-value/high-end selection of audio, video, and custom-installation cabling and accessories, has introduced a pair of ultra-high-performance RF signal-splitters designed for use in systems designed with the latest high-bandwidth satellite and cable-television sources.

The two new offerings-the 1-in/2-out RFS2, and 1-in/4-out RFS4-feature exceptionally wide bandwidth rated by TRIBUTARIES® as delivering 5 Hz-2400 MHz response, and fully usable to 3 GHz (3,000 megaHz), ensuring unrestricted performance on even the most demanding, high-content RF signals whether originating from cable TV or DBS satellite systems. Both units also provide DC-pass-through on one output, permitting integration in systems that use "phantom" powering of antenna or system amplifiers.

TRIBUTARIES® new splitters feature advanced, printed-circuit-board design with modern surface-mount technology for low transmission losses and exceptional response, and are constructed within rugged, Zinc-die-cast housings for trouble-free longevity.

The RFS2 and RFS4 TRIBUTARIES® RF splitters are available immediately with a suggested retail price of $20 for the RFS2 and $30 for the RFS4. For more information about TRIBUTARIES® Cable, please visit www.tributariescable.com.

TRIBUTARIES® Goes The Distance

System Sends HD Component Video Up to 500 Feet via CAT5E Wiring

Orlando, FL—April 10, 2006—TRIBUTARIES® Cable, the world-renowned maker of video and audio cabling and accessories for home media and home theater systems, has announced an innovative new wide-bandwith solution for distributing component video, including high-definition signals, over long runs. The new SES 114TT four channel video system is not just compact and easy to install, it delivers an HD signal up to 1080p via a single CAT5E cable—up to 500 feet—with no degradation of signal quality!

The new system includes the SES 114TT transmitter, about the size of a small paperback book, and the 110RW receiver which is housed in a white Decora insert fitting seamlessly with a TRIBUTARIES® Decora® Wall Plate. The transmitter provides a conventional, RCA-jack trio for component-video input, and offers four RJ-45 network-connector outputs. The TRIBUTARIES® design is able to send the component-video signal, whether high-definition, or standard, to as many as four separate destinations. At each location, a 110RW receiver provides component-video outputs via three RCA jacks, and connects to the CAT5E cable using “snap-on” terminations. The system can also be configured to send audio along with composite video. This is accomplished by connecting the L/R audio cables to the red and blue RCA input jacks on the 114TT while connecting the composite video input to the green RCA input jack. Connecting the 110RW Receiver with the same wiring configuration will produce the desired result.

The system is packaged with one SES 114TT transmitter and one 110RW receiver, and is supplied with an outboard 12-volt DC power supply, at a manufacturer’s suggested price of $599; additional 110RW receiver modules are available at a suggested price of $199. The SES 114TT is available immediately.

For more information about TRIBUTARIES® Cable, please visit www.tributariescable.com

TRIBUTARIES® Bows Long-Run HDMI™ Solution

Orlando, FL—April 10, 2006—TRIBUTARIES® Cable, manufacturer of widely admired high-value/high-end audio and video cabling and accessories, has debuted an innovative new enhancement for the rapidly spreading HDMI™ digital-audio-video interconnect standard. The new DSR-701 Digital Signal Restorer from Spectrum Electronics, ensures full performance from HDMI™ connections over cable-runs as long as 45 meters/148 feet. HDMI™ (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is rapidly becoming the universal standard for interconnecting digital televisions, including HDTV monitors and sets, with digital-video sources such as digital-cable set-top boxes, DVD players, and DTV tuners, and will be the connection of choice for forthcoming high-definition DVD standards.

Though little bigger than a bar of soap, the DSR-701 automatically analyzes the incoming HDMI™ signal and applies custom-tailored equalization to ensure optimum performance through the connected length and quality of cable. This correction ensures complete data restoration on the incoming signal to HDMI™ specifications, minimizing data loss by the receiving component, with full quality for all DTV resolutions up to and including 1080p, or computer-monitor formats up to UXGA.

Unlike conventional HDMI™ “ repeaters,” the DSR-701 is engineered to lock on to even a weak HDMI™ data-stream and restore it to full-bandwidth integrity: the DSR-701’s Data-Lock Sensor LED illuminates red when the unit first detects a signal, and changes to green to indicate full lock and restoration. The DSR-701’s circuitry is direct coupled from input to output and is designed with fully balanced-line signaling and self-diagnostic monitoring. Complying with HDMI™ Standard 1.1, the DSR-701 delivers fully automatic signal-equalization of up to 40 dB at 1.65 GHz, and extends interface length to 30 meters (98 ft) with 28AWG STP (shielded twisted pair) HDMI™ cable, 40m (131 ft) with 26AWG STP, and 45m (148 ft) with 24AWG STP cable.

The DSR-701 Digital Signal Restorer for HDMI™ connections is constructed on an all-metal chassis using the latest ultra-high-frequency surface-mount technologies, and is supplied with an outboard, 3.3-volt DC power supply.

Available immediately, with a manufacturer’s suggested price of $349.

For more information about TRIBUTARIES® Cable, please visit www.tributariescable.com

TRIBUTARIES® Launches Versatile New Cabling Solution

Orlando, FL, April 10, 2006—TRIBUTARIES® Cable, whose “value-high-end” audio and video cabling and accessories are known and respected around the world, has introduced a versatile new cabling solution, TRIBUTARIES® HexVideoC5. This highly configurable cable combines six Direct Series stranded OFHC copper 75 ohm coaxial cables, suitable for analog-video (including component/high-def), audio, and digital-audio, combined with a CAT5E, 350MHz (8-conductor) cable, all encased in a single, easily deployed, flexible UL® rated outer jacket. The 8-conductor CAT5E section can be used for data or telecommunications connections, or grouped into a 2-conductor/4-stranded wire with 18-gauge equivalence for use in DC powering, triggering or single-channel monaural speaker wiring such as paging distribution.

The new cable is fully compatible with TRIBUTARIES® innovative ProFit® Linear Compression Termination System, which permits flexible termination without special tools, using a wide variety of common connectors including RCA, F-connector, BNC-connector, RJ11 (telco), RJ45 (network), and speaker wire. A variety of ProFit® wall-plate accessories are also available.

Consequently, TRIBUTARIES® HexVideoC5 can fulfill a wide variety of cabling requirements. For example:

• HD-ready component-video, + stereo-audio pair, + coax-S/PDIF digital audio, + CAT5 data (or power/trigger/monaural speaker-level)

• HD-ready component-video, + single S-Video (requires 2x TRIBUTARIES®DCYS), + single composite-video, + CAT5 data (or power/trigger/monaural speaker-level)

• Two (or bi-directional) component-video, + CAT5 data (or power/trigger/monaural speaker-level)

• Two-channel audio, + S-Video (requires 2x TRIBUTARIES® DCYS), + composite-video, coax S/PDIF digital-audio, + CAT5 data (or power/trigger/monaural speaker-level)

• Six-channel (5.1) audio, + CAT5 data (or power/trigger/monaural speaker-level)

As important as its versatility is the new TRIBUTARIES® cable’s quality. HexVideoC5’s 6 coaxial cables are designed with 24AWG copper center-conductors, surrounded by foamed-polyethylene dielectrics and tinned, 95% braided copper shields in individual PVC insulators coded red, green, blue, black, gray, and yellow. The CAT5E cable is made with 24-gauge 4-pair solid-copper certified to TIA/EIA 568B.2 standards.

TRIBUTARIES® HexVideoC5 cable is UL® listed overall, and measures 0.72 inches (18mm) in diameter in its flexible black PVC over-jacket. It is available immediately, in spools of 100 meters/328 feet. MSRP: $11/ft.

For more information about TRIBUTARIES® Cable, please visit www.tributariescable.com