Lumantek ez-Caster EN3 HD Encoder and ATSC Modulator

The ez-Caster EN3 is an all-in-one HD encoder and ATSC modulator in a single rack unit. Its input list is deliberately broad - one SDI, one HDMI, one component, and one composite - so a facility with mixed-vintage sources can feed it without converters ahead of the rack. Encoding is MPEG-2 or H.264 at full HD, using a broadcast-grade encoding core rather than a software wrapper.

Where it goes next is the interesting part. The same box outputs an ASI stream for a headend, a UDP transport stream over IP for a distribution network, and an ATSC RF carrier for in-building modulation onto a coax plant. Encoding latency is about 150 ms, which keeps a live feed usable for cable-TV distribution, hospitality systems, and campus channels where a multi-second delay would be obvious in the room.