Jerusalem, Israel – June 7, 2005 – Kramer Electronics, Ltd., a worldwide supplier of audio, video and computer graphics signal distribution, switching and processing equipment for the broadcast, production, security, education, home theater and ProAV presentation markets, is pleased to announce the newest addition to its product line – the VS-66FW FireWire matrix switcher. This product allows the switching of six bi-directional FireWire devices and can function as a FireWire hub as well.

The VS- 66FW operates bi-directionally and offers automatic branch/leaf configuration. It can be operated with FireWire®/i.Link™ implementation of the IEEE 1394-1995 and the IEEE 1394A standards at data rates of up to 400Mbits/sec. The VS-66FW supports isochronous and asynchronous transfers, as well as all the features of the 1394/FireWire interface, including hot insertion and removal, and it can source the power to all ports.

“The VS-66FW is a unique product designed for the torrid FireWire signal processing market,” states Chris Kopin, vice president of Product Development for Kramer Electronics USA. “This unit can utilize branch/leaf configuration to act as a matrix switcher with a TAKE button and it has an ALL button to allow the unit to serve as a FireWire hub.”

The VS-66FW can be controlled via the front panel buttons, the infra-red remote control transmitter, contact closure and remotely by RS-485 or RS-232 serial commands transmitted by a touch screen system, PC, or other serial controller. A large, very bright LED display on the front panel shows the current status of the matrix, and the built-in non-volatile memory stores and retrieves up to 15 pre-set configurations. The VS-66FW is housed in a 19" 1U rack-mountable enclosure.

The Kramer VS-66FW is in stock and available from Kramer Electronics sales companies around the world.