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Have Wireless, Will Travel SMC Networks unveiled its latest product for data users on the move. The e EZ Connect g 2.4 GHz 802.11g Wireless Traveler’s Kit (SMCWTK-G) features everything a traveler needs to convert a wired hotel broadband or visiting office connection into a wireless connection. The Traveler’s Kit includes a USB cable, a CAT-5 Ethernet cable, a power cord and an all-in-one networking device that can operate in any of five different modes: access point, Ethernet bridge, repeater, point-to-point bridge or point-to-multipoint bridge. The kit’s built-in support for wireless distribution system (WDS) facilitates connection of 802.11b and/or 802.11g clients to the wireless network and extends the coverage of a home or office WLAN. The repeater capability of SMCWTK-G forwards the wireless signal between a wireless client and another SMCWTK-G that is connected to the wired network, extending the range of an existing wireless network and overcoming obstacles that block wireless signals. The kit retails for $99.99. (SMC Networks, 800-762-4968, www.smc.com) Fiber Cabinet APA Cables & Networks added the the Fiber Scalability Center (FSC) to its line of outside plant cabinets for fiber-to-the-premise (FTTP) architectures. The Fiber Scalability Center is designed for "grow-as-you-go" cost containment. Modular 12-port cassettes in the distribution bulkhead, featuring slide-out "Valet Parking Lot" design, provide for easy identification and protection of jumper cables and the ability to scale splitter capacity as demand requires. The cabinets have been designed to maximize bend radius protection, connector access, cable routing and physical protection. Each cabinet neatly stores feeder and distribution splices, splitters, connectors and slack, minimizing the risk of fiber damage. Two sizes currently are available. The largest—the FSC-576—can support up to 576 homes. For neighborhoods anticipating lower take rates, the FSC-576 can also be configured to support 816 distribution fibers and 512 splitter ports. APACN also offers the FSC-288/432 port cabinet, which serves 288 homes with either 432 or 288 distribution fibers. (APA Cables & Networks, 763-476-6866, www.apacn.com) EAS Comes to CableCards Trilithic has released a digital Emergency Alert System (EAS) solution for CableCARDs. Guided by the ANSI J-STD-042 under SCTE 18 2002 (EIA/CEA-814) specification (formerly DVS-208), Trilithic developed an interface that supports both in-band and out-of-band emergency alert message transmission for HDTV Cable-Ready-Certified TV sets using CableCARDs. This release supports both formats of digital EAS. (DVS-168 out-of-band for set-tops and SCTE 18 for in-band EAS and CableCARDs), as well as all forms of analog cable TV. EAS messages for in-band and CableCARD support are transmitted directly to the network in MPEG-2 format to support compliance of the July 1, 2004, deadline. (Trilithic, 888-344-6838, www.trilithic.com) Digital Media Server Adtec Digital’s new Soloist 3 Digital Media Server combines the functions of a digital video recorder, player, switcher and server into one device. The product supports multiple-layer with multiple-region text and graphic overlays, advanced video scaling and broadcast time delay (time shifting). It’s two-slot design allows for implementation of one of each encoder and decoder module or two of an encoder or decoder, providing for flexibility in system configuration. The S3DMS offers automated real-time MPEG-1 and -2 encoding from analog or serial digital (SDI) sources as well as real-time transcoding of DV formats from nonlinear editors through IEEE 1394 (FireWire). (Adtec Digital, 615-256-6619, www.adtecinc.com) Blackjack Comes to HeadendWare ICTV inked a deal with Zone4Play to deploy that company’s suite of interactive TV games on ICTV’s HeadendWare platform. Zone4Play will become an Elite Solutions partner for games of skill and chance on HeadendWare and will create a channel of popular titles that includes blackjack, slots, video poker, Caribbean poker and roulette. All of the games on the HeadendWare platform will allow subscribers using standard remote controls and any digital set-top box to play for fun, using a risk-free point balance environment. (ICTV, 408-364-9200, www.ictv.com; Zone4Play, 302-691-6177, www.zone4play.com) Look Ma, No Set-Top Scientific-Atlanta’s IR Extender enables subscribers to hide their Explorer set-top boxes. The IR Extender is a small device that connects to the USB port of Explorer set-tops and other set-tops that are compatible with the S-A digital network. After the IR Extender is connected, the subscriber can place the set-top in an inconspicuous location and still use the remote control to operate it. The subscriber just needs to make sure that the "eye" of the IR Extender is not obstructed from the line of sight of the remote control. Two versions are available—12-foot and 25-foot, and they work with all Explorer models. (Scientific-Atlanta, 800-722-2009, www.scientificatlanta.com)