About Communications Specialties, Inc.
Manufacturer of Fiberlink® Fiber Optic Transmission Systems, Copperlink™ 3G/HD/SD-SDI Signal Distribution Products, Scan Do® Computer Video Scan Converters, and more!
Corporate Overview
Communications Specialties, Inc. (CSI) is an award-winning, Long Island based company recognized for its expertise in computer-video technology. Headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, CSI designs, manufactures and sells a variety of products for the distribution, conversion or transmission of television and computer video signals, including fiber optic transmission systems, scan converters and video scalers. U.S. domestic sales are handled by an in-house staff in New York working with sales offices in Oregon and Florida. International sales are facilitated by a satellite office in the Netherlands and a network of authorized local distributors located in each country or region.
The Founders
Veterans of the broadcast, cable and video industries, President and Chief Executive Officer, John Lopinto, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Larry Shulman, are two of CSI’s original founders. Prior to 1983, both held engineering and managerial positions at Time, Inc. Video. In addition, Mr. Lopinto brings insight into the broadcast and video industries from his years at HBO and CBS Television Network. Mr. Shulman left CSI in 1987, while remaining a member of CSI’s Board of Directors, and returned in his current capacity in June, 1998. In the interim, he most recently served as Vice President of Engineering and Operations for Pioneer Digital Technologies.
Fiberlink
For more than a decade, Communications Specialties engineers have worked to develop the most complete and affordable line of all-digital fiber optic transmission systems for the Professional A/V marketplace. The Fiberlink line of transmissions systems for video, audio and data offers the widest range of high performance, cost-effective solutions.
In 2004, CSI introduced the award-winning Fiberlink 7220 Series, the first fiber optic link to digitally transmit high-resolution RGB (up to WXGA) and stereo audio over one single mode or multimode fiber optic core. The Fiberlink 7220 Series allows integrators to design and deploy complex AV systems with support for daisy-chain and point-to-multipoint capabilities.
At NAB 2009, broadcast and A/V professionals were “wowed” once again when introduced to the Fiberlink 3350 Series of 3G/HD/SD-SDI fiber optic transmission systems. With the signal equalized and reclocked at each and every point, the Fiberlink 3350 series outputs pristine, broadcast quality 3G/HD/SD-SDI.
New for 2010, CSI released the Fiberlink Matrix fiber optic router, a complete line of 3G/HD/SD-SDI fiber optic solutions, a Component and S-Video optical transmission system, and more!
Other products particularly relevant to the Pro Video markets are models that support DVI with stereo audio, 3G-SDI, S-Video with stereo audio over one fiber, component video with stereo audio over one fiber, and video with four channels of audio over one fiber. In fact, Fiberlink is the industry’s most complete collection of fiber optic transmission systems with support for nearly every signal format.
The line also includes the industries’ only optical distribution ampliers, compatible with most Fiberlink one-way systems, allowing for point-to-multipoint signal distribution. This is a key advantage for Pro AV system designers and installers wishing to use fiber.
The Fiberlink line also offers products designed for the Security and ITS markets. This includes many all digital systems for the transmission of video and data, as required by CCTV systems with PTZ camera control. For example, the 10 Channel Video Multiplexer supports ten channels of uncompressed, real time video and 2-way data over one fiber.
The Fiberlink Flex System is a unique, custom-configurable product that supports bi-directional video, audio and data. Each system is assembled to order for the customer’s transmission requirements. The hundreds of permutations available are the equivalent of many manufacturer’s entire product line.
Copperlink
In 2011, CSI launched its latest line of robust broadcast quality products, Copperlink. Copperlink is a series of 3G/HD/SD-SDI distribution and conversion products. The line was launched with the introduction of the 2302 1x2 3G/HD/SD-SDI distribution amplifier, the 2304 1x4 3G/HD/SD-SDI distribution amplifier and the 2353 3G/HD/SD-SDI to HDMI converter.
Scan Do
The Scan Do family of computer-video scan converters is the company’s flagship product line. Scan Do converts computer video signals to a standard television signal (NTSC or PAL). By enabling users to display computer generated images on video monitors, projectors and televisions, Scan Do has applications in areas such as broadcasting, presentation and videoconferencing. With a full range of Scan Do models catering to a variety of needs and budgets, Communications Specialties is respected across markets and industries as the premier manufacturer of scan converters.
In 2001 and again in 2004, Scan Do Ultra was named in DisplayMate’s Best Video Hardware Guide as one of the best computer-tovideo scan converters on the market. Scan Do Pro II was also named in 2001. The Guide is an industry source for testing and evaluation of image and picture quality throughout the computer and video industries.
In 2009, CSI unveiled the all-new Scan Do HD Computer Video to 3G/HD/SD-SDI Scan Converter to rave reviews and strong welcomes. The latest in the Scan Do family, the HD brings another first to the Scan Do line: an internet enabled Graphical User Interface.
Deuce
The Deuce line of “intelligent video scalers” was introduced in late 1997. Originally introduced as an alternative to line doublers and quadruplers, Deuce converts standard television video to high-resolution, film-quality images for display on high-resolution projectors and monitors.
In 1998, both Video Systems Magazine and Government Video Magazine recognized the original Deuce model as one of the most impressive new products at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in Las Vegas.
Deuce Pro, introduced in 1999, offers expanded features and higher performance to satisfy high-end system integrators’ requirements. In 2001, CSI introduced a whole new generation of Deuce models. These include: Deuce HD, for “HDTV” quality images from any NTSC or PAL source; Deuce MC, which offers a unique user-selectable Motion Compensation feature; and the Deuce SDQ, a simple, low-cost scaler, doubler and quadrupler that offers exceptional image quality for the price.
Corporate Headquarters
CSI’s Corporate Headquarters are located at 55 Cabot Court in the Hauppauge Industrial Park in Hauppauge, NY. The 28,000 square foot facility offers production, shipping and administrative space, enabling CSI’s staff to work efficiently and comfortably. Additional sales offices are located in Florida and Oregon.
Awards
CSI and its products are the recipients of numerous awards. In 2005, the Fiberlink® 7220 Series for high-resolution RGB and Stereo Audio was honored as one of the AV industry’s best technological innovations of the year by receiving a “rAVe Radical Product of the Year” award as “Best New Analog Signal Processing Product”. The rAVe email newsletter is published by professional audiovisual industry veterans and is read industry-wide.
In 1999, Scan Do Ultra and Deuce received the Platinum Award for Outstanding Achievement for the third time from AV Video Magazine.
In 1998, Deuce received the Video Systems Vanguard Award. In addition, multiple Scan Do models and the original Deuce model have received various awards for outstanding design and performance.
In 1996, 1998 and 1999 the company was named as one of Long Island’s fifteenth fastest-growing privately-held companies.
CSI was also recognized in 1997, 1999 and 2000 as one of Long Island’s fifty fastest-growing high-tech companies as tracked over a five year period.
In 2009, Fiberlink Matrix was awarded the IBC show’s prestigious “Must See Product” award.
Other honors have included the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, The Blue Chip Enterprise Award and the Small Business Achievement Award.