First Impression: BZBGear BG-4K-VP44PRO 4K Matrix Switcher, Multiviewer, Signal Extender

Original article written by Joseph Cottle for Church Production.

The BG-4K-VP44PRO fits in a handy space on your video distribution rack, literally and figuratively.

At first glance, it looks like a solid distribution amplifier (DA, for short) that offers reliable distribution of a signal feed to multiple screens. Any church looking to put their sermon in the foyer alongside the nursing mother’s room and maybe a classroom or two will need a solid DA. But this unit takes it another step further.

Want to send four different signals to multiple rooms across your whole building or even separate buildings on your campus?

What if you want to send four different signals to multiple rooms across your whole building or even separate buildings on your campus? Well, the BG-4K-VP44PRO from BZBGear can do that too, effortlessly. It offers a 4x4 seamless matrix switcher. And what if you want to do that without a bunch of excess cable at each screen? It can do that too, with power-over-cable (PoC) Cat5e/6 capability.

Oh, and what about doing that but also having a 2x2 video wall in the main entry,  or perhaps just one big screen with four pictures on it for a multiview? Yes. That too. It really is the Swiss Army knife of AV distribution.

The BG-4K-VP44PRO (a mouthful, yes) promises a one-stop-shop for churches seeking quality, customizable video distribution

The BG-4K-VP44PRO will look familiar, not unlike a rack-mount network switch we’ve all used before, especially those of us that have started using Dante for audio and video. That being said, this unit is handsome, featuring a blacked-out front panel that stays modest with simple feed select buttons, a small display screen, and directional buttons for menu navigation. If you’re like me and find obtusely colored tech distasteful, you’ll be happy with how this looks in your rack (even though most people won’t see it). This is a common theme with BZBGear, making their cameras and switchers an attractive buy for churches who want to minimize distractions.

It really is the Swiss Army knife of AV distribution.

The receivers are similarly styled but with a bright green 3.5mm output jack for audio. I don’t find that coloring obtuse; I think it’s handy. You’ll never lose your output jack. The coloring also matches the output jacks on the rack unit, which makes for easy coordination of ins and outs, the ins being colored pink.

Both the rack unit and the receivers come in a textured aluminum case, making them sturdy and easy to handle during installation. I’m also a fan of the size of the receivers—they’re small enough to attach to the back of a TV without adding much weight, which offers tidy cable management.

Speaking of cable management, I’m probably most excited about the PoC option for this distribution system. Finding a power outlet for a display is a particular pet peeve of mine because a power cable often has to be fished (and I hate fishing cable) or ran down a wall (which is ugly). This system allows for a neat, one cable solution, whether you’re creating a 2x2 video wall or simply using this to distribute video.

Distribution is available to up to eight screens if you combine the PoC receivers and the HDMI outs on the rack unit, which also features four IR ins and outs. There’s also one HDMI loop out for monitoring, and each part of the system features RS232 jacks for easy control.

The whole system can be configured via TCP/IP on the BZBGear app, another feature offering outstanding ease of use for production directors.

We’re looking forward to getting our hands on a unit soon for a road test, so more updates on this are coming in the near future. Be on the lookout for that review.  For more information, click here.

Original article written by Joseph Cottle for Church Production.