OpenGear
Custom OpenGear Hardware & Firmware Design
We help broadcast vendors expand product lines without changing platforms — from multifunctional hot-swappable cards to remote web dashboards.
Promwad builds openGear-compliant modules and firmware that integrate seamlessly with your existing systems, helping you scale your product lineup without disrupting your architecture.
Our Partners and Companies Employing Promwad Solutions
Design of openGear-Compliant Hardware & Software
We create openGear solutions for broadcast and ProAV vendors, enabling them to expand their product portfolios faster and reduce development costs through unified hardware, firmware, and software design — from signal interfaces to network control layers.
Hardware
- Multifunctional, hot-swappable cards based on AMD Xilinx or Intel SoMs
- Custom openGear frames for media and ProAV ecosystems
- Signal processing, encoding, and control interfaces supporting IP workflows (ST 2110, IPMX)
- Network synchronization and timing through PTP / SMPTE ST 2059
Firmware
- Low-level embedded development for frame controllers and card logic
- FPGA-based signal conversion, filtering, synchronization, and audio/video bridging between SDI and IP domains
- Implementation of NMOS IS-04/05 for device registration and connection management
- Real-time monitoring, diagnostics, and failover control
Software
- Web-based dashboards for configuration, signal routing, and remote management
- REST / gRPC API interfaces for integration with broadcast control systems and automation platforms
- Cross-platform UI for desktop and mobile operators
- Cloud or on-premise Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) options for multi-device management, telemetry, and OTA updates
Ready to accelerate your next openGear module launch?
Why Companies Trust Promwad in Broadcasting
Promwad is your plug-in engineering partner for broadcast hardware and software, from concept to mass production. We join at any stage to rescue, migrate, or scale.
Application Areas for OpenGear Solutions
OpenGear’s modular architecture brings flexibility and scalability to a wide range of broadcast and ProAV applications.
Signal Processing & Conversion
Real-time SDI/IP/HDMI signal conversion ■ HDR and color space processing ■ Frame synchronization and up/down/cross-conversion
Video & Audio Transport
Multi-channel contribution and distribution over IP ■ AES67 / Dante audio routing within openGear frames ■ Low-latency transport with Rivermax and DPDK
Monitoring & Control
Remote dashboards for live system monitoring ■ SNMP and REST APIs for centralized management ■ Health checks and automated reconfiguration
Encoding, Compression & Streaming
FPGA-accelerated encoding (AV1, HEVC, H.264) ■ SRT/RIST streaming modules for hybrid networks ■ Content quality analytics and AI-based error detection
Infrastructure Expansion
Add-on modules for existing openGear frames ■ OEM-specific I/O cards for studio or OB-van setups ■ Hot-swappable designs for fast field replacement
From PCB to dashboard — one engineering team ensures your new module is ready for production
The Value You Gain with openGear
We help OEMs design and integrate openGear-compliant systems to:
- Enhance scalability and interoperability of digital TV broadcasting equipment
- Ensure compatibility with third-party streaming and data-processing systems
- Enable multi-channel operations, flexible reconfiguration, and easy scaling
- Support hot-swappable cards for rapid maintenance and upgrades
- Launch remote monitoring and control of streaming, processing, and storage resources
Case Studies: openGear®-Based System Designs
16x channel 3G-SDI-to-IP fibre extender
We developed a schematic design, PCB layout and firmware for a high-end processing board with the Virtex UltraScale FPGA. The card allows transporting 4 x 12G-SDI or 4 x 4 3G-SDI streams via SDI over a single fibre strand.
Key features:
- 4-16 ch of SDI inputs
- 4 x fibre CWDM-SFP12G output
- 4 x SFP4 25G optical ports
- 4x 4 х 3G-SDI ports
- 16 GB DDR4 SO-DIMM
- QDRII+ onboard memory
- Demo FPGA firmware for major blocks
- FPGA reconfiguration via CAN bus
- Remote control through a custom dashboard
Dual-channel HDMI-to-IP transceiver
We designed a transceiver to manage HDMI streams with the ability to duplicate, mix, switch, or merge content using picture-in-picture modes.
Key features:
- 2 x HDMI I/O
- Support for 1G and 3G over RJ45 for seamless signal transmission
- Transmitting/receiving IP signals through the SMPTE ST2110 standards
- FPGA-driven processing, handling up to 4K video streams
- NMOS discovery
- H.264 encoding/decoding
Video formats:
- (HD) 1920x1080i 50, 59.94
- (HD) 1280x720p 50, 59.94, 60
Additional features:
- 1x RJ-45 for 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet
- Web client support for remote network setup and configuration
SMPTE 2110 SDI-to-IP Tx/Rx Transceiver
We've designed a two-module solution for ultrafast broadcasting and storage of 4K video streams captured by professional cameras installed in a harsh environment:
- The first module is an SDI-to-IP converter card based on the Xilinx Ultrascale+ FPGA and Xilinx SMPTE ST 2110 IP cores.
- The second module is a 10Gb/sec network-attached storage (NAS) based on multiple SSD drives connected via a SAS expander powered by the Lattice CertusPro-NX FPGA.
Both modules are openGear-compliant and hot-swappable. They can be installed into the openGear-compliant frame and controlled via a web dashboard. The hardware and software provide device automatic identification over a network and remote operator control via the Internet.
Key features:
- 8x 3G-SDI inputs
- HDMI output (Full HD, 4K)
- SMPTE ST 2110 IP transceiver
12G Multiviewer with SDI and HDMI outputs
This card transfers 4 independent SDI video sources to a single display, allowing simultaneous monitoring of various SD and HD formats and frame rates.
Each view on the display supports overlays, including custom labels, audio metres, and more.
The card has SDI and HDMI outputs for monitoring professional SDI displays, projectors and large TV screens.
Key features:
- 4х 3G-SDI inputs
- HDMI multiview outputs
- 1 x HD-SDI output
- 12G SFP+ fibre output
How We Work
Predictable delivery and seamless integration
Industry Leaders Working with Us
Ready to Launch New openGear Modules Faster?
Let’s discuss how we can design or upgrade your openGear modules! Use the form below to book a call with our tech expert within 24h to review your needs!
We will contact you today or the next business day. All submitted information will be kept confidential (NDA on request). Prefer direct email? Write to info@promwad.com.
FAQ
How fast can you design a custom openGear card?
We typically deliver the first prototype in 8–10 weeks, depending on complexity and component availability. This includes hardware, firmware, and test validation.
Can you integrate our proprietary codecs or interfaces?
Do you handle manufacturing support for openGear modules?
We can guide your production partners or provide full turnkey support — from BOM and DFM review to testing and firmware flashing.
How do you ensure compatibility with third-party frames?
We validate all new modules against openGear standards, test them with standard frame models, and ensure full interoperability through electrical, firmware, and API compliance.