AJA IP25R Bridges SDI and IP Video with New Bi-Directional 2110 Capabilities
By Stephanie R
AJA’s IP25R continues to evolve as a practical solution for transitioning from SDI to IP-based production. With the latest NAB 2026 update, the device now supports both receive and transmit modes, enabling bi-directional conversion between baseband video and SMPTE ST 2110 streams within a single unit.
This flexibility allows production teams to integrate legacy SDI equipment, HDMI sources, and modern IP infrastructure without rethinking entire workflows. Whether mounted behind monitors for signal confidence or deployed at the edge of a network, the IP25R provides a compact, rugged option for handling real-world production demands.
Designed with feedback from broadcast professionals, the system emphasizes simplicity and reliability. Firmware updates are free and easy to install, and the interface is built for quick configuration. As more facilities move toward IP workflows, solutions like the IP25R help bridge the gap, making the transition more practical, scalable, and cost-effective.
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Read the full transcript below:
I’m with Abe on the AGA booth here and we’re talking about the latest enhancements to the IP25. >> So, tell me about the IP25R. >> Well, IP25R it’s it’s super exciting product. Kind of kind of goes in in line with our whole philosophy of making some of these transitions to newer technologies easier. We released it uh at IBC 2025. Um, but here for NAB 20226, we actually have some really exciting features that we’ve added to it. So, I’ll get into what it basically does. Uh, so, so when we first released it, uh, IP25R, it is, it is a 2110 to SDI converter. So, Simply 2110 flying around your network. We have dual 25 Gbit SFPs in there. So, we can do the -7 redundancy, all that fun stuff. but we can grab 2110 streams off of your in off of your network and convert them to SDI outputs and HDMI outputs. So, it’s just a very very useful monitoring device. So, think about uh all those times you’re watching sports on TV and you see a little HA converter on the back of a monitor. That’s something like our HI5 going SDI to HDMI for monitoring purposes. Well, now we’re in the days of IP video. Uh so, now it’s 2110 to HDMI for monitoring. So, this is designed for kind of that. And actually the cool thing is is we designed the product based on input from our customers here. So this is literally while it’s a throw down converter, it’s designed to be mounted in a variety of ways. You can mount this to the back of a monitor. The air flow goes front to back cuz this is pretty high-end electronics in these. They get kind of warm. So we have active air cooling in there. And really these are just designed to be a field deployable kind of sitting at the edge of your network device that that allows you to you know create these hybrid SDI IP environments. Okay. >> So and then at NAB this year we’ve now got a new firmware update for this and it’s a major major update actually beyond major because this is the IP25R. R typically stood for receiver. Well we added a transmit mode to it. Uh so now the IP25R now has a TX mode. So everything I said already is now reversed. So now you would be taking SDI or HDMI bassband video and converting that to 2110 and sending it out on your network. So this now is just kind of the perfect it’s it’s almost a gateway. So all of your SDI equipment or maybe a computer source or some HDMI source that’s sitting in your studio at your live event, you can now take that that video and encode it as 2110 and now it’s on your network. It’s on your 2110 network. anyone that’s hooked up to that network can now access that video. It’s just it’s it’s a really cool, slick device. And the other cool thing is is you don’t need to be an IT guy to run it. The way the way the the the the user interface works, the way the configuration of the device works, a video guy can just walk right up to it and be like, “Okay, >> uh my video starts here and I want it to end here.” And it’s just it’s very very simple. We put a lot of tools in there that are just based on customer feedback. Uh things like there’s a test signal generator. No one has a simple test signal generator in the 2110 world. There’s a basic test signal generator in the IP25R now. It’ll generate all of the various different test signals that you may need in one of those type of workflows. We have a real real simple process for debugging and doing like uh like generating your own pcap from an IP25R. That’s some nerdy stuff for the the folks out there. But really, it just allows you to to to to dive into this world of IP video without confusing yourself. I mean, a guy like me can run it. I’m a video guy. I’m a new dinosaur. I go in trucks. I dive under racks with BNC uh with BNC tools and stuff. And I this doesn’t intimidate me. So, I’m I’m we’re really stoked to be offering it. And, you know, it’s just another example of kind of what AJ has always done. We kind of overbuild these products and add features to them. >> It’s rugged as well. It’s got like like locking power, so >> absolutely. >> You don’t want to be losing that. >> Yeah. You can tell we talked to truck guys on occasion. No, very cool product >> and all the updates are available now. >> Yeah, all the updates are avail are are available now. Uh, you know, we’re not charging for anything. This isn’t some paid upgrade or a licensed feature or anything like that. We build these boxes knowing that we’re going to be adding features to them and we don’t want to charge people for >> and you you can upgrade through the user interface. >> Absolutely. It is a firmware upgrade. So, if you already have one of these, the new upgrade will be available to you. You download it, you flash a new firmware on the device, you’re off and running. >> Off you go. >> Yeah, it’s available now. Where can people find out more information if they’re not at NAB? >> If they’re not at NAB, just go on to aja.com. It’s our website. Very easy to navigate. You can find the IP25R there and you can contact us through the website. We’ll we’ll get in contact with you, answer any questions you may have. >> Hey, thank you very much, Dave. >> Thank you.