BIT-AVOP-ASP-4K60-KVM: 4K60 AV over IP with KVM Extension

AV over IP is the practice of sending audio and video across a standard Ethernet network instead of dedicated point-to-point cabling. The BIT-AVOP-ASP-4K60-KVM is a 4K60 encoder and decoder pair that does exactly that — and it adds KVM, so a keyboard and mouse travel with the picture. This guide explains how it works, where it fits, and how to decide whether an AV-over-IP node belongs in your next project.

What "AV over IP" actually means

Think of it like email for video. Instead of a dedicated cable carrying one signal from one box to one screen, an encoder takes the HDMI signal, compresses it with a visually lossless codec, and puts it onto the network as data. A decoder on the other end rebuilds the picture. Because both ends are ordinary network devices, a standard Gigabit switch can carry many streams at once and send any source to any screen.

That is the architectural difference from older approaches. An HDMI extender is point-to-point: one source, one display. A matrix switcher is a fixed chassis with a set number of inputs and outputs, and you buy a bigger chassis when you outgrow it. AV over IP replaces both with nodes you add one at a time.

Who this is for

The BIT-AVOP-ASP-4K60-KVM suits anyone distributing 4K content further than a copper HDMI cable can reach, or to more screens than a single processor can drive:

• AV integrators designing distributed systems for control rooms, campuses and venues
• IT and AV managers who want to reuse the building's network instead of pulling new cable
• Control room and command centre operators who need many sources, many screens and low latency
• Retail and signage teams syncing 4K content across many displays from one head-end

Meet the BIT-AVOP-ASP-4K60-KVM

The BIT-AVOP-ASP-4K60-KVM is a compact 4K60 AV-over-IP encoder/decoder (TX/RX) built for enterprise and campus-wide distribution. It transmits 4K60 4:4:4 video over standard Gigabit Ethernet with a visually lossless result at approximately one frame of latency, and it carries KVM, IR and RS232 alongside the video. HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision are supported with HDCP 2.3 compliance, and each node offers both RJ45 and SFP fiber interfaces plus PoE or 12 V power.

Why AV distribution is moving to IP

For years, distributing many sources to many screens meant a large modular matrix chassis in a rack. That works, but it is expensive to scale, inflexible once installed, and awkward when a room's needs change. HDBaseT solved distance for point-to-point runs, yet it is still one-to-one and limited by port count.

IP-based distribution changes the economics. The switch becomes the matrix, and each screen gets a decoder instead of a dedicated output card. Adding a source or a display means adding one node — not replacing the core. On a campus or a building with existing network infrastructure, that can mean reusing cabling that is already in the walls.

There is also a hardware argument. Many AV-over-IP products are PC-based, which brings an operating system, fans and a shorter service life into a signal path that should be deterministic. FPGA-based designs such as this one keep the encode and decode in dedicated silicon: fixed latency, no boot time, and a device built to run continuously in a rack. The practical conclusion for a buyer: if the system must stay up for years and behave predictably under load, favour a hardware codec path over a general-purpose computer.

How to choose a 4K AV-over-IP encoder/decoder

Specifications in this category look similar on paper, so it helps to know which ones actually change the experience.

Resolution and colour

Look for true 4K60 at 4:4:4 and 10-bit, not 4:2:0. Sub-sampling saves bandwidth but softens fine detail and text — exactly what control rooms and signage rely on. This unit handles 4096×2160@60 in RGB/YUV 4:4:4 at 10-bit.

Latency and compression

Approximately one frame is the target for interactive work. A visually lossless codec at 18–20x compression keeps the picture accurate without the latency of heavier codecs.

Network, distance and interfaces

Standard Gigabit Ethernet keeps switch choice flexible; dual RJ45 and SFP fiber lets you run copper in a room and fiber between buildings. Up to 120 m per node over CAT5e or better covers most in-building runs.

KVM, HDR and control

If operators need to control a remote PC, USB extension is not optional. HDR10/HDR10+ and Dolby Vision with HDCP 2.3 keep modern sources compatible, and web, RS232 and IR control fit existing room systems.

Matching the hardware to the room

The same node works across very different spaces. In a control room or command centre, several encoders feed a wall of decoders so operators can pull any feed to any screen. In a meeting room, a laptop, room PC and camera share one network and KVM keeps the desk responsive. On a campus, one lecture is encoded once and decoded in several rooms. In retail, 4K content syncs across many displays from a single head-end; in hospitals, diagnostic video reaches the display that needs it without re-cabling a clinical space.

Two capabilities make that flexibility practical. The first is a virtual matrix: with several encoders and decoders on the same switch, any source can reach any screen. The second is video wall and splicing: the decoders can tile a single 4K picture across an M×N wall with arbitrary scaling and bezel compensation.

Specifications at a glance

Model	BIT-AVOP-ASP-4K60-KVM (TX encoder / RX decoder)
Video input / output	TX: 1× HDMI 2.0 in + HDMI loop-out; RX: 1× HDMI 2.0 out
Max resolution	4096×2160@60Hz (DCI 4K60), 4:4:4
Colour	10-bit; RGB444, YUV444, YUV422
HDR / HDCP	HDR10, HDR10+, Dolby Vision; HDCP 2.2 / 2.3
Compression & latency	Visually lossless (18–20x); approx. 1 frame
Network	1 Gbps Ethernet; RJ45 + SFP fiber dual interfaces
Distance	Up to 120 m per node over CAT5e or higher
USB / KVM	4× USB 2.0 over Ethernet
Control	Web control; RS232 and IR extension
Audio	HDMI audio I/O, 3.5 mm audio I/O, SPDIF
Power	12 V/2 A adapter or PoE (802.3af/at/bt); 14 W
Dimensions / weight	245 × 115 × 35 mm; 1 kg
Warranty	3-year limited warranty

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: HDMI & KVM extenders, KVM & HDMI extenders over Cat6, and video wall controllers.