In the VIP X1600 XF series, Bosch has introduced a new switch platform in the rack-mount base unit that accommodates multichannel video and audio encoder modules as well as the new VIP X1600 XFMD decoder modules. Bosch has also introduced several other enhancements in the VIP X1600 XF base unit. The two 1 Gbps Ethernet ports on the front of the base unit, originally included to provide network port redundancy, are now supplemented by an additional 1 Gbps Ethernet port on the rear. This provides a greater choice of network connectivity and allows for easier inside-rack cabling like, for example, direct connection to an iSCSI storage array (Internet Small Computer System Interface). The new base unit also features a 1 Gbps small form factor pluggable (SFP) optical transceiver slot on the front to enable direct fiber connection to a remote Storage Area Network.

As with the original series, the VIP X1600 XF base unit can accommodate up to four encoder modules, with each four analog video inputs or combined analog video/audio inputs and redundant power supply. Additionally the VIP X1600 XF base unit can accommodate up to four of the new VIP X1600 XFMD multichannel decoder modules featuring four analog video outputs plus bi-directional audio. Encoder and decoder modules can be mixed and matched within the base unit and the modules are also 'hot swappable', allowing modules to be added or exchanged at any time without interrupting transmission to the existing channels.

Featuring four analog BNC video outputs with bi-directional audio, the VIP X1600 XFMD decoder module is capable of decoding up to four MPEG-2 video streams without audio or up to 10 MPEG-4 video streams each at a maximum resolution of 4CIF 25/30 ips. The decoder can also be set up to display 4 full screen video signals or 2 full screen and 2 quad views. This allows the 10 MPEG-4 live video streams from a single decoder to be displayed on a compact monitor wall. If 4 decoder modules are used, the system can serve a monitor wall of up to 16 analog monitors displaying the live video from up to 40 cameras.

Changing the setup and camera selection in small installations is easy with the decoder's highly intuitive web-based user interface (which can be accessed via a video management system). The system administrator can set up a network scan to identify all cameras on the network, then assign the output of each camera to a specific analog monitor using either on-screen selection buttons or a drag & drop function. The interface also features an on-screen autoconnect switch that allows the system configuration to be stored and automatically re-established in the event of a power cut to the system or in the event of any network failure.