/ 01.03.2013 01:21PM
WBBH-TV Relies on Studio Technologies Live-Link Jr.
Remote camera system used for news coverage
FORT MYERS, FLA. -- WBBH, the NBC affiliate serving the Fort
Myers, Punta Gorda and Naples region of Florida, relies on Studio Technologies’
Live-Link Jr. Remote Camera System for its recently deployed HD satellite
truck. The Live-Link Jr. camera and truck units connect through two strands of
single-mode fiber-optic cable to carry one 3G/HD/SD-SDI video path in each
direction along with embedded audio. The system also gives WBBH the ability to
carry IFB and party-line comms down the same SDI stream.
“We have a brand-new
satellite truck that is fully loaded and ready for any production situation we
might encounter,” said Paul Tanner, assistant news
operations manager for WBBH. “We were searching for an efficient way to get both IFB and
PL down our fiber. Since standard fiber doesn’t carry voltage, we were having a
dilemma. We tried several plug-in modules that gave us the video and production
audio, but we still needed powered IFB and standard PL intercom. The Live-Link
Jr. system essentially solved this problem, while giving us extra flexibility.
Now we can easily service all our audio requirements through the SDI data
stream.”
The WBBH satellite
truck, a Mercedes Sprinter, was used to cover the recent political
campaigns and events as well as other breaking news stories in Southwestern Florida. The personnel using the vehicle have more than 1,000 feet of
four-strand fiber at their disposal. Live-Link Jr. supports all the on-air and support signals between the camera
and truck locations using two fibers. Because the Live-Link Jr. system allows battery operation,
a single-camera live-shot can be up and ready to go as fast as the fiber
can be run between the production location and the truck.