OAKMONT, PA, June 18, 2007 -- When it came to covering the United States Golf Association‘s 2007 U.S. Open, RF Central, the leading digital microwave technology provider, was the clear choice for camera mounted RF transmitters.
While the golfers struggled in the difficult conditions at Oakmont Country Club, the site of this year‘s open, television broadcasters had no such problems transmitting the live action to a global audience thanks to RF Central‘s RF Extreme line of 2 GHz camera transmitters.
The professionals at Total RF, which designed, built and operated the microwave systems at the U.S. Open, chose RF Central‘s RFX-CMT Central Camera Mount Transmitter (CMT) to transmit high-quality wireless video from storied Oakmont. Total RF employed more than a dozen compact, ultra-reliable CMT‘s, which delivered flawless video of all the action. RF Central‘s RF Extreme products served NBC Television, ESPN, ESPN.com, Japan‘s TV Asahi, Europe‘s B-Sky-TV and others.
“We provide the finest quality wireless infrastructure for broadcast, operated by the most competent people in the business,” says Stephen Gansky, president of Total RF. “In a high-intensity, live event, such as the U.S. Open, there are simply no second chances. RF Central‘s RF Extreme CMT allows directors and producers to bring the viewer right into the middle of the action. The CMT allows total portability in the most demanding of conditions. It is reliable and consistent; it won‘t let you down.”
A team of trained engineers and technicians took to the golf course armed with the CMT‘s, which transmit COFDM digital video in an ultra-low delay mode of just one frame. RF Central‘s RF Extreme transmitters were received across the course at multiple antenna locations, and the signal was then transmitted back to broadcast control by more than 110,000 feet of 12-strand fiber--more than 250 miles of fiber--across the course.
“The CMT‘s are perfect for this kind of application,” comments Keith Blaisdell, RF Central director of engineering. “The broadcaster asked for a small, portable unit with maximum flexibility. With full frequency agility, the availability of variable modulator bandwidth, ASI-in capability, full MPEG menu control and ultra-low delay capability, the CMT is at the front of the class.”
About RF Central
RF Central, LLC manufactures and supplies state-of-the-art microwave equipment to television broadcasters throughout the United States. As one of the premier suppliers of broadcast equipment required to complete the 2GHz BAS transition RF Central has grown from a few employees in 2005 to over sixty fulltime dedicated professionals today. Located in Carlisle, PA, RF Central also provides specialized integration and installation services to the television industry. RF Central is marked by its unique qualifications within the industry, its focus on customer service and its dedication to expanding and improving the microwave options available to broadcasters. RF Central, a Vitec Group plc company, is part of The Vitec Broadcast Systems division under The Vitec Group RF Systems business unit. For more information, visit www.rfcentral.com.
About The Vitec Group
The Vitec Group supplies a wide range of equipment and services to the broadcasting, entertainment and photographic industries. Its products are distributed in nearly 100 countries, either through dealerships or direct to the end user or corporate customer. Vitec is based on strong, well known, premium brands that professionals rely on. Vitec is organized in three divisions: Photographic, Broadcast Systems and Broadcast Services. For more information, visit www.vitecgroup.com.
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