Thanks to the minimal latency of the wireless systems, the signals from these cameras were mixed in the OB Vans with signals from the triax cameras. "The broadcasters were impressed with the image quality," said Olivier Femenias, Thomson's account manager in France. "Even the signal from these cameras was used, using the video server, to generate slow-motion sequences, which demonstrates the quality of the image obtained."
Thomson's digital wireless camera system compresses video into a 10-bit 4:2:2 signal and uses a DVB-T COFDM transmission that provides high-quality images with minimal latency time. It also includes a non-directional antenna and a long-lasting battery located in the camera. The cameras arranged in the Stade de France to cover the different athletic events, were connected to a network of receiving antennas strategically arranged to provide a wide coverage with a minimum of transmission power. Base stations and reception units are connected with conventional triax cable at a distance of up to 400 meters. The bidirectional capability of this system allows the implementation of remote control commands. In addition, users can mix and generate genlock with other triax systems for smooth mixed operation.
Thomson not only loaned the equipment for TVRS, the HBC, but other broadcasters used Grass Valley's technology by leveraging the multi-format capabilities of their cameras, control systems, production switchers, routers and servers, as well as the company's professional services offering.
For the daily summaries produced by TVRS, Thomson had a PVS 1100 Profile XP server with NewsEdit editors. Several Grass Valley Zodiak production digital switchers, Kamaleon processing systems and other modular products were installed in the production trucks (OB Vans) where the filmmakers produced and generated the unified signals for the entire world.
A wireless world
Jaap Heukelom, camera marketing manager at Thomson answered the following TV and Video questions a few months ago:
How strong is the trend towards wireless cameras? Are the cables going to run out in the future?
