The City of Fort Worth and Digital Resources, Inc. (DRI) have recently partnered on a mobile production truck and transmission truck to provide HD live broadcast capability anywhere in the City of Fort Worth. The production and transmission truck combination allows the City to utilize the emergency operations wireless data communications network to transmit full bandwidth high definition video and audio back to City’s Master Control Facility for redistribution on multiple cable providers PEG channels. The engineering collaboration between The City Cable Services Supervisor, Jack McGee and DRI’s Director of Engineering, Tim Davis assured that the system would be customized to meet any requirement and challenges the City could muster.
The Trucks were built ‘rack-ready’ by Frontline Communications in Clearwater, Florida. They were then transported to DRI for final equipment installation wiring and commissioning. The video and audio electronics where installed in custom carts built by Big Foot Mobile Systems located in Vacaville, California. They utilized the final equipment list to custom build the carts making installation of the equipment easy using the engineering elevations designed by DRI. These carts were then secured in the production truck for operation, but can also be moved into a venue if needed by easily releasing the locking pins and rolling them onto the lift gate for lowering to ground level.
The system uses Multidyne Silverback II transmitter and receivers on the cameras so long runs can be realized to the JUICE power inserts within the venue. Thus, the system uses a combination of powered and un-powered fiber. The use of the Silverback CCU adapters also allow the use of PTZ cameras or manned cameras. Multiple pairs of single mode fiber are used to transmit full camera CCU functionality, audio, aux video and computer presentations back to the production truck that can be up to 1500’ away. The transmission truck can be located an additional 1000’ from the production truck location.
Other systems that made this a fully functional transmission vehicle are listed:
Switching and computer graphics – ROSS Carbonite and Xpression
Cameras- 4ea Panasonic AW-HE130
Tripods- O’Connor
Custom panels - Liberty/Panel Crafters
Encoders and decoders – Taradek Cube
HD Routing – Utah Scientific 100UDS
Terminal equipment and reference-ROSS Open Gear
Video Rasterizer and audio monitoring– Marshall Electronics
Signal conversion and ROI – AJA Video Systems
Recording- AJA Video Systems KiPro Ultra HD
KVM- Avocent
Fiber and customer fiber assemblies – Liberty Wire and Cable
Intercom- RTS
Fiber transmitters and receivers – Multidyne Video and Fiber Optic Systems
Audio mixer- Mackie
Muxes and De-Muxes – Black Magic Designs Open Gear modules
