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NBC10 HD Facility Question
- Thread starter trolleyk
- Start date
Actually, most of the cameras in the field for 3, 6 & 29 are HD. However, getting the HD feed back to the station is the problem. The trucks are equipped with analog equipment that sends back 16:9 SD feeds which are then upscaled. Each station is in the process of transitioning to digital microwave equipment, so that should change soon.
In the meantime, the only way to air an HD piece is the old fashion way: field packages need to physically transported (via disc or P2 card) back to the station and loaded in to an editor or server.
In the meantime, the only way to air an HD piece is the old fashion way: field packages need to physically transported (via disc or P2 card) back to the station and loaded in to an editor or server.
otaguy said:Good question. The Philly locals all trumpet that their news in HD but what they really mean is that the studio cameras are HD but the field cameras are still for the most part SD.
I was referring to terrestrial microwave transmissions. Satellite time is too costly and requires different equipment.
The microwave trucks are the common news vans that you will typically see out on the streets covering a story. They beam their signal back to (a) the TV station or (b) a relay site that then then beams it to the station. Because microwaves are radio waves, they can be disrupted by atmospheric or geographical conditions. They are subject to static, fading, etc.
When the Philly stations do a live shot from the Jersey shore, for example, they have to send the microwave signal to a relay station in South or Central Jersey, which then amplifies/repeats the signal back to the station.
Right now, each station is switching out the ancient equipment with new digital transmitters that can handle the increased bandwidth that HD signals require. This process has taken years and will continue for several more months.
The microwave trucks are the common news vans that you will typically see out on the streets covering a story. They beam their signal back to (a) the TV station or (b) a relay site that then then beams it to the station. Because microwaves are radio waves, they can be disrupted by atmospheric or geographical conditions. They are subject to static, fading, etc.
When the Philly stations do a live shot from the Jersey shore, for example, they have to send the microwave signal to a relay station in South or Central Jersey, which then amplifies/repeats the signal back to the station.
Right now, each station is switching out the ancient equipment with new digital transmitters that can handle the increased bandwidth that HD signals require. This process has taken years and will continue for several more months.
otaguy said:When you say digital microwave equipment, do you mean for sending the signal up to a satellite and then back down or is it done some other way?
That could actually be a satellite dish.
Microwave transmitters are commonly designed to telescope out of the van to heights of 20-30 feet. Here's an example:
www.wfmz.com/tour/live-trucks.asp
Microwave transmitters are commonly designed to telescope out of the van to heights of 20-30 feet. Here's an example:
www.wfmz.com/tour/live-trucks.asp
otaguy said:So those things that look like satellite dishes that raise up into the air on the backs of WPVI trucks are really microwave antennas?
trolleyk said:Does anyone know when the balance of locally originated programs from NBC10 (Studio 10, Chopper 10, all mobile field units) will be broadcast in HD?
To further expand on WCAU in particular, they are at the moment lacking an HD playback server to play taped packages and the NBC master control hub at 30 rock has yet to be upgraded to accomodate the playback of taped HD programming either which is why the 10! show (in case you're wondering the 10! show is a taped show) and a host of their syndicated programming is not in HD.
They're saving the best for last.trolleyk said:Any idea when NBC10 will have HD recording and playback capability? Until this occurs any taped network, local, or syndicated HD show can not originate from the NBC10 Studios. Basically they can originate live news programs and broadcast network HD transmissions only.
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