Live From the U.S. Open: BSI Powers 1080p RF Efforts

25 RF camera setups include Real Freedom, Link RF systems

BSI is on hand at the U.S. Open in support of Fox Sports with 25 RF cameras: six operating in 1080p mode, 19 operating in 1080i mode. One of them is on a small remote-controlled car. A combination of BSI’s own Real Freedom systems and five Link systems are powering the efforts, and approximately 12 receive sites are located on the course.

BSI’s team at the U.S. Open includes (from left) Bob Weeks, Travis Parr, and Stefan Moirao.

“We’re using the Real Freedom systems here because the video quality is better and also because it can transmit both the data that the ProTracer system needs and the audio data without the need to tie up an extra wireless-mic system and channel [like last year],” says BSI GM Peter Larsson.

The 1080p cameras are in use on holes 13, 14, and 15 as well as following the featured groups and, on Sunday, the final pairings.

An RF RC truck camera is roaming the fairways at the U.S. Open.

“Fox likes the look of the 1080p camera and is much better for replay, even when downconverted,” Larsson explains. An NTT encoder is the key to the 1080p delivery, compressing the signal in such a way that, when it is reconstructed on the receive end, there are fewer artifacts than he expected.

“With a microwave system, you are limited by the amount of data you can send, and the more data you send, the less robust the signal will be,” he adds. “It is a sliding scale of robustness and the quality of the video, and, when pushed through 1080p, the signal is not as robust but is working relatively well at this course.”