Live From NAB: Telecast Fiber Systems’ Latest Fiber-Optic Systems Score for Sports

For outside-broadcast companies requiring rapid deployment of communication systems over long distances, Telecast Fiber is now shipping the TR6442i CommLink fiber-optic transceiver system. Introduced at IBC last year, it is designed to carry two intercom channels over a single strand of fiber spanning distances of more than 40 km. NBC Sports beta-tested the CommLink during Sunday Night Football and the Super Bowl last season and has already purchased several systems.

“With the explosion in high-definition TV production, fiber has become indispensable for all types of productions because of its light weight and ability to transport high-quality signals without any degradation. Now producers are looking for fiber solutions that support equipment — such as cameras, microphones, and intercom systems — which are already in place in the operation,” says Steve DeFrancesco, VP/GM of Telecast Fiber Systems. “We designed the CommLink to fill the gap between the use of short-range copper cables and our high-end Adder II system.”

Telecast Fiber is also launching the brand-new Cobra 2DT, a fiber-optic camera interface for Sony’s new digital HD triaxial camera chains. As the latest addition to Telecast Fiber Systems’ Cobra line of triax-to-fiber camera-extension systems, the Cobra 2DT gives users of Sony HXC-100K and HSC-300K cameras powerful, distance-spanning fiber-optic connectivity for the link between the camera and its camera-control unit (CCU).

“We’ve had Cobras for years, but this is a brand-new model that’s made specifically for the digital triax camera,” says DeFrancesco. “It converts triax to fiber, and then you can go long distance; we’ve tested it up to 40 km. We expect this to be popular with collegiate sports events, as well as the smaller trucks.”

Telecast Fiber VP/GM Steve DeFrancesco shows off Terrapin FTR-D6 video transceiver.

Rounding out Telecast Fiber’s offerings is the Terrapin FTR-D6, a 3-Gbps fiber-optic video transceiver that also incorporates a six-output distribution amplifier. With four modes of operation, the Terrapin is a compact, bidirectional throw-down device for distributing an HD video signal to several locations within a large venue.

“From our perspective, we continue to see transition to a 3-gig infrastructure,” says DeFrancesco. “Especially outside the U.S., there’s still a lot of upgrade from standard definition to high definition. And then of course this year, the Olympics and the elections are good for us as well.”

Password must contain the following:

A lowercase letter

A capital (uppercase) letter

A number

Minimum 8 characters