Stratos HDTV Fiberoptic Transport Products Chosen for Senior PGA Tour, U.S. Open

The days of searching a fuzzy screen for Tiger s golf ball as it sails across the fairway are over, thanks to the optical HDTV fiberoptic transport products provided by Stratos Optical Technologies. Broadcast coverage of the Senior PGA Tour and U.S. Open is clearer than ever, so fans around the world can count the blades of grass keeping the ball from completing the perfect putt.

The secret behind the high-quality HDTV broadcasts is NEP Supershooters, the production company that provides mobile broadcast facilities for sports and entertainment events nationwide, and its choice to employ Stratos miniature video media converters (M-VMCs) and video media converter racks. Stratos products enable the fiberoptic connectivity needed for a flawless live production.

Stratos Optical Technologies offers broadcasters a range of products for fiber transport of HDTV signals from the source, between production trucks, and point-to-point deployment. The VMCs provided by Stratos for Pro Golf Tour broadcasts provide the media conversion necessary between legacy BNC-equipped 75-ohm coax equipment and a fiber link that eliminates distance restrictions and re-clocking issues encountered when deploying HDTV signals.

Also in use for PGA Tour coverage are Stratos VMCR kits. These provide 1-RU high housing, power, and diagnostics for up to 16 channels of BNC-to-fiber conversion. Inside, transmit and receive module configurations may be customized to accommodate various OB, ENG and studio
assignments.

Stratos products have also been utilized in broadcasts for Super Bowl XXXVIII and the Olympics, among other events. As fiber becomes the standard for live productions and more fiber networks are installed in stadiums and arenas across the country, Stratos expanding product line will bring crystal-clear images to an ever-expanding audience.