From Mountaintops to Mounds: The PicoTXR Redefines Ultra-Light Wireless Broadcast

In live production, every gram and watt count. Whether capturing the intensity behind home plate or following an athlete down a mountain, broadcasters need wireless systems that are lighter, smarter, and more efficient — without sacrificing image quality or reliability.

That’s where Wave Central’s PicoTXR takes flight. Purpose-built for mobility, PicoTXR delivers broadcast-grade video in a footprint small enough for sub-250 g drones and compact enough for body-worn solutions like RF Wireless’s UmpVu. When every milligram matters, PicoTXR helps producers capture what no one else can.

The challenge: capturing the impossible shot

Today’s directors want faster, closer, more dynamic perspectives. Drones, ref cams, and body-mounted systems make that possible, but traditional wireless gear adds weight, drains power, and can’t always meet broadcast latency or quality standards. Teams needed a transmitter that was ultra-light, efficient, and broadcast-ready.

The solution: PicoTXR takes the field

Enter PicoTXR, the next-generation wireless video transmitter engineered by Wave Central and Domo Broadcast System (DBS). Its ultra-efficient RF architecture and lightweight mechanical design deliver pristine, low-latency HD video over demanding links — without burdening drones or operators.

Built for flexibility, PicoTXR can be integrated into sub-250 g aerial platforms or ref cam systems for immersive, on-field viewpoints. The same core design powers both, giving production teams one system that scales across many applications.

Drone application: agility without compromise

At a recent downhill mountain biking event, production crews needed to film riders at full speed — weaving through forests, descending rocky trails, and maintaining visual contact throughout. Using lightweight drones equipped with the PicoTXR, teams captured high-motion, close-proximity footage in real time. Despite altitude changes and unpredictable RF conditions, PicoTXR delivered crystal-clear video directly to the broadcast truck.

Its minimal weight kept drones under the 250 g regulatory threshold, extending flight time and simplifying compliance. The result: cinematic pursuit shots once thought impossible, now broadcast live — reliably and in perfect sync with the main feed.

Ref cam (UmpVu) application: bringing fans behind the plate

In Major League Baseball’s UmpVu system, created and owned by RF Wireless Systems, the PicoTXR provides a new vantage point — literally from the umpire’s perspective. Mounted to a compact rig on the umpire’s mask, the system delivers live HD video directly into the broadcast workflow with the same precision and reliability as full-size camera systems.

The lightweight, ultra-efficient design not only minimizes heat and physical strain but also delivers exceptionally long battery life, reducing the need for mid-game equipment changes or battery swaps. This extended endurance helps lower operator fatigue and prevents unnecessary disruption or interference with athletes — a crucial advantage during high-stress, fast-paced moments of play.

With PicoTXR, broadcasters can immerse audiences in the game without intrusive gear, workflow interruptions, or compromise to performance.

Why it matters: creative freedom, operational efficiency

By combining miniaturized hardware with production-grade performance, PicoTXR redefines mobile broadcast. Crews can now deploy new POV systems with studio-quality results while reducing weight, power consumption, and setup time.

For producers, it means more angles, longer runtimes, and smoother integration across live workflows — solutions that blend seamlessly into production environments.

Recent Pico updates include:

• Record-low power draw of 4.2 W for extended battery life
• Solid link performance with advanced modulation for stable 3G HD video
• Seamless workflow integration with native support for on-prem and REMI control systems
• Ultra-light system weight, enabling true sub-250 g operation (transmitter only 42 g)
• New Kestrel camera line (coming soon), offering direct sensor integration for even smaller, lower-power designs

The takeaway

The PicoTXR proves that lightweight doesn’t mean light performance. Whether chasing athletes down a mountain or capturing the perfect strike-zone view, PicoTXR gives creators freedom without compromise.

In an industry where every angle counts, Wave Central’s PicoTXR ensures no shot is out of reach.

A shared vision: global innovation through collaboration

Wave Central and DBS stand as sister companies united by a common mission: to redefine what’s possible in wireless video transmission. By leveraging shared technical platforms, engineering expertise, manufacturing resources, and a high standard of client support across regions, the two brands deliver complementary solutions tailored to distinct markets while advancing a unified global technology roadmap.

This collaboration allows innovations like the PicoTXR platform to scale rapidly across both broadcast and specialist applications, ensuring that every advancement — from power efficiency to workflow integration — benefits customers worldwide.