1

Fiber Optics for High Def “Game Day”

Sports Production

Jim Hurwitz, Product Manager / Manager, Western U.S.

IDEA 2009

2

3

4

5

7

Copper Cable is Limited

Coax, Audio Cables, Data Cables, etc. –Many large, heavy cables are difficult to set up and “wrangle.”

•One cable per function•Each is different type

–Limited Bandwidth & Distance

–EMI, RFI, Crosstalk & Hum

–Expensive to ship

–Fragile

8

Fiber is the Answer

Fiber Optic CablingOne small, lightweight cable does it all

Multiple fiber conductors Multiplexing (TDM, FDM, WDM)

Unlimited Bandwidth & Distance

Immune to EMI, RFI, Crosstalk, Hum & Rogue Electrons

Electrically isolating – Eliminates ground loop problems

9

Bandwith

NTSC VIDEO

13 Mb/s

10

Bandwith

143 Mb/s

NTSC Analog

SDI HD/SDI13 Mb/s

1500 Mb/s(1.5 Gb/s)

270 Mb/s

NTSC Digital

11

Bandwith

3000 Mb/s3.0 Gb/s)

12

13

Multiple signals of multiple types can be multiplexed (mixed) and sent in any direction on the same fiber strand. HD/SDI Video

SD/SDI Video

Analog Video

Genlock/Sync

Analog Audio

AES Audio

Data (RS232/422/35)

Fiber transports any signal that needs to be moved, with virtually unlimited bandwidth

–Intercom –RTS, Clear-Com, or 4-wire

–GPI/Tally

–Camera Control

–Time Code

–RF/L-Band

–Ethernet (10/100/GigE)

14

Fiber Out

TXVideo In

How Does Fiber Optics Work?

Transmitter: converts an electrical analog or digital signal into an optical signal.

If analog, the light source modulates.

If digital, it flashes really fast!

More robust transmission in digital.

Fiber cable: consists of one or more glass fibers, which act as waveguides for the optical signal.

Receiver: The converts the optical signal back into a replica of the original electrical signal.

RXVideo Out

Fiber In

15

More than one signal!

• Electronic Multiplexing– Combines multiple signals digitally,

converts to a single wavelength• Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)• Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)

– Example: Telecast’s 5142 • combines 1 video, 4 audios,

1 data, 1 GPI electronically.

• Wave Division Multiplexing– Optically combining several

wavelengths of light

– Passive process - combines and decombines light (like a prism)

VIDEO INPUT

AUDIO 1 IN

_

+

GND

AUDIO 2 IN

_

+

GND

RELAY INRELAY IN

DATA IN (+)DATA IN (- )

FIBEROUT

MULTIPLEXOR

16

Reducing the Fiber Count

• Electronic Multiplexing– Combines multiple signals digitally,

converts to a single wavelength• Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)• Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM)

– Example: Telecast’s 5122 • combines 1 video, 2 audios,

1 data, 1 GPI electronically.

• Wave Division Multiplexing– Optically combining several

wavelengths of light

– Passive process - combines and decombines light (like a prism)

VIDEO INPUT

AUDIO 1 IN

_

+

GND

AUDIO 2 IN

_

+

GND

RELAY INRELAY IN

DATA IN (+)DATA IN (- )

FIBEROUT

MULTIPLEXOR

17

Reducing the Fiber Count : Wave Division Multiplexing

• WDM - 2 channels• Coarse WDM (CWDM) – 4, 8 or 16

channels

22 Channel WDM 1300, 1550 nm

4-Channel CWDM 1511, 1531, 1551 & 1571 nm

8-Channel CWDM 1471, 1491, 1511, 1531, 1551,

1571, 1591 & 1611 nm

Also on the market (not from Telecast):•Dense WDM (DWDM) - >16 channels

–very expensive, temperature sensitive, mainly Telcos

18

• WDM - 2 channels

• Coarse WDM (CWDM) – 4, 8 or 16 channels

CWDM: 20 nm spacing

1471 1491 1511 1531 1551 1571 1591 1611

22 Channel WDM 1300, 1550 nm

4-Channel CWDM 1511, 1531, 1551 & 1571 nm

WDM: 250 nm spacing

1300 1550

Reducing the Fiber Count : Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing

19

20

21

22

25

Teleport Active CWDM Wavelength Manager

Adder Adder

26

SCOREBOARD CONTROL ROOM BROADCAST HD/SDI VIDEO8 sources split to two locations

27

A/V HUBBROADCAST HD/SDI VIDEO12 sources split to two locations

28

Singlemode FiberStandard Telecomm typeEasy ST connectors

Central patching area

AC Power

Someone to take responsibility for it

What Your Fibered Venue Must Have

Avoid HybridWire/fiber

Yellow jacket

29

Shared Control Centers

$100k saves $100k saves $1Million $1Million

30

Sharing Big Screen Control Center

STADIUM

ARENAControl Center

Viper

Viper

Cobra

Cobra

Sports

Viper

Viper

Cobra

Cobra

31

KOMU-TV

•Campus-wide broadcast system•Includes Stadium and Mizzou Arena•Football to Basketball: <90 min.•All on one fiber strand

32

Average Overall Optical Budget of 10 dB (dependent on camera/CCU specifications)

SHED / HDX for SMPTE Cameras

Two Strands of Single Mode Fiber (Infrastructure or Tactical Cable)

33

“SHED” the SMPTE cable

34

Portable Station

STADIUM

35

HD & SDI Digital Sports Production

Dual Camera Requirements

36

HD & SDI Digital Sports Production

Many Signals Required

Tally

HD/SDI Video

Audio 1 (mic/lineIntercom

Camera ControlTri Level Sync/Genlock

Composite Video

Audio 2 (mic/line)

Time Code

Return Video Composite or Lum

Camera Rack/Video Village/

Audio MixerIFB / Audio

Prompter Video

Time Code

37

"Multi-Cam" Camcorder Production with Copper Wires

38

"Multi-Cam" Camcorder Production with Copper Wires

39

"Multi-Cam" Camcorder Production with Copper Wires

40

"Multi-Cam" Camcorder Production with Copper Wires

41

"Multi-Cam" Camcorder Production with Copper Wires

42

Camera-Mounted Fiber-Optic System

•Camera Multiplexer

•All Camera Signals on one or two Fiber Conductors

•Camera Multiplexer

•All Camera Signals on one or two Fiber Conductors

Copperhead

43

Camera-Mounted Fiber-Optic System

Three basic elements :

Camera unit – a fiber-optic

transceiver that mounts to

high-end broadcast video

cameras

Base station - rack mounted

transceiver that mounts easily

in a truck, rack, or studio

control room.

Fiber spool – a length of fiber-

optic cable that connects the

two transceivers

Three basic elements :

Camera unit – a fiber-optic

transceiver that mounts to

high-end broadcast video

cameras

Base station - rack mounted

transceiver that mounts easily

in a truck, rack, or studio

control room.

Fiber spool – a length of fiber-

optic cable that connects the

two transceivers

Copperhead

44

Camera-Mountable Fiber Optic System

Available with• IDX “V” Mount • Anton Bauer• PAG

•Camera Multiplexer•All Camera Signals on one Fiber Cable

45

Camera-Mounted Fiber-Optic System

• Camera Multiplexer

• Sandwich Mount

• All Camera Signals on one or two Fiber Conductors

• High Performance

• AffordableNAB 2001:CopperHead Awarded "Pick of Show" by DigitalTV Magazine

“CopperHead”

46

CopperHeadTransporting ALL Signals necessary for

Multi-Cam Camcorder Production over two strands of fiber

CopperHeadCamera Unit

Base Station

Tally

HD/SDI Video

Audio 1 (mic/lineIntercom

Camera ControlTri Level Sync/Genlock

Composite Video

Audio 2 (mic/line)

Time Code

Return Video Composite or Lum

IFB / AudioPrompter Video

Time Code

47

PUSHPUSH

12-18VDC

INPUT POWER

MAIN SDI/HD

AUDIO 2 OUTAUDIO 1 OUTINTERCOM

RETURN AUDIO INPUT

INPUTLEVEL

MIC LINEOPTICAL INTERFACE AUDIO

CONTROL AND DATA

CAMERA REMOTE

TALLY/RS-232VIDEOSDI/ HD VIDEO OUT

RETVIDEO IN

A B

GENLOCK IN PGM/ AUX VIDEO OUT

A B CA B A B

LOOP 75Ω LOOP 75Ω

SyncGenerator

NTSC or "Y"

NTSC or "Y"

NTSC or "Y"

4 Wire Intercom Interface

HD HD

DownConverted

SDI

DownConverted

RGB/YRB/or Composite

A: CMPST/Y/GB: CMPST/Y/U/BC: CMPST/C/V/R

DownConverterOptionA B C

CSDI OUT

Time CodeGen/Readr

02 : 12 : 22 : 27

RETURN VIDEO SOURCE

ADAP

12-

Base Station Connections

48

Connected by Tactical Fiber Cable

• Battlefield Rated• Military Spec• Can be bent• Can be crushed• Can Be driven over:

-Trucks, Dollies, Cranes• Tougher than triax, coax

or wire cables

49

Tactical Fiber Cable Elements

Core Locked Polyurethane Jacket

Armored Kevlar Fiber Strength Member

Color Coded 900µm Tight Buffer

Acrylate Fiber Coating

Optical Fiber

“TAC-2” - 2 Fiber cable

Also Available in TAC-1, TAC-4, TAC-6, and TAC-12

50

“Multi-Cam” One Base Station per Camera

51

“Multi-Cam” One Base Station per Camera

52

“Multi-Cam” Live switched show with camcorders

Battery

53

“Multi-Cam” Live switched show with camcorders

54

Powering with SMPTE Hybrid Fiber

55

Power Plus

Copperhead

AUDIO 2 IN

RET AUD OUT

HEADSETBLACK

BURST OUT

RETURN

VIDEO OUT

HD/SDI

VIDEO IN

CAMERA

REMOTE

56

Power Plus

Copperhead

AUDIO 2 IN

RET AUD OUT

HEADSETBLACK

BURST OUT

RETURN

VIDEO OUT

HD/SDI

VIDEO IN

CAMERA

REMOTE

“Hybrid SMPTE” fiber2 Single Mode Fiber Optic lines 2 Copper power lines2 Copper “control” linesNot as rugged: treat like triax

Carries 200W of peak powerUp to 150W each of 12V or 24VDistance limited to 2km

AUDIO 2 IN

RET AUD OUT

HEADSETBLACK BURST OUT

RETURN VIDEO OUT

HD/SDI VIDEO IN

CAMERAREMOTE

57

POV Cameras

58

Airblown fiber

Arizona Cardinals’ University of Phoenix Stadium

150’/minute

Junction boxes Termination

59

Fiber Terminology:Multimode vs. Single Mode

This is the most misunderstood issue when people talk about Fiber Optics

?

60

– Light travels down Multiple Paths (bounces)

– Labeled 50/125 or 62.5/125

Fiber Terminology:Multimode vs. Single ModeMultimode:• The “first” fiber optic

cables: early 1970’s• Thicker diameter: 50 or

62.5 microns•Most common in older,

established infrastructures for data LANS, Rings, etc.•Does NOT mean it

carries multiple signals. Both MM & SM do that!

61

– Light travels directly down a Single path

– Labeled 8/125

Fiber Terminology:Multimode vs. Single Mode

Single Mode:• Came later: late 1980’s• Skinnier diameter: 8

microns

• Less loss = more bandwidth

• High def (big bandwidth) requires Single Mode for longer than 500 feet.

62

This is not a Tough Decision...

TWO 32-CHANNEL AUDIO PAIR CABLES

vs.99% Weight Savings

63

Venues using Telecast Fiber

Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Flyers/SixersPortland TrailblazersShea StadiumYankees Stadium

CollegeAlabamaArkansasBYUCentral FloridaFlorida StateIllinoisIowaKansas StateMarylandMichiganMichigan StateMissouriNebraskaNorth Carolina StateOhio StateOklahoma State

Oregon Oregon StatePenn StateStanfordTexas A&MTexas TechSouth CarolinaStanfordTennesseeTexasUtahWashingtonWisconsinVanderbiltVirginia Tech

AlsoWhite HouseU.S. SenateU.S. House of RepsPentagonFBI

Augusta NationalBaltimore Ravens StadiumBradley Center, MilwaukeeBroncos' Stadium, DenverCarolina HurricanesConseco Fieldhouse, IndianaCoors Field, DenverCore States CenterDallas CowboysDaytona SpeedwayMinute Maid Park, HoustonEricsson Stadium, PanthersFenway Park, BostonFirstar Center, CincinnatiGillette Stadium, PatriotsGund Arena, ClevelandHouston Livestock Show & RodeoJacobs Field, Cleveland Keil Center, St. LouisLambeau Field, Green BayLas Vegas Motor SpeedwayMadison Square Garden, NYMetrodome, MinneapolisMighty Ducks, AnaheimPadre's Stadium, San DiegoPepsi Center– Denver

64

MX

Fiber Connectors:

• STs, LCs, and SCs:– Pre-terminated or field terminatable

– Easy-to-use field termination kits exist

• Practice makes perfect

• Harsh Environment Connectors– “MX” Connector – Expanded Beam

• “Hybrid” Connectors– Copper and Fiber

• Provide Electrical and Optical connections• Not as reliable, as the two materials have

different properties – Expansion/Contraction in extreme temps– Bend and stretch characteristics

ST LC

SC

SMPTE “Hybrid”

65

Connections: Flat Polish

LC

SMPTE “Hybrid”

ST• ST, SC, LC, SMPTE Hybrid• Criticial Alignment – butted

together at 8 Microns!• Can fail if dirt or dust gets

in the way or scratches the surface

66

Connections: Expanded Beam

MX Connector

• Alignment not so critical• Less susceptible to dirt

or dust in the path • Lenses never touch, so

dirt doesn’t scratch the surface. Cleans easily!

67

68

69