ShaxX Saves Time, Money, And Effort In Outside Broadcast

SMPTE hybrid cables are the de facto standard for transporting signals and power for today's HD cameras. In remote production scenarios that require the camera to work far away from the CCU – such as with golf, skiing, and motorsports, hybrid cables can be impractical, if not impossible, to put into use.

The Problem With SMPTE Hybrid Cable
A SMPTE hybrid cable has two single-mode fibres inside, and the camera systems mux video, audio, data, and intercom signals onto them – most often with all of the signals going to the camera on one fibre and all of the return signals on the other. Optically speaking, that configuration keeps things simple.

The problem lies in the copper components, which are what make a SMPTE hybrid cable "hybrid." The copper conductors provide power to the camera, but the small diameter of these conductors means they can carry power only so far. Therefore the copper becomes the limiting factor in how far the cameras can be located from their CCUs.

Given that limitation, there is great demand for getting power to the camera without using SMPTE hybrid cables. Doing so would let broadcasters maximize fibre without regard for the power.

That's where Bluebell's ShaxX system comes in.

ShaxX: An Alternative to the SMPTE Hybrid Cable
ShaxX is designed to provide full bidirectional signalling and power for broadcast cameras. It lets outside broadcast and remote production crews forgo SMPTE hybrid cables and take advantage of preinstalled fibre networks on location, or cables that they put out and later retrieve, in order to cut rigging time and position cameras freely wherever they are needed, regardless of distance or the location of mains power sources.

The ShaxX solution works with Bluebell's Shax hybrid alternative interface to provide power to the camera without having to transport it from a remote CCU, thereby removing the expense and effort of rigging SMPTE hybrid cables. Instead, users simply connect the ShaxX unit to the camera with a SMPTE hybrid jumper cable. The ShaxX unit, which is connected to mains power on the camera end, powers the camera. Two strands of single-mode fibre then carry signals to/from the CCU. The Shax unit on the CCU end receives those fibres, and is then connected to the CCU via a SMPTE hybrid jumper cable.

The ShaxX overcomes the challenges of using SMPTE hybrid cables, which are expensive, heavy, and can be sensitive to lightning or other grounding variables. By replacing the SMPTE hybrid cable with plain fibre between the CCU and the camera, especially in instances such as on a ski slope or a golf course where the distance between the camera and OB vans is great, the ShaxX gives the production team the freedom to position cameras for the best shot/angle rather than being restricted by the location of mains power. At the same time, it reduces rigging time and allows crews to tap into existing fibre networks in stadiums, arenas, golf courses, ski slopes, concert halls, and other venues.

By taking the hybrid cable out of the equation, broadcasters can extend their cameras up to 10 kilometres from the CCU. Because the ShaxX has a camera power supply built into it, it need only be positioned near the camera, not attached to it, which allows a great deal of flexibility when deciding placement.

Related Problems and Bluebell's Solutions
Often remote productions call for cameras to be co-located, such as in golf, when one camera is positioned in a tower behind the green and another over at the next tee box. The ShaxX-DUAL addresses this scenario. The DUAL unit supports two broadcast cameras on four monomode fibres and provides power for both cameras.

Another challenge is how to put more signals onto less fibre – either to accommodate action-packed events or to extend the use of limited preinstalled fibre, or both. The answer is Bluebell’s BC364 Wavelength Manager, which takes in multiple camera signals and combines onto a single fibre with zero latency. On the other end of the link, the signals are returned to their individual state. Together, the BC364 with the ShaxX or ShaxX-DUAL can support up to 16 camera systems on just two fibre strands.

Conclusion
Bluebell's ShaxX systems satisfy the demand for alternative power insertion in OB and remote productions. By taking power out of the hands of the CCU and inserting it on the camera end, the ShaxX eliminates the need to transfer power all the way from the CCU to the camera, leaving only the transmission of signals back and forth on lightweight single-mode optical fibre that's reliable and easy to rig. The ShaxX complements Bluebell's standard Shax devices and, when paired with the company's modular fibre interface cards, can offer resilient signal transport and management of complete camera chains. All so that broadcasters can make the best, quickest, and most efficient use of available fibre.

www.bluebellcomms.co.uk

(JP)