Category
New studio or RF technology — station
Submitted by
WFYI Public Broadcasting Design Team
WFYI:
Alan Cloe, exec. VP; Steve Jensen, VP eng.;
Nate Pass, chief eng., architect, sys. designer;
custom monitor wall design by Nate Pass;
custom console design by Steve Goldberg Technology at work
Automation Network Ethernet switches
Belkin KVM network
Bittree A/V jackfields
Chyron
Infiniti CG
DynaCrawl graphics
Harris
Flexicoder encoder
Videotek monitoring
Evertz
Distribution products
Master clocks
MRC TwinStream radio
MultiDyne fiber products
Sencore IRDs
Sundance Digital Fastbreak NXT
Intellisat server
SIDON server
Thomson Grass Valley
Concerto AES router
Encore control
K2 servers
Maestro MC system
Trinix router
ViewSonic monitors
Wohler audio monitors
Yamaha surround sound
WFYI Public Broadcasting breaks the digital barrier with new 94,000sq-ft facility
In 2003, WFYI was in the midst of a facility expansion plan on its current site when a prime piece of real estate became available just two blocks north of the station’s existing facility in downtown Indianapolis. After careful evaluation, it became apparent to WFYI that this was an opportunity worth pursuing. The 94,000sq-ft property provided the station with ample space for future growth and allowed it to establish a new digital headquarters that would serve the central Indiana community. The facility would also house all of WFYI’s services, which include a state-of-the-art digital TV station (PBS) and digital radio station (NPR), as well as a Learning Services Division, a free statewide reading service for reading-impaired citizens (IRIS) and a full-service audio and video production facility.
Before the remodeling phase began, WFYI secured a team of professionals to integrate all of the station’s digital broadcast services. The work was performed entirely in-house by the station’s talented engineering staff and a dedicated group of local freelancers.
The first challenge was to address how the move would affect the current RF and microwave paths to and from the transmitter site. WFYI obtained FAA and city approval to construct a 150ft PiRod tower with three 8ft-high performance antennas.
Evertz signal distribution, fiber, bypass protection, LNB power, processing and conversion products provided high-performance and advanced monitoring for all STL, TSL and radio microwave TX/RX equipment.
Master control is driven by two Thomson Grass Valley Maestro multiformat digital control panels with internal branding, DVE, CG, EAS and audio store capabilities. Behind the operations are Grass Valley K2 servers and a Trinix 256 x 256 digital router configured for HD and SD previewing, content archiving, ingesting, playback and distribution.
Digital content is controlled and transferred through several facilities and control networks powered by a Grass Valley Encore engine running a complex array of applications. On-air automation is controlled by a Sundance Digital Fastbreak NXT automation system. The master control room has a streamlined look with 5.1 sound that reflects its high-tech efficiency.
While much of the infrastructure of the new building satisfied WFYI’s daily operational needs, it was still necessary for the station to construct a nearly 5000sq-ft addition to house two digital TV studios. The post-production facilities are located adjacent to the studios. Field productions are ingested into a 5TB Avid SAN. The system is supported by Avid Unity File Manager, MediaManager, a port server, Nitris DS, four Adrenaline NLEs, Edius and two Apple Final Cut Pro editors.
