Last month, CBS contracted with broadcast equipment supplier Bexel to use video conversion transport gear from Stratos Optical to deliver the network’s HD coverage of the PGA Masters Tournament in Augusta, Ga.
Specifically, Bexel supplied Stratos’ VMCR-CWDM 1RU Media conversion and transport system to transport 32 HD signals (24 HD feeds from the CBS production compound to the press room and 8 HD feeds back from the press room) via two fiber strands.
“This product allowed us to move multiple HD signals bidirectionally on a single fiber leaving the unused fiber for other requirements,” said Scott Nardelli, director of Bexel Broadcast Fiber Solutions. “Stratos has consistently developed well thought-out, robust solutions that are highly reliable in broadcast center and OB operations.
To extend distance, reduce fiber count and cost and simplify the use of coarse wave length division multiplexing (CWDM), Stratos recently developed the CWDM Multiplexed HD video transport system by packaging standalone coax to fiber optical media conversion products into a turnkey 16 channel CWDM single fiber transport solution.
“While the product is available in standard configurations, the modular media converters allow for simple reconfiguration to vary the channel count running in each direction, a real plus in hard-to-predict field situations,” said Dennis Gudgel, video product manager at Stratos Optical.
Stratos Optical is a division of Emerson Network Power Connectivity Solutions.
