Beijing-based China Central Television (CCTV) used fiber-optic transmission systems from Telecast Fiber Systems to transmit live video of the Chinese ascent of Mt. Everest, completed on May 21.
Telecast’s CopperHead camera-mounted transceivers and Viper modular fiber optic platform acted as an intermediate link in a microwave-to-fiber transmission path and carried CCTV’s signals over 3,300 vertical feet down the mountain.
Telecast’s CopperHead camera-mounted transceivers transmit video, audio, intercom, and camera-control data in both directions over a single, lightweight optical fiber.
Video signals from a camera located at the summit were transmitted via microwave to Camp 4, located at 23,058 feet. CCTV then used a set of CopperHeads stationed at Camp 4 to relay the output of the microwave receiver via two-core fiber to the Advanced Base Camp (Camp 3), located at the 21,326-ft. elevation mark. Due to the harsh environment, the CopperHeads were installed in parallel for redundancy.
The signals were then transferred to a Telecast Viper mussel shell system at Camp 3 and transmitted further down the mountain on two separate fiber runs to the 19,686-foot level at Camp 2. All of the fiber optic cabling utilized by CCTV had a custom white jacket due to the network’s specific needs in the environment, since black cabling causes snow to melt around it during the day and refreeze around it overnight.
Telecast’s camera-mountable CopperHead transceivers transmit video, audio, intercom, and camera-control data in both directions over a single, lightweight optical fiber. The compact systems also transmit return video for the viewfinder and monitor, as well as black burst return. The Viper is a fiber optic system with plug-in modules that handle NTSC/PAL, 601 SDI, and format-independent HDTV communications. The Viper system also simultaneously handles analog audio, AES/EBU, intercom, CCU data, and closure circuits.
For more information visit www.telecast-fiber.com.
