ProHarmony Technology increases remote news room and Grand Prix fiber capacity
Macau TDM (Teledifusão de Macau) provides public broadcasting news services in this special administrative region (SAR) of greater China. Running five digital terrestrial television channels, a satellite television channel and two radio channels, it has extended its HD network with the addition of four BroaMan Mux22 interfaces, provided by Hong Kong-based system integrators, ProHarmony Technology (PHT).
Macau itself is situated on China’s southern coast, across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong, and the new installation is specifically to service requirements at their Macau HQ. PHT is a long-term service partner of the broadcasters, having worked with Macau TDM over the past 10 years; the latest provision of Mux22s expands the existing system, giving them six in total.
The multiplexer itself supports every signal in use in the professional environment, combining 3G/HD/SD-SDI I/O with Optocore and SANE digital audio networks, to create an elegant solution to transport video, audio and data, on duplex fiber.
One of the advantages of the Mux22 is its ability to handle these multiple system protocols in a compact 1RU system, and in this application it transports signals over distances up to 1km.
With Chinese and Portuguese its two official languages, since Macau TDM specialises in news, two of the Mux22’s are used to transport audio, video and intercom between the Master Control Room and the main news room studio.
A further pair are used similarly for broadcast of the Macau Grand Prix Formula 3 Racing every year through the streets in late November.
Said PHT’s Sales Director, Angus Yeung, who project managed the installation, “The customer was already familiar with the Mux22’s, as we demonstrated them a long time ago.” Nevertheless the client still considered other options before backing the German interfaces.
According to Mr. Yeung, Macau TDM is said to be extremely happy with the deployment and functionality of the new system.
The need to streamline a system for instant VAR (Video Assistant Referee) incident review from Azerbaijan’s Premier League football stadia has resulted in German-based system integrators Broadcast Solutions establishing a bi-directional audio and visual data flow between a central hub and remote venue locations in the country. As a result AFFA (Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan) has now officially become FIFA VAR certified.
To accomplish this they requisitioned a customised version of BroaMan’s popular Mux22 multiplexer, extending the capacity of a device, enabling it to transport all signals down a single duplex fibre cable, within the existing fibre infrastructure.
Broadcast Solutions won a competitive tender for the planning, designing and implementation of the VAR system, and have since worked reliably with AFFA (Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan).
The VAR system comprised a two-part project, with a mobile VAR system incorporated in a 3.5t transporter, as well as three VOR (Video Operation Rooms) integrated into the offices of Baku’s Olympic Stadium—this serves as a central VAR hub for all games in the Azerbaijan football league. The mobile solution is used in cases where venues lack a fibre line connection to the VAR hub or distances are too wide. The mobile VAR solution offers three workplaces with an additional flightcase monitor placed at the sideline for the referees to review questionable incidents.
While the 10 stadia across the country that make up the league (*) are already connected with dedicated fibre lines three are available at any one time—since the VOR Room needs to handle three simultaneously. BroaMan’s Mux22 played a central role in the overall solution, with three fixed units in the Baku VAR centre and the other three in mobile racks for the stadiums situated around Baku.
The three VORs now offer sufficient space for three video assistant referees to work. They, in turn, have access to a separate Central Apparatus Room (CAR), giving them the possibility to cover three matches simultaneously. Each VAR system (both mobile and fixed) is equipped to handle up to eight video signals per match.
Broadcast Solutions’ project manager, Gunnar Jungerts explained how BroaMan had worked with the integrators to produce a customised solution. “The theoretical maximum possible distance of 80 km in a fibre network is dependent on the quality of fibre links and eventually patch points in between. In the given fibre infrastructure we could realise a de facto maximum distance of 56 km. However in the extended range Mux22 works perfectly well, and it is possible to monitor this in the user interface.”
“With the assistance of the BroaMan devices, Broadcast Solutions have fulfilled the brief from AFFA and implemented a workable solution. As a result the Azerbaijan Football Association now has the ability to share video and audio content, facilitating the processing of data from remote stadia for review and adjudication perfectly,” stated Mrs. Farida Lutfaliyeva, VAR Project Leader.
For further information contact
Jerry Gilbert JGP Public Relations Tel.: +44 (0)1707 258525 Fax: +44 (0)1707 267140 E: jerry@jpg-pr.com
We quickly found we had hit the right note when we unveiled the new 12G version of our popular Mux22 fiber multiplexer for the first time at the recent IBC2022 in Amsterdam. In the era of 4K resolution, this is a dynamic response to customers’ requests for 12G transmission, from a device that supports every signal used in the professional world.
Our Marketing Coordinator, Kamil Zajdel, confirmed the high degree of interest in the new 12G option from visitors to their booth. “People from around the world are now seeing this as the new standard to come, and for many it is already in use. Therefore, adding this feature to a powerful device such as Mux22 is great news for studios, OB Van users and so on.”
In addition, we fielded many inquiries from studio technicians who have adopted new technologies which have evolved during the pandemic, such as such as XR and AR capabilities. “They were looking for professional solutions that they know they can rely on,” he said.
Summarising the impact of IBC, Kamil concluded, “Even though our stand was much smaller than previous years, IBC was a success. Everyone was happy that we could meet each other again and we met a lot of old friends and new visitors alike.
“One thing we noticed was that there is now a larger percentage of visitors who are focused on their precise requirements, as they had time during lockdown to educate themselves regarding new technologies.”
It was evident that the live market environment was starting to re-emerge again after lockdown, he concluded. “Consequently new investments are being planned, and this gives us cause for optimism that the industry will soon return to its previous healthy state—or possibly an even better one.”
We are pleased to announce of the extension of our successful range of Mux22 devices with the addition of the Mux22 12G—an all-in-one 12G-enabled unit.
It will make its debut on our stand (Hall 8, Stand A97) at next month’s IBC2022 broadcast show at the RAI, Amsterdam (September 9-12).
Mux22 in its different guises has been providing solutions in the broadcast environment for nearly a decade due to its protocol independence, and ability to process any signal in just a small 1RU chassis.
Since the 4K era has been firmly adopted by both the commercial and consumer markets, it was only a matter of time before customers asked us to enable 12G transmission in its devices, states our MD, Tine Helmle.
“Up until now, 12G was available for our Repeat 48 and Repeat 8 Nano, but what the market was really waiting for was the possibility of upgrading our point-to-point device … which is our unique Mux22. With its many capabilities and Optocore compatibility, it can also form part of an Optocore loop.”
The final icing on the cake, she emphasised, is the option to upgrade existing Mux22 devices to the new 12G version.
Like all Mux22 devices the new interface will support eight video streams of 12G, an SDI standard supporting greater resolution, frame rates and colour fidelity. At four times the bandwidth of HD it carries around 12 Gigabits per second, making it ideal for the 4K UHD format. Of course this fiber infrastructure also supports 3G, HD and SD-SDI (up to 80 channels)—as well as acting as a standalone 3G/HD/SD-SDI Router and Repeater. Its universal architecture means it also supports all Data, Audio, Intercom, Ethernet and MADI (functioning as a MADI Electrical to Fiber Converter).
The new Mux22 12G is both real estate-friendly and energy efficient, while its fanless design means it operates silently.
Other features include: Dual-power supply stability; Stable synchronous operation; configurable for any situation; Dual Fiber redundancy; Unique auto routing feature; and Optocore compatibility.
Born and brought up in India, he is already a long-established user of Optocore solutions. After studying Visual Communications, he joined Warren D’souza’s highly experienced Mumbai-based rental company, Sound.com in 2014, where he first started using Optocore devices. This was specifically on the large stadium events and Opening/Closing Games ceremonies in which Sound.com specialises.
In 2016 he relocated to Poland to work for Fotis Sound (another Optocore client) — working on festivals, tours and concert set-up prior to the pandemic. In 2019 he underwent his full Optocore Certification Training (OCT) at company HQ in Munich.
As a member of the Tech Support team, he will focus on client communications and relations with a particular emphasis on building BroaMan’s presence in the market.
Speaking of his appointment, RadhaMohan Rajani says he was attracted to the position not only because of his familiarity with the products and the Optocore/BroaMan team members “but also the prestige of both brands”. He continued, “I am looking forward to increasing BroaMan’s market presence and reputation by ensuring our clients’ needs are well taken care of.”
Welcoming him to the company, BroaMan MD Tine Helmle, to whom he will report, says, “It is good to have someone with Mohan’s experience who can hit the ground running. He will prove to be a valuable asset, in particular for BroaMan as we continue to build market profile.”
