Digital mobile TV stations of Qualitron manufacture

By Yan Tsirulnikov

Review contents:

I want OB van Mini mobile television stations by “AudioVideo Technologies” Company “Veresk” Mobile television stations by “Figaro” company “Pultex” mobile multi-camera station Mobile multi-camera TV station by “Era” company is a new series of finished decisions Mobile TV stations by A&T Trade company Mobile television stations by Elvia (Czech Republic) Mobile television stations by I.S.P.A.-Engineering Mobile television station of JC-Sport manufacture Proline multi camera mobile station Mobile television station by Protec company Digital mobile TV stations of Qualitron manufacture Mobile television station of Sat-Comm manufacture If you can not afford mobile television station (instead of afterword)

Qualitron company successfully manufactures mobile TV stations of various purposes. This article contains descriptions of stations manufactured by the company for Finnish (UD1 and UD2) and Russian (“Bashkorstan” and “Kultura”) televisions.

MTSs for Finnish television

As UD1 and UD2 are of one type, we will make general description of these stations.

Trailer, containing MTS, has the following dimensions: length — 13,7 m, height — 4 m, width — 2,55 m. These are maximum dimensions allowed for vehicle at European roads. Weight of the station makes about 20 t.

MTSs employ typical design and additional equipment. Easy removable section walls of trailer’s outside provides easy access to cable communications. It is quite functional for it increases maintainability of the station. Vehicle is equipped with three independent heating systems: electroheating, oil heating, and water heating used for heating of the trailer’s floor. Heating systems are active at any modes including long stops, which allows constant operating status of equipment.

The station is equipped with four sliding hydraulic stands for its hard fixation at level position during stops.

All on-board systems including lighting and intrusion protection are designed for 24 V current power feeding. The station is also equipped with UPS-based emergency power supply network providing all main technological equipment with constant power for 5…7 min (10 kW), and also battery power supply for secondary equipment and systems. Cooling and conditioning system consists of four separate systems. The most powerful system is designed for cooling all equipment stands, other three systems supports microclimate in each section of the body. Cooling system radiators are placed at the bottom of the vehicle right under the equipment stands. Other radiators are placed under the roof of the vehicle.

Cable stuff of the station is placed at two sections. All video inputs, ten motorized reels with triaxial cables (two more reels are available) of 200 m each, and their commutating devices are placed at backside of the body. Commutating device’s panel contains inputs of composite signals connected with correcting amplifiers, and also inputs of digital signals connected with correcting devices. SDI- and PAL-signal outputs are located at the same place. Each camera and video tape recorder employ an output connected with video mixer. Matrix also employs a number of outputs. The station employs commutating distribution amplifiers, SDI-PAL converters often used at record. 49 direct lines, 24 PAL lines, 24 SDI lines and 25 additional reserve lines go from the section onto main distribution panel. Additionally, there are 16 inputs and 16 outputs for indicating on-air camera operating. Remote control of matrix and video tape recorders operation is done via RS-422 interface. All systems of inner communications also go onto the panel.

As for sound part of cable section, it is situated at forepart of the body at the right board. It contains five reels with microphone cables (200 m of ten-pair cable) and one reserve reel. Here also installed a panel with sound joints with a separate joints group for Intercom system. It is worth mentioning that this MTS employs a highly developed communication system: Intercom matrix is of 112×112 size. It is because YLE company has special, quite branchy inner communication system for work with operators and personnel at competitions (mostly winter games) when points of shooting and broadcasting are at a distance from each other and MTS. Design of cable sections provides full protection from snow and rain even at extended mode. The sections (except swinging doors and upper cover) simply employ tents and elastic covers protecting them from environment affect. All cable stuff remains runnable at up to -50°C for all connecting cables are elastic and their winding/unwinding onto/from cable reels express no serious difficulties.

Director section is based on two-level scheme, which allows director and sound producer comfortable working without disturbing each other. Low level contains Philips DD-35-3 video mixer. It employs 48 SDI video inputs, ten additional outputs, and is capable of adjusting two-channel Pinacle DVEXtreme video effects generator. The section’s monitor stand contains 51 displays. Signals onto all monitors go through matrix, which allows sending any picture onto any monitor. Applied digital SDI-matrix has 96×96 dimensions. Besides, there are two additional analog matrix of 32×32 for operating at PAL standard. Each monitor is equipped with small UMD-display (Under Monitor Display) for imaging the source sending a signal onto monitor. Moreover, each monitor employs indicator informing that the signal is sent on-air.

Equipment section may store six video tape recorders of any format. Installation of BM DigiBeta or DVCPRO is proposed. Cable layout is made in such a way that it is possible to install equipment of SDI and any analog format. The station may also employ two-channel server, e. g. Profile or EVS, character generator and digital effects generator. Slow motion equipment is placed in the same section.

“Bashkortostan” OB Van: general view (top) and with folded out protection peak and open technical section

Technical section contains remote control panel of eight cameras. Cameras are of Philips LDK-100 type. The panel may be upgraded to control of twelve and more cameras. Here it is also possible to control color correction of signal sent from the cameras. The section also contains main hand commutation panel having both SDI- and composite inputs. In spite of large matrix, commutation panel is designed in such a way that it is possible to perform any commutation manually. The section also contains service communication panel, which allows control of communications both inside the station and with studio, TV company, etc. Besides, the section contains three panels of power supply control (first one is for life-support system, second — for main equipment feeding, third — for all secondary equipment feeding /24 V/). The section also provides temperature control of atmosphere status in all sections, and also control of temperature inside equipment stands.

Sound section is equipped with fully digital LAWO MC2 82 sound console. It employs 48 analog and 32 digital inputs. Dolbi 5.1 sound record is possible, though today 95% of operating go at stereo mode. At all sections sound control is performed with the help of active acoustic Genelec systems. System of sound effects is available. In addition to main console MTS is equipped with secondary mixer, which may be used, for instance, for commutation of Intercom system, commentators’ operating, communication with operators, etc. The section also contains matrix for service communications of 112×112 dimensions, commutation panel for sound and Intercom. As service communication is one of the most important components in MTS, its prior components were doubled.

In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that design of mobile digital stations for Finnish state television is based on idea of maximum unification and single technical grounding for design of the stated-above stations and other future means of outside broadcasting. Of course, it required some co-ordinations and compromises between YLE first and second channels that are owners of MTSs. But it also allowed great reducing costs for design of the stations, and, which is most important, guarantying further quite inexpensive service support.

MTSs for Russian television

Digital four-camera MTS of state TV and radio channel “Bashkortostan” is based on Mercedes Sprinter MB 413 vehicle. Its dimensions are: length — 6,59 m; width — 1,93 m; height — 2,80 m. Body is equipped with powerful conditioning and ventilation system, and also heating system with water radiator, floor heating and warm air ventilators.

This digital MTS is completed with four Sony DXC-35 PL video cameras with triaxial base stations. The body has standard cross composition scheme. Digital Sony DFS-700 P video mixer with Pinnacle Deko 500 character generator provides director with quite wide capabilities. MTS employs two Betacam SX Sony DNN-75P video tape recorders for record of ready program, insert of video topics in program or final edit. Director operating area is equipped with Drake service communication system. Sound producer area is contains Yamaha MX 12/4 mixer, and also full set of secondary equipment.

Video path of MTS operates through digital SDI interface. Commutation is done by Musa equipment. Transformers, distributors and synchronizing generator are of Grass Valley Group manufacture.

“Kultura” OB Van

“Kultura” MTS was designed for concrete tasks: plays, stagings, concerts, and other cultural programs. Besides, “Kultura” not only radio broadcasting, but also sound recording company. Thus, the MTS has a range of peculiarities as for sound. It is the only MTS in Russia provided with sound equipment allowing sound record in 5.1 format, which makes it possible to prepare programs in Dolby Surround format, and at digital briadcasting — in Dolby Digital 5.1 format.

Working places of video director (top) and audio producer

The MTS is ready for providing TV broadcasting with parallel sending of formatted stereo signals onto radio, for example, from conservatory hall. MTS is equipped with six Sony BVP-950P cameras, but may operate with nine cameras. 32-input Philips DD 35-2-BM video mixer is a heart of the station. All commutation in MTS is made through SDI. MPEG IMX was used as video record format. MTS contains four Sony MSW-M2000P video tape recorders, but it may adjust two more VTRs.

Sound section, designed for two persons, contains control system of 5.1 format (five Genelec 1030A monitors and 1092 subwoofer). Stereo-mode control is provided by additional pair of Yamaha MSP 5 monitors. The only analog device in the station is Amek Media 51 MF mixer console allowing operating in various surround-formats (from four-channel to six-channel). The mixer employs 44 channels (88 inputs), eight send busses, four stereo rollbacks, and also Supertrue automation system. Record is done onto 24-path Tascam MX2424 disc recorder with removable hard disc. Eight-path Tascam DA-98HR and DAT Sony PCM R500 DTRS-video tape recorders are available.

OB Van’s side section

Routing rack

Built-in diesel-generator is not provided, however installed USB is capable to provide operating of main MTS’s elements during 10…15 min, which is extremely necessary at on-air broadcasting.

The station employs Iveco chassis capable of 26 t loads. MTS’s body is made from polyurethane and stainless steel, its roof is made of 3 mm aluminum list that was doubled for the roof to be able admit additional equipment and personnel at run-in mode. Full length and height of MTS make 12 m and 3,8 m correspondingly. It is not very much for storing all the equipment for only chassis is of about 1 n height, the ceiling employing special ventilation equipment. All sections are capable of extending, which allows widening of operating area by 1 m. The design does not require any additional hydraulic systems for the station’s roll-in. All preparation for active position is performed by hydraulic means of the MTS or mechanically (at malfunction). For safe exploitation lighting system feeds from board 24 V power network.

Sound producer section together with video and engineering section contain independent separate ventilation and conditioning systems. The floor employs mounted heating system keeping optimal temperature inside MTS at non-operating mode and clean floor during bad weather. Heating system together with thermal and noise isolation (mineral wool) provides MTS with comfortable operation conditions even at -35°C.

Sound section should be described separately. It is provided with conditions close to optimal for 5.1 sound record. It was successful for front monitors: their arrangement error does not exceed 1°. Unfortunately, the company failed to arrange back monitors with the same accuracy. Nevertheless, sound producer working conditions may be considered as optimal for such amount of equipment. Sound isolation of the section is done with special care with the use of latest acoustic materials.

Qualitron