Mobile television station by Protec company

By Alexander Marinichev

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)

In autumn 2002 in Russia there was started exploitation of two new mobile TV stations designed in Germany by request of Yugra TV/radio channel (Khanty-Mansiysk) and TVK-6 channel (Krasnoyarsk). The first station is designed for operating at sports competitions (e. g. Biathlon World Championship in Khanty-Mansiysk) and organizing on-air broadcastings via satellite channels, including broadcasting onto foreign TV centers. The second station is oriented for news production and events reviews with program broadcasting onto regional and All-Russian TV channels.

Both stations are the product of cooperation of two companies: “Corporation D&K” (Russia) specifying at development of principle schemes and technical decisions, and “Protec” company (Germany) at whose factory in Bingen-on-Rhein the MTSs were built up.

Protec company, founded in 1983, appeared on the Russian market not long ago after it completed an agreement with D&K in November 2001. However before this there were deliveries of the stations designed in Bingen to Russia and CIS by foreign sub-contractors (e. g. “Swedish” company). The matter is that Protec has its own manufacture basis that allows perform re-equipping of any vehicles and edit of special devices in maximally short terms, which provides really professional quality level and reliability of all systems. In Europe (even in the world) there are not many companies like this, and no wonder that hundreds of companies dealing with design of mobile stations would rather offer re-equipped vehicles from Protec than solve many problems on their own.

Europe expressing a real rush for MTS re-equipped vehicles called rack-ready OB van (vehicles ready for edit of video and audio systems, satellite and broadcasting equipment), Protec always has one ready-to-go Mercedes Sprinter minibus with already installed racks, ventilation, air conditioning, heating systems, energy equipment, etc. These vehicles may be shipped to sub-contractor any time, or delivered for installment of video equipment. They are often rented by large companies for demonstrating their decision in field of broadcasting, telecommunications, etc. at European exhibitions.

Manufacture facilities of Protec company are not of industrial calibers. Nevertheless, they allow simultaneous construction of three-four minibus-based MTSs and one-two trailer-based stations. The company has its own metalworking line, qualified specialists at carosserie works, staff of designers, etc. The cycle of full vehicle redesign and installment of all equipment of usual four-camera MTS, equipped with satellite signal delivery, makes eight weeks maximum. Large multi camera trailers, being almost “wheeled TV centers”, are built up much longer (up to several months). In total, Protec is capable of manufacturing up to 50 MTSs per year including rack-ready OB van vehicles.

Complex service and full cycle of system integration developments make the main factor of the company’s stable success. As Protec is also a serious manufacturer of connecting components, MTS may employ equipment of most various companies, its stable operating being guaranteed by the German company. Protec also realizes original development of a range of devices and control systems (e. g. Virtual Matrix Controller or Virtual Studio Manager). Virtual Studio Manager is designed for monitoring large commutation systems and their equipment. VMC and similar systems provide to large modern operating areas an effective way of concentration of control by various devices.

Among its customers Protec has both German TV channels and broadcasting companies form Great Britain, Jordan, Portugal, Sweden, Yugoslavia and other countries. Protek’s establishment of relations with D&K made ordering of MTS from large European manufacturer possible for Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. In these countries, according to the contract, D&K is responsible for after-sale service and technical consultations as for equipment of Protec mobile stations.

Special program of designing MTS for regional TV centers was first result of German-Russian cooperation. Purpose parameters of this program may be characterized by the following. First, MTS must successfully carry a set of most typical tasks of large and middle regional TV companies in the field of news production and on-air broadcasting from active areas. Second, basic configuration must be flexible enough, adjustable to concrete MTS operating conditions and, moreover, capable of modernization of station as user’s technical inventory progresses. And, finally, designing costs must blend with budgets of Russian TV channels in such a way that MTS operates with maximum economic effectiveness and compensates itself as quickly as possible.

OB Van is ready to work

MTS designed for “TVK-6 channel” became a concrete realization of the stated-above program. It is a two-camera news-class station capable of extension to five-camera MTS (four camera channels and one radio channel). It is based on Ford Transit vehicle. Mercedes Sprinter chassis was not used because of financial reasons. The station might employ chassis of domestic manufacture, but calculations showed quite small gain in cost.

Main feature of the MTS, now operating in Krasnoyarsk, lies in its capability of changing character of devices communication and reconfiguring system without resetting of modules. This became possible, first of all, thanks to developed commutation system of all equipment (video, sound, radio, etc.). MTS employs both hand and commutation schemes.

Camera cables reels in the rear section of OB Van

With plenty of TV equipment (including on-air monitoring system) and additional devices (ventilation and conditioning systems, mobile communications, etc.) MTS does not look cramped inside. Driver’s seat turns for 180°. There are three full operating areas in the vehicle: for director, video engineer and sound producer. One more additional area (e. g. for journalist) is available at turning front passenger seat. At on-air mode the system is capable of simultaneous preparing of programs.

One more original peculiarity of this MTS, caused by specific Russian conditions, lies in possibility of modernization of video system without constructing new commutation lines and, correspondingly, long downtime. The customer required “operating area” to be ready undertime for review of election campaign in Krasnoyarsk in September 2002. Here the customer was limited financially. As a result, number of video and audio modules was reduced to the minimum that allowed quality on-air broadcasting as well as using in MTS some of the customer company equipment. However, layout itself and commutation schemes are designed in such a way that they allow quick installation of more complex and efficient equipment (broadcasting, NLE, etc.) that the customer may purchase in the near future.

OB Van in work

For the same financial reasons, the customer preferred already existing Honda power station of 7 kW to practically standard Fisher-Panda mini-power plant. However, on the other hand, such configuration made main section, located directly in the vehicle, more spacious and prevented generator from vibrations.

However simple it may seem to build MTS capable of modernization, the realization of it turned to be the most difficult task during design and installation. That is also due to the fact that broadcasting equipment blocks were among interchangeable devices. Now the MTS is operated by domestic relay station of “TVK-6 channel” company. However, the system is capable of adjusting modern broadcasting equipment that TVK-6 channel is planning to purchase.

All systems of the MTS are extremely simple in exploitation and service. After the station was finished and tested on the basis of D&K in Moscow, the “TVK-6 channel” MTS was rested together with customer’s personnel in Krasnoyarsk on 3…5 of September 2002. And already on 6 of September the station was broadcasting on-air two-hour concert of Lube band.

General view of TV Company’s “Ugra” OB Van

Now for the TV company there was worked out a project of trailer that will contain all equipment excluded from MTS of 1.0 version by financial reasons. It may store power station, additional cameras, stands, light, and also device for delivering signal from MTS onto transmitter or satellite. The trailer will employ telescopic mast of 10 m length with transmitting antenna and relay station. Such decision is caused by complex relief of Krasnoyarsk territory: direct broadcasting is impossible without additional relay station antenna in some city areas. The trailer employs special jacks for the mast stabilization. Besides, there occur situations when distance form the point where broadcasting is not possible to the point of free broadcasting makes several meters, and the main station may not be transported. Trailer is the best way out: MTS stays still, and the trailer with relay station goes to the necessary point and sends the signal through cable.

The second Protec mobile station, being exploited by Yugra TV/radio company (Khanty-Mansiysk) since December 2002, is a station of different class. It is MTS of European level based on Mercedes Sprinter vehicle (with diesel engine). It employs system of satellite signal delivery of Eurovision standards. The station is specially designed for operating at severe Siberian climate.

Satellite system allows saving up to 10 tunings of various satellites with possibility of quick switching between them at operating from one point and, correspondingly, maximum effective usage of on-air channels. The station is also capable of coding signal sent onto satellite in order to prevent unauthorized usage of information that is being transmitted.

A jack which provides vehicle stability during work of an OB Van

Main purpose of this MTS lies in direct satellite on-air broadcasting of sports competitions, concerts, and mass events. Although specialized vehicles are usually used for such purposes, here, at customer’s option, MTS is capable of operating also at news mode. To provide it, the station employed in its structure four-camera channels (two triaxial channels, multicore channel, and radio channel) and three-post video edit area (two Betacam SP and one D-9 posts), which allow full material processing and preparing it for on-air. Here, wireless camera channel with three independent circle-oriented DynaPix antennas lightens greatly operators’ work. The system supports five fixed frequencies and provides stable receiving at a distance of up to 300 m.

Basically, created video system is able not only of news broadcasting but also of realizing more complex tasks.

Fisher-Panda diesel generator provides autonomic power feeding of the OB Van

Having turned all four cameras, one may receive complex and many-dimensional coverage of event from various viewpoints. Sony DFS-700 mixer allows quick formatting of ready program. The developed commutation system (8×8 SDI-matrix plus possibility of hand switching with the help of commutation panels for SDI signals, component and composite signals) provides maximum flexibility of MTS exploitation. Besides, there is available separate panel for commutation of sound signals (all sound being analog).

Intercom system is used for coordination of operators and creative group’s work. It may be adjusted, if necessary, to similar systems of other MTSs, which lightens greatly interaction between shooting groups (e. g. at “shooting MTS — broadcasting MTS” link).

OB Van’s working section

Monitor blocks should be described separately. They receive signals from all sources. Aside from program monitor, separate monitor is available for signal preview. The system allows director to perform full control of operating of all angles, and also to make quick changes into working material. Video engineer may measure signal parameters at any point of video scheme and send them, for instance, onto vector display.

Fisher-Panda diesel generator allows MTS to work independently, however it may, of course, switch to outer power supply sources. Control system of diesel generator, heating and conditioning is placed directly in operating section (it is necessary if the temperature falls to -30°C, for instance). Control panel has indicators of oil, temperature, generator operating hours meter, etc., which allows controlling generator’s work the same way as work of automobile engine.

Folding peak for protection against bad environment conditions

The problem of heating for normal antenna functioning in hard Siberian conditions is solved in quite original way: instead of applying expensive dish aerial heating system there was designed a scheme where antenna engines receives warm air from generator’s radiator.

“TVK-6 channel” MTS was exhibited at TRBE in November 2002. Now D&K is negotiating about demonstration of satellite MTS, designed for “Yugra”, at CSTB exhibition in February 2003.

D&K Corporation