Whether 20 degrees minus or 40 degrees plus, the high value guidance electronics of the LIVE camera have to work. Apart from the deployment of reliable systems components the secure housing of the components in a suitable case plays an important part. The case solution has to be as compact as possible in order to reliably protect the electronics from environmental influences.

Innovative technology

A view of Table Mountain or the harbour area in Capetown, the hustle and bustle of Fifth Avenue and at present approx. 40 further interesting LIVE pictures from around the globe, are the products of earth television network AG in Munich. The 100% subsidiary of TELCAST Media Group founded in 1998 has developed an innovative broadcast transmission system (Pictures 1 + 2), which makes it possible to transmit LIVE TV programmes in best TV quality.

The costs that arose with conventional transmission via satellite, transmitters or radio beacons can be reduced considerably through the new technology. Even from the remotest countries a LIVE programme can be transmitted without intermediary satellite. The transmission signal is relayed via ISDN lines.

The cameras have been developed specifically by earth television network. With 720 x 576 pixel the picture separation corresponds to the professional studio technology. That way the pictures can be used for the most varied media. One individual picture source can provide a highly separated television programme and at the same time with reduced separation the content for an internet page. These fully automatic camera systems are dialed and remotely guided from the transmitter station in Munich to worldwide destinations. The staff handling the cameras in the studious have all the same functions available, as a cameraman in place would use directly. Even swing frame time lapse photography is possible, the motion control of the camera even enables the programming of camera and zoom movements, whilst individual picture sequences are recorded. The LIVE pictures are made into a continuous television programme requested by the customer and transmitted to the TV station like e.g. n-tv or SABC 3.

The technology used with highly separable, remotely controlled pictures and cameras that can be positioned accurately, would also be suitable for commercial applications. Feasible would be application in traffic technology, in sections of surveillance and in the records area, as a high demand for picture quality exists here.

Reliable hardware

The cameras are weatherproof, maintenance free and they are constructed for use in extreme climate conditions. The complete systems consist of a camera and a guidance unit, which is positioned a maximum of 50 m from the position of the camera (restriction by video signal). The system is configured as a Plug & Play, which is installed on-site by external partners.

The assembly here means only: Put up the guidance unit, mount the camera, via Telco broadband connect the cable with the guidance and switch on the mains switch - the camera is running!

The guidance unit is housed in a minirack from Schroff (Picture 3) and in 90% of all cases it is located indoors i.e. in offices, lifts, cellar rooms or directly under the roof of a building (see also small picture-in-picture in right and left lower corners of Pictures 1 and 2 above).

Despite the numerous built-in components, the enclosure was to be as compact as possible. Furthermore, the EMC (electro magnetic compatibility) was an important factor. Apart from that, flexible mounting possibilities for the components to be assembled had to be taken into consideration. The enclosure was to be clad all around and was to be opened with the aid of tools only. Further safeguard against unauthorised access was not required.

Outside standard, inside customer specific

The load bearing frame of the chosen minirack case consists of two Aluminium die cast frames and four vertical Aluminium uprights.

The side panels which are made from painted steel are screwed on, front and rear panels are provided with quick locks and can easily be removed (Picture 4).

The internal assembly is customer specific, through the 19" assembly and a variable slide rail system all components can be installed optimally without any loss of space. he main components are installed on the 19" uprights in the front. At the rear uprights provide a recessed 19" plane. In the top part of the rear door three fans are integrated for improved heat dissipation and in the lower part extra cooling grids are integrated.

All enclosure elements are connected with each other in an electrically conductive way. As video signals are very sensitive towards earth loops, an earthing rail was used and all components were connected in a star formation. The cooling vents which are integrated in the front and rear door correspond to EMC requirements.

Apart from a 19" industry PC for the guidance of the camera and communications with the transmission centre in Munich, a UPS for uninterrupted "clean" power supply and a video amplifier are housed in the guidance unit. The installed Telco router bundles the channels of the five ISDN lines (10 in total), for data transfer. The guidance and the camera are connected to each other with a special camera cable (power supply, data cables and video cable), specifically manufactured for earth television network.

On top of the enclosure is an interface plate is mounted with all connectors (e.g. RJ45 plug for the telephone line, camera cable connector, power supply connector, LAN and UPS connectors, mouse and keyboard connectors), fully integrated for the customer.

The minirack enclosure is delivered in a pre-assembled state (Picture 5), so that the television network only has to install their corresponding components.